Hello,
Just bought my first O2 XDA and I can't wait to get stuck in.
one question though. With my PC, I am very cautious about what software I install. Even though you can remove/uninstall software quite easily, we all know that installing and uninstalling lots of software will fill your PC with crap that should have been tidied up when it was uninstalled.
Eventually your PC will start running slowly, crashing and develop a severe case of bloated registry, orphaned shortcuts etc...
I am eager to try lots of software on my XDA but want to avoid problems similar to the aboove but do not understand how pocket PC software 'works'.
Can I freely install lots of software and be confident it will be removed cleanly if I don't like it?
Would I be better creating a clean back-up that I can revert back to?
Your thoughts welcomed.
Creating a backup before installing any new software is always a
good idea. So go for it!
As a matter of fact one of your first new installs should be a good backup program, I use Pocket Backup Plus http://www.spritesoftware.com
HTH
I second the recommendation. I recently wasted a lot of time with a corruption problem (calendar, not apps). Without PocketBackup I literally would have doubled my troubleshooting time.
I may be missing something, but if he has a clean XDA and by clean I mean no programs that didn’t come with his ROM. Wouldn’t a “backup” of that just be the same as doing a hard reset?
And if he has contacts and programs that he wants to keep…that is just a click or two away using ActiveSync.
It is not like reinstalling Windows XP and the programs you want, which takes literally hours.
-Scott
You do a backup before making changes. If the changes hose your device, you restore the backup after a hard reset, so you waste no time reconfiguring the device.
The backup with PocketBackup Plus is really better and more sure than the one with just Active Sync ....it's really a must-have....
Related
I've made an apparently successful upgrade of the rom and radio stuff but I'm missing two programs. The promised upgrade of o2's Active ui is non-existant as is the Multimedia Messaging composer. :shock:
Anyone had similar problems? Anyone know what I can do to get hold of them?
thanks
I think somebody said it appears after another reset.
bit vague
cruisin-thru said:
I think somebody said it appears after another reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, anybody going to firm this up - kind of vague really and a bit of a pain if it doesn't really do the job
..?
I had this problem as well but it all started working OK again after I'd hard reset for the third time!
same for me, but working fine now. Just do another hard reset.
hard reset worked
how bizzarre. it does the job alright.
bit strange but who cares
- and all the other bits and pieces are working properly now like the bluetooth com ports
thanks for the tip
But doesn't a hard reset involve a full restore from your PC ... and doesn't that take about an hour :-(
After discussing why the BT headsets won't work properly, the O2 people suggested I upgrade the ROM. I had assumed that since I only bought the XDA2 from them 3 weeks ago that the ROM would be up to date. But it seems to be 1.03.00 USA and the radio version seems well behind. tch tch ! My question though is .... if I do a full back up via active sync then do the ROM upgrade, and a hard reset as instructed. Can I then restore everything from my PC and all the programmes and data will work OK. and a secondary question - does this work for the SD card too, or should I simply remove it and reinsert it once the upgrade is complete?
Mike
A hard reset is done by holding down the power button whilst inserting stylus into reset slot. It reboots immeddiately just like a soft reset, but the XDA is set back to factory default settings (losing all your data).
You can't restore a backup from one ROM to another. You will have to re-install all your new apps. If you've only got data on your SD card it won't matter, but if you've installed apps to it, you'll have to re-install them for them to work properly.
All your contacts should be backed up to outlook using active sync before you upgrade, then just dock the XDA with upgraded ROM and all your contacts should be restored from your PC.
....... but I thought the backup/restore function within activesync (and which takes about an hour first time you use it) backed up all system files and program apps that you had installed, so that it's relatively painless after a hard reset and restore.
..... now I am confused :-(
Mike
mikesands said:
....... but I thought the backup/restore function within activesync (and which takes about an hour first time you use it) backed up all system files and program apps that you had installed, so that it's relatively painless after a hard reset and restore.
