any way to prtevent activesync from eating contacts? - General Questions and Answers

hope this is in the right place here...
so, this weekend i finally managed to sync my contacts list into oblivion. thank you very much, activesync.
what i did is, i reinstalled my desktop system, which i do more or less regularly to keep it lean. some time ago i bought outlook 2007, specifically to have a backup in case i lost my phone (touch hd) or something. now after i had setup the new installation of win7 rc and wanted to sync, it wouldn't. apparently, the last activesync partnership was in the way. so, what else to do, but end the former partnership (and please do tell me, if i'm wrong here!). i was greeted with a warning telling me "if i continue, all data synced FROM that partner source" (don't know the exact text, i interpreted this from the German text) will be deleted. i didn't see any alternative (like telling stupid activesync to keep them, just end the partnership, again please tell me when there is such an option somewhere), thought "OK, the original source for the contacts was the phone, not outlook" and continued. afterwards, my contact list was empty except for 10 contacts that wouldn't sync in the first place.
question 1 is: why the heck do they have to make these sync solutions so reliant on automatisms and eager to simply delete stuff? and then not include, or hide really good, options to prevent this? mobile center only allows to set who has priority to overwrite in case of conflict, activesync on WinMo has even less options. why can't they make them ask what exactly to do when they find discrepancies or conflicts, preferrably for each single case? frankly, i find this whole automatism business (in general, not only activesync) patronizing and dangerous if you don't pay close attention. i was wary, and still managed to delete my contacts. great!
i know, this is a rhetorical question, but i had to let off some steam...
now for more immidiate things:
is there a way to prevent this from happening via obscure options? i know i should have used something like pimbackup or at least made a copy of the pim.vol (which has its own difficulties), but you're always wiser afterwards.
speaking of the pim.vol file, is there a way to read that out by now? apparently the deleted contacts are still in there between a gazillion lines of symbols and i already rescued some, but this will take ages skimming through with a text-editor. i know someone wrote a perl script to parse the file, but that's beyond my competence.
and lastly, about those 10 contacts that were spared. those simply refused to sync towards desktop outlook. after each sync, i just got a message telling me he couldn't sync those. any ideas why, or what might be going on there? all of them have pictures, one or two phone numbers, and some have birthdays, nothing else. i think all or most of them had the pictures attributed from the album while zooming in, but i think so had others. some of the original photos are still there, some have been deleted by now, so i guess that's not the reason either.
any help would be much appreciated!
cheers,
mo

a good practice is to backup outlook on the pc
export to pst file include everything

Related

Contacts Sorting

When viewing contacts, they are ordered such as,
Last, First
I want to change the default output so that it would say
First Last
Infact, with WM5 there's now a Nickname field. So I'd even like to show First "Nickname" Last somehow. I can't imagine this isn't editable somehow. Anyone know how to hack this up?
It seems to me that it is Outlook on your PC that dictates settings on your mobile device.
Outlook has a drop down menu "File as" which lets you pick how you want it to be displayed, all mine are first name, last name and that is exactly how they appear on my universal.
I figured that was going to be my first reply, as I had heard of such thing in the past (although never tried it myself). Unfortunately I refuse to install Outlook (or any of Office) on my machine due to the gutt wrenching feeling doing so would give me. I was hoping for some form of 3rd party solution for this.
Goodge: re first last, it's a post that always gets asked and I've made sticky. Please search for fileasfl.
V

