yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] nerdstrap:
Complete rewrite:

v2.8

I have ~3200 text messages. I created a text backup and hard booted my phone. Before I could turn off the radio, I received a very important text message that I wanted to keep.

I tried to restore my backup using the "Add only new messages to the Database" option and the 1 existing message on high priority. The UI can't keep up with the application. It stalls on the insert, and since the UI never gets priority, you can't tell what it is doing. After 6 hours, i soft booted my phone and had ~500 text messages restored.

Then, I tried it again on normal priority. This time, the UI was ok, but the insertion still wouldn't complete.

Then, I created a backup of the 1 message and deleted all existing messages. This time the restore completed in ~10 minutes.

Now, I can't get the 1 text message to restore. I let it sit for an hour and it never finished.

Is there a way to manually append the 1 text message to the backup file? I know that I can open the zip and manually read the files. But, if I change them, will they still restore?

If I can manually edit the file, can I go through the whole thing and "hack it" For example, change the timestamps, to/from, etc???

I really just want to combine multiple backup files, but the other options have some interesting opportunities.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cushcalc:
Speed Dial fix

Thanks for new version(s).

I had been having problems with SpeedDial settings only partially restoring - I thought I was using v2.7 but turns out it was v2.5 - so reading your update today I see that SpeedDial backup was flawed for WM6 with v2.5.

I will update today to 2.8.

Thanks for your excellent and diligent work!

Check your PayPal . . . gracias.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dioxda2:
Thanks

Dear Dotfred,

Thanks very much for your update ! :)

CHEERS ;)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pietrucci:
Anyone tried importing the results of PIMBackup to Outlook???

When I look at the results in the .csa file I see formats like "0xe6,0xd2,0x9a", timeformats like "0x02,0x00,0x00,0x00"... Outlook can't import these files.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] kwill:
thanks much for the great program!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] niobos:
Not to outlook, but I have written a perl-script to convert the SMS-text-messages to mailbox-format and the call-log to a more readable CSV-format.

But it would be very nice to see some documentation on which field means what... I had to reverse-engineer it.....
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] hpsmartyz:
Hi,

I was using 2.7 and found a small issue concerning sms backup and restore.

When opening the .csm contacts file under Excel I notice that a shift sometimes appears, i.e. not all fields are under the correct column.

For a given message, the shift appears when the text of the sms contains a return chariot.

I am not sure but it looks like it perturbates the restore operation.

Has this been already reported ?

And is the bug fix:

- fix for the delimiter selection when restoring contacts from csv file (contacts mapping fields)

of version 2.8 the fix corresponding to the problem I am refering to?

thanks
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] nerdstrap:
The newline char won't mess up the restore process, it is a bug in Excel's .csv rendering.

If you try to use Excel to modify the files, then restore them to your device, you might run into problems. Double check the file after saving it in Excel to make sure the newlines are preserved. If it isn't, don't attempt to restore the file.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] rajuabju:
What a great backup program, exactly what I was looking for.

Thx
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] fakesurfer:
sent items

I restored all folders successfully except "SENT ITEMS"

All I got was empty messages "no subject"

anyone knows how to fix it ?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] gajendraa:
sexellent gr8 thank you
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] anubis.genix:
thanks for the update dotfred

this prog is great
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] claros:
Mr. Dotfred,

excellent work as usual. Your 2.8 version is just great!

Claros
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dawg81:
PIM Backup v2.8

I downloaded the file mentioned in the title and I can not open it. please tell me what kind of software I need to open this File.

Thanks,dawg81
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dawg81:
Pim Backup v2.8

Will someone please advise me on what I need to open the software mentioned above. I downloaded it and can not open it What do I need to open It PLEASE HELP blane145@comcast.net
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] convert:
small token

Been using your PIM backup in its various incarnations for a while now and couldn't live without it .. what with all the flashing I do ...

Small donation made in thanks.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] jiv0077:
PIM Backup 2.7

Can anyone post the file for me? I have mms that i want to restore.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dotfred:
MMS cannot be restored, it is mentioned on the first page!