..... now I am confused :-(
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
alright clever cloggs, I haven't experimented with that to be honest. the question is - what's so special about a second hard reset? why can't it just be ok the first time
and incidentally - if you were confused you should have used :? - :lol:
I genuinely am confused .... and you ain't necessarily wrong even if you haven't tried the restore via activesync. Other posters on other forums and various faqs seem to indicate that whilst you can get the contacts, appointments etc to restore after the ROM upgrade, you then have to re-install each program application manually. Or rather just the apps you've bought or downloaded rather than the ones that are inbuilt.
If true, it seems a complete pain, and I think I will just download the Bluetooth toolkit rather than the ROM upgrade.
..... what's the emoticon for 'decisive'?
Regards,
Mike
Hi guys. Been away for a while and now actually bought an xda 2. I have a few problems and hopefully someone can help.
My xda came with rom 1.72.181 with blackberry. Not being bothered about blackberry I downloaded (after a full backup) and installed 1.72.187. I didn't realise that a full restore from my backup would put the software back to 1.72.181, so had to hard reset and reinstall everything again. Both are backed up now so I can swap as and when I feel like it between 181 and 187. Both have a full setup of all my software, but I thought a restore would only put the software back, not the os and rom also, (like with my xda1). Anyone know how to reinstall software without overwriting the rom software version?
Next problem. What is the latest rom available on here (links please if known), and will updating it mean yet another full reinstall of all software.
Also, I have an occasional (too often though) problem where the touch screen stops working and the only way to get it back is to reboot. Anyone know what might be causing this. I can use the buttons and turn it on and off, but the touchscreen does nothing until I reboot. It happens with both roms, but I don't think its hardware related as the soft reset makes everything fine again.
I have removed just about everything from startup including ia caller id and all flashman stuff. I'm not even using it as a phone much because I mainly wanted it as a pda, but I have a payg sim in it for cross network calls (saves on my o2 bill). So mostly, the phone is turned off.
Any help you clever people can give would be much appreciated, (no suggestions involving hammers please). Oh yes, its about 3 weeks old as of this post date so not worn out yet. Lastly, there's no passwords set or any security setting that could be causing it as everything is on default.
Please help a desperate man.
TIA
:?
Your touch screen should work out of the box. If it's not working out of the box, then you may have a hardware conflict issue.
I don't know what do you use for backup, but a full restore usually restores the registry and filesystem.
For a different version ROM, the usual advice is to install your software from scratch again.
If you are handy with the registry, what you can do is:
(a) export the registry of your own ROM, cut & paste the portion that contains the registry settings for your installed software, usually under HKLM\SOFTWARE\...
(b) use your ActiveSync to reinstall the software again in your new ROM
(c) import the HKLM\SOFTWARE\.. registry that you have saved earlier.
If you are handy with OSP WinCAB Mgr, you can create a CAB file for this and makes your restoration easlier.
Have you fitted a scree protector to the phone, this can sometimes cause problems with the touch screen if the protector is too close to or tucked under the edge of the cover, this can be intermittent also.
Re: Help Please
Thanks for the interest.
I have done a full reinstall with both rom versions, so that problem is gone. Just wondered if there was any way to put the software back after a rom upgrade without a full reinstall of everything.
As for the screen problem. Like I said, I don't think it's hardware related as it s all fine after a soft reset. Hardware would usually mean that it still won't work after rebooting. It's like whatever software controlling the touch feature throws a wobbler and locks me out, but the buttons all work as normal when it happens. I'll list the software thats installed and if you're aware of any known conflicts, please tell me in a reply.
Calligrapher, Phatpad, Launcher (today plugin), Tascal regedit, Frequency tuner, SPB Fullscreen keyboard, Pocket Mechanic (1.49), and Tomtom 3.
Any ideas to help this very confused man.
More help please.
I have removed calligrapher and it seems to have stopped locking up. Problem now is what do I do about it.
Anyone know how to cure this. The program is no good if it has problems with 2003, (and I have tried both drivers, default and calligrapher) without success. Now I'm stuck.
Any suggestions.
A very frustrated man.
