Removed sync relationships, all contacts gone?? - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

Why did all my contacts disappear after removing all sync relationships? I can hexedit pim.vol and see the content, a bit garbled, in there. How can I get these back?

Nothing? This never happens? I found only 2 references (1 in this board) but there was no solution posted.

malefactor said:
Nothing? This never happens? I found only 2 references (1 in this board) but there was no solution posted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
even i lost my pim when i removed the exchange server setting from my touch.

Related

alternative way to backup contacts?

Hi
Just got this thing the other day (O2 XDA Mini S) and am pulling my hair out with ActiveSync. A google and a look round these forums convinces me I'm not alone.
I'm now at the point where notes will sync, but Contacts and Calendar will not. This appears to be most likely because I'm not using an Exchange Server.
I give in. Can anyone advise whether this some alternative to ActiveSync that I can use to back up my contacts list? I'd hate to have to do it all over again.
I have a memory card, so adding software from that is no problem if necessary.
Thanks
You can try the backup tool Sunnysoft
in advanced mode is an option Backup PIM databases
lansalot said:
I'm now at the point where notes will sync, but Contacts and Calendar will not. This appears to be most likely because I'm not using an Exchange Server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you just trying to sync with your pc over the usb link? You don't need Exchange Server for that - it sync's with Outlook directly. Have you set up what information you want to sync in ActiveSync's Tools->options?
Another possibility for not syncing is any firewall you are running - although, if it was that, you wouldn't even get Notes to sync.
John
yup
Thanks for that John, yep I've done all I can see that I need to do. Missing Exchange was about the only thing left I could think of. I think I might uninstall Outlook and reinstall it to see if that helps. Though I *hate* having to install that POS just so I can backup some settings !
Perhaps there's somewhere within the phone that will export the various settings somewhere. Or perhaps I should dig out VS2005 and attempt to write one myself. Backing up to storage card would be the best option I think, and from a look around the .net mobile CF, it would appear to be pretty well supported.
And I had to disable Zonealarm despite having all the appropriate configurations set up to allow it. I even put 169.254.x.x in the trusted zone, to no avail.
ActiveSync is a shocking piece of software - and I know from owning other phones that there's things like MobiExplorer and MobiManager that tends to work much better than the usual manufacturer-supplied stuff.
Chak, thanks for the lead with SunnySoft.
Copy the pim.vol file from the root directory of the device. This contains all your pim info (contacts, call history, tasks, calendar). You can't really make anything out of it if you try to view it, but when you hard reset, you can just overwrite the new one and soft reset to restore everything. I copy mine to my storage card every time i add something new that has to do with pim stuff.
guttrhead said:
Copy the pim.vol file from the root directory of the device. This contains all your pim info (contacts, call history, tasks, calendar). You can't really make anything out of it if you try to view it, but when you hard reset, you can just overwrite the new one and soft reset to restore everything. I copy mine to my storage card every time i add something new that has to do with pim stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in my case, pim.vol file is protected, so copying & replacing it after hard reset does not work. i have other workaround for backuping contacts (as my activesync with outlook simply does not work) - each contact via irda to computer. it saves contact as .vcf file that you can send to wizard back again after hard reset.
Try using total commander to get to the file.
I yust transfered the file via email inside my home WLan to the PC.....
Hey, is this a common problem for HTC devices or Windows mobile in general?
I just started searching because my calendar won't sync. (3 palm devices and 3 pda's later, I have 1,400+ contacts.)
Are there any workarounds that anyone knows?
I tried setting up the sync settings whilst the device was disconnected, but the calendar entry just disappears when I re-connect.
-Worried of Sheffield.
thanks
Thanks eva_d, I had already hit on the idea of bluetoothing all my contacts over (thankfully, there's not that many) from my nokia 6600. Luckily, the XDA didn't require my SIM to be in it during the transfer. It even took over the mini pictures I had for some of the contacts, quite smart.
But it would be some chore with more than the couple dozen I had.
I'm reading up on the windowsmobile classes in dotnet, I reckon the answer would lie in there somewhere. Writing an app in VS to back things up to some funky open format would be the ideal, even if it does just drop a directory full of VCF files for example.
Once I'm sure VS2005 is installed and working correctly (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=41155), I'll throw some serious effort at it.
Re: thanks
lansalot said:
Thanks eva_d, I had already hit on the idea of bluetoothing all my contacts over (thankfully, there's not that many) from my nokia 6600. Luckily, the XDA didn't require my SIM to be in it during the transfer. It even took over the mini pictures I had for some of the contacts, quite smart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
copying contacts to other handset is bit risky, because various producers are using various interpretation of .vcf file format. for instance, when i copy contact from siemens s65 to wizard, email field is always ripped off the contact and polish national characters are also absent. copying contacts to computer via irda is quite safe, however personal ringtones assigned to contact and voice dials are sacrified. all other data within a contact are still present, including contact picture.
A bit more info on the missing calendar link:-
I have one laptop using activesync V.4.1 this was where i first discovered the problem.
Just tried laptop #2 running a/sync v.3.7.1 which has an older copy of my appointments in outlook. Calendar doesn't sync to this either, so it must be something inside the MDA.
Tried to search microsoft support to find a solution, but no entries found. This seems to indicate that it is a HTC issue. I had a MDA Pro briefly sync-ed up which worked Ok. The problems are with my MDA compact running WM2003.
pim.vol not only saves the contact but also the assigned ringtone and pic. only way to do it is copy to storage card.
then after hard reset it won't let you overwrite the new one but if you rename it to pim.vol.old it lets you do that. then you can overwrite it.
laich71 said:
pim.vol not only saves the contact but also the assigned ringtone and pic. only way to do it is copy to storage card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
contact pictures are NOT saved in pim.vol. when i restore contacts via irda from .vcf files on my laptop, pictures are already there.
I know this thread has moved on a bit, but I've just got my calendar to sync. again and I'm soooo relieved!
Take a look at this forum to find out how:-
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.pocketpc.activesync
Look at 'Cannot get calendar to sycnhronise' and the second reply.
Backing up the Contacts with Mail2Web Live Mail Service
I basically use the mail2web live mail service, and use its exchange server as the server source in Activesync. I only choose synching Contacts with this server (but you can choose others).
This way, all my contacts are always up to date in mail2web servers, and even if I need to hard reset, I can reget all of my contacts back very quickly.
Highly recommended...
Fast
please use the search PLEASE! ....search for PPCBckpContacts.exe
damn it!