Arcsoft uses its own mechanism to link the message stored in the DB to the files stored on the device, but after restore, the link is lost, so the MMS is there, but the contents are empty.

Cheers,

Fred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pietrucci:
hi Fred,

any idea how to convert the "0x02,0x00,0x00,0x00" codes to normal date/time formats Outlook can read?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] no2chem:
dotfred,

I've tested PIM backup on WM6.1 and it seems it no longer works with text messages, probably because of the new threading and changes to POOM. Is WM6.1 support somewhere on your list?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] nerdstrap:
Eeek! I can't upgrade to 6.1 until DotFred supports it!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] williscool:
dotfred just wanted to thank you for making this program. I have just started to get into reflashing my rom alot to implement the cool new features I find out about on great boards like xda and ppcgeeks. So i was thinking i needed something like this and before i can even search the board i click the Development and Hacking section and here it is. People like you make places like this great. Thanks. :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Silverexp:
I know the feeling. PIMBackup2.8 restored all the folders and you can view the messages in all the folders, except the Inbox for SMS. The Inbox is empty, but on the bottom left, it indicates the number of messages in your Inbox.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] jahrami:
thanx dotfred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cushcalc:
Threaded SMS Backup AKA Palm SMS

Thanks for this tip.

It's PalmMsgV001 in my \Windows, if others are looking for the correct file.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] convert:
i have no problem

Maybe I'm missing the point here but I've had no problems restoring text messages using v2.8 and wm6.1 (both pdaviet and randomize versions).
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pi3ch:
Great software man! especially for me on Linux :)

Can you add an option for exporting your backup files as .CSV or Comma based files? I want to import backup files into my other software in linux.

If you create this option you did a great favor for linux users ;)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pietrucci:
Yes I would like that too, because I can't synchronize with my work's Outlook (not authorized), but with a csv file I can import/export from/to Outlook.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] nerdstrap:
The text option saves it to a csv format! There are perhaps 20 pages of posts explaining the process...
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pietrucci:
Nice of you to mention 20 pages... I'm afraid it doesn't, for example the date/time formats are 0x00xx.

That's no text format according to the usual format. Outlook really doesn't know what to do..

If you succeed to import in Outlook I'd really like to know how you did it...

So next time when you shout perhaps know what you're talking about?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DVS_WiNdz:
If I backup then hard reset.. can I still restore

- appointments

- call logs

- contacts

- messages (SMS, Mails, ...) NEW !!!

- speed dials

- tasks

?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] nerdstrap:
Here's my success report: I've restored my contacts and appointments to 3 difft pcs running 2 difft versions of outlook. dotfred mentions in multiple posts that this is possible. the values are in .csv formats, its up to the interpreting program to save them in the correct data formats. or, you can use excel to modify them yourselves - dotfred also mentioned this...
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pi3ch:
OK I create back from my appointments and tasks what I got was a .pib file. I extract that file and got to files appts_20080204.csa and tasks_20080204.cst.

What I got in these files are something like this:

��" 0 x e 6 , 0 x d 2 , 0 x 9 a , 0 x 2 a , 0 x 2 f , 0 x 9 0 , 0 x 1 c , 0 x 2 f , 0 x 4 e , 0 x 2 0 , 0 x 2 f , 0 x 8 8 , 0 x 5 b , 0 x 2 f , 0 x 7 a , 0 x 7 e , 0 x 4 7 , 0 x b e , 0 x 2 a , 0 x b d "

How can I use it in Excel or import it to other softwares?!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] simonster:
Hi,

First, great tool, saves my life over and over.

Second, I tried to restore sms on a 6.1 rom, ShadoWs, and it didn't work. I tried to just restore my messgages and nothing else today and it's worked fine...not sure why but it's currently "conversationalising" the texts.

Si
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] nipponappi:
Also for me, in 6.1 rom the sms restore doesn't work.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] freelancex:
Also same for me. Using DarkForce 6.1 and SMS does not restore properly from my 6.0 backup.