Outlook Issue

I tried to search for this but really didn't know what to even search for.
I've hard reset my phone twice after adding and deleting lots of apps while trying to find my favs. Both times I've used the Sprite Backup that came with my phone (ATT Tilt) and both times I've had to set up a new Oulook account for my Gmail. This isn't really an issue, just a pain.
What is an issue is that it won't allow me to reuse the Account Name. Not to big a deal, I just don't like having to come up with a new name every time. Is there a way to delete the old names somewhere? Are they in the registry somewhere?
Sorry if this has been asked before, I've just never seen it in the 3 months I've been following this forum and had no luck finding it myself.
bosox15 said:
I tried to search for this but really didn't know what to even search for.
I've hard reset my phone twice after adding and deleting lots of apps while trying to find my favs. Both times I've used the Sprite Backup that came with my phone (ATT Tilt) and both times I've had to set up a new Oulook account for my Gmail. This isn't really an issue, just a pain.
What is an issue is that it won't allow me to reuse the Account Name. Not to big a deal, I just don't like having to come up with a new name every time. Is there a way to delete the old names somewhere? Are they in the registry somewhere?
Sorry if this has been asked before, I've just never seen it in the 3 months I've been following this forum and had no luck finding it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll be the first to tackle this, but need some clarification on it. You hard reset then do a restore using sprite? Or you hard reset and then restore only the apps? Any extra information would be greatly appreciated.
Just about right said:
I'll be the first to tackle this, but need some clarification on it. You hard reset then do a restore using sprite? Or you hard reset and then restore only the apps? Any extra information would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, yeah, backup "My Documents, Email, and Personal Databases" with Sprite backup. Hard Reset, Restore from backup, then reinstall all apps. Both times it hasn't actually restored my email account so I've had to do it manually, but when I click "New E-Mail Account" and go through the steps, I get a warning screen that says "That name is already assigned to another account. Enter a unique name and try again". Is it possible it only half restores, putting some type of info file somewhere but not actually listing it under "Messaging" screen.
The last time it also didn't back up my contacts, had to get those through ActiveSync from Outlook on my PC. Needless to say, I don't think I'll rely on Sprite again.
bosox15 said:
Sorry, yeah, backup "My Documents, Email, and Personal Databases" with Sprite backup. Hard Reset, Restore from backup, then reinstall all apps. Both times it hasn't actually restored my email account so I've had to do it manually, but when I click "New E-Mail Account" and go through the steps, I get a warning screen that says "That name is already assigned to another account. Enter a unique name and try again". Is it possible it only half restores, putting some type of info file somewhere but not actually listing it under "Messaging" screen.
The last time it also didn't back up my contacts, had to get those through ActiveSync from Outlook on my PC. Needless to say, I don't think I'll rely on Sprite again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By doing the backup and then restoring you are allowing some previous settings from your device to be redone. This is usually good in the big picture of things, but when it comes to email, by restoring even a little bit, it will recognize that account. I never back up my email, unless I do it via outlook on a daily basis and such. By doing that I can restore it to outlook if it crashes or if I need something from the past that I had deleted. I wish I could give you some good news and say it shouldn't happen, but it does. Try only backing up everything but your email accounts. Also what device are you using. Some have quirks that others don't.
I thought that might be it. Too bad I just did it and don't feel like reinstalling and getting my settings the way I like em. Its the ATT Tilt, don't know if that really matters.
bosox15 said:
I thought that might be it. Too bad I just did it and don't feel like reinstalling and getting my settings the way I like em. Its the ATT Tilt, don't know if that really matters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just remember it when you go to do it next time.
I was wondering about the device, because older PPC/Phones had different issues with backup and restore. It seems a lot better now in our techno world we live in.

Deleted ALL Activesync data! Please help asap!!

