Related
hi,
only a question:
the xbackup software makes a complete backup of the s100 system, including installed software information and windows registry ?
thank's
don't know what an S100 is (is it another name for the magician?), but on my device, it completely restores the device exactly how it was (except after it restores, i have no wallpaper... but that isn't exactly hard to fix).
the only problem i've ever had is i have to reinstall voice command. other than that, everything is restored perfectly.
Get a copy of sprite backup, it's much much more capable than xbackup. Not free, but trial is available.
Cheers, M
the problem of xbackup is that it takes too long to back up and restore.
Never used xbackup before to backup everything but if it works, hey that's great. I personally prefer Sprite Backup because I can schedule my backup runs every morning
another question
hello,
the activesync backup is capable to make a backup (and restore) including all data in the ram (files, registry, configuration...) ??
thank's
looks like it, though I encountered serious probs. when restoring. All contacts, appointments etc. so all pim data couldn't be restored because something was in use. I guess the databases are locked by either Act.Sync itself or poutlook. After restoring the data I tried to synchronize & then it really screwed up: the device id for Act.Sync is the same after the restore so AS happily deleted all the missing pim data from outlook on my PC since it wasn't present on my magician anymore (marked as 'removed' probably) it really sucks when that happens. Had to hard-reset, install everything again & at work I sync'd again from scratch & got almost everything back. So Sprite is my program, it can restore everything & I see no use in a backup/restore option which have me to hard-reset to get my pim's back. Exit M$ in this case (again).
M
Re: another question
bartito said:
hello,
the activesync backup is capable to make a backup (and restore) including all data in the ram (files, registry, configuration...) ??
thank's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look at oltp's post for the answer....you need to use a third party backup software like Sprite
thank's to everybody.
i'm trying to download a trial version of sprite backup from pocketgear or handango, but the only existing options is the buy of them.
don't exists a trial version of sprite ?
regards
Buy it ..it's worth every penny..I've already done 3 hard resets in the past three days to test out some drivers and dodgy software but everytime, I easily restored everything using my previous day's backup.
I did find a trial version, can't remember where. version number is 2.1.4 not the most recent one, so I'm thinking of buying the latest version.
M
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/pocketpc/pocketbackupplus.html
this is the trial version i think :?
oops may want to read this first though
http://www.spritesoftware.com/support/sprite_backup_version_history.html
but with sprite backup, if you do a hard reset, don't you have to reinstall it, then do a restore?
if that's the case, that's pretty lame if you ask me
you have the option to save your backup as an .exe file so in the case of a hard reset, all you do is to run the backup file and 2 minutes later, everything is restored.
Nope it can create selfextracting backups
I have used SPB Backup on a number of HTC devices over the last couple of years (Universal, Wizard and Hermes) with no problems. In every case the backup has taken a couple of minutes to complete.
But with the Niki, I am having all sorts of problems. When I try to carry out a backup, it is painfully slow. On the first few attempts it timed out, saying that SPB Backup was not responding. I am presently trying again, but switching off the screen during the process. I switch it back on occasionally to check progress. After about 30 minutes, I am still only about 1/4 of the way through.
I am using the latest version of SPB Backup, and it is installed to my device.
Is there anyone out there who has SPB Backup working with their Niki?
Had the same problems. Try SpriteBackup or wait for a fix!
If you want a "clean" restore, you should always hard reset the device before restoring from backup.
S-Line said:
Had the same problems. Try SpriteBackup or wait for a fix!
If you want a "clean" restore, you should always hard reset the device before restoring from backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that. I guess that I will go with SpriteBackup.
If you go into options you can uncheck the box that says "stop processes before backup", this has worked for me.
I now get good backups, I don't ever have any processes left running to stop anyway.
If you do then manually stopping them first may be the way to go.
I have a Neon not a Niki but had the same problem
SPB backup version 2 works fine
Just tried newly released SPB Backup v 2 & works fine wt 'stop all processes' ticked. It seems faster too.
Hissing Syd said:
Is there anyone out there who has SPB Backup working with their Niki?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got it, Installed and backed up a couple times. I also tested by doing a hard reset and using the stand-alone restorer option for the backup. Restored perfectly. Bluetooth partnerships, exchange and everything works like it never went down.
