iPAQ 111 ActiveSync backup questions

[kila]

Aloha,

It's been a while since I actually had probs with my PDA, so any help is greatly appreciated!

My iPAQ 111 is currently my only updated version of my Contacts, Tasks, Calendar, etc.

The Work network is a mess and may be for some time. IT restores of my Outlook files have been unsuccessful (long story about corrupt backup tapes/files).

Q1: How can I backup my PDA files? I'm concerned my iPAQ111 will need a reset or get lost while I await a Work network fix. And I'm also concerned that when the Work network is finally fixed, and/or if I reconnect to backup or sync PDA--> Desktop, it will wipe out my PDA data.

I cannot reconfigure ActiveSync. Without connecting my PDA, the only options in Active Sync are File/Connection Settings. All other choices are greyed out.

Unlike my previous PDAs, this iPAQ111 doesn't have a built-in way to backup data to my storage card (something I didn't realize until I needed it, now).

Q2: I didn't buy sprite software or other backup software, and if I do now, I'd have to sync to the desktop to install it and use it, right?

Q3: If I connect my PDA now, how do I make sure my Work network Outlook files DON'T overwrite/delete my more recent PDA files?

Mahalo nui loa (Many thanks)!

[AnswerDude]

Instead of Activesync you can use free PIM Backup to backup your stuffs to a txt format, copy them to the desktop, start new Outlook fresh and import the data from PDA back into Outlook.
http://www.dotfred.net/default.htm

[kila]

Mahalo, AnswerDude :)

Sorry it took so long to respond.

So this is where it stands:
I think this gave me a backup on a storage card that can be restored on my PDA, even if it can't be read anywhere else! Co network still not in good shape, so I am not able to put it back on my work desktop/activesync it right now, anyway.

What I did:
--I downloaded PIM backup to my PDA and ran it, created a backup (unchecked "Binary backup" option which creates a txt backup).
--Copied the pib to a computer that is not the one that I normally sync to. Unzipped. Started a new outlook to import data (the pbc file). No luck there, errors, says unable to retrieve, etc. (used dos and windows, comma delimited).
--Tried to extract the files and then open the .pbc (contacts) file in excel. The info is there but not formatted correctly (it is in one LONG column and text has been replaced: there are plenty of blocks instead of characters).

Not sure where to go from here. Not attractive to manually transfer 450+ contacts (about 2/3 of my contacts after my subfolders were trashed on the co network)! Unless it's to my gmail and then get an Android. !

~~~Aloha~~~

[AnswerDude]

From the manual
If the backup is a text backup, for each kind of item backed up, there will be a dedicated file, with a
specific extension; respectively "csc" for contacts, "csl" for call logs, "csa" for appointments, "cst"
for tasks, "csd" for speed dials, "csm" for messages and "csx" for custom files.

So after you unzip the pib file, look for cs file and import those into Outlook