Oh no... I don't know what I did but I did something wrong as I lost all my calendar entries, phone numbers and tasks etc.
I installed a new Windows XP version on my desktop and then Activesync, plugged my HTC TytnII to the USB-cable and pressed OK to everything (I know, I was too tired) and I think I accidentally DELETED the old partnership.
Now I'm searching for an old version of the Outlook.pst with RecoverMyFiles application, but is there a way to search the HTC TytnII for some remains of the data?
I simply depend on my contacts, calendar entries and tasks... lots of business related material in them Please help in any way you can.
I'm sorry men, My bother just did that, and had no backup..
"the most outrageous thing".. for the company to give with phone a Trial version of sync application(outlook), that stops wotking after 30, 60 days, and then you have USELESS device, that after any kind of malfunction DESTROYS LITERALLY Your Entire AGENDA, Contacts, calendar......
I'd like to Quote that sentence:
"That fact that it could be erased without any interaction from the user seems like programming incompetence that surpasses even Microsoft's ability to screw things up."
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/cms/forum/topic/29672
I Agree, Phone is supposed to be an APPLIANCE, Not WINDOWS pc braking up untill SP3 comes out!, No Automatic backup in a device??!! of the most vital data>?.. i have no will power to write about it now..
I Know some companies ARE Making up for M$ Mistakes, like HTC giving their own version of backup tool... Yet it should be hardcoded in system to make backups REGARDLESS of User interaction, kind of like system restore""
I Have also lost some important data, and found me a PIM Backup. works very well.
free, does the job MICROSOFT already TOOK Money from us to do and FAILED...miserably.
Unfortunately for MANY of "newcomers" that happens.. tired, late night, and ALL Your "life" essential data GONE!!, thanks to Activesync.. microsoft, and Bill G.
PARALYSED!!
Ech..
Seems, that nothing can be done AT ALL to get those back, unless you have copied or backed up your PIM.vol file by accident..
"NO, no system restore for PocketPC this time".. that SUCKS BIG TIME< .. Just like VISTA..
It's like selling a security box with only ONE KEY, so, when you'll brake it there will be NO WAY to recover contents of it..
"we" Have basically NO choice whatsoever to purchase alternative "security box", since like 60% or more(?) of mobile devices are WM devices..
I'm still trying to digg deeper into database structure to find any sort of way to reverse removal of records in database, or to find a log in which each operation done on database is being stored..
SLimmm chance?..
Worth taking to help The Brother out.. ;-)
Take care, and back up your PC, Microwave, fridge, "Ipod" and a car computer contents.. before it will get lost in a cyberspace "owned by M$"..
johniemi said:
Oh no... I don't know what I did but I did something wrong as I lost all my calendar entries, phone numbers and tasks etc.
I installed a new Windows XP version on my desktop and then Activesync, plugged my HTC TytnII to the USB-cable and pressed OK to everything (I know, I was too tired) and I think I accidentally DELETED the old partnership.
Now I'm searching for an old version of the Outlook.pst with RecoverMyFiles application, but is there a way to search the HTC TytnII for some remains of the data?
I simply depend on my contacts, calendar entries and tasks... lots of business related material in them Please help in any way you can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what you wrote it sounds like all you did was delete the partnership, right? What is on your phone currently?
Yes, I deleted the partnership and my phone is currently blank. No contacts, no calendar entries... nothing
Are you using Exchange Server to connect to, or just your Windows XP box that downloads something like POP3 mail ?
If you use exchange server, your data is not lost, all you gotta do is re-establish a partnership with your Exchange Server.
If you reinstalled XP without making a *.PST export of all your Outlook files, and your PDA is now empty, you are pretty much screwed, sorry.
What you might be able to do (if your mail is hosted somewhere and you download via POP/IMAP, is get your XP box to connect to the POP3 service, get your mail, and then sync it to the device. Still , your contacts, agenda, everything will be lost.
lucid said:
If you reinstalled XP without making a *.PST export of all your Outlook files, and your PDA is now empty, you are pretty much screwed, sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, so live and learn... that's all I gotta say. Damn I hate Microsoft for not including a semiautomatic system restore/backup utility, but most of all I hate myself for not being more careful. I should've been more alert and backed up my data monthly or even weekly.
I'm off to buy a backup application asap :/