Great app. Can't wait to test the ROM upgrade feature
SPB Backup not working ADDITION 1
ADDITION 1:
I managed to create the same problem again with SPB Backup version 2 while tweaking the fonts & system cache settings upwards (see post on 'how to make our devices more responsive' by tweaking the registry or actually use excellent little programme called Nike Tweak (you will find it somewhere in the forum). When I downgraded the settings a bit the programme was again able to backup my system with the 'stop prcesses' box ticked. Though I didn't actually test, I suspect one could manage to use version 1 to perform a full backup of device system by downgrading these settings. the other possible advantage of version 2 over version 1, apart from speed, is that I stopped getting the worrying error message 'could not open file /Windows/Isoma/lic/00000...0.db' the significance of which I don't actually know.
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
I did a short search but didnt find a good guide for this (probaly exist but i have short time now to do futher search)
so here goes my question
I had some problems lately on HD so i want to hard reset it for the first time
to make it work good
What should i use to easy backup the HD i heard about Sprite but i also read someone says it screwed their phone when restoring so is sprite best for backup?
What i want to back up is:
- some programs so i dont have to install them again
- The analog manila clock i tweaked (something like 0d26c504_manila i put inside windows in hd)
- The touch flo teme
- The wallpapers (They not saved on the sdcard)
- Contact list
- Calculator skin
- Opera favorites
So what program do i use
I downloaded the sprite version and already did a backup with it
but i dont even know if im using the right version i just downloaded some random version on the web installed it on Hd and did a backup of all except the Sd card.
But if i was to HARD RESET the phone i guess Sprite program also be viped so then how do i restore the backup if is wiped?
Anyone can help in the best way to do my first backup and restore
thanks
There is also another way more detailed in the wiki.
Wouldn't recommend this unless you know what you are doing though.
Link here
try Spb Backup, can do a partial/full backup and restore..works fine...
calcop said:
try Spb Backup, can do a partial/full backup and restore..works fine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Questions:
1. once backed up how do i restore if Spb backup also get wiped when hardreset?
2. Should i install Spb backup on the Sdcard
3. When i tried run Spb backup and do Full backup i get "estimating" instead of it display the size of the backup why?
4. Will i have to install again the programs i installed on SDCARD? (if so then next time i install them on the phone instead)
5. If i had some minor problems with the phone should i not backup the system data?
Coolvibes said:
Is Spb Backup v2.0.0 good to use?
and once backed up how do i restore if Spb backup also get wiped when hardreset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Install spb backup
2. make te backup (to the micro sd)
3. hard reset or update rom or whatever
4. install spb backup
5. restore backup
martjah said:
1. Install spb backup
2. make te backup (to the micro sd)
3. hard reset or update rom or whatever
4. install spb backup
5. restore backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, Ok i see the backup is saved to the Sdcard so when i Install Spb backup again i just point it to the backed up file stored on sdcard
thats excelent.
But in my situation (and considering i had some errors on HD so i hard reseting it) should i do a fullback up or a personalize
and if i do a personalize of the system files
should i exclude backup databases and registry and only backup system files and the rest?
I do want to backup the Manila analog clock and the touch flo theme i tweaked most important.
Personally I prefer SPB Backup, straight forward, plus its slightly cheaper than Sprite
I tried a full backup with Spb backup now
i got some error on some files that refused to read
files like Picturemate files with .bpsd extensions
stylus .bpsd files
a bunch of manila files saved under /windows/MACOSX
and finaly:
unable to open database
OID=0x40406000
and
backup file is too lage for self-extracting file, a stand-alone restorer will be put in the same directory
Are this files important?
or is my backup correct?
Sorry to have to ask another question this is very important
If i choose custum backup and uncheck some system files
after a hard-reset and after running restore in spb backup will the restore simple just overwrite the files i choosed to restore and leave intact the newly default files from the hard-reset, or if i uncheck important system files (important for the HD to work not important to backup for me) will it means the wmobile os will not work well because is missing file?
I think is the first thing that by unchecking some files it simply just not overwrite the default files, because default files already is there after hard-reset and wont get wiped unless i over-write them by spb backup right?
Just want to be sure
Also is there any files that is not nessesary at all to backup if using custum mode.