Maximum qty of contacts....

Hi all..
Try to sync over 1000 contacts to my KJam...
but its take hours, and does not work...
I checked it with the JasJar too, and seems this is the same problem.
First, Do you familiar with such a problem?
Is there any solution for it?
Tomer Eisner
teisner said:
Hi all..
Try to sync over 1000 contacts to my KJam...
but its take hours, and does not work...
I checked it with the JasJar too, and seems this is the same problem.
First, Do you familiar with such a problem?
Is there any solution for it?
Tomer Eisner
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using the USB cable to do the sync as i think this would be the fastest method, you could try making a copy of your contacts folder in Outlook and then delete everything from the main contacts folder. Then copy the contacts from the copy you made earlier in small batches (25, 50 or 100 whatever seems to work best) and do a sync after copying each batch in.
NOTE: you will need to make sure your ActiveSync is set to replace items on the device so that with each sync it updates with only what has just been copied to the contacts folder.
I havent tried this, but in theory it should work.
Cheers
Thanks,
but my main question is it possible to sync over 1000 records?
I have a customer who has about 5000 customer...
Is there any software which can hold it out of the standard contact program, but also, can be connected to the phone?
Is there an option to keep all the contact on the SD card?
Tomer
teisner said:
Thanks,
but my main question is it possible to sync over 1000 records?
Tomer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi,
I have a way over 1.700 contacts, no problem with sync (besides it is slow for the 1st time)
you can cut off the connection anytime & continue later- sometimes it even helps...
the ony problem I had with so many contacts on my xdaII, that caller ID was slow - you got the number, but not the name
but with my wizard, it is gone: caller ID works like charm
regards,
ym
Hi,
I would like to know if having over 1000 contacts slow you device as well, or just the Caller ID?
How long time it's take you to sync each time ? Short process or long one?
Tomer
Loads of contacts across different outlook folders.
I am looking to sync about 1000 contacts spread across several contacts folder (minimum 2 folders). I realise i can copy them across to my wizard device by syncing with each folder one at a time, ( it doesnt matter if they are stored in the same location on my phone as i can filter by categories) however, is there are a way for me to actually keep my device in sync with multiple contacts folders on our PC/network as business contacts are shared out and seperate from my personal ones.
I have been searching the forums with no luck so far for a solution on this.
I have seen the GAL solution from microsoft but this only works for internal contacts and is not really a solution for us.
Jass
Just a tip - when your device is sync'd with your pc make a copy of pim.vol in the root directory of your device to pc or storage card\backup. pim.vol has all the contact and appt info in it so will be much easier for you when you next have to reset your device.
hope this helps!
I have 9 folders and 6200 contacts, its almost liek a phone book. The first time it took forever, but now its quick.
What S/W do you use to sync that many folders?
I have one HTC TYTN and active sync 4.5 beta, I have 7 different folders in my outlook program, but I can only sync with the default folders contacts to my ppc is there a way I could sync all 7 folders in one shot ? I know about Pocketmirror but 50$ US is too pricey for me, I would have paid half of the price for this app.
Do I have some other possibilities ?

