Develop Bugs

Noob Q on restoring apps etc after upgrades

Hi Guys,
I did my first upgrade to WM 6.0 last week and spent a long time adding apps and redoing all my email server settings etc.
What does everyone use for backing up such info? I followed MrVanx's guide to back up My Documents etc which all went back on fine, but the email accounts were a pain to redo.
Any tips appreciated on how to make my next upgrade (waiting patiently to install Sleuth's new on) less painful.
Al

My 2 cents on that...
- Do as you did for My Docs
- Use PIMBackup to backup your mails and PIM data ( here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299705 ) This a very nice application (thanks dotfred...)
- Create a "cab" directory on a SD (or where you want ) with your prefered applications as you will have to reinstal them too
Voilà

You can also check out Settings Savior. Allows you to backup/restore common device settings, registry keys, has an automated cab installer, etc.

Also You may want to look at something like Sprite Backup. It will allow restores to different roms if you use the proper backup procedure
great app.

SBP Backup
I can load a trial version of SBP backup if it has more facilities that those already mentioned.
Thanks,
Al

Just check that you can effectively restore on another rom using SPB Backup...

Sprite backup?

Hi everybody!
I have a newbie question.
I am really thrilled about cookers work here and want to try a lot of ROMs but I am really tired to put my "settings" afterwards.
My question is:
Can I have restored all my data (settings, e-mail account data, my WiFi setting for a number of routers I use, my tweaks, programs, etc.) with Sprite software we get with our Diamonds?

Sorry, a backup made on one rom is specific to that rom - you can't restore it once you change to a different rom. You must reinstall software and change settings manually once you flash. Sucks, but that's the price of being on the cutting edge!

Actually, all I want to backup is
- Bluetooth connections
- WiFi networks
- mail account settings only (ie not messages, or any other stuff)
I can live with reinstalling cabs, and making a couple minor tweaks here and there - just get frustrated with having to re-pair all my blueooth devices and wifi networks!
Is there anyway I can do that? Backup specific registry keys/files?

Might want to have a look at using Benghali's Sashimi....lot of work to set up, but once you have its gr8

sprite backup levels
restoring an old backup on a new rom with spb backup you can choose differents levels of restoring.
only personal data: contacts, messages, ecc
level 1: (preferred with the same rom) all your data stored in the rom(internal memory and not in the memory card), programs, system files etc can be restored. the problem is that this kind of restore on a new rom is unusefull. because it restores all system files all properties of the old rom.
level 2: (preferred for restoring on another diamond with same rom and features) it restores all your data, and some tweak on another diamond with same rom, but something you must set by your self.
level 3: (i think the best way) preferred to restoring all your personal data, programs installation and others tweaks in the same diamond except system files with a new rom.
it works good, but some tweak, some programs, icon or whatelse is to set by you, but the majority of yout tweaks etc are restored from your backup.
i hope it is clear and usefull, bye

Sashimi is the way to go. Please post your threads in the right section. This is a software question and has nothing to do with ROM Development

mccune said:
Sashimi is the way to go. Please post your threads in the right section. This is a software question and has nothing to do with ROM Development
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you're right, my fault.
Tnx once more for your answers. this community is great!
It is very frustrating to get device precisely as it was before upgrading.
Don't get me wrong i think it is a lot of fun to do that but my wife doesn't

Backing up everything, and restoring

I've had my Dash for a while now, and I switch between roms not all too often, but every time one annoys me. The first time, I didn't know i could back up my data, but after that I started to make backups with SPB Backup (now trying Sprite as well). In both of these, it says that they back up everything (unless modified, which i do not). So now I want to change my rom again, and I was wondering, if I do a full backup of my phone under Rose Rom 1.7 remade by Ricky & Stylez and I switch to lets say Ricky's v2.4 and the restore, would it mess up my phone? I only think this because everything would include the registry (am i correct?) and to replace the registry of a new rom with that of a different rom would mess up the phone (correct?). I need to have some parts of the registry because of the programs i have installed (some use the registry, if not all [i think]).
Obviously im not extremely knowledgable on the way the Dash/Excalibur works, just want to know what is the best method to do this.