Is it because of threaded messages it is not working?

im trying to restore again now. If it fails again, thats over 6000 messages ive got to wait till i get my TYTNII later this month before i can restore them all :eek: lol.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pietrucci:
that's exactly my point a few posts ago... perhaps nerdstrap could explain to us how he succeededm using Excel or other interpreting programs so we can import in Outllok?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] romualdrichard:
Nice program, it save my sms but....

I found a problem when restoring my calendar.

I have a lot of appointments which have no alarm (one a day)

I was very surprised to find these appointments with alarm set after restoring them.

These appointments are recuring every year.

I hope it will help and not be lost in the many many pages of this threads;)

Cheers
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] EazyVG:
I 3rd that ... would like to see this feature added as well.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] freelancex:
Right, ive tried 4 times now to restore my messages from 6.0 onto my 6.1.

trying to restore 6800 texts doest really help the process i guess, but what i have found is this:

while restoring (just) the messages each time, the results were as follows:

1st restore: 200+ texts

2nd restore: 400+ texts

3rd restore: 600+ texts

4th restore 2400+ texts

so as you can see, each time, more are being successfully restored. unfortunately, they dont look right on 6.1 because when they are "conversationalized" only their texts are shown. not your replies.

So after the 4th restore, still only having my texts up to june 07, i decided to scrap restoring my messages and start a new.

anyone else experiencing the same as me?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] bbobeckyj:
Sorry, I don't have any solutions for you but, (If you don't mind me asking) I'm wondering why you would want to keep over 2000 texts from over six months ago?

How would you even sort through them to find a specific one etc?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] freelancex:
haha i respect your curiosity.

The same reason ive kept every msn convo ive had since 2005.

Ive got OCD, and have an obsession of losing my memory. so i take comfort in, that if i did lose my memory i could go back through all my texts and convo logs and remember what im like and who my friends are etc.

yeah, i know, its very sad. but it keeps me sane. lol.

and sorting through them is easy in WM6 as u can search through them. all i need to do is type in a word and it looks for it.

I dunno, its just my OCD... drives me crazy. lol.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] aznedy:
Switching Phones

My wife and I are going to attempt to switch phones (Without losing important data). I currently have the T-mobile Dash, and she has the Wing. Can the backup data from PIM Backup be restored to from PPC to Smartphone and from Smartphone to PPC? My only real NEED is to switch the contacts and calendar entries, call history and emails aren't really necessary but it would be nice to have this also. Does anybody have experience with this kind of change. Even if the data isn't portable, PIM Backup will help me feel safer while doing the backups to/from Outlook. Thanks for the program!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pi3ch:
NO NEWS?!!!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pietrucci:
Despite of the 20 pages of messages about it (?), I'm afraid there's no available solution...

...yet!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] speedme:
I have backupped using PIM Backup all my contacts, etc on a Vario I with WM 6.0.

When I try to restore on my Vario III with WM 6.1, I don't get all messages in my inbox and sent items.

I have tried several restores already, even only messages restore (or even only inbox restore), but I keep having only 10 messages where the database clearly says that 25 messages are in it.....

I see that my problem is not on it's own, but does someone have a solution ?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] nipponappi:
For those who don't like the threaded SMS in WM 6.1, you can change its style to WM 6.0 by this key:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Inbox\Setting s]

"SMSAvailable"=dword:1

Change 1 -> 0 and you'll have the old SMS
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] freelancex:
Yes alot of us seem to be having this problem! :( database over over 8000 for me, only 2500 restoring approx after numerous tries :(

But getting rid of threaded messages completely is a BIG NO NO as its one of the main reasons im trying out 6.1! lol.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] speedme:
Luckily it's not a big a deal if I loose these messages, but I just can stand it not knowing what the problem is.

The advantage of WM 6.1 over 6.0 is bigger for me to stay at 6.1 :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DaveShaw:
Fix for WM6.1??

I think I've found a fix fr using this with WM6.1. I have done this twice and it seems to work. Can someone else please confirm this works?

My Process:

Backup Everything except Contacts, Appts and Tasks.

