Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 20

I had recently received my memplug and I attempted to do a back-up for the first time. I seemed to have run into a couple snags. I received two error messages consistently.

The first occurs after initially selecting to back-up my handheld:
"Unable to create required directories on card"
Side note, the 16mb SM card I use was successfully formatted using the Pi software.


The second occurs after it begins to scan through the files:
"Error #8017 backing up ....." Then it will list some .pdb. So I figure, why don't I try to delete that file (after a hotsync of course), and try again. Then the same two errors pop up again. So after going through a dozen plus iterations of this (i.e., deleting .pdb's and reattempting the backup) I gave up.

Does anyone know why this is occuring? And how to rectify it? Has anyone out there successfully backup'd up their handheld? I see PiDeveloper post here alot, I was hoping you might be able to comment.

Thanks.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 159

quote:

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Originally posted by djpct
I had recently received my memplug and I attempted to do a back-up for the first time. I seemed to have run into a couple snags. I received two error messages consistently.

The first occurs after initially selecting to back-up my handheld:
"Unable to create required directories on card"
Side note, the 16mb SM card I use was successfully formatted using the Pi software.


The second occurs after it begins to scan through the files:
"Error #8017 backing up ....." Then it will list some .pdb. So I figure, why don't I try to delete that file (after a hotsync of course), and try again. Then the same two errors pop up again. So after going through a dozen plus iterations of this (i.e., deleting .pdb's and reattempting the backup) I gave up.

Does anyone know why this is occuring? And how to rectify it? Has anyone out there successfully backup'd up their handheld? I see PiDeveloper post here alot, I was hoping you might be able to comment.

Thanks.

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

Dear PiDeveloper,

Could you please answer a piBackup question?

Does the backup function copy all data on the 8mb Handspring? Exactly like the Hanspring backup module? For 100% restore capability?

There have been rumours on this board that not ALL files are backed up. I hope you can clear this up.

Thank you

__________________
"I cannot live without books." Thomas Jefferson

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 159

quote:

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Originally posted by gbgood
Dear PiDeveloper,

Could you please answer a piBackup question?

Does the backup function copy all data on the 8mb Handspring? Exactly like the Hanspring backup module? For 100% restore capability?

There have been rumours on this board that not ALL files are backed up. I hope you can clear this up.

Thank you

---

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

quote:

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Originally posted by PiDeveloper

Though it will take longer in the first backup, PiBackup use incremental backup method, it will be much faster in later backup.

- PiDeveloper

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"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

I can understand a full backup and then added incremental backups.
What is to concatenate, right? See, I can play DOS jeopardy.

But... my question is which app does a 100% full restore?
MEMPLUG OR BACKUP MODULE?


Someone mentioned in a post that ultra money categories were not restored. I have a brand new memplug and was really hoping it would REPLACE my backup mod, but I don't feel 100% confident of that now.

Can someone give the bottom line on full restore?




note: I have done many, very bad, dishonorable acts to my Vdx and Vpr. The backup mod has always come thru with a full restore. Could you explain how you got 'junk entries.'

__________________
"I cannot live without books." Thomas Jefferson

Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 20

Okay, so I am somewhat embarrassed to elaborate on my aforementioned SMC problem, albeit I remedied the situation. Turns out that I had inadventantly put the "write-protect" stickers on my SMC. Now, in my own defense (being new to smartmedia), I had no idea that the little round silver stickers serve the function of write protecting the SMC. I was told they were merely more labels. Until I went to the PMCIA web site (http://www.pc-card.com/smartmedia.htm), looking for some hints or insights into the SMC option I chose (Butterfly media). Anyways, there is a picture indicating that the round circle that I put the silver sticker on enables the write protect. Viola, one problem solved.

Now, there is one other problem. I've noticed odd fluctuations in my battery guage after accessing the SMC. It'll drop to less than half, then returns to normal after some time. Anyone else notice this phenomenon?!

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

I didn't know about the round, silver write-protect discs either!

thanks for the post

do you think they have a better name, RSWPD's maybe ???
j/k

__________________
"I cannot live without books." Thomas Jefferson

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

quote:

---

Originally posted by gbgood
I can understand a full backup and then added incremental backups.
What is to concatenate, right? See, I can play DOS jeopardy.

But... my question is which app does a 100% full restore?
MEMPLUG OR BACKUP MODULE?


Someone mentioned in a post that ultra money categories were not restored. I have a brand new memplug and was really hoping it would REPLACE my backup mod, but I don't feel 100% confident of that now.

Can someone give the bottom line on full restore?




note: I have done many, very bad, dishonorable acts to my Vdx and Vpr. The backup mod has always come thru with a full restore. Could you explain how you got 'junk entries.'

---

__________________
"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

Eric,
THANK YOU for your positive Memplug posting. I feel so much better about the FULL restore capabilities of my new memplug.
I had been holding my breath and restraining my S&M visor activities until your post....

quote:

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note: I have done many, very bad, dishonorable acts to my Vdx and Vpr.

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__________________
"I cannot live without books." Thomas Jefferson

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Another nice thing is you can use PiMover and go into the backup folder and manually restore (aka copy {not move}) just the backed up files you want (they are stored as separate files on the smart media card), as they are all accessible from there as normal files.. (I sometimes do this with the various "syncDB" files.. when the Easy Sync Conduit is acting funny..)

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"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

I own both the Memplug and the Backup Module and have used both to do complete restores on my Prism.

In my experience, the HS Backup Module has never failed. However, I do not use the Lotus application like Eric.

One thing that I do use is WordSmith, and that is the problem that I had with PiBackup. When I did a restore using PiBackup the WordSmith conduit no longer worked and I would get one of the Post-sync error messages to check the log file. The other problem that I experienced with PiBackup was my AvantGo channels were not restored, despite them being in the directory. I know that other problems have been mentioned, but the above two are all I found. I finally had to do a Hard Reset and restore using my Backup Module to get WordSmith working again.

Needless to say, I kept my Backup Module. I have notified PI about my experience and I know other users have as well. I look for them to fix this in the future, as so far they have been awesome.

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In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

Eric is correct. The ability to restore a single file is just plain cool. I actually did that as well because the image on my Backup Module was not as current as the one on my MemPlug. So once everything was up, I copied the ToDo DB and the Memo DB from the MemPlug to Internal RAM and everything has worked fine.

I now leave the Backup Module at home and it always has a current backup. I carry the MemPlug in my Prism all the time. Should I be in the field and have to do a Hard Reset I believe that PiBackup will get me up and running. Once I get home, I can use the Backup Module to restore everything so WordSmith works.

Fortunately, I have never had to do this since I first built my Prism (I dropped my old one). Always good to have a plan though.

__________________
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2