Pocket Backup Plus Released

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.spritesoftware.com/pocket_backup.html">http://www.spritesoftware.com/pocket_backup.html</a><br /><br />Sprite Software has released their second version of Pocket Backup. There are tons of new features in the "Plus" version.<br />• Improved UI<br />• Backup to self extracting restore file<br />• Backup to your PC with the included Sprite PC Service<br />• PocketMon Today Screen plugin monitors backup and memory status<br />• Space Detective alerts you to bloated folders so you can clean them out<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2003/20030402-pocketbackup.gif" /><br /><br />They have a 10 day trial. The app is $29.95. If you have Pocket Backup 1.0 or an iPAQ 3900/5450 with the iPAQ Backup that is really Pocket Backup 1.0 in ROM, you are eligible for a $10 upgrade price. You can also upgrade to Pocket Backup 2.0 for free but many of the features I listed above are missing. Sprite Software has a table showing what features Pocket Backup Plus adds on the upgrade pages. Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition devices are supported.<br /><br />Side note: If you downloaded 2.0 immediately after it was released last week, you need to go grab 2.0.1. Just run the installer, tell it to repair and it will update your desktop and Pocket PC with all necessary files.

[Kaber]

This backup software has saved my iPAQ more than once. You have got to have this software if you do any kind of hardcore tweaking of your Pocket PC. It makes recovering from hard resets a breeze. The compression is also great and keeps the backup files relatively small.

I really like the idea of self extracting recovery files. I'll be definately upgrading.

[Trokair]

I bought the upgrade for iPAQ Backup for the $10, but I can't seem to figure out how to get it into the ROM to overwrite the existing 1.1 version. The FAQ indicates something about backing up (I don't know with which version, iPAQ Backup 1.1 or Pocket Backup 2.01?), including the Registry and Windows folders, then restoring with the old version to overwrite it, but it's rather confusing. I guess my question boils down to, how do I replace iPAQ Backup 1.1 in the ROM with Pocket Backup 2.01?

Thanks!
-Kyle

[smittyofdhs]

I bought the upgrade for iPAQ Backup for the $10, but I can't seem to figure out how to get it into the ROM to overwrite the existing 1.1 version. The FAQ indicates something about backing up (I don't know with which version, iPAQ Backup 1.1 or Pocket Backup 2.01?), including the Registry and Windows folders, then restoring with the old version to overwrite it, but it's rather confusing. I guess my question boils down to, how do I replace iPAQ Backup 1.1 in the ROM with Pocket Backup 2.01?

Thanks!
-Kyle

you can't write to the ROM, that's why it's called ReadOnlyMemory. You'll always have 1.1 in the ROM, and the upgrade will be in RAM.

[sprite]

One of the main advantages of a backup application being in ROM is that after a hard reset, your device can be restored without installing any softwre - all you need is the backup file.
In version 2, this issue is addressed by the option to make the backup files self extracting, so that after a hard reset scenario, you can just tap on the backup file and then do a complete or partial restore.

We'll make sure that the online FAQ has some more info for iPAQ users on how to use Version 2.

Sprite Support
www.spritesoftware.com

[Kaber]

I really love that self extracting restore. I could have a couple different configurations saved on a SD card and be able to restore whichever depending on what I needed.

Like I said before, if you tinker a lot with your pocket pc than this software is invaluable in the time it saves getting a pocket pc back up and usable again.

[hamishmacdonald]

One note: because of a fault in the current ROM of the Fujitsu-Siemens Loox, restores made from Compact Flash or Secure Digital cards will cause the device to lock up every time it's powered off.

I used to use Sprite Backup with my old iPAQ, and agree that, yeah, it can really save your bacon. But at present, restoring from backup on the Loox isn't a good idea. (Great device, otherwise.)

[Gottria]

[quote="Ed Hansberry"]

You can also upgrade to Pocket Backup 2.0 for free but many of the features I listed above are missing.

Sprite, I tried to download just version 2 and everytime it does it's the demo version of Plus. Is there a way to just upgrade to version 2 for the 3955 owners?

Thanks Greg

[Kaber]

Did you ask them to send you a authorization code for your iPAQ? I downloaded, installed, it installed the PLUS stuff as demo. But I also entered my email somewhere on the site and they are supposed to send the code to register the regular version for iPAQ free. I already uninstalled the other softs, but I think I'm going to pay the $10 for the neat today screen plug in and the storage analyzer. I like it better than WIMR?.

[anthonymoody]

Same thing happened to me. I downloaded the free upgrade (I'm a paying user of the prior version) b/c I didn't want to pay for features I don't need. Anyway, I did provide an email address during the upgrade, but they have not sent me an auth code. I tried the auth code from the prior version and it didn't work. I sent them an email but no response yet :(

TM

[Ed Hansberry]

Same thing happened to me. I downloaded the free upgrade (I'm a paying user of the prior version) b/c I didn't want to pay for features I don't need. Anyway, I did provide an email address during the upgrade, but they have not sent me an auth code. I tried the auth code from the prior version and it didn't work. I sent them an email but no response yet :(
Give them time. I think the version you have is a trial and fully functional. You should have the code before it expires.

[Kaber]

I just got my code today. So that took like a little over a day to get it. It works fine now.

[jlp]

It doesn't generate a ZIP file as a backup does it?!

On my E-125 I used to use StarTap + (ST+), which backup program creates a ZIP file.

The very obvious advantage is that you can use any program that handles zip files to view/exctract any file you want.

Including ST+ itself.

But now that I have an E-200 and I read that it can't backup to SD or CF cards (keeps trying to backup to Buit-in Storage). I read it on ThumbsUpSoft support boards when the E-200 came out and I never saw an answer saying it was corrected.

TUS board has had no activities since 8 months now.

Anybody heard about Gene Knight, ST+ author, lately?!

[Don't Panic!]

A 44MB backup completed in 4Min:44Sec. Outstandingding!

Don't Panic!
Bobby

[Ed Hansberry]

A 44MB backup completed in 4Min:44Sec. Outstandingding!

What machine? It takes me 4-5 minutes for my 11MB backup file on a 3900 to an SD card. That 11MB is compressed. I think the actual backup is closer to 21MB including system databases and the registry.

[smittyofdhs]

A 44MB backup completed in 4Min:44Sec. Outstandingding!

What machine? It takes me 4-5 minutes for my 11MB backup file on a 3900 to an SD card. That 11MB is compressed. I think the actual backup is closer to 21MB including system databases and the registry.
using compression and/or encryption will drastically slow down the backup process. Just using compression slowed my backups to almost twice the amount of time.

[Ed Hansberry]

using compression and/or encryption will drastically slow down the backup process. Just using compression slowed my backups to almost twice the amount of time.
That splains it. I compress and encrypt.

[Gottria]

I just got my code today. So that took like a little over a day to get it. It works fine now.

Still waiting for my code. 7 days untill the demo expires.

[Gottria]

Well after playing with the Plus version I want to see the restore proccess worked. I did a full backup to an exe file, did a hard reset and then clicked on the exe. It restored just fine except it didn't restore the date and time and now it tells me that me demo expired. I guess I'll have to purchase the full version now. :(

[nice_micael]

6 minutes exactly a backup completed :mrgreen:
BTW: i got it for free (attended the beta test)