[Review] Microsoft's MyPhone service

Rundown: great service to store your contacts and SMS messages when ROM Switching/Upgrading, or when switching phones.
Full Review: Don't know where else to put this.. I'm reviewing the MyPhone service from Microsoft because I used it to synchronize my Contacts and my SMS messages prior to upgrading my Touch Pro 2 from Windows Mobile 6.1 to WM 6.5.
Here are the results:
Before upgrading my phone, I synchronized my contacts to Outlook 2007 on Vista over ActiveSync, and synchronized my SMS messages to Outlook 2007 on Vistsa using Jeyo's Outlook Extender... I thought I was ready to rock and roll until I realized Jeyo's program wasn't sending SMS messages back to my phone as it was supposed to.
Rather than fiddle with it longer than the 30 minutes I already had, I searched for an alternative method. Enter Microsoft's MyPhone service. I logged into the service using my existing hotmail e-mail address, sent a link to my phone, downloaded the software directly to my phone, and began synchronizing. The time to upload 511 contacts and about 3200 SMS messages took about 25-30 minutes over Sprint's 3G network.
After I verified everything I needed to back up was on Microsoft's MyPhone site, I began the upgrade of my phone.
Upgrade complete, took about 10 minutes... and during that time, I was reading about adding a new phone to the MyPhone service...
So I just installed WM 6.5... Right after the upgrade completed, I sent the MyPhone service's "Add new device" link to my same phone, which is now running WM 6.5 instead of WM 6.1
Link received on phone, downloaded, installed, it asked for a restart, so i did... and... here goes...
Phone's on again... Let's see...
*taps start*
*open "My Phone"*
*taps next*
*taps accept*
*enters hotmail info*
*taps next*
*uncheck photos, videos, music, documents* (because I don't want those synchronized)
*taps next*
automatic synchronization? sounds good.. I have unlimited data..
*taps finish*
and now it says "Synchronizing"... already at 80 of 510 contacts (I found one duplicate earlier while the upgrade was completing, thanks to the built in "Find Duplicates" button on the MyPhone site you access through your PC) ... by the time I finished that sentence, it's already downloaded 325 of my contacts... We shall soon see if it kept my contact pictures and such, which would be great, although not a complete necessity... I'm most concerned about my thousands of texts... and it just completed the contacts... now texts... already at 90 of 2832 (i cleaned those up quite a bit also) now at 175... it seems to be downloading about 133 messages per minute over Sprint's 3G connection...
I'll leave it...
It's done... total time to synchronize 510 contacts and 2832 text messages took approximately 25-30 minutes over Sprint's 3G connection. This is honestly pretty bad in comparison to USB synchronization, but considering it's over 3G and can occur whenever/wherever, and was easier and more convenient than installing outlook, configuring the synchronization settings (because this is only one of dozens of PC's with ActiveSync/Mobile Device Center I've plugged this phone into), trying to figure out if I wanted to keep it synched with another PC or not, yada yada... AND it will synchronize everyday automatically, I must say I've definitely got to recommend Microsoft's MyPhone ... now, did it keep my messages in order, are my contacts still with pictures? The answer is...
Yes!! Perfect air synchronization... it took a bit longer than I thought, but MyPhone essentially synchronized all my stuff with no hassle and I can access the data from anywhere! whoo-hoo!! not only that, but my messages are all in order, and the ones that were read are still marked as read, and the ones that were unread are still marked as unread!!! I LIKE IT!! A LOT!! I can't attest to MMS messages since I didn't have any at the time I did my sync, but I'm sure I'll get one later
