Comments on: Why Did Microsoft Remove Backup/Restore from ActiveSync?

By: SteelBull

SteelBull — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:43:22 +0000

I connected my HP iPAQ Voice Messenger to the computer with ActiveSync 4.5 and I lost all contact, calendars,… from my phone. Can I restore the lost data?

By: todd

todd — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 05:51:51 +0000

Jez_Gafys: Actually ActiveSync 4.5 does not have backup/restore. If you connect a pre-Windows Mobile 5 devcie, it reverts to ActiveSync 3.8 protocol and features.

By: Jez_Gafys

Jez_Gafys — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:37:21 +0000

I would like to add that ActiveSync 4.5 does actually still have the Backup/Restore function but it all depends on the attached device.

If I attach my GPA based on Windows Mobile 2003, the Backup/Restore option is there under Tools. But If I attach my Samsung Omnia based on Mobile 6.1 the whole interface chances. The tools menu no longer shows the option, infact the whole look of Activesync changes. Because the function obviously still exists I’m wondering if it’ still possible to somehow get the backup program to load when a newer windows device is attached.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:07:30 +0000

Idiotic!!! How could such a rich and powerful company do such a stupid thing??? I uninstalled 4.5 and went back to 3.8. What other worthwhile option did M$ leave me???

By: Rick C.

Rick C. — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 06:40:47 +0000

Great blog entry!

My iPaq came with HP Backup to the storage card (came in VERY handy) and of course ActiveSync also backed it up to my work computer each time I syncd.

I was going nuts trying to find where in ActiveSync 4.5 I could set it up to backup the device as my new Spring Mogul didn’t come with any backup software.

I guess SBP Backup is going on the device tonight.

(BTW, I hate ActiveSync 4.5) Both here at home and at work, often if I’ve already syncd, I lose connect to the Mogul (connection scanning shows that it’s connected). I have to reboot the computer and then AS MIGHT see the Mogul.

Tonight it saw the Mogul, informed me that it was already syncing to two computers and that I had to delete a computer from the device. My home computer (called Home) was one of the profiles and was the computer the Mogul was connected to!

By: todd

todd — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 23:06:00 +0000

Nathalia: Unless you used a 3rd party application to backup your system prior to syncing, it is all gone. Sorry for the bad news

By: Nathalia

Nathalia — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:27:23 +0000

HELP!
I accidentally deleted all my contacts from my pocket pc when I synced with my work computer for the first time!
I have active sync 4.5 and can’t find a backup/restore button anywhere…
Please tell me my contacts are hidden somewhere and I can retrieve them? Or are they lost forever?
thanks!

By: Sherif Taher

Sherif Taher — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:49:27 +0000

I find it VERY strange that MS opted to remove this feature from ActiveSync 4.5, I used to use it for restoring my older device, and guess what I needed it to restore my new device but instead I had to re-install the applications one by one, which is not VERY time consuming job.
I think we should put in a request for Microsoft to put this feature back, anyone knows how to do that?

By: Ed Isenberg

Ed Isenberg — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:13:45 +0000

Thanks for this thread. I was told to do a backup via ActiveSync, and was going crazy trying to find it, especially since I figured having the latest A/S version (4.5) would mean I have the MOST tools. This thread (found through Google) saved me a lot of time.

By: manego

manego — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:56:11 +0000

ty todd… i’ll spend my ipaq points for that then

By: todd

todd — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:15:36 +0000

manego: The only two Windows Mobile backup applications that I know of are Spb Backup and Sprite Software Backup. They are US$19.95 and US$29.95, respectively. Spb Backup is available for the Pocket PC/Phone Edition. And, Sprint Software’s Backup has separate versions for the Pocket PC and Smartphone. I haven’t found any freeware or Open Source backup apps for Windows Mobile yet.

By: manego

manego — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 15:46:28 +0000

Totally agree with todd.
Activesync backup saved several hours of software re-install with my preovious PocketPc (who was really bad on battery)… not to mention I could try every software around without the fear it could mess up my device.

Btw I read all over the net about sbp backup… anything freeware doing the same job?

By: todd

todd — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:35:08 +0000

Harald: I’ll disagree with you there. ActiveSync Backup was not perfect. But, it was not broken. I used it several times over the course of the last 10 years and it restored several devices without issue. Backup to device memory is not always preferable. My two use-cases makes this clear: (1) If you lose the device, you lose the backup. (2) If the device is severely damaged, there is not thing restore back to.

By: Harald Rudell

Harald Rudell — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:02:39 +0000

Backup was broken.

If you restored your backup over ActiveSync it would corrupt your message store, particularly for Text messaging. This would surface as sluggish response from the text messaging application and difficulty in receiving messages.

Backup over ActiveSync makes things really complicated since the device needs to be running and communicating for it to be done, which means a high risk of corruption as files are open and data change while being backed up. And Microsoft does not have the software quality to make it happen.

backup to device memory is to prefer, and have your user data always-on replicated over the cellular line (EDGE or HSDPA)