Outlook Contacts Synchronization Problems

I have 368 contacts in Outlook and I use the ActiveSync to synchronize those contacts with Trinity.
Well, believe it or not only the 320 contacts are copied into my device, an some of them are missing elements (phone numbers, notes etc...).
Has anyone faced this problem before?
This should be the most straight forward process, but for some reason for me it is not!
Any help would be much appreciated as at the moment I can not use the device as my primary telephone...
Thank you!
...and I am answering to myself saying that,
any contact in Outlook 2003 with a Note is not copied to the PDA.
Additionally, any contact that has a number that is categorized as Primary is copied to the device but the telephone number is not!
Please, if there is a Thread with similar content, transfer this topic there as I think that it may be of interest of other people.
I suggest you send your findings to microsoft. It looks like a bug either in Outlook or WindowsMobile.
You are right!
But if I am the only one who notices it, then I am not sure if there is something wrong with the configuration of wither my PDA or my PC.
Although, in general, these problems should not appear...
If a device can be synchronized Outlook, it synchronizes! Period.
Well, if anyone is interested, the problem that I am describing, has to do with my PC. I connected the PDA with my work's PC and Laptop, and it could synchronize contacts with Notes.
I also downloaded and installed SP2 for Office 2003 in my Home PC, but still there was a problem with the synchronization.
At the moment I can not find the reason why the two machines can not cooperate for these kind of contacts.
Any ideas by anyone?
did you try outlook self repair? Did you try Office Update?
I also have a similar problem. But I did not go into details to find exactly why some contacts are syncd and other not. Also some contacts are occasionally duplicated.
saminegm said:
did you try outlook self repair? Did you try Office Update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried both of them.
I also tried to uninstall all Office apps, and reinstall them and still didn't work.
I am so desperate that I am starting to think a complete rebuild of my PC.
I checked anywhere I knew. Outlook Options, Forums, Microsoft, Google. I do not know how to fix this...
Any help from anyone?
yanastas said:
I tried both of them.
I also tried to uninstall all Office apps, and reinstall them and still didn't work.
I am so desperate that I am starting to think a complete rebuild of my PC.
I checked anywhere I knew. Outlook Options, Forums, Microsoft, Google. I do not know how to fix this...
Any help from anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... Do you have Outlook Categories in use? Do you use subfolders?
Do the "non-synced contacts" have special characters e.g. a street named "Löwenstr."?
It is a very strange problem you have.
I had the same problem....
The only thing that helped me was to install a newer version of activesync...
After the Upgrade to 4.5 all was OK...
hi
anybody knows how to set in contacts to see just the contacts from the phone not mixed with sim contats
thanks
You couldfind it in the forum if you search "hide Sim", I think. But anyway you edit the Registry:
Registry
HKCU
ControlPanel
Phone
ShowSim = 0
pe747 said:
You couldfind it in the forum if you search "hide Sim", I think. But anyway you edit the Registry:
Registry
HKCU
ControlPanel
Phone
ShowSim = 0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the info
Ive had exactly the same problem on my Hermes and previous models with AS4.5.
Only resolve is to create a new contact without anything in the notes field. weird.

Losing sync?

I have Vista, several times now I have lost sync with my ppc, and the only way to fix it is to reboot my computer. Also, it gives a 'unknown USB device' error when I dock it.
Ideas?
Do you have the latest version of the Mobile Device Center? It's 6.1.6965 I believe.
ticalthepimp said:
Do you have the latest version of the Mobile Device Center? It's 6.1.6965 I believe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have the latest.
I've had the same problem with XP and ActiveSync. Usually I would just unplug&replug the usb, but if there's a fix for this it would sure help a lot of headaches.
I am having this same problem right now. I have a lot of items in my calander and I can not lose them. Is there any why to back up the calander with my hotmail with out using the PC?
danibbs said:
I am having this same problem right now. I have a lot of items in my calander and I can not lose them. Is there any why to back up the calander with my hotmail with out using the PC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use ppcpimbackup http://www.dotfred.net/default.htm
That way you know your contacts and calendar stuff will be safe until you sort it out. Worst case, you will have double contacts. If this is the case, you can delete all the outlook calendar events, sync, and then restore.
I have the same problem as well. It sounds like this is something new htat is cropping up and so far is unresolved.
Here is a link over at PPCGeeks that discusses the problem.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=28926

Lost new contacts after Active Sync,need help.

i have not sync my phone with PC since last 2 months,and when i connect my phone today with PC,screen pop-up and there were 3 options.
1) do you want to combine contacts from pc to device
2)do you want to remove contacts from device and sync with outlook
3) donot do anything at this time.
so i press option 1
And now i lost my new contacts from my device which i have added in last 2 months.
i can only see contacts which i had in my outlook.
is there any way i can do undo or something so i can get my contacts back in my device?
Plz help if someone knows?
PLz,PLZ.
No. No undo for deleted contacts after synchronization with Outlook.
Junner2003 said:
No. No undo for deleted contacts after synchronization with Outlook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks,
one more thing
i still have pim volume in my device,i tried to read it with MS Excel & MS Word pad,but its giving me all symbols,i cant read it,Any idea on that??
And do you guys think that pim volume now i have on my device still has old contacts after active sync??
Thanks one more time in advance.
desisatguru said:
thanks,
one more thing
i still have pim volume in my device,i tried to read it with MS Excel & MS Word pad,but its giving me all symbols,i cant read it,Any idea on that??
And do you guys think that pim volume now i have on my device still has old contacts after active sync??
Thanks one more time in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the pim.vol cannot be read through conventional means (i.e. MS office) i remember a program that u can get to read it i dont remember the name though
whatever is on your phone is whats gonna be in the pim file

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