So, Microsoft's MyPhone gets a double-thumbs-up from me for keeping my contacts and sweet SMS messages intact PERFECTLY during a phone update, making it nearly hassle-free and fool-proof, and not costing a single red cent.
Thanks, Microsoft. Did I just say that? I need coffee... it's 6:45 in the morning. Good luck, fellow gadget lovers!
yeah, dont forget to register on msn first to let this thing working.
and dont forget to share you private data by using MyPhone with MS
I think the thing about the MyPhone service that made me happiest is the hassle-free restoration of my text messages. PIMBackup, Jeyo, and the other ones I've used are a bit of a hassle to set up, and I didn't completely feel that they were 100% what I needed. Once I logged into the MyPhone service and saw my messages being backed up on my PC in a readable format, I felt assured. That's why I prefer the MyPhone service.
I find the Myphone serve great, plus i know if i ever lose my phone, i do not lose my contacts and sms's, i can just restore everythgin to a new phone.
I set mine to sync every day at 3am.
Btw you can also set it to sync your location, pictures, storage card etc, so you have everythign backed up online.
Another big plus, is if you log into the myphone service via a PC, you can search all your sms's and view any file you uploaded via any PC.
just to warn, there's an issue of duplicates that myphone creates. For example, it does not recognise a task as the same one if you change the title, or due date etc. It recreates a duplicate. Same for calendar etc. PIM backup is still king
heineken78 said:
yeah, dont forget to register on msn first to let this thing working.
and dont forget to share you private data by using MyPhone with MS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL...good point...unfortunately tho, lets be realistic, if someone wants that info bad enough they can still get it...especially if you back it up anywhere...
POKEYTSI said:
LOL...good point...unfortunately tho, lets be realistic, if someone wants that info bad enough they can still get it...especially if you back it up anywhere...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No actually they can't get that info nowhere if you only save it on your secure PC. What they are doing with this service is effectively creating a huge worldwide database with phone numbers+names+email addresses+home/work addresses whatever and I bet they'd sell access to it to the highest bidder. Also I'm sure that the US government agencies will have access to it anyhow. This database can and will be used in order to track anyone on the planet...considering your smartphone has also a gps included and myphone includes a "gps location" premium feature "in case it gets stolen". The feature is there although you can't use it unless you play for premium...they can activate it at will though.
Don't want to sound paranoid here but think about it for a moment. The only way I would even remotely consider using such a service would be if the client utilized strong encryption (eg high bit (elliptic curve or not) DSA) so that the only thing transmitted to M$ would be the encrypted package. And I say remotely consider because all encryption schemes can be cracked with adequate "cpu time". The people utilizing such a database though would have no issue to employ supercomputer cluster farms for their "forensic" needs...
Sorry but..NO...with capital letters.
Email addresses other than MS
So... It has the option to use your existing Windows Live ID, using a hotmail, msn, live, or other. So when you select other, and type in your email thinking you will get at domain prompt at some next step, you can't go to the next step. The sign in button won't activate. If you type in your full email address in the bar, it wil allow you to use the sign in button but still won't work. I'm currently on Windows Live right now, logged in to Windows live from Opera on my phone, all using my non-MS email address. Anyone have any idea why can't I use it to log in to this one service when they clearly give you the option to do so?
Using Energy ROM (9/29), Rhodium.

