How to restore calendar, tasks and contacts from .dat files?

[solipsist]

After attempting to run VersaMail today, the device crashed, I was forced to do a hard reset since it wouldn't start, the gray Palm Powered screen never went away. After the hard reset and attempting to restore everything using the HotSync Manager and setting all conduits to Desktop overwrites Handheld I realized all my Contacts, Tasks and Calendar entries are gone, but all other data seems intact. Luckily, I thought, I'd kept a backup copy from yesterday of my old user directory. I tried to replace the new .dat files with the old ones but HotSync Manager keeps overwriting them with empty ones.

Is there any way I can restore my data from the dat files?

I use Agendus for Windows Palm Desktop Edition as well, if it might be related.

BTW; is there a modern Palm device that actually works? My T5 has brought me so much problems... it's cursed. I should get me IIIxe back from my little brother, it was the best!

[BAB2000]

Have you confirmed via inspecting the Palm desktop or Agendus on the PC your data has been restored when you utilized the copy of the folder?

Also, you may need to confirm your conduit settings since they were altered as you indicated. The conduits by default should be set to synchronize, with the exception of the System (Backup) conduit, whose action should be Handheld overwites Desktop.

If you hard reset your Palm handheld and erase the user name, there is not any benifit to change your conduit settings. When you perform the first hotsync after a hard reset, the Hotsync manager will not be able to ID the device, and then will prompt you for action, Select a current user name from those that already sync to this PC, or Create a new user name. You would of cource select the user name utilizied before.

Then Hotsync manager will automatically change the conduit settings for restore function, and transfer the contents of the Backup folder to the Install folder. I am not certain how Agendus utilizes the Hotsync manager, it has been my impression this desktop component has its own conduits for data transfer not utilizing the Palm conduits, again I am not certain.

Also, it will be pratical to make sure you have the same user name listed on the desktop when inspecting the PIM data, as the same name assigned to the handheld, as the same for which any modifications had been completed on the Custom option for hotsync manager. This could be an issue if you have more than one user name listed on the PC platform.

[Streaky]

All good points. Also, do a quick check to make sure that you are viewing the All category for each of those apps in case the change dumped them into a category (Unfiled?) you are not, by default, viewing.

[solipsist]

Have you confirmed via inspecting the Palm desktop or Agendus on the PC your data has been restored when you utilized the copy of the folder?

Well while the copy of the backup folder is intact, copying it to the sync folder for my user makes the entries appear in Palm Desktop but not in Agendus Win.

I think I'm gonna uninstall Palm Desktop, and Agendus Win and reinstall everything, right now I have multiple folders and installs due to upgrades of Palm Deskop.

Also, you may need to confirm your conduit settings since they were altered as you indicated. The conduits by default should be set to synchronize, with the exception of the System (Backup) conduit, whose action should be Handheld overwites Desktop.

Well that's what I usually use, but when I wanted to restore the handheld I chose Desktop overwrites.

If you hard reset your Palm handheld and erase the user name, there is not any benifit to change your conduit settings. When you perform the first hotsync after a hard reset, the Hotsync manager will not be able to ID the device, and then will prompt you for action, Select a current user name from those that already sync to this PC, or Create a new user name. You would of cource select the user name utilizied before..

So you suggest I hard reset again and synchronize with my old data?

Then Hotsync manager will automatically change the conduit settings for restore function, and transfer the contents of the Backup folder to the Install folder. I am not certain how Agendus utilizes the Hotsync manager, it has been my impression this desktop component has its own conduits for data transfer not utilizing the Palm conduits, again I am not certain.

Agendus adds some extra fancy things, extra notes, attendee lists, icons et c, these use their own conduit. For contacts, calendar et c, it uses the Palm's data.

Also, it will be pratical to make sure you have the same user name listed on the desktop when inspecting the PIM data, as the same name assigned to the handheld, as the same for which any modifications had been completed on the Custom option for hotsync manager. This could be an issue if you have more than one user name listed on the PC platform.

I only have one username and have always had ever since my Palm IIIxe back in 2001.