Flash ROM (Dutty Private Beta 2 and 3, any 6.1 should do)

Restore All from PIM

Go into SMS/MMS, Menu, Tools, Clear SMS/MMS

Close (not minimize) SMS/MMS.

Go into PIM backup, turn on Verbose. (Dont think verbose helps, but its what I did).

Restore just the Messages, nothing else (Leave the option as "Delete all existing...")

Re-open SMS/MMS.

Wait for Messaging To Create the threads.

Hope this helps.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Mr. Vi:
You are my hero :D

Thank you so much for this great fix (or workaround ;))!

Vi
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] niobos:
Did you try READING those pages?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pietrucci:
yes I think you are very funny.

but.. what is your point about sms, what's that got to do with this?

perhaps instead of spoiling words about reading and 20 pages blablabla, please just tell us noobs in simple words how to make an readable appointment .csv file for Outlook???
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dotfred:
Hi Dave,

Thanks for your trick...

I found the same problem when I upgraded the pda of my wife to wm6.1 yesterday. But I only did this

Restore All from PIM

Go into SMS/MMS, Menu, Tools, Clear SMS/MMS

Restore just the Messages, nothing else (Leave the option as "Delete all existing...")

and it worked... And today I saw your post, so I suppose that the sequence restore/clear/restore is the solution....

Anyway, I really don't know what's the difference in wm6.1, I have to investigate...

Cheers,

Fred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DaveShaw:
Glad I could help. Last thing anyone wants is thier missus on thier back nagging. I get no end of stick for changing my phone every two minutes. :D

If this is just a problem with restoring first time with no messages, might be worth adding a call to Clear Down SMS/MSM. If not, then you'll just have to figure another way.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dotfred:
Hi pietrucci,

You're right only contacts are really made to be imported in another application like Outlook. For other items, some changes have to be done.

Don't forget that it is a backup utility and not an export tool.

Anyway, I will try to provide in future versions of pim backup utility

an export extension, like for instance, ical/vcal export for appointments and a better readable csv format for messages...

if you think of something else...be my guests...

Cheers,

Fred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Silverexp:
I'm not having the same luck using this process. I have a spare Hermes now with WM6.1 and I’ve been trying to restore the txt messages successfully on it before attempting it on my Tilt. Usually the Inbox does not restore completely or the Inbox restores with the sent items, but threaded.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DaveShaw:
Are u using the latest version of PIM?

This process has worked on my Kaiser and on some other people's in the kaiser forums. So hopefully it will work on ur tilt. i think dutty and schaps use the same sms app.

Or u can wait for Fred to release an update.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Silverexp:
Yes, I'm using PIM ver2.8... I'll try it on my tilt some day, just taking a break from flashing so much.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] zard:
dotfred,

Been using your app since I had a O2 BlueAngel upgraded to WM5 and now with a Kaiser TyTN II with WM 6.0 and recent week, WM 6.1.

Whenever I finished updating to a rom and after completing installation of my other apps (with cabs), sync with Exchange 2003 (Calendar, emails and contacts), and when I run PIMBack (yes v2.7 & even v2.8), PIMBack will have the name on top bar appearing but nothing happen below. If I try to quit, the PPC seems very sluggish. I always ended up SR to solve the problem.

Then yesterday, I did a test with a WM 6.1 rom. After rom installed, I didn't sync with Exchange 2003, I ran PIMBack and it worked without any problem. I then installed all the other apps (cabs). Tried PIMBack again, and no problem. Next I sync with Exchange 2003 (Calendar, emails and contacts) and then ran PIMBack again, same problem occurred. I then deleted email sync, and kept the other two, ran PIMBack again and no problem. So with this experiment, it seemed to me the problem lied with emails. FYI, my email sync was using standard sync perimeters, i.e. 2 days (I think) of old data and new data. Email size set to 1k (I think). So the settings shouldn't be the cause of the problem.

I'm just wondering if any other people had faced the same problem I had. Any confirmation or resolution method is much appreciated.

Oh yes, my first exchange sync is through USB and after that, I set to PushMail.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pi3ch:
OH MAN! That is a great news! especially for ical/vcal calander export file! You works help many Linux lovers! :D highly waiting for your next version.

