Database Users

Backup: Is there even a manual process I can use?

I truly need to backup. With all my experimenting I've had to HARD reset twice now, and it's way painful (last stuff up was when my add/remove programmes list was BLANK, and I could not install any more - even after trying to restore the registry using Sunnysoft - which they warn is not yet wm5-compliant).
My question is; is there some way I can do a complete backup and restore - even if it's a brutllay manual process that's just fine? Copying the entire root drive work?

Try Sunnysoft Backup Manager from www.sunnysoft.cz . Apparently its the only backup app that works just as well as Sprite and on WM2005.

WARNING: Sunnysoft does not backup PIM (read elsewhere on how to do this) and does NOT restore cos it can;t handle the ROM overwriting. Sunnysoft support say "...not for WM5"
ie everyone THINKS it works - but it's a VERY false sense of security.
I have found something on how to do a full backup - but it's awfully technical
(http://www.buzzdev.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=41)

What is the best backup software out there?

Hey everybody...I already tried both but cannot determine which one is the best...any idea? =)

SPB Clone is an enterprise application designed to clone a pocket pc build across multiple pda's and you will need $300 to buy it.
spb currently have a spb backup version 1.0 currently in beta stages which I think backs up your data into a self extracting executable.
Sprite backup on the other hand is very good but the wm5 compatible version is currently in beta also.
I've always used Sprite but will be looking at what spb backup has to offer...

I use Sprite Backup too..very easy to configure. Only complaint is that for scheduled backups, it won't allow me to select specific folders from the SD card to backup...it's all or none.

Does sprite backup make an exact copy from the device too? Does it keep all settings, tweaks, gprs config,.... ??I d like to use a software which makes me able to make a self extracting copy EXACT copy (so when I install it, the device should be 100% the same as when I created the backup).

yes I believe Sprite Backup backups everything. All your registry settings, databases are fully backed up.

Yes, sprite Back-up is the best back up utility I have ever used...
it can back up every thing in your RAM... registry.. contacts.. files, SMS, e-mail.. etc
it doesn't take much time to restore a back up ( 2-3 min approx. ), and it stores the backed up file as .exe so it can run on the device even if sprite back up is not installed or registered...
I believe it is a must- have in any PPC
cheers

Thanks for your advices! I know what to keep now =)

I use Sprite Backup to do daily full backups (and automatically keep the last 3 backups) to the SD card and then use Rubber Stamp DataSync software on the desktop PC to sync the backups created by Sprite to the PC.
I also use Sunnysoft backup to do daily backups on important folders on the SD card. Both Sunnysoft and Sprite backups are then synced to the desktop via Rubber Stamp.
That way I have full working backups of the entire handheld plus SD card on a daily basis. I backup the entire SD card manually once a month.

Sprite gets my vote
Bought it last week, and already it has been put to use.
Faultless application, and worth every penny.

It's so much of a pain to lose data ...what makes it worst is that you have to reinstall everything from scratch which is time consuming ...
It's so much easier to use Sprite to do a backup when you are asleep and if something does go wrong, you only lose a day's worth of data.
My handheld crashed today because I deleted a wav file associated with the SafeMode so whenever I do a soft reset, the SafeMode hangs and thus I cannot proceed further. Very easy, did a hard reset, aligned the screen and did a soft reset. Then just execute the backup file from last night. It took me only 5 minutes to get everything working the same as it did at 7:00am this morning (that when Sprite does the auto backup)

my xBackup seems to keep me sane. 8)

I need a backup software

I'm looking for a good backup sfotware for my Jas Jar i treid SPB Backup
all the version but it didn't work good, when i do a restore i get the following message
Restore process has not responding for a long time, Do you want to cancel the restore?
the more important is to backup the SMS and restore it when i need
please help me
regarda

I have used SPB backup since the beta roms were released.
i performed a multitude of different backups and restores.
what I did learn is that if you are going to restore, you are better off performing a hard reset or a clear storage, put your device back to factory position, then restore.
provided you are restoring over the same versions of the ROM you should be ok.

Sprite Backup

Seconded!!
Sprite Backup is the one piece of backup software work investing in. Has got me out of trouble on a couple of occasions now.
It backs up all your files and applications AND the various registry entries and hidden files/folders that get installed.
If you are a fiddler and like trying various apps and hacks it's a must.

Thirded(??!!)
My M5000 had a couple of dodgy pixels so replaced it.
Even using the old Sprite backup (v5 instead of v5.1) my device restored without any hitches - I had my new device up and running within 10mins - all applications working!!
I never chose to restore the email dB's though due to problems on a previous device and version of sprite backup - but is easy enough to setup again.
Matt

Personally I have both SPB and Sprite
Sprite is faster, but SPB creates a single .exe file that you simply double-click to restore; i.e. there is no need to reinstall SPB before restoring your machine.
So my vote goes to SPB (just)

Actually Sprite has the option to make "self restoring backups" since their latest 5.1 release.

thanks, I'll check that out

Sprite for sure !
Alternatively: Sunnysoft's Backup Manager (IMO superior to Spb) but does not reach Sprite (yet)
Cheers
hrb

Sprite it is.
V5.1 is just released and restores everything as it was before hard reset. Scheduled backups etc.
It also claims to be able to backup AFTER a ROM upgrade or to a different device. I have tried this and it hasn't worked although the guys at Sprite are on the case.

Backup?

Hi, everyone. I am tired of installing all the stuff to the phone every time i hard reset it. Is there a program that does a full backup? I want to hard reset it, run the backup program and have all the things working. Regardless if they are installed on the phone or on he memory stick.
Is spb backup well suited for the job. Remember i want everything to work.

