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!
Hi,
Does anyone know where the contacts are stored on the XDA Exec? I would like to store over 12,000 contacts but I find it fills my memory up and the XDA runs extremely slow. I have had to delete them all.
Just so you know, I don't have 12,000 friends, I work for a large company and it would be nice to sync my Works contacts on to my PDA.
If only I can get Contacts to store them on my Storage Card and run from there.
Cheers
Lee
Contacts & Calendar Items are stored in the PIM.vol
Don't you read man?
cant find pim.vol
I tried lookin for pim.vol in windows folder on my exec but couldnt find. I selected the option of show all files still I cant see. Please help... I need to give my phone for repair before which i want to backup my contacts...
thnx a lot
I would use a synchronization woth outlook (you can then keep your datathere when your machine is in repair). Alternatively, use a back-up program like sprite or SPB backup.
PIM.vol is in root on your phone, not in \windows.
But do a backup before sending the phone anywhere, activesync, and do use Sprite or SPB Backup.
V
Go for Sprite so you can restore even after a ROM upgrade Best to do a full backup and restore to avoid any issues
AKU3.2 allows you to be able to leave all your 12,000 contacts lying on your company's server, after which you can remotely access your contact list from within the contact application
This is extremely fast and works close enough as searching for the contacts within your own phone's database.
The only requirement is Exchange Server 2003 Service pack2 from your company's end.
bluebotle said:
Hi,
Does anyone know where the contacts are stored on the XDA Exec? I would like to store over 12,000 contacts but I find it fills my memory up and the XDA runs extremely slow. I have had to delete them all.
Just so you know, I don't have 12,000 friends, I work for a large company and it would be nice to sync my Works contacts on to my PDA.
If only I can get Contacts to store them on my Storage Card and run from there.
Cheers
Lee
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's an idea for your large contact database- why not export to an excel spreadsheet and this way you have the info for reference and you can save the spreadsheet on your memory card.
My htc diamond screen went out, i was able to make a pimbackup file (which is no use to me now i have a android phone.) I can still access my files by connecting it to the computer. Is there a way i can look at my contacts so i can put them on my new phone?
use this with your phone on your pc
http://mymobiler.com/
or sync contact with your diamond with a gmail account end then sync with your android phone
Tsuekasa said:
My htc diamond screen went out, i was able to make a pimbackup file (which is no use to me now i have a android phone.) I can still access my files by connecting it to the computer. Is there a way i can look at my contacts so i can put them on my new phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use gmail
- by syncing from WM to exchange at m.gmail.com
- create non binary backup with ppcpimbackup, extract files - one of them is contacts.
rings and contact photos wont be imported by android but names/numbers are imported/exported properly to android phone
m32
Hi guys, I recently reinstalled windows from 7 to 7.5 but I lost all the contacts which I added onto my phone since I was on 7. There was no options that I saw to "save to sim card or save to phone" like most other phones out there so I dont know where they are saved.. I had a brain wave about the fact that the contacts were "linked" with my email account but there is only the emails saved. I am wondering if the numbers are saved somewhere or, each time I have to reinstall I will have to ask fro their numbers every time? Has anyone else had this happen?
Please let me know as I really want to update my rom and radio for better battery life!
Many thanks,
Marc
you cant save contacts to SIM card.. not compatible... phone automatically save contacts to your Live account (and you never loose contacts if you not loose your login data ) this is only if you login to Live account with your phone (and also live activation code entered)
you can access online to your account contact list via
http://mail.live.com/?rru=contacts
ahh yes, i see it now, so then I can export the whole list as a .csv file too. Now I sign in on my phone and can add it to the phone directory? Sorry if its nooby but I cant seem to access anything like that through the dedicated email app? Juat on internet explorer?
Marc
if you have mails in contacts list, you simply use mail app
and again, all is simple... you thinking too much simple: add Live account to phone and all is solved... all your contacts be saved and you not loose it and you use this contacts with phone or computer...
i give you this link http://mail.live.com/?rru=contacts to access it via computer (if you need to change contacts very easy if need it), not with WP7...
pda v8 has this function build-in
The screen on my Samsung Focus no longer works however the rest of the phone works as I am able to place calls using the bluetooth in my car. However I have since picked up an HTC One X but I am at a loss on how to get to my contacts. I do not see any of my contacts on the windows live ID I used to set up the phone nothing seems to have backed up anywhere but they are on my phone somewhere since I can place a call using name recognition in my car.
so I guess I have 2 questions.
Is there something i'm missing within the Zune software to backup the entire phone like Itunes has?
Is there a way I can access the internal storage via my computer to fish out the contacts in my phonebook?
If anyone is able to help you'd lower my blood pressure and prolong my life. Thank You.
do you have a "sim card" if so all your contacts are in it!
Had 2 different places read the sim card. They said there's nothing on it. It's the first thing I tried.
Contacts are on the phone, unless you've specified you want them back-up'd somewhere else, online. I usually use either Outlook account or Gmail to sync my contacts. The contacts on the SIM are retrieved TO the phone, not saved TO the SIM (Settings, People, Import SIM contacts).
One way I see you could backup your contacts this is to get these 2 files from the phone:
"store.vol" and "PimIndex.vol"
These contain the SMS and the contacts.
For that, mandatory reads: this thread and this thread
You could explore the phone with Touch Explorer, but depends on too many things if it will work...
Another idea is to do it "blindly" with 2 phones: yours and another Focus side-by-side and trying to copy exactly where to tap...
There might be an app on Marketplace that backups automatically on skydrive. But you'd have to search for such.
Good luck mate.