Streaky: All my categories were lost some time ago in a failed sync. I'm not impressed at all with the modern version of HotSync because it's caused severe data losses on more than one occasion.

[BAB2000]

Well while the copy of the backup folder is intact, copying it to the sync folder for my user makes the entries appear in Palm Desktop but not in Agendus Win.

This would indicate issue with Agendus and or its conduits.

I think I'm gonna uninstall Palm Desktop, and Agendus Win and reinstall everything, right now I have multiple folders and installs due to upgrades of Palm Deskop.I would not suggest this step, presently, you have not confirmed if the data you you observe in the Palm desktop after restroing your folders from your backup copy is transfered or not to the hanhdeld. Removing the desktop could result in deeper hole from which to climb out of.



Well that's what I usually use, but when I wanted to restore the handheld I chose Desktop overwrites. As indicated it is not required to alter conduits manually for a RESTORE hotsync after a hard reset, doing so could fool the hotsync maanger not to behave as it should, and could contribute to your issues?



So you suggest I hard reset again and synchronize with my old data?Yes, if you have CONFIRED the information is listed correctly from the Palm desktop.



Agendus adds some extra fancy things, extra notes, attendee lists, icons et c, these use their own conduit. For contacts, calendar et c, it uses the Palm's data.I will have to take your word on this matter, as I understood the function, the Agendus desktop functioned seperately of the Palm desktop and the data was also handheld differently on the handheld, but that is only my impression from having reviewed their site a few months back.



I only have one username and have always had ever since my Palm IIIxe back in 2001.This is good, as long as the system preference setting were never transfered tothe new handheld.

Streaky: All my categories were lost some time ago in a failed sync. I'm not impressed at all with the modern version of HotSync because it's caused severe data losses on more than one occasion.Actually this version of the Hotsync manager is more stable than previous releases. The lost of Categories can occur for other reasons, data is not lost, just orphaned to the UNFILED category. I lost my categories on my TX when upgrading because I did not correctly update teh folder on the desktop with the correct files, did repeat procedure with all required files and results were much improved, also utilizing third party apps including Outlook can cause most woes with categories being lost, but data should only be orphanned to the Unfiled

[solipsist]

Well right now there's a mess of applications. I need to remove those I do not use. I think I have three Start menu folders: PalmOne, Palm Desktop and Palm OS Desktop which all have icons for the HotSync manager and two of the Palm Desktop... I'm going to do some cleaning up!

[BAB2000]

Well right now there's a mess of applications. I need to remove those I do not use. I think I have three Start menu folders: PalmOne, Palm Desktop and Palm OS Desktop which all have icons for the HotSync manager and two of the Palm Desktop... I'm going to do some cleaning up!

Yes, that can be a problem. When ugrading your palm desktop the newer version should overlay the previous installation, the only way to avoid is maunally altering the default directory to which it installs.

You maybe utilizing an older version of Hotsync manager with a newer desktop?

Also, cannot imagine what the registery of your system even looks like.

The T5 bundled desktop version should be labeled palmOne, and thought the version is 4.1.4.

Not certain what is indicated by Palm OS desktop?, and the Palm desktop leftover from the IIIxe, version 3.5 was bundled, but you could have upgraded via download to 4.1.

Since the T5 utilized file manager, I suggest using the version from the CD, not from the downlaod as not all features are included on the version from the palm site.

Good Luck

[solipsist]

I removed any old versions of Palm Desktop, uninstalled Agendus. I copied the old DAT files back and now my old date is available in Palm Desktop again.

Now to make it work with Agendus!

[solipsist]

Successful sync! The data is now back on the device! I'll now do a regular sync, then I'll install Agendus Desktop again.

[BAB2000]

Successful sync! The data is now back on the device! I'll now do a regular sync, then I'll install Agendus Desktop again.

I also recommend that you inspect your Hotsync log after each hotsync, this will provide a good indicator if items did not complete there assigned task as planned. I have also, caught items being moved to Archive folder for what I thought was no reason and was able to restore information, only to find i did delete earlier and just forgot

Glad your results are as desired.