Hi
What about the SPB backup ?
It cost a little, but it deserve it .

i prefer sprite backup

Spb backup is what I use...
It creates an executable backup file.
So after you hard reset, just run the backup. Nothing to re-install!
I always make a backup before I install any new apps!!
Stuart

Does Spb backup backs up messages and contacts?
or does it only backs up programs?

Spb will backup everything from contact, sms.... to anything/everything on your storage card!
Stuart

scl_electronics said:
Spb will backup everything from contact, sms.... to anything/everything on your storage card!
Stuart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, thanks, i'm going to give it a try .

flext said:
i prefer sprite backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That one seems also great and profi.

i also recommend spb back-up

I think Resco Backup is the most complete backup / restore software, but as it's a new challenger in Windows Mobile, they still have some small issues. For me everything works except the SMS / MMS restore, which I backup / restore temporary with PIM Backup 4.8 (which is a freeware).

I have made a backup with SPB from R1 Generic_UK ROM and I'm trying to use the backup file for the R2 Generic_UK ROM.
After restoring I got the error message:
"MainWnd.cpp 198
Unable connect to server"
Any solution?

I had problems with spb backup as well. mine did install, but i ended up with flickering screen and as soon as I clicked on settings the phone froze, so i had to take the battery out. I have been reinstalling and resetting everything for the past 4 hours.

You need to remember, If you are updating your rom...
This is essentially putting an new version of the OS your Xperia!!
So the Only items you want to restore is Databases(contacts, datebook, sms...etc) and Data(my docs area)
You do not want to restore system files or registry!!!
This will conflict with the new ROM!!!
So You after you restore only the Data.... You need to re-install apps!!!
hth,
Stuart
btw, when you run your current SPB Backup file. It will give you the option of a full retore or choosing what you want to re-Install (selective restore)....stu

I recommend SPB Backup. I use it to restore my phone about 3 times and it works great.
Features I like:
- Very fast backup and restore!
- Backups *everything*, stand-alone restorer.
- Can compress the backup.
- Can choose what to backup/restore.
- And the best thing: SPB Backup Sync! It's basically an application like the Active Sync program on your PC. You can configure it to make backups everytime you sync and copy them to your PC automatically. Works great.

Myself had trouble with it, and I did try the Pim backup, small software perhaps do not backup all the programs, but, back-up, contacts and differents folders

orelsi said:
Hi, everyone. I am tired of installing all the stuff to the phone every time i hard reset it. Is there a program that does a full backup? I want to hard reset it, run the backup program and have all the things working. Regardless if they are installed on the phone or on he memory stick.
Is spb backup well suited for the job. Remember i want everything to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I test drove a few of the backup programs out there a while back and posted my fave two here: http://xperiancer.blogspot.com/2009/01/data-backup-be-prepared.html
I recently was notified of HTC Backup utility - a free utility, as well as the new version of Resco Backup which is supposedly better than SPB Backup. I will be checking them out in the next day or so and posting more at the blog.

What about a restore after a firmware update. Will it work?

orelsi said:
What about a restore after a firmware update. Will it work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer to just backup pim.vol, cemail.vol, the weather database and a few other files. Then just let the new ROM run and install everything I want and put the backup files in play. It's fast and automatic. No fuss and it's all built in.

sprite backup does the same as spb backup,it has all the same features but i found it does not give me half as many errors as spb

Help with SPB & Sprite Backup

I recently used SPB to do a "full backup" but it only took 5minutes and the resulting backup file was only 41.7MB...my internal memory has 160MB in use so was this a complete backup and does it usually be this quick? The compression level is set to normal.
I previously used Sprite backup but when I recently wanted to restore it and clicked on the self-restoring file it said "The file cannot be opened. Either it is not signed with a trusted certificate, or one of its components cannot be found. You might need to reinstall or restore this file"...?
I even tried opening it and my previous 2 backups via opening up sprite -> restore, however it did not find the backup files? Anyone else had this problem.
Lastly, is it best to backup my storage card at the time of the backup? Just that if I ever need to do a hard reset and then restore, won't my system need the files on my storage card to be as they were at the time of my backup? (I have many programs installed on there)
Thanks for your thoughts

Anyone?.....

sprite backup problem
hi what you can try is reinstall the sprite backup program via your pc
and after that try to open the self extracting sprite backup file.
i remember having the same problem and this did the trick for me
gr liang
P.s.
i never backup my storagecard ! with sprite back up on the same storagecard you seldom will lose the data on your storagecard.
you can make a back up on your pc which includes your storagecard but then your backup will be on your pc.

hi can sprite backup work between rom upgrades?
as in , i back up now.
i flash a new rom.
i restore...
will everything be the same as before? including contacts favorite people photos?
will the new rom work properly?? ( as in the old data will it affect the new rom? )

I dont know about flashing a rom but i have tried hard reset then restore from backup using sprite and it restored everything. install sprite back on storage card and also save the executable backup file to storage card. when you do a hard reset just goto file explorer then tap on the backup file. it should restore your phone back to before you performed a hard reset. what version of sprite backup do you have. I have 6.5.4.14

6.2.3 htc edition

I currently use SPB Backup for backing up all my PIM information (contacts & emails)
As I constantly upgrade or fash new roms this is very useful. The size of this file is usually around 2.5MB
I have also done full backups which are generally around 20MB for me.
However I never use full restore after I have upgraded or changed rom. I only use full restore if I have done a hard reset or reverted back to original rom I backed up.
The reason for this is that if you do a full restore, you are restoring registry entries from your previous rom which may conflict with your new rom.
For this reason, I don't personally take the chance and only use custom restore i.e. PIM info

I was using version 6.5.4.8 also tried 6.5.4.14 - same result.
I've changed to SPB backup now and that seems to backup ok...the proof in the pudding will be once I need to restore!

6.5.4.14 works fine for me. my backup file is around 32mb though
I always backup before installing anything just incase