How to fresh install apps after R2 Update

[rick417]

Hi all. Being a Palm newbie, I've learned some things that, had I known before, I would have done differently about installing new applications--most significantly using Uninstall Manager to help me manage new applications on the device. Since the R2 update requires you to do a hard reset, I'm thinking this maybe a good time to start all over. Can anyone recommend a good method to do this? I need to keep my same user name, as many applications I've bought are tied to that user id for registration purposes.

Will simply making a backup copy of my user folder under the Program Files\Palm, then deleting the contents of the original do what I want it to? Or are there more considerations to take into account, such as voice prompt files, etc.? Most things I have sync to a conduit on the PC so data loss that way isn't a concern (I don't think). Biggest concern is not losing my Ultrasoft Money and Address information on the PC during a sync.

Am curious what the more knowledgeable users think before I do this. Also if anyone thinks it is a monumentally bad idea.

Thanks for your input.

[Moose Man]

The Palm desktop software creates a backup file each time the Garmin is sync'd. This file/folder is typically located: C:\Program Files\Palm\SR\backup.

Before syncing after the hard reset, you can make a backup of this backup - just as a precaution. You can also review the files contained with in this directory to confirm that a backup is occuring. With your Ultrasoft Money file - this is the only one that you need to confirm as being backup'd in this directory. It may use a seperate conduit and not backup to this specific directory - I just don't remember.

However, while doing this R2 Patch - all of my data was backup and restored without incident. I still made a backup copy but didn't need it.

Most every software developer stores the registration data within a file called "Saved_Preferences.pdb". This file contains those registration data for most programs but not all. Some you will have to reenter no matter what you do with regards to backup. So hopefully, you saved the email that provided that registration data or have entered them into some sort of database program designed for that purpose.

Now if you want to start fresh - clear the backup folder before performing the first sync after the Patch or hard reset with the exception of the Saved Preference file. Leave it because it will still contain the data even though the files are loaded.

You can then use the "double click" method from the desktop to reload programs one by one as you go. The voice/navigation files have a .vpm extension with the exception of 3 files - SS_7373634C_564E4156.pdb , WP-P2P.prc, SS-P2P.prc. These might be slightly different if your using a different voice. I prefer to reload the voice files from the original CD any way so you may want to do that to avoid any duplications or voice loading errors.

I think that about does it - oh one more thing - if you delete a file from the handheld and then sync - this file is normally stored in C:\program files\palm\sr\archive - so you can almost always get it back unless you clear these directories.

[Last Mrk]

Wonder why I don’t see these 2 files using FileZ or looking in the backup folder.
WP-P2P.prc
SS-P2P.prc
but see the following 7 files which are needed for voice commands. I know I tried deleting them to see the results. :(
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(6 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(5 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(4 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(3 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(2 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(1 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156.pdb

These files look similar but have different #'s of spaces after the 156 from 1 through 6. (this data base will not allow more than 1 space to show up)

edit-I was able to delete the files with the spaces and the voice commands still work. They must have been duplicates which were installed for some reason. ??

[rick417]

Just a theory, but could they be some sort of temp file that is not getting deleted properly, and the error handling increments the temp file name by 1 space instead of overwriting? I saw something similar in a temp file, but it was handily named (appname)temp.pdb, then others were (appname)temp1.pdb, (appname)temp2.pdb, so on. :confused:

Thanks for the detailed info Moose Man. You're right, there are some preferences I would like to keep, so thanks for that tip.

[Moose Man]

Originally posted by Last Mrk
Wonder why I don’t see these 2 files using FileZ or looking in the backup folder.
WP-P2P.prc
SS-P2P.prc


but see the following 7 files which are needed for voice commands. I know I tried deleting them to see the results. :(
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(6 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(5 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(4 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(3 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(2 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156(1 space).pdb
SSC_7373634C_564E4156.pdb

These files look similar but have different #'s of spaces after the 156 from 1 through 6. (this data base will not allow more than 1 space to show up)

edit-I was able to delete the files with the spaces and the voice commands still work. They must have been duplicates which were installed for some reason. ??

Well, my mistake on the two -P2P.prc files - I thought they were part of the voice commands but....now I'm not certain. They apper to be unrelated I deleted them using filez, yet they are on my T3 so they may be something from there that sneaked in or whatever. When I unloaded the T3 and reloaded the Que I did a clean install ( I thought) so I'm not certain what they are for certain.

Regarding the spaces - probably temp files as noted.

Rick - there is one other voice file - vpm_phr.tbl.bin it's small so it's easily missed.

The problem of course is that some programs load other files onto the handheld and your not certain where they came from. I had to load the SS-P2P.prc file back into the device in order to get the voice command to work again but it may not be necessary - and may not have been related at all since now that I've deleted both of them and reset while posting this thread....everything seems to work. Since the T3 is "clean" and these files are on there they must have come over somehow....I've got to stop mulitasking it's straining my brain.

Oh well - off to Las Vegas in the morning for the Auto Show, that will clear the cobwebbs out of my brain. ;)