Calligrapher 7.4, For you're information
I have removed calligrapher 7.4 and installed version 7.2. Guess what, no freezes. I informed phatware support of this and the response was what else do I have installed. They don't seem to accept that the latest version is the cause of the problem. It must be something else. Probably a today plugin????.
I then installed version 7.3. No lockups. Put 7.4 back in, back to square 1 with the locking up. It seems that anything before 7.4 is ok. I have told phatware support of this, but they still don't accept that 7.4 is the problem, instead putting the blame on anything else but version 7.4.
OK, here's my question. Am I losing it, or would it be safe to assume that (seeing as the others work) calligrapher 7.4 has a problem. A simple deduction watson, given the overwhelming evidence. Remember that I also have an xda1 and its the same story on that too.
Sorry phatware, but I'm gonna stay with my other stuff and look at the alternative's to calligrapher until I can try another (later) version that works with my machines.
One sale lost I think. Anyone else having similar problems.
So I have installed the new ROM every time dcd has shared it, let's face it, he and many others do a phenomenal job of helping us make the most of our PPC.
My problem is that I am tired of losing my settings, emails, texts, and installed applications. I sync my PPC to keep my contacts, calendar, and tasks so that is not an issue, but everything else is.
Does anyone know of a software solution or any other may inwhich I can switch to the newest ROM and still maintain everything else as is or even create some sort of backup that would reinstall everything that I have the way it was right before I upgraded?
maskedlion said:
So I have installed the new ROM every time dcd has shared it, let's face it, he and many others do a phenomenal job of helping us make the most of our PPC.
My problem is that I am tired of losing my settings, emails, texts, and installed applications. I sync my PPC to keep my contacts, calendar, and tasks so that is not an issue, but everything else is.
Does anyone know of a software solution or any other may inwhich I can switch to the newest ROM and still maintain everything else as is or even create some sort of backup that would reinstall everything that I have the way it was right before I upgraded?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprite Backup or PIM backup.....plus there are others...these are the most common.....Sprite is superiror for custom settings....
The sprite backup image bricked me, not sure why.
So I will be re-installing everything again this time...
full backup programs often cause problems when updating rom. You should try something like uc or sashimi to backup settings. I prefer sashimi, but may prefer uc. In any case, you can use cregeditor to find your settings by changing the settings, backing up registry, and then change settings back to what you want. Next compare new registry to saved registry.
I use PIM backup, you can find it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299705
I also use this AutoInstall program that helps me install all the cabs and stuff i want with a single click.
Find it here: http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=20753&highlight=autoinstall
I prefer this method instead of making OEM's.
maskedlion said:
So I have installed the new ROM every time dcd has shared it, let's face it, he and many others do a phenomenal job of helping us make the most of our PPC.
My problem is that I am tired of losing my settings, emails, texts, and installed applications. I sync my PPC to keep my contacts, calendar, and tasks so that is not an issue, but everything else is.
Does anyone know of a software solution or any other may inwhich I can switch to the newest ROM and still maintain everything else as is or even create some sort of backup that would reinstall everything that I have the way it was right before I upgraded?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best way to do this is to learn a bit about User Customizations (aka UC, read about it here). I have all of my cabs on my SD card and those files that I copy over, so when you finish running DCD rom it looks for a file called sdconfig.txt that descibes what you want to happen to further customize your phone. You can also have xml to change all of the registry keys to change your today screen, assign your buttons and most anything else you can do manually.
After running the RUU and then activesync, it takes me about five minutes to get my phone EXACTLY how it was. If I spent more time customizing XML and so forth, I would have no time getting all the settings and preferences exactly how I like it. This is the solution that works so much better than Sprite or SPB backups when upgrading ROMs. It is much easier than it sounds.
maskedlion said:
The sprite backup image bricked me, not sure why.
So I will be re-installing everything again this time...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This happened because drivers and other dependent files changed from ROM to ROM when DCD upgraded various things. This is why this is a bad solution.
P.S. Bricks are paperweights that go back in for a replacement. You just caused enough problems to necessitate a hard reset.
