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Am i right in thinking that these 2 programs are essentially the same (with the exception that PIM backup is independently developed, and freeware, whereas Sprite Backup is commercial software + not free) ?
Can PIM backup do things that Sprite backup cannot?
Just wondering, as i got Spite Backup bundled with my Kaiser.
Thanks!
PIM Backup
PIM Backup, only backup for Contact, Calendar (appointment), To do, Task, Massages (SMS).
Spritebackup could do everything PIM Backup do, Plus all setting System (include register) and all software have been installed.
PIM backup allows PIM information to be transferred across different operating systems and different devices.
I can transfer my Agenda Fusion appointments from my HTC X7500/WM6 to my IPAQ 2755/WM2003 with no problem.
Using Sprite to do any of that will give completely unreliable (or no) results.
Both are good programs, Sprite backup is awsome though
Your phone's databases are .pim files hence the name PIM backup. As stated above it only backs up and restores these pim files. Sprite backup backs up everything as described above as well. The reason for my post is to correct nrm (post above this one). Sprite backup can restore to different devices. When you are restoring you have to specify what type of restore you want to run (level 1-3). Also you can manually specify what you want to restore. If you just want to restore your personal data (PIM databases) you can select just this. So Sprite can do exactly what pim can do but so much more. One down side to sprite is that the version I am running (v.6.5.4) is not compatible with WM6.5 or WM7. I havent bothered to even check if they have a new version out that is compatible. Sprite still works with these newer versions of Windows Mobile but M$ has changed the format of the above mentioned databases (files on root of device with .pim extension) and it will not back them up. So until there is a new compatible version of sprite backup you will need to use pim to backup your databases and you can still use sprite to backup everything else.
And what about Spb Backup?
I've tried them both. PIM Backup is great for the Contact/Calendar/Task/Message backup, and I have been able to backup and restore across WM5/WM6/WM6.5 ROMs. I've tried an older version of Sprite and it had some problem restoring the Contact/Calendar/etc. Perhaps this problem goes away for the newer version.
Sprite Backup is great for automatically backing up the entire device including files and settings. When I hard reset because I messed something up, Sprite makes it very easy to do a complete restore. When you are changing ROMs I take a more manual approach.
I backup the entire device using Sprite Backup to get all the files and settings on the device (just in case I forget anything). Using Total Commander, I zip up the following folders: Start Menu, Windows (just the files installed since the flash like Titanium CPR files and any file installed programs might save here), Program Files, Applicaton Data, My Documents, and Root folder. I also backup HKCU\Software and HKLM\Software registry entries. I copy those reg backup files to my computer and use a text editor to delete all entries that might cause a conflict (typically all HTC, Microsoft, IA Style, OEM folders).
Then when I need to change ROMs I have all the files and registries to get my device back on my feet very quickly. I don't have to reinstall all my software, nor go thru e-mails to find registration keys, or re-do each programs' settings. Most of their settings are stored in the registry, so its a very easy upgrade.
I haven't tried a recent version of Sprite. They may have improved the upgrading feature between ROMs and have better support for WM6.5 so my need to manually backup and edit registry entries might be already done automatically by Sprite.
Cassatta said:
And what about Spb Backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SPB Backup is better than Sprite... but PIM Backup is essential so you can backup your PIM from to time to time easily.
TheRem said:
SPB Backup is better than Sprite... but PIM Backup is essential so you can backup your PIM from to time to time easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree but with spb you can also schedule backup's and choice only pim data.
yup but you can't separate the contacts, tasks and appointments in SPB Backup.
all r right but sometimes restoring from spb or sprite deletes new regestery values from new rom and we will not able to use of that rgu benefit.lots of time i got less ~4mb ram from usual coz of that complete restore and slight slower device.....
there's an option in SPB Backup (Customize Restore)... in System Data, you can uncheck Restore Registry.
TheRem said:
yup but you can't separate the contacts, tasks and appointments in SPB Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, but is it usefull?
Ok folks, great input, but to tell you the truth, I would say you need both.
PIM Backup + your favorite backup program (I use SPB Backup) but have used Sprite as well.
Personally I will backup using SPB before I make a major change or test a Beta program just and sometimes (once a week if I have done any updates/installation of new software).
But, anytime I add any really important contacts/appts/tasks I will use PIM backup as well in case I decide to change my ROM (I usually just do a manual install of the cabs I want).
saurabh88 said:
all r right but sometimes restoring from spb or sprite deletes new regestery values from new rom and we will not able to use of that rgu benefit.lots of time i got less ~4mb ram from usual coz of that complete restore and slight slower device.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The last spb Backup version detects if you have a new rom installed and suggests a special restore for same device but different rom. It has worked very well for me when flashing new roms.
is it possible with one of these software to transfer sms from an older device to a new one without deleting sms stored on my new device..
