PocketBackup for Windows Mobile

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.thbi.de/us/software/pocketbackup/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.thbi.de/us/software/pocketbackup/index.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Most of us have learned the importance of a data backup the hard and painful way. The differences between Windows Mobile devices and Desktop PC are getting lesser and lesser. Now it is everyday business to work with Excel sheets, listen to music and to create Word and notes documents on the Pocket PC while on the go."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Jerry-pocketbackup.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/><br /><br />Perhaps we finally have some kind of backup solution for our WM5 phones. This looks like it replaces the ActiveSync backup we lost with WM5 devices. I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Because there still is no on device backup yet this might be worth a look.

[Pete Paxton]

Well, I used it to back up my device. It wants to back up everything including your storage card. That can be a good thing but I took my card out so it just backed up my phone. You can set it for "full" or "differential" backups. You can also set either manual or "each synchronization" backups. So how does it work? I don't know. I'm afraid to restore. What if there's a glitch? I'd lose everything. When someone gets more ganas than I have, try it and let us know :)

[Mike Temporale]

It looks pretty interesting. I wonder if it does a "full" backup - meaning email, registry, etc... And not just user files and directories.

[Pete Paxton]

Interesting you ask that. I just emailed them with that and some other questions. I'll post my results when they get back to me.

[Pete Paxton]

Well, you gotta admit, they reply pretty darn fast. Here's the exact reply I received:

************************************************************

Hello Pete,

No, PocketBackup does a Data- not a System-Backup of your mobile
device. In case of a new installation of your device your system-files will be
newly installed by your device-setup, your contacts and other PIM Information will be restored by Outlook-Sync and you can then restore all of your data-files with PocketBackup/PocketRestore.

Thanks for your interest in our Products.

Greetings,
Thomas

************************************************************

I really do appreciate what this software is trying to do but I hope Sprite comes up with something soon that backs up my whole device.

[Mike Temporale]

I really do appreciate what this software is trying to do but I hope Sprite comes up with something soon that backs up my whole device.

I agree. I understand what they are trying to do, but in reality it's the device configuration that really matters. Sprite is the only option, but I am really not impressed with their customer service. :?

[Jerry Raia]

Well that is a disappointment. I can back up my data without a program. :roll:

[claud9999]

SPB Backup, according to their literature, supports WM5. Given that I can use it 5 times (which, given how infrequently I do backups, will last more than the 30 days this trial gives me) seems to me a reasonable alternative to this software. Anyone know of a decent comparison review of the alternatives?

And why hasn't Microsoft bundled a backup solution as standard, still? Surprising...I guess they think ActiveSync is their answer.

[Jerry Raia]

Last time I checked it only was available for WM5 on Pocket PC's

[claud9999]

Hmm, ok...That's odd. It certainly seemed to perform the backup on my Audiovox PPC6700 no problem, but I haven't tried restoring yet.

[Jerry Raia]

Hmm, ok...That's odd. It certainly seemed to perform the backup on my Audiovox PPC6700 no problem, but I haven't tried restoring yet.

Well that is a Pocket PC, Not a Smartphone. :)

[racerx]

Well, I had a chance to use this software to try and restore a phone that had some issues. Short answer - don't waste your time or money. Read all about my woes here: http://spaces.msn.com/richtech/