And what files in custum i have to backup if i realy want back up of:
- The analog manila clock i tweaked (something like 0d26c504_manila i put inside windows in hd)
- The touch flo teme
- The wallpapers (They not saved on the sdcard)
- Calculator skin
This 4 are realy the most important for me to backup
a bit of a noob question but is my first time doing backup
I've been through this process a few times recently.
The way I've done it:
1) Run SPB Backup and do a full backup.
- The error messages are similar to mine, they can usually be ignored. I've not seen the database error yet, but try running the back up again just in case.
2) once the backup is complete, do your hard reset.
3) Setup up the phone for the first time again, screen configurations etc. Then run the backup_xxxxxxx.exe app on your storage card. The x's with be replaced with the date it was created.
4) do a full restore. Your phone should now be back to the way it was before the hard reset including themes and installed apps.
Thats how it worked for me anyway where I've been switiching between different ROMS!
martjah said:
1. Install spb backup
2. make te backup (to the micro sd)
3. hard reset or update rom or whatever
4. install spb backup
5. restore backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, no need to install SPB AGAIN. If you installed it in your microSD (with so little space in the device, no reason why you wouldn't) its still there, the backup is a .exe file. So after the hard reset, just use file explorer and locate your backup file and run it.
Surprisingly most third party installed apps in the microSD still works except the games...just by locating them using fileExplorer in the program files folder of the microSD.
HTH
This DOES NOT work!
(Well for me anyway)
I did a full back up, updated to Duttys new ROM, then restored
Unfortunately it restored everything - including all the manila files and registry changes. When I went into the device information, it was telling my I had ROM v1.9b, not v2.1 that I'd installed
harrispo said:
This DOES NOT work!
(Well for me anyway)
I did a full back up, updated to Duttys new ROM, then restored
Unfortunately it restored everything - including all the manila files and registry changes. When I went into the device information, it was telling my I had ROM v1.9b, not v2.1 that I'd installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had this same issue. I believe this is a bug. You should still have V2.1 installed.
Did you check device information before you restored everything?
harrispo said:
This DOES NOT work!
(Well for me anyway)
I did a full back up, updated to Duttys new ROM, then restored
Unfortunately it restored everything - including all the manila files and registry changes. When I went into the device information, it was telling my I had ROM v1.9b, not v2.1 that I'd installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Err did the backup file had 2.1 as the rom during that process or 1.9b? If you back up your DEVICE having 1.9b, then you installed 2.1 and run the back up again, i think its pretty obvious it will revert everything that the backup file had (which is the 1.9b)
I think its more useful for those who are eager to install 3rd party apps, crashes their phone and no choice but to do a hard reset. After a hard reset, no need to install everything again. It is NOT supposed to work like u have a backup of a previous rom and apps, then install a new rom and run the backup and expect ONLY the apps to get restored.
Anyway, we all know that custom roms like dutty's (great work by the way!) are not tested to work properly with 3rd party apps since he did mention that he didn't like installing too much 3rd party apps. But ofcourse, we want some of these and that in our phone and we want this custom rom too, so my tip is to install like 2-3 apps first, test then if it doesn't cause any error with the rom, then do a backup. then when u encounter an error like mine, (TF3D failed to load even on a soft reset) I was forced to do a hard reset... But w/o installing spb again, i just searched for my .exe file using file explorer, run it then all gud working apps are back again.
kieboy said:
Err did the backup file had 2.1 as the rom during that process or 1.9b? If you back up your DEVICE having 1.9b, then you installed 2.1 and run the back up again, i think its pretty obvious it will revert everything that the backup file had (which is the 1.9b).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Restoring a backup from SPB Backup 2 will not revert you to a previously flashed ROM. This can only be done by re-flashing. It will just restore your apps and settings. You will still be on ROM 2.1. Check the Splash screen when you hot reset the phone.
EDIT
It may well be that SPB backup is also restoring the text that you are seeing in the device information page. This does not mean that the previous ROM has also been restored.
My device is showing the same behaviour. I am running Dutty's Extreme 2.1 ROM and have restored apps and settings from my previous Extreme 1.9 ROM. My device information is displaying Extreme 1.9 even though I have V2.1 installed.
