Problems restoring my data

[cmthmpsn]

OK, I seem to have an issue here. One of the last things I did before I sent my previous Betty away for service was to backup my data to a SD card using Backup Plus. I first restored my data with a HotSync, but last night when I went to use some of my apps, they weren't running right or at all. I thought it might be conflicting stuff that came in from using the TX with same user name, so I did a Hard Reset and tried to restore from the backup SD card, which was fresh from the old Betty. It goes through the whole restore process then at the end it tells me the restore failed or was canceled. I've run through all of the types of resets shown in the FAQ here, and got the same result. Does this mean I have to get rid of my backup file on my PC, and do fresh installs of every app I have instead of restoring them? I think I can find all the data to install them, but I'm not sure.

[holvoetn]

I seem to understand you made a backup on Betty, then started using a TX and now want to use Betty again ?
If so, you are transferring device specific settings from Betty to TX and back to Betty when simply hotsyncing using the same ID. Follow instructions on top of TX forum on procedure for 'upgrading' (think out of the box, I know moving from TX to Betty is not exactly an upgrade) .
Am posting from 680 so can not elaborate too much now. I hope this helps already ...

[cmthmpsn]

Yes, I had to send Betty in for repairs, so I used Tex (like his name? ) as a substitute, with the same user name, so I would have access to my data. Now I have a new Betty back, and want to use her with the original user name. Once I have her working right, I'll give Tex a new user name and use him for things that don't work well on Betty, like getting online, and some of the apps that require more memory, etc.

[Hook]

Two caveats: I don't know Garmin or Backup plus. Hopefully some Garmin people will be along.

There are two issues here.

The first is that your backup set does not appear to be working, even when you do a hard reset/ factory restore. If this is true, then, yes, you may have to rebuild the Garmin. Any clue from about where this failure occurs. Does your backup program allow selective restore, maybe skipping a file that is giving it trouble?

The other issue is that hotsync isn't working right either, but that is not surprising as, essentially, from your description, you now have a hotsync backup that is a hodgepodge of Garmin and TX files. I'm actually surprised the TX didn't balk.

Your best bet is to rename your old hotsync backup file (under C:\Palm\<some variation of your hotsync ID>) --or wherever Garmin puts it-- and then Hotsync to get your PIM data and then rebuild your Garmin.

Also, if you didn't before, test your backup program. Make sure it BOTH backs up and restores before the next time you need it.

[cmthmpsn]

Two caveats: I don't know Garmin or Backup plus. Hopefully some Garmin people will be along.

There are two issues here.

The first is that your backup set does not appear to be working, even when you do a hard reset/ factory restore. If this is true, then, yes, you may have to rebuild the Garmin. Any clue from about where this failure occurs. Does your backup program allow selective restore, maybe skipping a file that is giving it trouble?

It has a selective Backup, but not a selective Restore, I already thought of that. I have no idea where this failure occurs.

The other issue is that hotsync isn't working right either, but that is not surprising as, essentially, from your description, you now have a hotsync backup that is a hodgepodge of Garmin and TX files. I'm actually surprised the TX didn't balk.

Actually, Tex did balk at running some apps, but since he only had that user name temporarily, I just didn't run the apps he had problems with.

Your best bet is to rename your old hotsync backup file (under C:\Palm\<some variation of your hotsync ID>) --or wherever Garmin puts it-- and then Hotsync to get your PIM data and then rebuild your Garmin.

Also, if you didn't before, test your backup program. Make sure it BOTH backs up and restores before the next time you need it.

I have previously successfully backed up and restored with this app, but I guess before I sent off the first Betty, I should have tested that the backup files were good by doing a restore then.

I'm actually thinking of migrating nearly everything except the GPS and PIM stuff over to Tex. Since I will be changing User Names in the migration, I will probably have to buy more registration codes. As a side note, I'll want to have the same PIM info on both units, can I sync them to the same file or will I need to have two separate PIM files on my PC?

[Hook]

I'm actually thinking of migrating nearly everything except the GPS and PIM stuff over to Tex. Since I will be changing User Names in the migration, I will probably have to buy more registration codes. As a side note, I'll want to have the same PIM info on both units, can I sync them to the same file or will I need to have two separate PIM files on my PC?

Again, I'm guessing here. I have two PDAs, but the luxury of multiple computers, so I sync to different machines. However, I believe you will have two sets of PIM data, one for each Hotsync ID.

[rkevwill]

I know how I would use the backup program with my backupman on Betty. I would do a hard reset first, then from the program on the SD card, pick a backup that was done BEFORE you sent betty in, and do a restore from that date.

I would also delete any pieces of backup from betty on the pc. Never know what bits are in there. On the mac, thats easily done, dunno bout on the pc.

[cmthmpsn]

My backup program only saves the latest backup, so I don't have an option of using an older backup. I think I need a better backup app.

[rkevwill]

Um, yes. Backupman saves bout as many as you want I guess. I save the last 5 myself, and backup like twice a week automatically.

[Ken in Regina]

I use CardBackup. It allows multiple backups. It allows selective backups. It allows selective restores. It even allows scheduled backups.

In it's option screen you can also tell it to install itself on the card so if you need to do any kind of destructive reset (which will kill your backup program along with everything else on the PDA) you can still run CardBackup from the card to restore.

It costs US$11.95. I've had to restore with it a couple of times and it has been worth the very small price.

Just a tip for those who aren't already doing it. I also keep a few other things in the root directory on the card. I'm a confirmed Graffiti 1 user and I refuse to live without it. I keep the necessary files on the card so I can reinstall it immediately after a destructive reset. It's usually a long time between installations so I always forget how. To solve that problem I have a the instructions in a memo in memopad and I also have a text file with the other files in the root directory on the card.

I also keep the latest update from Garmin on the card. That's the Updater.prc and the Update.pdb. That way, even if I'm on the road, if I have to do a destructive reset I can update the Palm OS before restoring.

So here's what the root directory of my SD cards look like:

"G1_how_to.txt"
"Graffiti_Library.PRC"
"Graffiti_Library_enUS.PRC"
"Updater.prc"
"UpdaterData.PDB"

I also make sure that I have the Palm OS update files, G1 install files and how-to, CardBackup and a recent backup on a 512MB card because the original Garmin setup wouldn't handle some 1MB cards properly. Pretty hard to update the OS or restore the rest of the files from a card that it can't read.

You might guess that I'm a true belt-and-suspenders kinda guy.

...ken...