What I find annoying is every time i upgrade to a new ROM i have to make new bluetooth partnerships and setup my wifi access points again.
cleanser said:
What I find annoying is every time i upgrade to a new ROM i have to make new bluetooth partnerships and setup my wifi access points again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the price we pay for having shiny new things. If newer ROMs don't offer you any noticeable upgrades, you should stay where you were. Some people are still at 2.3.x and happy.
serfboreds said:
This is the price we pay for having shiny new things. If newer ROMs don't offer you any noticeable upgrades, you should stay where you were. Some people are still at 2.3.x and happy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stay where I am? Where's the fun in that
so this is kindof the same trick as v1 of htc album but it helps it load a little faster. make a shortcut with the following
19#"Windows\htcalbum.exe" -directory:\my documents
you can change my documents to what ever you want.
irus where can i find a cab or download for htc album? It wasnt in you addon bundle connected to the Ultra Vanilla!!!
Kenjari said:
irus where can i find a cab or download for htc album? It wasnt in you addon bundle connected to the Ultra Vanilla!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is version 2.0.1816.3421 the shortcut has already been modified. i have not tested it as my rom already has it in there.
thanks irus....what would we do without you.....(sale the device)
After installation it didn't work. As a matter of fact, it produced the same bug that Windows Live created.....the lost of Ram and skin distortion. So I went into safe mode and deleted it. Just in case it messed something up, where do I go in the registry to finish deleting the remaining files? Um trying to avoid another hard reset. BTW, would you recommend SKTools as far as backup for our device? Im trying to find a good app that would back up all my info so I can quickly restore if I try other roms and want to go back.
Kenjari said:
After installation it didn't work. As a matter of fact, it produced the same bug that Windows Live created.....the lost of Ram and skin distortion. So I went into safe mode and deleted it. Just in case it messed something up, where do I go in the registry to finish deleting the remaining files? Um trying to avoid another hard reset. BTW, would you recommend SKTools as far as backup for our device? Im trying to find a good app that would back up all my info so I can quickly restore if I try other roms and want to go back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprite Backup does the trick for me.
Kenjari said:
After installation it didn't work. As a matter of fact, it produced the same bug that Windows Live created.....the lost of Ram and skin distortion. So I went into safe mode and deleted it. Just in case it messed something up, where do I go in the registry to finish deleting the remaining files? Um trying to avoid another hard reset. BTW, would you recommend SKTools as far as backup for our device? Im trying to find a good app that would back up all my info so I can quickly restore if I try other roms and want to go back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im really sorry to hear that it messed things up, i will look at it some more what exactly happen when you tried to run it
yea, sprite backup does the trick for me too.
No apologies needed irus. I just appreciate you for helping and sharing.
What it does is that after the installation I would soft reset it. Then it doesnt fully load in the splash screen. I'm running WA3, so the top or bottom part of the skin wouldnt load and cant load. AFter everything is booted....the Ram would be significantly low....meaning I hav probably lost 20mb's. So I would soft reset again, and same thing. It also moves extremely slow to open applications, some application wouldnt even start during this.
So I just went into safe mode and deleted it. It is working normal now, but I know when I installed Windows Live, it wouldnt fix itself with a softreset even after the removal of Windows live.
So anyway.....thank you for the Sprite Back suggestion lpsi2000 and irus. I just purchased it.
irus, what do you think it did to the Rom.....because it is doing that RAM leak thing again. Now its at a point where a Softreset will not fix it. Is there something in the registry I can delete, change, or something to get it stop doing this? It keeps freezing as well. Lastly, I noticed the splash screen (windows Mobile 6.1 with the loading bar) doesn't complete. It stops about half way. Please help Bro. trying to avoid a Hard reset. I got sprite back up now....but im certain the problem will follow if I take the hard reset route.
