Upgrade 7-Netbook - EMAIL

[wanman]

Yan has asked I start a new thread re a topic we deviated onto yesterday re problems encountered when upgrading your machine from 7 to Netbook. This problem can be encountered whether you are performing a Hard Reset, Replacing your entire machine or performing a 7-netbook upgrade.

Problem - How do you move your existing email onto a new, upgraded or an ER5 machine after performing a hard reset..

Solution - When your machine is back up and running after a hard reset, upgrade or first switch on, the mail folder is automatically stored on C:\system\mail. If you want to move your existing ER5 email into your new email application you need to copy your ENTIRE backup of this folder onto your new/reset machine. Launching email will now disaplay your originally stored emails. If you normally store your mail on an external drive (D or E) you can now launch your email application and move it in the normal way (select 'Move Message Store' from the Tools drop down menu).

Any problems, then post em here.

Si

[nclark]

Does anyone know where the Internet and Modem settings are stored. I've bitten the bullet and upgraded the 7, but forgot to take a note of all those settings. I can work them out, but if anyone knows how to restore them from the back I'd be grateful!

[netBookBabe]

Don't think you have any alternative but to enter them all manually, Nick. The standard modem settings will be there of course, but everything else is personal to you in any case.

Previous settings will have been wiped out when the commsdb.dat file was replaced.

Unless anyone knows something I've missed?

Julie

[wanman]

Julie is right, the standard modem and internet connection details including the ones you would have entered are stored in the commsdb.dat file in the C:\system\data folder. Even if you took a full backup of your 7 before upgrading the new OS instructions specifically state that you must not restore your old commsdb.dat file unless your previous OS had full ethernet support (which the 7 didn't).

Try the following. I am not sure if this will work but either way it will definitely not harm your machine:

1) If you have already made changes to your new OS modem, internet or ethernet settings and want those changes kept then go to C:\system\data and rename commsdb.dat file commsdb.bak. If you have only just set up your OS and not changed any setting in the modem /ethernet/internet area then there is no need for you to do this.
2) Copy your old 7 commsdb.dat file into this same folder replacing any existing file (unless you renamed it).
3) Go to control panel and check your internet/modem settings. Hopefully your previously entered ones will be restored. If they are not or anything bizarre happens then go straight to step 5 as this has not worked.
4) Write down your settings for each modem and internet connection. (This is important as you will need to enter them again).
5) Proceed back to c:\system\data and DELETE the commsdb.dat file.
6) If you kept the original file as a .bak file then rename this back to commsdb.dat. If you didn't then a new basic file will be created when you next enter either the modem, internet or ethernet settings.
7) Go back to the control panel and enter your (now recorded) internet and modem settings.

Let us know if this has worked as it will be a natty trick for anyone else who has forgotten to write them down.

Regards

Si

[diem]

Steps 2 & 3 of wanman's process will definitely not work - your machine will probably reset when you try to make a connection - I advise you not to even try it.

I'm afraid the only workable procedure is to write down your settings and re-enter them by hand.

If you've got some time, you could do a backup (watch out that you don't overwrite your 7 backup), re-insert your 7 personality module, restore your old 7 backup, write down the internet settings from control panel, go back to the netBook OS, and then type them back in from your list!

The file in the backup to look in is C:\System\Data\CommsDB.dat. Unfortunately you won't get much joy opening this in a text editor on the PC since it is a proprietary database file and so the settings will be hidden amongst the database structure.

[netBookBabe]

Grief, this is getting convoluted, LOL!

Nick, PLEASE just key your settings in - it's not so bad, I'll hold your hand if you like! ;)

Seriously, post any specific doubts you have and I'll try to assist.

Julie

[nclark]

OK, thanks everyone. I'll go for manual re-entry, I have most of the settings in the Palm and Ipaq, and in fact I've entered them so many different times to different machines that I probably know them off by heart anyway. I was just looking for a lazy option after the easy success of performing the upgrade.

I just restored the Contacts.cdb and the Agenda file, and the synchronisation worked without a hitch. I decided to go for a new synchronisation of the PCmail, and again no problems, once I realised I had to install the email synch program and update. Took a while to find the 7 CD!

Does anyone know if the 7/netbook contacts synchronisation update is build into the new OS, or does this need to be installed too?

[wanman]

Yan,

I am not telling him to make a connection, what I am trying to do is see if the original commsdb.dat data is accessable from the control panel applications. If they are, then he can write them down and then restore the correct commsdb.dat file by either renaming the .bak file created in step 1 or if step one was not necessary, as no changes were made, deleting it completely and allow the new OS to create a brand new .dat file when he next accesses the control panel modem/internet/ethernet settings.

If he tries to make a connection, it may well reset the machine (equivalent to a soft reset only) but I don't think it will reset the machine by accessing the data within the control panel settings and hopefully it will allow him to copy down his old settings.

I will try it on my machine tonight as I still have my old 7 series backups. If I can't find them, I will try the one from my 5mx which should be the same as the 7. I will let you know how I get on here.

Regards
Si

[wanman]

Hi Nclark,

Good news. Just tried the following and all worked fine.

1) Went to c:\system\data and renamed existing commsdb.dat file to commsdb.bak
2) Copied my old 7series version of this .dat file (also tried my 5mx copy with same results)
3) Proceeded to both the internet and modem settings and my old settings were displayed.
4) If you do the same you can now write down exactly what you had previously set up
5) Exit control panel and proceed back to the folder as per step 1)
6) Deleted commsdb.dat (old 7/5mx file) and renamed commsdb.bak to commsdb.dat.
7) You can now go into the control panel and set up your internet and modem settings as written down. This will then update the correct commsdb.dat file with your settings.
8) Just to be on the safe side try entering the ethernet settings and you should be allowed in as per normal.

You should now have your NB set up as per your old 7.

Just out of interest, whilst I had my 7/5mx commsdb.dat file loaded, I clicked on the Ethernet within the control panel and an error message was issued confirming 'Not Found'. System did not reset.

Please note that your machine MAY reset if you try and make a connection with this old commsdb.dat file so make sure it is replaced with the new OS generated file as per Yan's instructions.

Regards

Si

[nclark]

Thanks to all for the information, but I entered the settings from memory on the train last night and all worked OK.

[diem]

my apologies Si,

I had assumed that the old style database format would just throw exceptions all over the place. This is useful new info you've provided - I'll bet even Psion haven't tried it!

nice one, and i'll try not to pour so much cold water in future ;)

[wanman]

No problems Yan,

I had a feeling it would work but wasn't 100%. Always worth trying these things if they have not been tried before. Mind you, I think my stubborn side kicked in a little, which wasn't helpful.

Next time I will make sure advice given has been tried and tested before posting (where possible). Can always post the new/improved ideas after the event for future interest. Anything to save a crashed/reset machine !!

Kind Regards

Si