Hope this is clear.
I stand corrected great find indeed. well there you have it folks, time to flash and restore backup
Fallen Spartan said:
Restoring a backup from SPB Backup 2 will not revert you to a previously flashed ROM. This can only be done by re-flashing. It will just restore your apps and settings. You will still be on ROM 2.1. Check the Splash screen when you hot reset the phone.
EDIT
It may well be that SPB backup is also restoring the text that you are seeing in the device information page. This does not mean that the previous ROM has also been restored.
My device is showing the same behaviour. I am running Dutty's Extreme 2.1 ROM and have restored apps and settings from my previous Extreme 1.9 ROM. My device information is displaying Extreme 1.9 even though I have V2.1 installed.
Hope this is clear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you Mr Spartan. I will now flash to my heart's giddy content
I've been reading this thread with interest as yesterday I flashed my first ROM - Dutty 2.1 - and I can really see why people love what these geniuses are doing with their cooked ROMs.
Now I want to play around with other ROMs so I'm going to get spbbackup but just a quick question:
ROMs like Dutty's have updated calculators, dialers, calendar etc. If I start from shipped HD ROM with my favorite apps installed and do a backup, then install a cooked ROM (e.g. Dutty 2.1) and do a restore, will the calculator, dialer etc. be replaced with the old ones becasue they are "apps"?
Or, can I selectively choose which apps to backup in spb?
Thanks
Newton.
Should be clear to you all by now that if one backups system files these will be restored to the new ROM. Its a feature, but of course only useful when reverting back to the very same ROM the backup was made from.
That is why Sprite Backup 6.5 which I use offers three restore levels 1) system, programs, personal data 2) programs, personal data 3) only personal data
On top of that, one can choose which programs should be restored. Because if you installed apps that modified the old Manila, and restore them to the new Manila problems will arise as well.
With these precautions Backup/Restore over new ROMs will be a pleasant experience.
After speaking with a friend about a biweekly hard reset "schedule," I've decided to research the eversopopular application from SPB Software, which is their backup application, SPB Backup.
I've heard many good things about it, in terms of reliability, consistency, and the easy to use interface.
Now, having said all of that... are there programs that allow for a COMPLETE SYSTEM BACKUP & RESTORE? As in... all of the modifications, applications, registry, etc. I have now are SAVED, BACKED UP, and capable of being restored onto my device without consequence.
Is SPB Backup the ideal program for this? Please, feel free to offer your suggestions below... thank you in advance.
I have used SPB Backup on my HTC Kaiser and it did a complete phone backup minus the stuff in Rom. In other words, if I did a complete backup & did a hard reset, it would restore the phone back exactly to the state it was(MINUS what was on the SD card). So if you installed anything on the SD card, you would want to do a separate manual backup of your card. I restored numerous backups onto the Kaiser & it ALWAYS restored accurately and completely.
I have been using SPB Backup to backup my HD2, but have yet to do a complete restore from a hard reset (haven't had to). Maybe someone else can verify that it is 100% restoring fine....... Hope this info helps.
By the way, on Twitter, you stated that you found a "handy" application that allows you to automatically switch between interfaces such as: SPBMS, Titanium, and HTC Sense...... what's the name of it?.... TIA.
BIOYAM said:
I have used SPB Backup on my HTC Kaiser and it did a complete phone backup minus the stuff in Rom. In other words, if I did a complete backup & did a hard reset, it would restore the phone back exactly to the state it was(MINUS what was on the SD card). So if you installed anything on the SD card, you would want to do a separate manual backup of your card. I restored numerous backups onto the Kaiser & it ALWAYS restored accurately and completely.
I have been using SPB Backup to backup my HD2, but have yet to do a complete restore from a hard reset (haven't had to). Maybe someone else can verify that it is 100% restoring fine....... Hope this info helps.
By the way, on Twitter, you stated that you found a "handy" application that allows you to automatically switch between interfaces such as: SPBMS, Titanium, and HTC Sense...... what's the name of it?.... TIA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the reply.
I'll look a little further into this.
As for that application for switching between interfaces... I came across that on PPCGeeks from a guy named, "Darkness" who also created most of the disabling .CAB files for Titanium and Sense.
