Backup utility for Netbook Pro

[Robert _H]

I would like to make a full backup of my Netbook Pro on SD Card. Does anyway know what kind of application to use for this?

[ZenBee]

Hi Robert,

You *could* try to install Wins emulator with fastbackup :D


Just kidding....
Sorry, can't help you with this one.

[Robert _H]

Hi Max,

(had to figure it out :D ). It's so weird: there's NO Way to backup the Netbook Pro on a SD or CF Card. Both are supported, but in contrary of most Pokke Pc's there no solution build in to do so. Not even PT or MS knows how to do this. It seems that they rely on the Psion brand: my old Netbook never crashed or went corrupt. Arie had to completely restore his NBP several times already due to bugs in POS. I'm just afraid to fool around with POS as well. I started to use it last weekend. Synchronising OTA works like a charm (why the hack only a master USB) but the database went over 13 Megs already and whatever 400 Mhz means, it's so much slower than i'm used to. So to feel more relaxed, i need a backup tool to us on the road. Anyone ? So far i managed to get Total Commander working on it. It's a workaround, need something better.
I will start a dedicated Netbook Pro forum (in English) soon on www.pdatotaal.info

[Robert _H]

How the h..k do people make a backup of their Netbook Pro ? DOES NO-ONE make a backup of this device?

[ceya]

Try Bsquare products. The make good stuff for Window Ce platforms.

http://www.bsquare.com/services/capabilities.asp

I have it for my J720. Even though I don't need it. Good products.

see BSQUARE Intellectual Property (IP) Library



here also for wince net 4.2
http://www.bsquare.com/licenses/resourcecenter/faqswince.asp
S/F,
CEYA!

[vitualis]

Originally posted by Robert _H
How the h..k do people make a backup of their Netbook Pro ? DOES NO-ONE make a backup of this device?

Most Windows CE/Pocket PC users would backup their device using Activesync onto the PC rather than onto SD or CF card.

It should be noted that there is no benefit in backing up to non-volatile memory if the backup utility itself is in volatile memory! If you install the program onto your NBP, is it going to survive a hard reset? ;-)

Some older Handheld PC devices (like the HP Jornadas) included a backup to CF utility in the ROM. If the NBP doesn't come with such a utility, then any such utility would be pointless.

If you have to re-install the backup utility itself first, then you might as well have just restored your device using Activesync.

Regards.

[Steve Moore]

One doesn't wish to carry one's PC around at the same time as a netBook. With the old one you coul just clone the C drive onto a CF card, that also contained the OS. This, kept in one's trouser pocket, was an indestructible solution.

It is that sort of thing that is required for the new netBook pro

[vitualis]

As has been mentioned many times before, that NBP is not an upgraded version of the NB.

It is a completely different OS and the hardware architecture is completely different as well.

Firstly, on Windows CE devices (similar to Palm), there is absolutely no reason to "back up" the OS itself since it lives in ROM. If you do a hard reset, the device returns to the default configuration it left the factory in...

Unlike the NB, you don't need to "install the OS" with a CF card. The default/core OS code lives permanently in ROM or Flash RAM and is not affected by things such as hard resets.

What you want to backup on a Windows CE running device is your databases (e.g., contacts, calendar), settings, registry and any changes in the filesystem (i.e., installed programs, files, etc.)

There are such programs available for Windows CE, but as I stated before, it is generally not particularly useful if this program itself doesn't live on the ROM as if you do have the unfortunately problem of a hard reset (which is RARE BTW), you need to reinstall the backup program first... which usually involves connection to a PC.

You could of course always just carry the CAB installation file of the backup program on a flash memory card... but still, the usefulness of this is questionable.

Best regards,
Michael Tam

[Steve Moore]

Hi Michael

I'm unsure why you use this forum, and the netBook and Pro seem not to offer what you want. Everything you have stated in this thread is true, obvious, and non-useful.

The initiator of this thread appears to want a basic get-out-of-jail backup of the sort available for Palms, and previous Psions. I completely understand why he wants that. The rugged reliability of something like the netBook or Pro is enhanced by the ability to recreate in a trice the complete device should you encounter a problem. The Palm programme I had carried the backup programme, as well as the backup itself, on an SD card, so that after a hard reset the device could be reinstated to the user's settings, with all data intact.

Are you aware of anything that does that - he would like to know.

Thanks

[vitualis]

Hey, I just giving the reality of the situation!

If you want magic, I think that I'm perfectly allowed to tell you that "magic" doesn't exist. I don't see what is "unhelpful" about that. :-(

If you want a third party backup solution, then go to a Windows CE software site. There are many such programs available. If you need to be able to recover "on the road", then you will need to include the the CAB installation file on the external media... or install the program to external media (and know enough about Windows CE system to know how to manually launch a program from the filesystem).

In any case I suggest you go to the link provided in the thread just before on the NBP update: http://www.psionteklogix.com/public.aspx?s=com&p=News&POid=574 as Psion has finally got their act together and put a backup program in the ROM.

Best regards.