Where Are Email Account Settings Stored?

[DLCPhoto]

I'm currently using a Verizon Touch Pro 2, stock WM6.1 ROM, and am awaiting a refurb to replace it (screen alignment fluctuates way too much, with no cause). They said the refurb would have the new WM6.5 ROM, and if so (which I tend to doubt, but we'll see), I won't be able to do a simple Restore from my SPB Backup to get up and running quickly.

So I'm getting prepared to have to reinstall and reconfigure everything again. I've figured out that I can copy Cookies/Bookmarks using the appropriate Opera files, etc. But as I have several email accounts to set up, each of which has multiple settings (server names, user names, passwords, etc.), this would be a pretty tedious task to manually input all over again.

So I got to wondering if there were files or registry settings on my current device that I could export or copy, and then manually import or paste these into my new TP2 to recreate these email accounts. That could save me some time, plus I'm just curious where WM is stashing this info!

I've looked through the Device's files, all through the Registry, but can't find anything that identifies itself as holding those email settings. I've Googled but haven't come up with any clues.

Does anybody here know where this information is stored, and whether or not I can manually set up these email accounts on my new phone using these files or registry settings?


Also, with regard to Apps that I previously installed, selecting the Card as the place to install, rather than the device:

Other than a shortcut being put in the Start Menu, does a program typically still add other files or registry settings to the Device itself, even when it is installed to the Card?

The reason I ask is that, for example, I installed Text Twist on my card, and when I had to do a Hard Reset using a Backup that pre-dated installing Text Twist, I reinstalled it afterwards. All my previous Game Scores were gone. I would have assumed these were stored on the Card, since that's where the App was installed, but either this is not true, or reinstalling to the Card wiped out the previous values. What's the scoop here?

So do I really need to reinstall these Apps that are already installed to the Card? Are there other things that take place during an install that require a reinstallation, even if it is to the Card? Or can I just leave the Card alone, and simply copy a link to Windows Startup Menu?

[chas123]

You need to create an xml file for email settings. Look into Sashimi. You can set it up to install your apps, import reg settings, and apply xml files (among other things). It comes with a program called Makisu to help you create the xml files. With regard to apps installed on your card, it depends on the app. With a simple game, you may only need the shortcut in the start menu. For a more complex app you may need to import associated reg files and/or config files. Sashimi can do all of this.

http://www.winmo-experts.com/

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=538513

[DLCPhoto]

Thanks. I'll definitely look into these apps.

Do you or anyone else still happen to know where those email settings are stored? I'm curious, and always like to know what's going on 'behind-the-scenes.'

[TREmp77]

Originally Posted by DLCPhoto

Thanks. I'll definitely look into these apps.

Do you or anyone else still happen to know where those email settings are stored? I'm curious, and always like to know what's going on 'behind-the-scenes.'

I am fairly certain Email settings, all messaging and contacts are stored in the PIM.vol file. Although backing these up with SPB Backup from 6.1 to 6.5 are very possible and nothing to worry about. If you back up everything but System data with SPB backup you can restore with SPB and be just fine.

SPB Backup for a trial

[DLCPhoto]

Originally Posted by TREmp77

I am fairly certain Email settings, all messaging and contacts are stored in the PIM.vol file. Although backing these up with SPB Backup from 6.1 to 6.5 are very possible and nothing to worry about. If you back up everything but System data with SPB backup you can restore with SPB and be just fine.

SPB Backup for a trial

Thanks - that makes sense.

And I'm actually using SPB, and didn't think about simply excluding System data - that sounds like an excellent idea!

The phone is set to arrive this afternoon - I'll be very interested to see if it in fact has WM6.5 on it. I'll lay 10 to 1 odds against it, since 90% of what Verizon has ever told me is untrue, but who knows!?

[DLCPhoto]

Found this on SPB's website:

Can I restore my data after the ROM upgrade?

unfortunately, Spb Backup doesn't officially support restoring after ROM upgrade. You can do it on your own risk. Restoring program files and registry settings may interfere with newer versions of software that could have been installed on your device during the ROM upgrade and could make your device work unstable. That's why we recommend to restore only files from My Documents. In some cases you can try to restore mail folders and PIM data.

So it might not be as simple as excluding System Data...Even PIM data isn't guaranteed to work according to this.

[TREmp77]

Originally Posted by DLCPhoto

Found this on SPB's website:



So it might not be as simple as excluding System Data...Even PIM data isn't guaranteed to work according to this.

I think its just there "if it messes anything up it aint our fault" thing. I do it all the time when I switch back and for between 6.1, 6.5 and 6.5.3

I still dont know why they say that, because they have a ROM upgrade mode, but you shouldnt worry about anything. Just restore and leave system data excluded.

[DLCPhoto]

Originally Posted by TREmp77

I think its just there "if it messes anything up it aint our fault" thing. I do it all the time when I switch back and for between 6.1, 6.5 and 6.5.3

I still dont know why they say that, because they have a ROM upgrade mode, but you shouldnt worry about anything. Just restore and leave system data excluded.

I was wondering about that since they do have a ROM upgrade mode. Good to know that this works.

Still waiting on FedEx to see if it actuaqlly is 6.5. Since 90% of what they generally say is inaccurate, I'm doubtful...

[bast525]

i've used SPB Backup to restore across different Winmo versions, different ROMs, and even different devices, with varying levels of success. Strictly for email, you should have NO problem. I can tell you with 100% certainty that PIM.vol does NOT contain your email settings. It does contain contacts, calendar appointments, call history, and tasks. I dont use any particular backup software for PIM, I just make a copy of it over to my storage card every so often, or before a hard reset. To restore it, you need to use file explorer, select the PIM.vol on the storage card, tap and hold and select copy, then go to the root dir, rename the existing PIM.vol to anything, then paste the one from the storage, and soft reset. Dont forget to delete the now-renamed and useless file after the reboot

This WILL restore contacts, call history, calendar appointments and tasks, but no SMS's or email settings. This DOES work between Winmo 6.0, 6.1, and 6.5.

For apps installed to storage card, as mentioned above, I have found that generally they do not need to be reinstalled to work. Simply back up, or create new, shortcuts to their .exe's. Settings for most apps are found either in a file in the apps directory (think settings.ini or settings.xml), or in the registry (think HKCU\Software or sometimes HKLM\Software). Using an app like Total Commander you can back up the reg keys for those apps to your storage card. Then to restore them to the new device just tap them once in Total Commander.

I've never used Sashimi, but I do think I have restoring to new devices and ROM's down to a science!

[DLCPhoto]

Many thanks for the reply and info.

Originally Posted by bast525

I can tell you with 100% certainty that PIM.vol does NOT contain your email settings.

Then where are they stored?

(And just for the record, Verizon's Tech Support rep provided yet another piece of incorrect information - the Refurb I received was in fact the same WM6.1 ROM as my prior phones. So I will be able to do a straightforward Restore using SPB Backup, but I'm still interested in learning about this anyway for probable use down the road.)