Your correct you do not want to use a backup from one ROM flash a different ROM then use the backup.
New ROM fresh install of programs and tweaks.

i was looking at another thread about backing up data on this forum. In there someone recommended using SKTools to backup specific registry entries. Should i make a back up of MY Files and a backup of the registry entries that relate to the programs i have installed? Would it still work if i restored just my files (no rom files or system files) and the specific registry entries to the new rom?
I am assuming the safest, most crash-preventing way to do this is to do as you said Stylez, just do a fresh install and reinstall everything after that...

The registry entrys where
HKLM\Security\CHome
&
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CHome
The only prob with that is the the RoseROM is set up slightly different.
But you could just back up the specific parts.

Thnks for ur help Stylez, I guess ill take the safe, but slightly longer way and just reinstall everything from scratch so i dont have to go hunting around the regsitry with SKTools for everything i need to back up.

Those two areas of the registry were my question in the other thread, and it worked out perfectly. I also use Sprite Backup, and it's excellent software.
As for restoring with Sprite, it will not let you run a normal restore when you change roms, because it recognizes when you've changed and will only allow an "upgrade" restore, which allows you to restore personal files, your internet favorites and other things like that. Also, it will allow you to selectively restore these things, as it typically does when you do a normal restore. Make sure you're using the latest Sprite Backup, as it's more reliable with these things.
My own $0.02, after you have any rom set up how you like it, do a full "clean" backup. Then make a folder on your microsd to which you copy your favorites, cpr files, bronzeres.dll if you've modified it, registry portions (like the two I asked about), etc. Then when you switch to a new rom, you can pretty much copy these files back over and take a lot of the headache out of tweaking a new rom... don't worry about backing up reg entries for software you installed outside of the rom, because it's easier to just reinstall those with the new rom.

uansari1 said:
Those two areas of the registry were my question in the other thread, and it worked out perfectly. I also use Sprite Backup, and it's excellent software.
As for restoring with Sprite, it will not let you run a normal restore when you change roms, because it recognizes when you've changed and will only allow an "upgrade" restore, which allows you to restore personal files, your internet favorites and other things like that. Also, it will allow you to selectively restore these things, as it typically does when you do a normal restore. Make sure you're using the latest Sprite Backup, as it's more reliable with these things.
My own $0.02, after you have any rom set up how you like it, do a full "clean" backup. Then make a folder on your microsd to which you copy your favorites, cpr files, bronzeres.dll if you've modified it, registry portions (like the two I asked about), etc. Then when you switch to a new rom, you can pretty much copy these files back over and take a lot of the headache out of tweaking a new rom... don't worry about backing up reg entries for software you installed outside of the rom, because it's easier to just reinstall those with the new rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow only ever used Sprite once and it cacked out on me didn't realize you could do an upgrade. Will have to try a newer vesion out as with Tilt it's a new ROM to try every week.
Was there not a diference in the reg as i'm sure that the settings panel and since no weather the reg will be different between Kavana & Rose?

So lets say we want to back up PERSONAL DATA. This "Personal Data" excludes programs, system files, ROM files (dont know if you consider system and rom the same, but whatever).
So on Sprite Backup, to do so you would obviously have to do a custom backup. Are these good options to use:::
==================================
(You are presented with a list similar to the one you get when browsing just folders in the windows explorer)
PIM>Select All
Mail>Select All
My Documents>Select All
System Data>Select the following:
>Browser Favorites>Favorites
Storage Card (if you have one)>DONT Select the following(if they exist):
>Application Data
>Program Files
>Windows
=======================================
Under System Data>Browser Favorites there is Browser System Data (reg entry it looks like) and Favorites (a folder), so i thought maybe only select the folder since the new rom will have the registry entries for the browser...is the correct?
Would that custom backup work out?