Synchronize call log with Outlook Journal

Hi all,
I have searched for this application for a long time and tried whole bunch of them, but I am still looking for SOLID, SIMPLE, and STRAIGHTFORWARD application to save Call log entries into Outlook Journal.
My setup:
Windows 7 32-bit
Outlook 2007 SP2
HD2 with latest T-Mo ROM and Cookie Home Tab installed.
Applications I tried:
Maniac's SmartJournal - so far the best solution and worked flawlessly on the XP. Since I switched to Windows 7 it shows that the SmartJournal reads from the device, the notification disappears and nothing happens. Maniac's website is down, so I cannot find out what is going on.
Pocket Informant Outlook Extension - since it is now free as Informant stopped supporting Windows Mobile, I tried it, it seems that it works and does some synchronizing according to the log, but no entry shows up the Journal.
Jeyo Outlook Extension - they used to support Outlook Journal in their version for Symbian, but in their Windows Mobile they only synchronize SMS.
MobiTNT - I tried that software as well, but I am not able to enable the software on the computer.
I know that there is also some app for syncing call log into calendar but it seems way too akward.
I know that there are many threads about this all over the Xda, but they seem to be old for one and do not end up with comprehensive solution afterall.
I would like to this post to become comprehensive and one stop solution for somebody who is looking for the solution like me.
Any ideas are welcome.
Nobody? Really? Really?
I Feel your pain
I used to use Calls to Journal from Chapura with my windows handheld. Strangely it is now discontinued.
It was slick, and perfect. Dumped all calls to Outlook journal and tagged the outlook contacts (so that they showed up in activites). Was perfect in my business when someone denied that you called them.
I can't find anything that compares. Not even close. The other ones like "missing sync" try to do too much and do not include this very simple functionality.
Have you had any luck?
Well, I finally managed to make the Maniac's Smartjournal work and it works great. It transfers the calls into Journal and tags for the known Contacts so it shows in Activities.
If you would like to try it, I have the .exe files since the website is no longer active. The files are really small and the program is no memory hog by any means. I tried Jeyo and it just crashes Outlook.
Let me know.
Another one
I wish i could be more helpful but there is one applicatoin which i have used in the past but have since forgotten the name whichvery simply adds an appointment into outlook which lasts for the duration of the call, with the title of whoever the conversation was with.
this might be the one i was thinking of. I'm gonna check it now.
kolibrik said:
Well, I finally managed to make the Maniac's Smartjournal work and it works great. It transfers the calls into Journal and tags for the known Contacts so it shows in Activities.
If you would like to try it, I have the .exe files since the website is no longer active. The files are really small and the program is no memory hog by any means. I tried Jeyo and it just crashes Outlook.
Let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
post the files please & details you have on them & any special instructions on getting it working.
One of the biggest mistakes MS made was not having WM & its PC software linking together with complete harmony & user control.
Really are a clueless bunch at redmond HQ ...
I am attaching the rar file. There are two files. One is SmartJournal.exe and the other is SmartJournal Beta.exe Try first the SmartJournal.exe run as admin and compatibility with XP SP2. Sometimes it shows the error that the CallLog.csv cannot be dumped. If that is the case, uninstall the SmartJournal and install the Beta (again as administrator and compatibility mode XP SP2). Maniac had a great forum unfortunatelly that website is no longer active.
Let me know if you have any trouble.
Take 2
I just realised my previous post was totally useless since I never included the link. I've been using Call Calendar for the past few days which works really well, recording the time, duration, who the call was with and who called who silently into outlook, which will then obviously sync over activesync or exchange. you can get it here:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-call-calendar.html
then again while searching for that link i found this program, Phonelog- it's newer and seems to have additional features like recording incoming SMS. I think you can customise what is recorded too, it might be worth a shot:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-phonelog.html
I've never used Outlook journal, so I don't know how much functionality you lose as a result of these being purely appointments. Hope it oculd be useful though.
Thanks for the post and link. I prefere not to use the calendar for syncing, because than the entries eat up the screen when I view my calendar appointments. Also, I always felt siunce the Journal has a Phone log category it is more obvious to use it rather than calendar. Also, I make LOT of calls on given days and then my calendar looks like mess between the actual appointments and the phone call. Also, I checked the review section on freeware.com and lot of people complain about the SMS not working (which would be the only feature why I would consider this software). But great addition to the post and thanks for the links.
Karel
You can try MobileArchiver (mobilearchiving.com) - for me works perfectly and puts all call history in journal every sync.
kolibrik said:
I am attaching the rar file. There are two files. One is SmartJournal.exe and the other is SmartJournal Beta.exe Try first the SmartJournal.exe run as admin and compatibility with XP SP2. Sometimes it shows the error that the CallLog.csv cannot be dumped. If that is the case, uninstall the SmartJournal and install the Beta (again as administrator and compatibility mode XP SP2). Maniac had a great forum unfortunatelly that website is no longer active.
Let me know if you have any trouble.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the call history is full, I mean 300 items, there is a great chance that the PC app tries to read the calllogdump.csv on the pda while it is already accessed by the pda (it is written) and therefore paralell reading fails.
Solution: backup call log, and after that, delete some 50-100 entries manually. Sync works then nicely...
Regards, G.
gforg_xda said:
If the call history is full, I mean 300 items, there is a great chance that the PC app tries to read the calllogdump.csv on the pda while it is already accessed by the pda (it is written) and therefore paralell reading fails.
Solution: backup call log, and after that, delete some 50-100 entries manually. Sync works then nicely...
Regards, G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another possible solution is to run Smartjournal.exe on pc, it copies the dump exe to Device\Temp, and runs, and this creates the csv. Navigate to this folder (My Device\Temp) and make the csv read only.
Running the pc side returns an error on the PDA, but the log will be read and data transferred.
Now remove read only from csv, move to pc, leave only the last entry, delete all the rest, save, move back to PDA.
Run pc side, all should be good now. You will have a lastsync.txt created in the PC folder of Smartsync. Sync finished.
Update:
--------------------------------------
Mobitnt PocketExport does the job for some days, no errors, I think I keep using this app
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