I'm not sure I'm clear here
I have a tytn2 with thousand of messages that I want to keep
I have a tp2 with some messages that I want to merge with the old tytn2's messages.
don't want to erase everything accidentaly, please give me an advice
use PIM Backup to backup your sms on the tytn2 , then copy PIM Backup and the backup file to your tp2 , and restore the file on the tp2.
it will let you choose how to restore each item , overwrite existing info or just merge them~ keep an eye on it ,overwriting is by default
saurabh88 said:
all r right but sometimes restoring from spb or sprite deletes new regestery values from new rom and we will not able to use of that rgu benefit.lots of time i got less ~4mb ram from usual coz of that complete restore and slight slower device.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The advantage of SPB Backup is that you can choose to restore to a new ROM and so it does not overwrite the new system files and registries. I always use it after flashing a new ROM and it works very nicely.
I only recently discovered this myself, but pim backup can do quite a bit more than just backup pim.vol and cemail.vol. It also has a custom file backup, which is a wonderful feature and is very easy and intuitive to use. If you uncheck "binary", you can easily access the individual files (change backup extension from .pib to .zip). You can backup individual files or entire directories (like application data). It's well worth checking out. Just highlight "Custom" then click the 'Options' button to get going on it.
As a semi noob, I have been reading this forum for the last 3 months. I am ready to take the plunge and upgrade to the latest rom and radio.
I have just 1 question:
-I have quite a few medical apps loaded, they all are complicated installs and take serial #'s that change at every install. I need to wait on hold for about 30 mins every time i reload them.
Is there a decent backup program I can use,
-or will there be too many compatability issues this way and i should just install everything from scratch
I highly recomment you re-install the apps after upgrading, as they will not function properly if you use something like Sprite backup and you most likely will mess up the OS.... It sounds like a pain in the butt, but it will make life easier for ya in the long run.....
just make sure backing up contacts and all personal info, then install all programs after upgrading. i use sprite only if i ever need to hard reset or reflash. if its a major radio upgrade or new ROM release, i will start over. if they are apps that use different serial numbers, i will back them up with sprite.
What about contacts?
Is it safe to backup your contacts usuing PIM Backup and then restore after upgrading from 6.0 to 6.1?
the 0ne said:
Is it safe to backup your contacts usuing PIM Backup and then restore after upgrading from 6.0 to 6.1?
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Click to collapse
Just use ActiveSync, synchronise before the ROM update and the synchronise when finished. Might as well keeps things as simple as possible and avoid potential complications when moving between ROMs.
Most of the contact, schedule, and mail backup utils are intended for situations when one is away from their PC.
the 0ne said:
What about contacts?
Is it safe to backup your contacts usuing PIM Backup and then restore after upgrading from 6.0 to 6.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you can also do which is easy is just back up your pim file using file explorer from your phone. I usually just copy it to my sd card. Never had a problem.
Hello All,
Need a little heads up please.
If I update my HTC TP from the original official to the lastest official ROM, can I reload everything via Sprite Backup and be back to where I was in terms of apps, data, settings etc?
Many thanks?
I would use PIM backup. If you know how to use sprite then use that. If you don't know how to use sprite then you will end up backing up system files and causing the new ROM to become unresponsive.
Thanks for that
Hi!
I have the Energy rom on my TP.
I want to upgrade to the last rom avaliable all the time.
If i use a software like Resco Backup, is it possible to perform a full backup, flash a new rom and then restore my full settings and customizations and aply to the new rom??
thanks!
tntnt said:
Hi!
I have the Energy rom on my TP.
I want to upgrade to the last rom avaliable all the time.
If i use a software like Resco Backup, is it possible to perform a full backup, flash a new rom and then restore my full settings and customizations and aply to the new rom??
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can chose whatever backup software you want. Sprite offers a restore after ROM upgrade, so does SPB but be assured that in 8 out of 10 cases it will FAIL, your brand spanking new ROM will be messed up, sluggish, unresponsive.
The only way these backups DO work is a 1:1 restore. Let's say you back up, installed a theme, phone hangs or you don't like the theme and cannot convert back.
Hard reset SAME ROM --> Restore --> > Done.
Get accustomed to MyPhone, PIM copy, UC, Sashimi and other tricks because you wont be happy with the restore.
Catch phrase --> "Trust me!"
agree with tyguy...
PIM Backup, SASHIMI, and UC is very useful in backup/restore... I use them all
r04d5t3r said:
PIM Backup, SASHIMI, and UC is very useful in backup/restore... I use them all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are SOME things that will work that way. If you use Sprite Backup, you can decide which things to restore. If you avoid restoring the registry, you can still use it to restore selected items like PIM databases. I used Sprite Backup but it has become unusable and it seems the company has stopped responding to support requests. AFAIK, SPB doesn't offer the ability to select but I may be wrong.
I'm curious about one thing though. When using things like PIM Backup, what usually happens is once I sync, all PIM Info gets duplicated (Active Sync thinks the data restored via PIM Backup is something "new"). Does anyone know a way to fool Outlook/Active Sync to not behave that way?
If like me you have meetings and contacts in the thousands, using Outlook/Activesync to restore PIM info to the phone after flashing a new ROM takes a really long time...