Thanks Fred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] pietrucci:
hi Fred,

Very nice of you to reply and explain.

Such export function would be very welcome (or perhaps does anyone know if there already is an existing import/exporttool for appointments to/from Outlook?).
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] crino:
just upgraded my prophet to wm6.1

i've used PIM Backup to backup (from wm5) and restore (in wm6.1) my pim infos,

no problems, worked great ;)

bye fred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dudu7559:
Just a little question to DotFred.........

Well, I have a cemail.vol file in which messages and e-mail are stored, it comes from a previous copy before an hard-reset.

Resetted the device (Nike), the os create a new cemail.vol file, obviously empty. I have tried to overwrite the new file with the old one but notihng.... the file is shared with another process that locks part of the file: so Resco Explorer says when I try this action

What is the process? Can I lock it? Or stop it?

Are you experienced about it, surely....... :lol

I wait, guy.

bye
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] questsin:
Any ideas how to backup HTC Home

Any ideas how to backup HTC Home, Apps ,favorite people, and weather settings with PIM backup?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DaveShaw:
It's all in [HKLM]\Software\HTC\% in the registry. You can't use PIM to do but FdcSoft's Task Manager will let you.

Be warned I've had problems with this.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] ziki:
I have a Magician with Win2003SE and the SpeedDials restore does not work. I saw you made a "SpeedDials" bugfix for WM6 in v2.6, is it this fix?And why only for WM6?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dotfred:
Hi dudu,

Well I never been able to make a copy of cemail.vol, because it is always locked by the system at a very early stage during the boot. That's why for this kind of backup/restore, you need Spb Backup or Sprite Backup. They change the boot sequence, they disable some drivers and services in order to backup the files and that's why they need a soft reset.

The problem with this solution is when you're up/downgrading the OS, it may cause some incompatibilities. This can be verified with pim.vol (which is not locked), if you try to copy pim.vol from WM2k5 to WM2k6 for instance, the contacts application will not be able to open.

Now maybe with a "Safe Mode" kind of application, this can work, I don't know...

Cheers,

Fred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dotfred:
Hi Dave,

What problems? With the TM or by restoring the registry ?

Cheers,

Fred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dotfred:
Hi ziki,

In WM6, they introduce a new cross reference table for Speed dials, and simply recreating the speed dials records in the db is not sufficient, so I had to use another method which is the use of provisionning xml which was introduced in WM5 I guess (not sure, maybe in WM2003SE).

Can you explain the problem exactly? What does not work?

which version of the tool did you use for backup?

which version of the tool did you use for restore?

which OS version for backup?

Cheers,

Fred
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DaveShaw:
Hi Fred,

I backed up the Contacts Key and restored it, but it came up with different names/numbers when restoring after flashing to a different ROM.

Looking at the regfile the OID's could have changed.

I may have added contacts between BU and Restore, not sure.

And for some reason Dutty's Kaiser ROM's require you to setup the contacts using the Cube, anything else won't stick after SR :(
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] dotfred:
Hi crino,

The only problem in wm6.1 is the restore of the messages with th new feature "threaded messages", the rest remains the same.

I don't know who implemented this, but this bunch of developers don't make my life easier!!!:mad:

Cheers,

Fred

ps.: gmail chat not working anymore at work!:(
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DragonStar:
Out of interest, what happens if you try and restore from a 6.0 to 6.1 rom? I'm looking at flashing my kaiser, and wouldn't mind having all my old messages. Even if they're not threaded and just in a separate folder or something, or does it not work at all?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DaveShaw:
Everything restores in 6.1 except messages. There is a work around that seems to work most of the time.

Have a look here for the work around. http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=1912418&postcount=753

If it doesn't work, keep hold of your PIM file and either restore it to a Wm6 device, or wait to see what Fred can do.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] DragonStar:
Ah, so it seems like they can be restored. That'd be good, I use exchange, so it's not the other stuff that actually bothers me. It's actually only the SMS's that I want restored! :)

Thanks for the quick reply.