Database Users

Backup AND RESTORE SMS messages?

Hello,
I've searched the board several times since months and haven't found a solution to my problem yet.
My problem is as follows:
I have my Wizard (O2 Germany, so Xda mini S) since february (in fact it is the third one, O2 support changed it two times because the stylus didn't lock anymore after few weeks of use... have to change it again...).
And few months ago, I tried Sprite Backup, what I am using since then. Although it worked well, one thing is annoying: sometimes after hard reset and restore of only my mail database (cemail.vol, the only thing I really need to be backed up), the Messaging app doesn't show mail accounts anymore, but when I try to create new ones with the same names, it says, that the accounts already exist. So I created new accounts with different names, as many other users did, how I could read here. They co-exist and take memory.
Interesting thing: the Spb Diary messaging program can see the old accounts, and so it is also possible to delete the messages, that are still there in the old accounts. It can take a long time and many clicks (taps), because you can delete only one message at once, but it is better than nothing. One problem persists: Spb Diary can't delete the accounts themselves.
Therefore I am searching for a way to extract only my SMS messages (eMail is not important, I have it all on PC), start with an empty mail database (hard reset) and restore only the SMS messages into that new database.
The only program I have found so far, that really looked well for the first moment, is Jeyo Mobile Extender (or Companion). It backups the SMS Messages to PC, but not all of them. Messages in subfolders are ignored (I have subfolders for delivery notifications, call missed notifications and so on). And the restore doesn't work as expected. The date of the messages gets messed up, long messages (>160 charactes) get cut, and even the sender/receiver of the messages can get flipped.
But it must be possible to write a program, that fits my needs, I think (by the way: what is going on with the developers of WM2005? Backing up messages from mobile device to desktop is ESSENTIAL!!! Why isn't such a feature included?).
And because I am sure that I am not the only one with this problems hoping for a solution, I could imagine that someone already has written such a tool.
So, please, if anyone knows a tool or a different solution (editing mail database, removing everything except SMS messages...), PLEASE, help me!
Thank you very much in advance!

Yeaa im also really looking for a soultion to this, i Recently got a Windows Mobile device and i really wanna just be able to transfer my Series 60 Messages in Text format now.. to my Pocket PC's Messaging.

I can't believe nobody has made an app to backup and restore SMS's despite the growing number of people who need just sucha an app.
Except for Kai's, I don't think there is anything out there that does the job.
I hope SPB includes an option in the future to backup specific accounts only, because it is by far the best messaging backup app I have used till date.

leepriestenator said:
I can't believe nobody has made an app to backup and restore SMS's despite the growing number of people who need just sucha an app.
Except for Kai's, I don't think there is anything out there that does the job.
I hope SPB includes an option in the future to backup specific accounts only, because it is by far the best messaging backup app I have used till date.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jeyo has. works fine

jeyo is crappy piece of ****. better than nothing, but doesn't back up all messages, no self-created subfolders, no dupe-check, shows error message on ppc on every connect...
you will find out, when it is most important to you, believe me!

Possible to import messages from old phone?

Hey,
is it possible to import sms/text-messages from my old nokia phone to the Touch HD? I've managed to import the contacts from the old phone to outlook, but can't find a way to do the same with the text messages.
I would be greatful for any help!
Regards,
Bacardi Man

I used a program called EASY HELPER on my xda2i to transfer text and contacts between two similar handsets. Worked ok, ALTHOUGH text only backs up INBOX. sent, drafts etc... are populated but by empty files you have to just delete anyway.
If easy helper is supported in 6.1 then it might work for you, don't forget to search for other 3rd party sms backup and restore programs which could be equally helpful.
....IB a n e

Well on the Nokia side you could give the new NCC 2.0 beta http://www.nokia.com/A41013626 a try, but I think even 1.0 in the latest current Phone Suite could export SMS. My N95 is currently with Nokia, so I cannot test it for you (Export function w/o phone is greyed out). Re-Importing a common export file format back into WinMobile should not be a great deal.

I have exporter all Contacts and messages from my Nokia phone using Nokia PC suite. All this data now is stored in one single *.nbu file.
So you mean there is a program, which can extract the messages from this file and transfer them to an WM6.1 based PDA?

Can PC Suite only export nbu file format? Doubt any other program can read that. No option there to choose csv or text format at least?