His interface switcher works really well. I downloaded the one specifically designed for Titanium and Sense. NOT THE SPB MOBILE SHELL VERSION!
And one more thing... all of the .CAB files I have installed, I installed them to my device, not my storage card. So, if those files are on my device... would those be backed up within the files that SPB Backup compresses?
Reignzone said:
........ As for that application for switching between interfaces... I came across that on PPCGeeks from a guy named, "Darkness" who also created most of the disabling .CAB files for Titanium and Sense.
His interface switcher works really well. I downloaded the one specifically designed for Titanium and Sense. NOT THE SPB MOBILE SHELL VERSION!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this info .... I'll check it out.
Reignzone said:
And one more thing... all of the .CAB files I have installed, I installed them to my device, not my storage card. So, if those files are on my device... would those be backed up within the files that SPB Backup compresses?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those .cab files would definitely be captured in the backup.
It hasn't had a completely good press but I use Sprite Backup on my HD2. I suppose it's habit after I first used it on my hx4700.
It will restore my HD2 to its backed up state, settings, programs, registry and tweaks. It will back up storage cards if you want it too. It has a mode that allows restoration of suitable data to another device too. It can back up to a network.
I schedule it to run daily and use it at other times as needed. When I restore, I usually hard reset first. Setting Sprite to 'delete all files' during a restoration does much the same. I set it to replace settings. The registry can be replaced or merged; it seems that this makes no difference.
The program has yet to let me down do I haven't felt the need to try SPB Backup.
You might also try the backup feature in SKTools. I find it works well and the software has additional uses.
BIOYAM said:
Thanks for this info .... I'll check it out.
Those .cab files would definitely be captured in the backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you again for your feedback.
I'm definitely feeling a little bit better about entrusting this software with my precious files.
DrATty said:
It hasn't had a completely good press but I use Sprite Backup on my HD2. I suppose it's habit after I first used it on my hx4700.
It will restore my HD2 to its backed up state, settings, programs, registry and tweaks. It will back up storage cards if you want it too. It has a mode that allows restoration of suitable data to another device too. It can back up to a network.
I schedule it to run daily and use it at other times as needed. When I restore, I usually hard reset first. Setting Sprite to 'delete all files' during a restoration does much the same. I set it to replace settings. The registry can be replaced or merged; it seems that this makes no difference.
The program has yet to let me down do I haven't felt the need to try SPB Backup.
You might also try the backup feature in SKTools. I find it works well and the software has additional uses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And thank you kind sir for your reply as well.
All the opinions and facts here certainly make me feel more comfortable with this process, as I am YET to actually perform a backup... not once. So, I figure it's better late than never, right?
I'll look into SKTools and certainly do some research about the Sprite software for Windows Mobile, because I'm familiar with their work for Android. On the Android platform, it did the job quite well.
Thanks again. All of this was reassuring.
I use SPB backup all the time on my HD2.. i have it scheduled to make a complete backup + SD card every second night..
It works very well and have tried to restore several times (just to test) without any problems!
However if you flash a new rom i would not advice you to do a complete backup, but instead make a partially backup of documents, contacts, email and so on..
It even keeps your email signature and settings when doing the parcial backup, so i also use it everytime i flash a new rom, together with either xda UC or auto install from sd card..
Hope it helps, and i can say for sure that this software works perfect with both EU and US roms..
Happy backup
never put your money in one place..means never trust 1 app for your backup specially you got a rahter-die-than-lose-your-files files
not so often i meet my bad luck to restore my files from such spb restore app but lucky me i had 2 similar backup from 3 backup apps maybe u will make it 2 apps thinking about space left
and always save at least 2 backup files with the same app but different time, kind'a storage eater right??but this useful when u got error from another file
hope this useful for u
maverick_endit81 said:
never put your money in one place..means never trust 1 app for your backup specially you got a rahter-die-than-lose-your-files files
not so often i meet my bad luck to restore my files from such spb restore app but lucky me i had 2 similar backup from 3 backup apps maybe u will make it 2 apps thinking about space left
and always save at least 2 backup files with the same app but different time, kind'a storage eater right??but this useful when u got error from another file
hope this useful for u
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...And check the restoration process before you need to use it in anger. Finding that there is something wrong with your backup files when you need to use them in anger is... frustrating.