thanks
Kenjari said:
irus, what do you think it did to the Rom.....because it is doing that RAM leak thing again. Now its at a point where a Softreset will not fix it. Is there something in the registry I can delete, change, or something to get it stop doing this? It keeps freezing as well. Lastly, I noticed the splash screen (windows Mobile 6.1 with the loading bar) doesn't complete. It stops about half way. Please help Bro. trying to avoid a Hard reset. I got sprite back up now....but im certain the problem will follow if I take the hard reset route.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, if you uninstalled htc album, file and reg settings should be gone also. I not really sure if htc album is causing this because the only exe/dll files are: htcalbum.exe, albumsearcher.exe, fsplayer.dll, thats it the rest are .bmp, .png, .xml files which would not effect the running of your pda. is there any other app that you have installed.
No, I havent installed anything in the last week or so. Just Sprite Backup, but the problem started before I installed that.
I wonder do I have a corrupted SD card. I tried to install it to that. But that wouldnt explain the same behavior after I installed Windows live a couple of weeks ago
thank Irus....I think I might just go with another hard reset. I will wait until your response first.
Kenjari said:
No, I havent installed anything in the last week or so. Just Sprite Backup, but the problem started before I installed that.
I wonder do I have a corrupted SD card. I tried to install it to that. But that wouldnt explain the same behavior after I installed Windows live a couple of weeks ago
thank Irus....I think I might just go with another hard reset. I will wait until your response first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to be honest im not sure if a corrupted sd card would be the problem, do you use the SDAutoRestart.exe to load all of your apps? just do a hardreset to see if it fixes the problem
I did a back up with sprite back up and Hard reset, that fixed it. Thanks.
Question: After I restored everything from sprite back up, I think my storage memory has dropped significantly. I think I had about 84mb of storage, now I'm down to 39mbs. Did the restore do this? If so, How do I reclaim my storage memory back?
How can i make an shortcut with this "19#"Windows\htcalbum.exe" -directory:my documents" ???
first off, let me say that suggestion feature when you go to make a new post, is awesome. but i didn't find an exact answer.
As per this thread I'm trying to find, copy, and read the PIM.vol file.
I went to sync my phone via active sync, after having installed outlook (so I could do my contacts too) and couldn't get it to connect. So I deleted the partnership on my XP sp3 machine, and partnerships in my HD2. But like a friggin idiot, I didn't uncheck all the boxes for the items in the partnership on the HD2, and it removed stuff unexpectedly. My main concern is all my contacts. Sure, I have most of'm on my sim, but not any from the last 6 months or so. I work for myself, and just lost a ton of clients names and numbers, and need to get them back!
how do I do that?
*EDIT*
Googling this further is not helping my outlook on life.
And I now further hate M$.
Fv(k you billy, I'm loading android.
I definitely understand your frustration... the same happened to me quite some time ago.
I was a bit more lucky because as a "flashaholic", I made backups of all my stuff all the time, let´s say at least once a week.
If there´s no backup at all (not even PIM Backup, Google Mail, MS MyPhone or whatever in addition to Outlook), data is lost...
The thing what happened here is not a Windows Mobile issue only, it happened to quite a lot of friends with their iPhone or Android devices, too.
A decent backup solution is always recommendable, especially if you´re using the data in your own business... even with Android, trust me on that.
Well, I only lost bout 35 new contacts (that weren't on my sim), and I can, with some work, recover the ones missing that I need to with some work.
And, I'm most annoyed at the fact that I deleted the "partnership" and it took all the data with it.
I also, as it just so happens, redid all my other computers with upgrades and fresh installs, as well as cleaning out both my backup drives, purging "unnecessary" info (unnecessary my ace).
That's ok, now I have to get all my data straight, and backed up, so it's a good time to hard reset, and load up some other OS to try out!
look in the Outlook's recycle bin, with a bit of luck your 35 contacts might have ended there
been there, done that ..
fortunately had some backup few months old .. so no new contacts .. tough luck .. but now i learned my lesson, and i use gmail for contacts, so no matter if i play with android or wm (myself prefer wm) i jusy sync with google.
it even syncs difference (no matter if you enter new contact in phone or google, it appears in both places.