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dekesh Posts: > 500

I was just reading a response from "oferlaor" in another thread and can confirm this works and will give a step by step guide on restoring a contacts.cdb file from a previous backup incase some users are unsure of this (as i was until i tried it 5 mins ago)

Step 1: locate your backup from which you want to extract the contacts file from and rename it from .ecs (i think) to .zip and extract it

Step 2: open the text file from the files you just extracted, named "filestore.dat.txt". From within this txt file find the contacts.cdb file by looking through the directories and locate the number (on the left hand side within the filestore.dat file)

Step 3: Go back to the folder where you extracted the backup to and loacte the file with the same number and rename it to "contacts.cdb"

Step 4: If you havent already got the PC file manager from epocware then u can download it from My Symbian!

Step 5: Connect your phone to the pc via the cradle and then run a backup of the phone

Step 6: When the backup process starts open the pc filemanager then go to the directory c:systemdata

Step 7: Now copy the contacts.cdb that you wish to restore and then paste it into the above directory and click yes when prompted about replacing the file

Step 8: You can now cancel the backup if you wish and then restart the phone and check your contacts and they will all be back (from the contacts.cdb that you wanted in place of the one that was currently in the phone)

NOTE: If the backup finishes and the phone turns on again and shows the power menu (the menu which appears before the phone starts to boot up. the one with a choice of phone on, phone off or flightmode) dont let the phone boot-up just yet (i.e. stay on the power menu and dont do anything with the phone) if u havent or are still replacing the contacts.cdb file. Since its just after a backup you will still be able to restore the contacts.cdb file before you turn the phone on.

I guess this will also work when replacing other files that cannot be replaced whilst the phones is on.

Hope this guide helps and sorry if its already been done before. Just thought i'd do a step-by-step guide for those who are confused about the process like I was. What do you guys think?

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[ This Message was edited by: dekesh on 2005-01-13 18:55 ]
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Posted: 2005-01-13 19:52:10
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masseur Posts: > 500

thats a good description and virtually mirrors the one I post from time to time, for example last time was here

but mine differs in that often, some files are locked by the O/S so my procedure is a bit more generic in that it will work even if such files are locked

put these two ideas together and you shouldn't have a problem

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Posted: 2005-01-13 20:02:07
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dekesh Posts: > 500

yeah masseur sorry for the slight repeat but thats why we run the backup to overcome the locking of certain files to the O/S.

Well your method is perfectly feasible but I find that when I do a restore I find that none of my contacts restore. I dont know why (maybe its only my phone or something) so naturally I would chose to do the method that I described. incidentally has anybody else found that after running a restore their contacts dont restore because when I did a master reset I restored the phone and my contacts were empty
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Posted: 2005-01-13 20:18:41
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liverpool lad Posts: 42

Yep, my contacts don't get saved to the backup either. I haven't done a restore for a long time, but there is a long (and informative) thread on my-symbian about this er, phenomenon.

Anyway, I use quickcontact to backup and restore the contacts file. It works like a dream, very clean and fast. There is an option of backup, and restore - simple as that!
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Posted: 2005-01-13 21:32:11
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evdk Posts: 31

Yesterday I did a Master Reset and later I restored my phone (p910i). I had all my contacts restored but the " voice commands" for voice-dialing a number were all gone.

Edwin.
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Posted: 2005-01-13 23:07:49
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dekesh Posts: > 500

does anybod else have the problem that their contacts dont restore after a restore or is it just me and liverpool lad. I also found that my messages dont restore either. any ideas?
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Posted: 2005-01-17 12:09:51
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