I mentioned Sprite's ability to restore data to a new device. This includes devices where the ROM has been replaced. I haven't tried it and obviously, not everything can be transferred. The migration features might be useful in your situation though.
Microsoft's myPhone is worth a mention. It can be used to backup your PIM data and documents, photographs and music. I haven't tried using it to restore anything yet though. My PIM data is saved in Outlook and that is backed up to hard disks and in the Cloud via iDrive, DropBox, Humyo and Live MESH. It's probably the one thing I can least afford to lose.
I would appreciate if anyone told me if the SPB Backup utility backs up the SPB Mobile Shell layout as well (the way the icons are arranged and other stuff like that). That would REALLY help me save some precious time ...
SPB Backup - Great App
I bought this application a couple of days ago and I do a backup before I install some questionable apps or just in case I don't like the way it changed other things on my HD2. But I decided to go with the ROM from Sergio and everything seemed fine until I missed some calls and I just didn't like the changes on IE so this morning I decided to try my backup restore. I flashed back to the stock ROM and then ran my backup EXE file. It asked if I wanted to change the time to the current time (Sprite Backup doesn't have this option and restores to the backup time so you have to manually change it) so I moved forward. The backup was just the way I left it. I am glad I purchased this software. Just my 2 cents.
anrabi4 said:
I would appreciate if anyone told me if the SPB Backup utility backs up the SPB Mobile Shell layout as well (the way the icons are arranged and other stuff like that). That would REALLY help me save some precious time ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprite Backup can; it depends on the settings used. I think I'm right in saying that both Sprite and SPB Backup will restore a device to exactly the same state it was at when the backup was made. The only exceptions are where files on a storage card that were used by an application in internal memory have been changed or deleted since the backup was made. Files on removable storage can be added to backups in Sprite to avoid this happening.
dgreening said:
...It asked if I wanted to change the time to the current time (Sprite Backup doesn't have this option and restores to the backup time so you have to manually change it) so I moved forward...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprite Backup leaves the time alone. I used to hard reset (or delete all files and replace settings) and restore the backup. My HD2 sets the time itself either just after the reset or just after the restoration is complete so I find I don't need to do anything. It hasn't caused any problems that I am aware of so far.
dgreening said:
I bought this application a couple of days ago and I do a backup before I install some questionable apps or just in case I don't like the way it changed other things on my HD2. But I decided to go with the ROM from Sergio and everything seemed fine until I missed some calls and I just didn't like the changes on IE so this morning I decided to try my backup restore. I flashed back to the stock ROM and then ran my backup EXE file. It asked if I wanted to change the time to the current time (Sprite Backup doesn't have this option and restores to the backup time so you have to manually change it) so I moved forward. The backup was just the way I left it. I am glad I purchased this software. Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed.
I caved in last night and purchased the SPB Software program as well.
I backed up my system last night... surprisingly though, it was much "smaller" than I had originally expected it to be. Something around 80MB, at least that's what the application "calculated" it was going to be. I suppose that could be in compressed form though...
Anyway, it seems to have done the job well. And I certainly love that I was able to create a backup copy on my SD Card, along with my desktop PC.
I also have SK Tools... so I think having a couple if not MORE than a few system restore and backup utilities is a good thing.
low-dogg said:
I use SPB backup all the time on my HD2.. i have it scheduled to make a complete backup + SD card every second night..
It works very well and have tried to restore several times (just to test) without any problems!
However if you flash a new rom i would not advice you to do a complete backup, but instead make a partially backup of documents, contacts, email and so on..
It even keeps your email signature and settings when doing the parcial backup, so i also use it everytime i flash a new rom, together with either xda UC or auto install from sd card..
Hope it helps, and i can say for sure that this software works perfect with both EU and US roms..
Happy backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I'm looking in the partial possibilities for restoring with the SPB, I can find in the "customize restore" those:
PIM DATA (CONTACTS, TASKS, APPOINTMENTS,...)
EMAILS
TEXT MESSAGES
MY DOCUMENTS
SYSTEM DATA (including: CUSTOMIZE... RESTORE FILES, RESTORE DATABASES and RESTORE REGISTRY)
If I flash a new rom, which exactly possibilities I have to choose?