Bacardi Man said:
Hey,
is it possible to import sms/text-messages from my old nokia phone to the Touch HD? I've managed to import the contacts from the old phone to outlook, but can't find a way to do the same with the text messages.
I would be greatful for any help!
Regards,
Bacardi Man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, let me think about it:
you may be able to send your text messages from the nokia phone vie bluetooth to your HD (if your Nokia supports sending more messages than one at a time, that would be the easyest way )
every phone and it software stores text messages in a different format and way. so normaly, its not possible to load those on another phone. some programs can store and save those messages as text files. but on the other hand, you would not be able to get those text files on your HD stored as real sms again. so the best thing would be bluetooth. just send those messages over and ypur HD will get them and know that its an sms (did the same with my contacts, just sended them via bluetooth )

My colleague says NCC can in fact export to csv format. From that format it should be possible to import into WinMobile. If only I would remember if this WM5 software HTC SMSBackup in this old post of mine http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1053322&postcount=2 can import csv? If you wanna give it a try, install for WinMobile 6.x as a cab is different now:
1. Change the ".zip" extension to ".rar"
2. extract 00CAB300.001
3. rename to "00CAB300.001.exe"
4. copy to phone and use

simple answer: use pimbackup - i moved everything from my trinity. you can find it by searching on XDA, it is simply perfect.

pzucchel said:
simple answer: use pimbackup - i moved everything from my trinity. you can find it by searching on XDA, it is simply perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it also work for SE devices such as the W800i?

Monsieur zucchel, the topic here is syncing Nokia to WinMobile No simple answer yet

Lucas0511 said:
Monsieur zucchel, the topic here is syncing Nokia to WinMobile No simple answer yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Lucas, my apologies. i thought it was a windows mobile device....

Bienvenue, PIMBackup is indeed a fine WinMobile solution.

But is there also a solution to port contacts from sony Ericcson devices to the HD?
Asking that cos I own a W800i.

Well, one nice feature of SE phones is the capability to copy all phone contacts to SIM card. Then you put the SIM in your other phone, and voila. Just a quick fix, a better way would be to export contacts to a export data file like .csv, and then import that one into WinMobile with the free PIMBackup http://www.dotfred.net/ Give the free http://www.fjsoft.at/en/ MyPhoneExplorer a try, it was always my favourite SE contacts and SMS sync software.

Really good news as I am already using MyPhoneExplorer.
Will give it a try on monday when the HD should arrive.
The problem with the SIM Card is that there is only a storage capacitiy for 150 numbers (not even contacts) so this option wont work for me.

The option of using bluetooth sounds really interesting. But how can I send a sms via Bluetooth. In the options menue of the messages menue there is no possibility to do that, altough both phones support bluetooth.

Since I still can't find an option to send my sms via bluetooth from one phone to the other, I tried exporting them into .csv format, which worked fine.
Now I have the problem that both, your program Lucas, and PPCPIMBackup don't recognize this format.
Any suggestions?

Studied the PIMBackup since I dont use it. Its backups are stored in a .pib file, which actually is just a .zip file which you can decompress. It will reveal a number of .csv files, for the different types of data in your Touch HD. I would then assume that you can copy the contacts from your Nokia .csv file into the PIMBackup .csv with contacts, using Excel which can read and write .csv. Do the same for SMS. Unfortunately not a one-click solution, but transfering PIM data over operating systems is still a pain - when it comes to SMS. Contacts of course can be transfered via Outlook, or a online account which both of your devices can access.
If you like to explore further, I think Jeyo Mobile Extender was a software that allowed you to put all your SMS into Outlook as messages, from where you could copy them. But I never got it to run fully under Outlook 2007, and development has stopped.
Good luck!

@lucas:
Your solution would be great, but in fact the pib-file does not contain many csv-files, instead it contains one single pbm-file, which can't be decompressed.

Well then, I am close to giving up . Did you use a .pib file that you filled with some life, i.e. at least one item (contact, sms) for each PIM menu item on your WinMobile device? An empty .pib file out of the box would certainly contain no csv's. If there is still only a pbm file after decompress then the PIMBackup programmer has not updated his manual.
Other than that, maybe someone else would like to step in... Time for a Bacardi I'd say...

Backing up text messages

does anyone know how to back up text messages from there shadow to there computer want to run a new rom but i need my text messages so if anyone knows plz let me know thanks

I use Jeyo Mobile Extender for Outlook for my text messages. It worked well with my T-Mobile MDA and Shadow 2008 under XP / Outlook 2003, but things started acting up when I changed to Vista / Outlook 2007 with my Shadow 2009. There isn't any activity at the Jeyo Support forums so I was looking into using something else. There are other options as far as synching to Outlook (like Mobile Archiver), and some that backup to CSV or other formats. You can try out MS My Phone if you were able to sign up for it as well, I'm currently using it myself.

A free little Jewel called PIMBackup should help you out here.
It doesn't sync to your PC, just to a file, so I just have it output to my SD card.
It also backs up all of your contacts, past calls, and even any files that you want it to.

I_HAZ_CHZBRGR said:
A free little Jewel called PIMBackup should help you out here.
It doesn't sync to your PC, just to a file, so I just have it output to my SD card.
It also backs up all of your contacts, past calls, and even any files that you want it to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how would i get back to it then if i needed to see my text messages

Pim
We fortunately have a search engine at @ XDA ..... Use it...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299705

Pim Backup
I just tried this little app and its awsome... Thank for the info..

