Is SPB Backup worth $24.95? + general BU questions.

WBFAir · #1 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 06:13 AM

Hello all

Now that I think I've pretty much got my TP2 setup how I like it, I would like to start backing things up.

I've seen a lot of people recommend SPB Backup and it looks like a great program but to be honest $24.95 seems a little steep for a only do one thing program.

Heck for only $5.00 more I can get Mobile Shell and look how much that can do.

How is the support for SPB products? Does anyone know of any specific support boards for them?

At any rate, so is this program really worth that much and especially in regards to it above others?

Basically and forgive me if this is not how any WM backup programs work but, I want a program that will do a complete back up of everything to my PC's hard drive in a single image type file that I can just do a hard reset to the device, install the backup program, hit one button and sit back and "everything" is restored just as it was when the back up was made. As well I would like to be able to amended that backup file with incremental backups, as I need too, so it doesn't take so long to do one.

Then as well I would also like to make a complete or partial copy of all the device's files that are all obtainable individually just as if I were looking at the devices with it's file explorer program so that I could have access to any file I need to and work with and/or restore as needed.

In regards to this.

In my experience with PC backup's typically most backup programs make a single image file that while sometimes they will offer a proprietary program to go into those, are still kinda messy with just getting one file if you need it. Plus with these if that one image file gets corrupted or lost, then there goes your whole backup. Also they typically don't like incremental backups as its tough to just select changed files in a image file.

Then as far as file per file backups these are typically called Synchronization programs that while are great for getting a file per file copy, typically can be messy if you want to get everything on a disk as they tend to leave out files from running programs and stuff, plus they can really take a long time. So in other words they typically are useless for a full restore program as they may or may not have or be able to replace certain files. Btu they can be nice for incremental backups as they only will work with what files have been changed.

Anyway I just thought I would mention all that as for me for standard PC's I found that I have had to have both as no one program was best for both of the conditions, so is this true for the HH's as well?

In other words are most if not all backup programs that can do a complete restore gonna be an image type file thing?

Then if so, are there any file Sync programs out there?

Are there any that do both?

Thanks for any help

**1999TL** · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 07:54 AM

Do you plan on flashing a lot of roms? You could just have wmdc sync files if that's what your main goal is.

I don't recommend SPB backup to restore files to different roms. I only use it if I'm on a pretty good rom and I want to check out a new release. I'll backup my current rom just in case the new rom doesn't work out. Then I can flash back the old run and restore my backup with minimal downtime.

If you want spb backup b/c you want to just restore your settings when flashing different roms, I'd recommend looking into sashimi. www.winmo-experts.com

**jmorton10** · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WBFAir

Basically and forgive me if this is not how any WM backup programs work but, I want a program that will do a complete back up of everything to my PC's hard drive in a single image type file that I can just do a hard reset to the device, install the backup program, hit one button and sit back and "everything" is restored just as it was when the back up was made.

SPB will do this quite easily, send me a PM. I have some info on this program for you.

~John

CA3SAR · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 08:12 AM

I would use sprite, i havent had any luck with even updated version of spb on my tp2

**jmorton10** · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CA3SAR

I would use sprite, i havent had any luck with even updated version of spb on my tp2

All systems are different.

SPB BU works perfectly for me & I have had nothing but problems with Sprite just lately (I use both)

~John

WBFAir · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1999TL

Do you plan on flashing a lot of roms? You could just have wmdc sync files if that's what your main goal is.

I don't recommend SPB backup to restore files to different roms. I only use it if I'm on a pretty good rom and I want to check out a new release. I'll backup my current rom just in case the new rom doesn't work out. Then I can flash back the old run and restore my backup with minimal downtime.

If you want spb backup b/c you want to just restore your settings when flashing different roms, I'd recommend looking into sashimi. www.winmo-experts.com

Well at this point I wouldn't rule it out but I don't think I will be flashing to many ROMS if any, personally the present factory Verizon ROM seems just fine for me although if they ever come out with any updates I'll probably install those but mostly I'll be using this device for work so I need it to be reliable so as its working fine I don't want to mess it up.

Mainly what I want to do in case of a catastrophic event is to it be able to restore all the programs I have installed and their settings so I don't have to do all that again one at a time, and as well restore any data files I might have such as contacts, music, e-mails, GPS maps & way points and stuff like that and especially any of that stored on the devices storage card, then lastly restore any special Reg changes I have made.

In essence I want to be able to simple restore the entire device to the exact condition it was at the time of the backup.

I would imagine a case like this might be such as, somehow the device's system gets really corrupted to a point it virtually won't run.

So then I do a hard rest which wipes out everything and restores the device to factory new, then I install the backup program and click on one button and "everything" is restored to as it was at the time of the backup.

Then as I mentioned as far as the every file backup, I often found on my PC's that only one or two files get corrupted that don't corrupt the whole system and so I don't need to do all that and so with a backup like that I can just go and get the one file and use it to replace the corrupted one. But like I said, you take a real risk in using a image program for that in thinking you have that covered as if that one file ever gets lost or corrupted then you loose everything.

As well too, often the every file backup programs are really good for incrementals as the are doing a check every file for changes and then just copying that, as well then they will every other file alone so you know that the file you backed up 8 months ago has not be corrupted.

**1999TL** · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 08:42 AM

Then SPB backup is for you. It will do exactly what you want. I'd recommend syncing files that you want with your computer and your phone. You should have seen the setting when you setup your partnership, but you can still add it now.

WBFAir · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1999TL

Then SPB backup is for you. It will do exactly what you want. I'd recommend syncing files that you want with your computer and your phone. You should have seen the setting when you setup your partnership, but you can still add it now.

btw 1999TL, just to mention I have XP so I'm using ActiveSync not WMDC.

But one question I have and I have sent their CS a mail but perhaps you could answer it for me.

They state that its very important not Sync a cleaned system before your restore, but the problem is, once installed on your PC, ActiveSync pretty much permanently loads and is running on XP on startup, then as well it will instantly start to perform a Sync the second you connect the device.

So how exactly could I perform the restore of a Hard Reset device before this happens?

Thanks

**1999TL** · #9 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 09:03 AM

It means do not sync a newly hard reset phone with activesync. You've just reminded me of a horror story. For some reason in activesync, the computer will think that the newly hard reset device is "updated" info, and it will begin to delete all of your contacts. LOL. Smart. Real smart, microsoft.

Best bet is to export your contacts and such to have a file(since you like backups and all

. Double insurance is to use pimbackup to backup the contacts on the phone to the storage card. Then, once you hard reset, you want to run the backup b4 syncing to the computer. I believe SPB is trying to save you from losing all your contacts.

Hope that helps.

cmdauria · #10 (**permalink**) 01-03-2010, 09:35 AM

I actually have a question along the same lines. Does anyone know if the backup feature built in to mobile shell works the same way? If I do a hard reset and load a new rom then reinstall spb mobile shell, will the restore function in mobile shell set everything up exactly the way it is now? If I should ask this question in a new thread let me know. It seems like it is along the same lines as the original question!