stylez said:
Wow only ever used Sprite once and it cacked out on me didn't realize you could do an upgrade. Will have to try a newer vesion out as with Tilt it's a new ROM to try every week.
Was there not a diference in the reg as i'm sure that the settings panel and since no weather the reg will be different between Kavana & Rose?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there was a difference, and I exported and imported the reg entries with Resco Explorer... but it didn't remove any registry entries, just overwrote the ones that existed in CHome when I exported. So my reg contains the following panels, for example for HKLM>Software>Microsoft>CHome>:
CAppointments, CClock, CHome, CLinks, CLock, CMessage, CMusic, CMyApplication, CMyFaves, CMyPhotos, COffice, CQuicklist, CTestUIPlugin, CWelcomeCenter, CWindowsLive, Fonts, HTCEMAIL, HTCFavorite, HTCMUSIC, HTCSMSMMS, HTCWeather, myfaves, Settings
Cyclonezephyrxz7 said:
So lets say we want to back up PERSONAL DATA. This "Personal Data" excludes programs, system files, ROM files (dont know if you consider system and rom the same, but whatever).
So on Sprite Backup, to do so you would obviously have to do a custom backup. Are these good options to use:::
==================================
(You are presented with a list similar to the one you get when browsing just folders in the windows explorer)
PIM>Select All
Mail>Select All
My Documents>Select All
System Data>Select the following:
>Browser Favorites>Favorites
Storage Card (if you have one)>DONT Select the following(if they exist):
>Application Data
>Program Files
>Windows
=======================================
Under System Data>Browser Favorites there is Browser System Data (reg entry it looks like) and Favorites (a folder), so i thought maybe only select the folder since the new rom will have the registry entries for the browser...is the correct?
Would that custom backup work out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just do a FULL backup... you can restore selectively from that too. I always do full backups, that way I can restore selectively when I switch to a new rom...and then if I decide to go back to the ROM I had before, I reflash and do a full restore (just remember to change the Sprite restore settings to "delete all files" and to Replace files, not merge them).

Backup Programs to use Before ROM flash?

Hey guys, I searched around here and couldn't find any info on some backup programs for saving settings and the like besides PIM backup which saves personal contacts and information.
Is there any program that saves current settings so I don't have to go through the phone and redo all the settings again, and is there anything that backs up your current apps so I wouldn't have to install every individual .cab file again?
Any help is appreciated, thanks.

SPB Backup

Sashimi
I use Sashimi for that. Search in xda forum, and on http://www.winmo-experts.com/viewforum.php?f=7.
It does require some work to identify which parts need to be saved, but once you have done it, you can easily restore a complete phone, including cabs, registry entries, files, directories etc... . I did have to spend some time to identify which registry entries I wanted to save, but it has been really worth it.
After the restore, (and I did not reflash anything), my phone was a lot faster, as well.

Contacts cab

If any of you are flashing whores like me ou may have to backup and restore contacts over and over again. I was wondering if there was a way to make a cab file that would restore the contacts. This would be perfect when flashing roms with shashimi or user customization.

You can use my Export-Studio app (see Sig) which can export your Contacts as VCF files (which can be run directly on the phone and imported into Contacts)...I plan on updating the app soon to enable backup of more contact features (more entries per contact) as right now it only really does the basics.
If not, you can always google some freeware backup and restore studio specifically for PIM data. There are bundles online if I recall correctly (of course, if not you can wait a bit for me to update my Export Studio).
Good Luck

PPCPimBackup

You could use Microsoft's MyPhone, I use it and works really good, can save SMS messages and pics as well.

at45 said:
PPCPimBackup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used pim backup. Its good its just that some roms dont ahve it installed and I hate installing it. I just want one file which I can just run and it will restore my stuff

assassin82492 said:
I have used pim backup. Its good its just that some roms dont ahve it installed and I hate installing it. I just want one file which I can just run and it will restore my stuff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have a look for XML Provisioning and an app called Makisu. Of course to run the XML you'll still need to install an app, so it's no better if you don't want to install anything (?), though DotFred's Task Manager can restore the files if I remember right and that can run without being installed.

vcard expert available from the windows phone marketplace let me save all contacts from my wimo 6.5 HTC into a compact vcf file.
Then restored my contacts using the same program.