I can confirm that newest version of SPB Backup never worked for me on EnergyROMs. I could not connect to gsm network even on a same ROM. Sprite Backup works like a charm, but only on the same ROM. It is good just if you are installing something you never know what happens. So it could work just like some restore points in windows. As the guys here said, best method is to learn UC customizations, Sashimi, but i have to say, it is not that easy, for some people...
i work with SPB Backup with ROMeOS and it worked perfektly even on different ROM Versions. I tried to restore a backup made with SPB Backup under ROMeOS WWE and restored it under GENY GER Version, worked without Problems after changing some names/pathes in the registry (Speicherkarte => Storage Card etc) depending on the language. Not working links like Total Commander werent in the installation of GENY in the main memory; they run after installing TC in the windows directory; for me the Speed was absolutely ok, but i dunno, how fast it would be if you work with UC. I restored all my BUs since ROMeOS since version 1.4 until ver 2, but then i decided to install everything new, what took 2 weeks of braincooking but i got 50 MB more free RAM. Of course its better to install everything new, but if its a complex program & settingsstructure, with a lot of tweaks, colored task bars and so on it is much easier & faster to restore a BU...
SPB has the opportunity to choose which parts of BU you want to restore ... from complete restore (with ROM Upgrade mode/ phone Changing mode) over all or single databases to even single files, if i remember right...
Greetz
Boris
P.S.: i only worked with WM 6.1 ROMs
If I'm in the right mood I'll start a new thread under the general Raphael section because I think this does belong here to the ROM dev. section.
Just in a nutshell:
Sprite has and had major problems if the basic SYS changes dramatically (WinMo 6.1 to 6.5 or 6.5 to 6.5.3) thus I stopped using it BUT it has a nice but not really great working "Restore after ROM change feature".
My basic tricks are:
PIM Backup with SPB
Sync with MyPhone
XML changes (like program paths etc.) with Adv.Config
Install with Sashimi
Copy with Total Commander (programs, Opera settings and bookmarks).
Username and personal data either manual input or Sashimi.
This worked since WinMo 5.0 with no issues and it takes me ~ 30 minutes after a flash to be back 99.9%. I do have to install a few things manually
Don't have much time now so I'll post the link to the "How To" later today.
You can actually do a lot with just pimbackup. The custom option is pretty cool-it allows you to backup and restore custom files, much like sashimi does, except that once you set it up, it will do the backup for you instead of having to do it manually. If you uncheck the 'binary' option, you basically just get a zip file with a directory of all the files you selected for backup.
There's a lot that can go wrong using sprite or a similar app. Even if you don't restore registry settings, you might insert something into the startup folder that screws up your phone (it's easier than you'd think, lol). A week or so ago, I decided to try running a task manager at startup (IT Task, which is really cool), and for whatever reason, when you put a shortcut for it in the startup folder, you have major problems booting up the phone. After about 10 tries, I got lucky and the phone booted up, so I didn't have to do a hard reset (which I wasn't fully prepared for).
You're probably ok restoring with sprite if you stick to the same rom-line, but it could certainly be a mess if one chef stores apps in \program files but the new chef has them all in rom (in \windows). Then you'll end up with two copies of everything, which is a waste. It may work, but it's a lousy way to go.
Hi, I plan to upgrade my older Artemis ROM to the current version. Is it possible to backup the installed apps, the contacts/ desktop setup (shortcut icon placement, widget settings), etc?
And of course to restore them with he new ROM. Pretty much what Titanium Backup does for android.
Or do I have to save everything manually somehow?
PS: I did a search
Hi GabbO2,
I have the same plan. Currently I'm on V64 and also using CHT 2.0.0.0. I made a backup of the CHT settings, a backup of the Artemis settings with Artemis Center and a full SPB backup. Almost all of my apps and all my data are on the storage card, so they don't need to be installed after flashing. For apps necessarily to be installed on the intern storage I use the cooked in Mass installer. Please take a look in the Artemis thread help files for a detailed overview of the Mass Installer funcionality.
1. Flash ROM
2. Mass Installer
3. Restore CHT settings
4. Restore Artemis Center settings
5. Restore SPB backup
As far as I understood from what I've been reading here on the forum, that's what has to be done to get my familiar settings back after flashing a ROM. I will use this procedure tomorrow, when I have a little time.
The preparation for this is a little bit time consuming, but you will only have to do it once and then you got a full sytem recovery.
Regards
Getrid
(phhhh, after following the board for a long time - finally my first post Big thanks to all board members from whom I learned so much and still learning)
Danke, very helpful
Be carefull by using SPB backup.
Due to user reports in the past SPB backup saves and restores also system files, which could cause problems.
contacts / appointments / SMS can be saved by PIMBackup
@Getrid: Congratulations to your first post.
uli71 said:
Be carefull by using SPB backup.
Due to user reports in the past SPB backup saves and restores also system files, which could cause problems.
contacts / appointments / SMS can be saved by PIMBackup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I'll keep that in mind. So deselection of the system files option in SPB Backup should prevent trouble, right?
uli71 said:
@Getrid: Congratulations to your first post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much!
spb it can mess with your sim so take it out befor u back up
Taking out SIM and SD card before flashing a ROM via USB is mandatory to me. I know, it's usually not recommended, but I like to secure things
Anyway, thanks for the advice.