Is data backed up in C:\system\programs ??

[maraissj]

I am in an extreme pickle. I have been using RMRBank for about two years now and am on my second Psion 5 - the first being a 5, the current one a 5mx. I could justify the upgrade as the 5's screen gave up the ghost, and now the same has happened to the 5mx.

I always religiously back up and was under the impression all my data is backed up when I performed a hard reset as per Psion's tech support advice. Needless to say this did not rectify the problem. All I can do now is pick up the pieces and recover my "backed up" files.

Everything seems to have been backed up (when browsing the Psion from the PC - since the Psion's screen is broken) - except the c:\system\programs directory, which after restore only contains two files: syn_inst.exe and syn_remv.exe. (what are these files?)

Unfortunately RMRsoftware chose to store all the accounts data files in c:\system\programs\rmrbank\. So it looks like these are no more. I have looked at the archive files on the PC and I cannot find any more files under c:\system\programs.

My question is: why were the files in this particular directory not backed up? When I upgraded from the 5 to the 5mx a year ago, I just did a full restore to the 5mx and all the software and data files were as the were on the 5.

[MikeMcC]

I don't use RMRBank but would expect the files to be in C:\System\Apps\Rmrbank\ rather than a \Programs\ folder.

The two files you have in the Programs folder would appear to relate to the installation and removal of an application you have in your 5mx, but I have different files in that folder which, in my case, relate to the IMAP4 email plug-in.

I always religiously back up and was under the impression all my data is backed up when I performed a hard reset as per Psion's tech support advice

Absolutely not. You must backup all of your data prior to performing a hard reset, this is not done automatically even if the Psion is connected to the PC.

[maraissj]

Mike,

Thanks! You were right, it is *supposed* to be in the Apps directory. However. When I did a full restore it looks like the system subdirectory and lower levels were not hit by that restore. When I went and looked in the archive files on the PC in that directory, I found my files.

Now. What do you mean by "absolutely not"? Since I have set PsiWin to do a full backup each time I connect it, and I ensured that that happened every day if possible, I was expecting a FULL device backup each time (incl programs, ini files, the works). Was I mistaken?

When I upgraded to the 5mx from a 5, one of the minor reasons (and there were much bigger considerations) I chose to stay Psion, and not go to WinCE or Palm, was that the upgrade path with respect to migrating data would be so much smoother as I could just restore the last backup of the 5. And it worked. All apps and everything came over in one piece.

Regards,
Josh

[MikeMcC]

Originally posted by maraissj
What do you mean by "absolutely not"? Since I have set PsiWin to do a full backup each time I connect it, and I ensured that that happened every day if possible, I was expecting a FULL device backup each time (incl programs, ini files, the works). Was I mistaken?
Sorry, we seem to be at cross purposes. I (mis)read your message to mean that if you performed a hard reset with the Psion connected, a backup would be made automatically before the data was obliterated by the reset.

Normally, after the initial full backup, PsiWin does an incremental backup, copying only those files which have changed. You should still have all files within the backups and be able to do a full restore. I don't actually use PsiWin for backups, I backup "C" drive to a folder on "D" drive and use a USB CF reader to copy the CF to the PC - it takes a few seconds instead of 'ages' with PsiWin.

[maraissj]

Thanks!