Backup Windows Mob6 plus emails etc?

Technical Ben · Jan 20, 2011, 12:22:23

I've been handed a mobile from the parents.

However, I need to back up all it's current emails and contacts to hand back to them.
It has Windows Mobile 6. Anyone know the easiest way to do this? I do not have Outlook on my pc, however I guess I could install a demo to just move the contacts via a sync. But I have never done anything like that before.
I do have Open office and Mozilla thunderbird. The other option is using a third party app like This one to put the files onto my pc.

What would be best?

Simon · Jan 20, 2011, 12:41:04

You'll need Microsoft Active Sync, and syncing with Outlook is a doddle, if you can use a trial version. The emails may still be on the server, if they haven't already been downloaded to a PC. I believe there's also a utility within the phone, Windows MyPhone, which I never used, but I believe is a cloud backup tool.

Technical Ben · Jan 20, 2011, 18:13:18

Thanks. Probably best to wait until I have a day free to give it a go.

Technical Ben · Jan 20, 2011, 21:58:57

Hmmm. As soon as I clicked "install" I decided it's not for me. Open office all the way.
The download is just an installer at 2mb. So I have no clue what the program is going to do eating into my bandwidth allowance. Plus I've got extra things put into window, and control panel. No notification of what it is doing just it is doing something. :/
I hate MS. Plus the layout/style of menus is dire. IE, out of sight out of mind. Finding anything is like pulling teeth.

Technical Ben · Jan 20, 2011, 22:25:20

Sorry for the triple post. It's dire this thing. I'm like way out of my depth.

How do I associate Outlook? It's installed now, but will not associate (gone to custom, it only shows mozilla) so I cannot sync with the phone. I could sync Mozilla, but then am I going to get some horrid mixture of my own, and the families emails and contacts?
Wish It was just the good old drag and drop.

Simon · Jan 20, 2011, 22:59:14

Sorry, I'm not with you on the association thing.

Technical Ben · Jan 20, 2011, 23:04:03

Oh, it seems to be a windows 7 64bit bug. It basically cannot find any email programs (IE outlook) so it cannot sync to anything. In control panel, I can select Mozilla, but it keeps forgetting the settings.

I chickend out in the end, and just used Microsoft My Phone to backup to MS Live on the family email account. Then the parents can recover the emails from there (I hope!).
If all else fails there are third party apps.

Simon · Jan 20, 2011, 23:32:01

Can you use Bluetooth to backup the contacts to another phone? Or, you could try SPB Backup, which has a trial version, but I'm not sure how limited it is.

Technical Ben · Jan 21, 2011, 09:28:36

All worked on Windows My Phone. I found out Microsoft now use a cloud based service for downloading their programs. It downloads as and when you click each button, and so the program is streamed and virtualised. Kinda like googles os etc.
Still not my cup of tea. As no internet - no software.

Simon · Jan 21, 2011, 23:08:15

Technical Ben · Jan 22, 2011, 11:53:44

I would recommend Microsoft My Phone. Just like O2s Blue book I guess. It backs up practically everything that you would normally sync to the MS live/hotmail login. So extremely handy.

Simon · Jan 22, 2011, 15:38:04

I'm intrigued - what was the purpose of this exercise? Are you now going to use the WM6 phone?

Technical Ben · Jan 22, 2011, 16:09:30

Probably just as a pda for work. I can export my work sheet to excel etc, and use it to list details. I'll still use a paper copy. But it means I can quickly put in dates ect, and not forget to transfer it to my lists.

As it's the parents, I just needed to backup everything on there before I do a restore to factory defaults etc. I don't really need the features myself, as I'll probably just use the one excel file.

Simon · Jan 22, 2011, 17:39:17

What is the phone?

Rik · Jan 22, 2011, 17:41:20

It's that thing you pick up to call people on...

Technical Ben · Jan 22, 2011, 17:44:30

Oh, it's an old re-branded (just a new front cover/colour) HTC touch. Probably won't even put a sim in it. But could be useful for the organiser.

Technical Ben · Jan 25, 2011, 08:33:40

Got my work sheet on it.

So I'll look all professional now... while I go "um, hows this work? Er, I'll write it down on a scrap, then put it on ta puter later"