How to Copy SMS and Contacts from Touch HD to Touch HD2

Hi Everybody.
I try to copy all my Sms and contacts from my HTC Touch HD to HTC Touch HD2.
I tried with Windows My Phone (Sync).
It worked half way... but once u want to see couple of sms it will slow down.
After that my whole phone almost freeze.
So i reboot and i had to use also once Reset "close to batt." (soft reset?).
I would love to use my new HD2 if i can solve this problem...
Then i can give my HD1 to my Girlfriend
any idea?
Thx in advance

Very very simple: I've migrated from TyTN II to HD2.
Install Microsoft MyPhone on "old" device, sync what you need.
Then install Microsoft MyPhone on "new" device, then sync again.
Voilà!
If you don't want/have online connection, you can use the old good PIM Backup.
I prefer the first method, I've used it to sync:
contacts, calendar, tasks, SMS.

Thx for your reply...
the thing is its not working fully as i wrote before.
thats what i did.
it was super simple... but!
my HD2 is going about 10 times slower once i open a sms.
Sure i have about 3000sms if not more.
But still it works nice on HD1.
So i wonder what i have to change in HD2 to make it work smooth.

HI jisin,
this is a known "bug" on the HD2. If you have to much SMS the device gets very slow.
The HTC Sense is the problem, it can not handle so much sms. I had 1600 and it was very slow. I can not write a sms, the contacts are very slow.
I sync. all my sms with "my phone" software and archived all sms. After a next sync all sms on my hd2 are deleted and i have my backup if i need some of this sms again.
I think this is a good solution until HTC released a hotfix for this problem.

Txfer SMS & contacts
PIM Backup for SMS.
For contacts, if you copy your pim.vol file from device\ (root)folder of your Tytn to the device\ folder of the HD2, voila, all your contacts and appointments are copied instantly, without the potential for duplicate/multiple copies.
I copy it to my sd card, then to device\ using fexploreext, then restart .
You could use totalcommander.

If you've just used MyPhone to sync your contacts and messages from one phone to another, just open the MyPhone web interface and archive your messages there. Once done, you can delete them all and redo the sync. That will delete all your messages from your phone, but keep the archive online.
I know it's a pain that the UI doesn't like us having messages (almost as if we shouldn't be using our phones for things like contacting people!). I'm really hoping that this will be one of the issues that HTC address sooner, rather than later!

Xaddict said:
PIM Backup for SMS.
For contacts, if you copy your pim.vol file from device\ (root)folder of your Tytn to the device\ folder of the HD2, voila, all your contacts and appointments are copied instantly, without the potential for duplicate/multiple copies.
I copy it to my sd card, then to device\ using fexploreext, then restart .
You could use totalcommander.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works like charm thx m8! Just wanted to add that the cab file (fexploreext) changes just the original explorer (its not a new program - I was looking for it in the installed programs section and couldnt find it ).

backing up contacts?

Hi just a quick question.. im trying to find out the easiest way to bak up my contacts.. i have windows 7 but i dont have outlook... which it says it needs to back up... surely theres another way?
thanks

Try SKTools or SPB backup !

Microsoft MyPhone?

Yes, you need Outlook to backup contacts using ActiveSync. As mentioned Myphone works as does GoogleSync and 3rd party backup products.
Regards.

thanks.. will have a look at myphone

rp-x1 said:
Microsoft MyPhone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for MyPhone, works great for me.

problem with MyPhone si that if in 1 year you switch to symbian or android or whateve else, you cannot export in any well known and widely supported format...
any other option in case i wanna move to android and export my contacts from the leo and import them into a new phone?

thegios said:
problem with MyPhone si that if in 1 year you switch to symbian or android or whateve else, you cannot export in any well known and widely supported format...
any other option in case i wanna move to android and export my contacts from the leo and import them into a new phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe that the GoogleSync option I mentioned earlier where you configure ActivSync on your phone to go to m.google.com as your Exchange server to back up your Contacts will work for you. Or you could Google (or Bing) a SIM backup tool.

cMMY69 said:
I believe that the GoogleSync option I mentioned earlier where you configure ActivSync on your phone to go to m.google.com as your Exchange server to back up your Contacts will work for you. Or you could Google (or Bing) a SIM backup tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
If you want an Android friendly version then definitely go down the Google route.

very funny noone yet has pointed you to the very best pim data backup software out there, pimbackup
Have it create a backyup binary file in the my documents folder, or better in a subfolder, and a simple activesync file sync will take care of it.
It's just for backup tho, if you need to have your own data copied to your pc in a usable format, sure the other alternatives are maybe better.

thegios said:
problem with MyPhone si that if in 1 year you switch to symbian or android or whateve else, you cannot export in any well known and widely supported format...
any other option in case i wanna move to android and export my contacts from the leo and import them into a new phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i recently downloaded "vCard Expert" from the windows phone marketplace. it uses standard vcf format so is compatible across platforms.

Just use myphone for now. It's so easy to use and does its job very well. When you will choose a different platform, you can always resync your old phone with myphone and then make an appropriate backup of your contacts, which can be transferred to that particular platform.