Lost Data Files

[mpage@mpage.net]

So, I've been really stupid and I need help digging myself out.

After a variety of PDA troubles, I decide to reformat my Visor Edge. For good measure, I reinstall the Palm software, too. Do a hotsync so all the data on my desktop will end up in my Palm, fondly imagining that the default for a first hotsync will be Desktop overwrites Palm.

Worng.

Every address and every appointment on my desktop is gone. I open what looks like a hopeful file and it is instantly converted to an empty file with today's date. I can find only a six-month old file, and that I can use because I finally have the good sense to copy it before opening.

No problem, I say, bravely. I'll go to my Retrospect backups. Which I do. And find that the User files dated September 23rd in fact reflect data from about August 1st -- somehow none of the recent changes in the file are reflected in the backups.

Does anyone have any idea how I can go about getting these lost files back? Are there files I ought to be looking for that I've not retrieved from Retrospect? And what is the file extension of the Palm software, so I can hunt it down that way?

Thanks for any and all help.

Madeleine"waaaaah" Page

[djmangen]

This sounds like a difficult problem. First off, I use a Palm, not a Visor, and so there may be some differences in how these units store the data. I doubt it because of the OS and the fact that the Palm software can be used with a Visor, but.....

Have you looked for the backup files in the specific directories that store the data. On my system, for example, it would be c:\palm\jd\address, with the most relevant files being the address.dat file and the address.bak file. similarly, datebook entries would be in c:\palm\jd\datebook, with the relevant files being datebook.dat and datebook.bak. Both the *.dat and *.bak files should have the same date and time on them.

Are these what you mean by the Retrospect backups? If these are not your Retrospect backups and they exist, you may simply be able to delete the *.dat file and rename the *.bak file to a *.dat file. (Of course, make copies of everything, which I'm sure you would do because of this experience.)

Also, depending on how frequently you sync, you will have missing data in these files. If the last time that you sync'ed before the sync prior to reformatting was in August, then even though the date stamp would be in September the data in the backup file would reflect that information as of the date of the prior sync.

If these backup files exist and are more current than what you have been looking at, then the renaming option that I outlined above should help you recover your information.

[DrMud]

I am surprised by both of your problems.
1). Assuming you had done a successful "Hard Reset" on your Visor, then the Desktop conduit manager should have loaded the data from the PC to your "empty" and "nameless" Visor. If you ever find yourself in this position again pay close attention at the start of that initial Hot Sync. If you are not asked which ID to sync with stop the hotsync immediately because your Visor must still have a Sync ID and it will make a mess of your desktop.
2). Back to 1). for a moment. If you did accomplish the Hard Reset and the problem occurred then you had a blank desktop that had nothing to share but a few set bits. I suggest in the future you routinely copy the Palm/hotsync ID/BackUp folder and rename it.
Sorry to hear of your lose.
DrMud