SPB Backup works perfectly for me. Scheduled backup every night, restore complete system after hard reset, etc.
Don't forget the precious desktop companion SPBBackupUnpack: extract files, registry keys ... and more.
harrygol said:
When I'm looking in the partial possibilities for restoring with the SPB, I can find in the "customize restore" those:
PIM DATA (CONTACTS, TASKS, APPOINTMENTS,...)
EMAILS
TEXT MESSAGES
MY DOCUMENTS
SYSTEM DATA (including: CUSTOMIZE... RESTORE FILES, RESTORE DATABASES and RESTORE REGISTRY)
If I flash a new rom, which exactly possibilities I have to choose?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have restored PIM data, system databases, documents, mail and text messages between devices with Sprite Backup and it has worked perfectly. That includes the same device with different ROMs and even entirely different devices. Restoring the registry and software is sometimes problematic but SPB Backup has a ROM upgrade mode to help here.
I'd check out the support forum for your particular solution to see what works. Restoring the wrong items used to cause trouble and could create quite a mess. I haven't heard of anything in particular since the new restore modes were introduced.
Call me old fashioned, but, backup/restore tools always make me feel uneasy.
I know that there are many for whom they run "faultlessly" and for certain problems they really do offer solutions, however, the one situation that I have a concern about is the backup/restore across a ROM change, be it either a simple stock upgrade or a cooked ROM flash.
You would be throwing a set of data at a virgin phone that had been collected from a setup that had presumably either failed or been superceded!
In either event I would want to know that any potentially destabalising ellements had been eliminated and not "carried over" to, what should be, a fresh setup.
I can remember horrific problems caused by advice to use backup/restore on many other phones and they were all identified as having been situations in which the use was applied across a ROM change.
And lets be clear about this, we have enough trouble with badly coded software as it is. You only have to run down the new daily posts in these forums to see how difficult it is for many to achieve a stable/useable phone and that situation quite often occurs right out of the box!
For my part I must admit that I have become particularly fond of MyPhone.
It has always done the job for me, although I only use it for basic PIM restore after a new ROM flash, which I seem to be doing every couple of days at the moment. However, I do also allow it to retain a copy of my photos and music, but, I've never restored from it as the file sizes and subsequent time taken are too great.
I have identically synced (from within my laptop file manager, but, I have had need to do it directly phone to phone!) MSD cards of the same size in two seperate phones one being the HD2 and the other being a Nokia E71. These cards hold music, photos, documents, downloads, a section for reinstall apps and my current and previous ROM and radio images. This means that the cards are interchangeable and I keep an image of them on a USB stick. My apps are never installed to mem card.
My final piece of backup is by way of my trusty Ameo which holds one more complete data and app set.
So if any two pieces of equipment fail I can still recover the situation and notice that I give only passing mention to a PC or laptop.
I access MyPhone through my mobile broadband WiFi router which is constantly on and is powered through a UPS which gives about three days backup use.
With all this I have got a task 29, new ROM flash, reinstall of apps and settings down to about 35 mins.
It just came to me that we do lavish a lot of attention our our little pals!
Don't we?
Too much? LOL.
SPB BACKUP FAILED FOR ME ON HTC Touch PRO 2
I was used to restore my Touch 3g and my Qtek S200 with SPB backup and at all times successfully. So, I updated to last SPB backup software version (of course I bought that software). On Saturday I did something erroneous on my TP2 and needed to hard reset. After that, I tried to restore my full backups, one after other from newer to older and a total of 15. All of them restored apparently well, but HTC sense did not start-up any longer in any of the cases. I had to manually re-install all the stuff back and I just restore the emails and PIM from the backup. The PIM database did not longer sync with my Outlook. I had to recreate the partnership. After that, all my notifications were duplicated... a complete mess. I cannot understand what went wrong, because the backup and restore log files where always showing no error. I am using the stock ROM (WM6.5 + HTC sense 2.5) and all my software is either legal or GPL. Nothing special on my device apart of all my beloved data.
So that is my experience with SPB backup that was always good, has turned to be negative. Of course, now I am afraid to try again.
Anybody has experience the same?
Any idea?
Thanks folks.