Every month it seems as though a new model of the Pocket PC is being released to the marketplace. Devices with 64 MB of built in RAM have become the standard and 128 to 256 MB devices will surely be available in the not-too-distant future. In fact, many people are living that future now by sending in their devices to get custom RAM upgrades from companies like Pocket PC Techs (www.pocketpctechs.com). Also, brighter screens, faster processors, and more input accessories are enabling people to use their Pocket PCs as their primary tool for collecting data. The days of using a PDA simply to view synchronized data from a PC are long gone. This all adds up to the Pocket PC being an incredibly valuable interactive productivity tool. This also means you need to start treating your device, and its data, as mission critical. One of the best methods of protecting your data is backups.
Why should I back up?
If you are an average user of the Pocket PC, you have at least some of the following data or user-installed software on your device:
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Contact, calendar and task information that changes throughout the day, making the information on your desktop PC stale.
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Databases or other applications that store important information solely on your Pocket PC. That means the applications don't have a companion program installed on your desktop PC and therefore you're not synchronizing data between the two. I have at least three applications that fit this description and reloading or recreating that data would be very time-consuming.
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Drivers for accessories such as keyboards and cameras. These are the small software programs that "teach" the Pocket PC how to work with the accessory. They may come on a CD that ships with the accessory, but many times companies update these drivers so you have to download them from a Web site and reinstall them if you lose your data. Tip: Keep a folder on your desktop PC with the installation files for all the drivers you have on your Pocket PC.
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If your device has built-in or add-on wireless capability (802.11b or GPRS/CDMA 1x) then there are network settings and other configuration data that probably aren't written down anywhere. In the case of Pocket PC Phone Editions and related devices, the network settings are frequently protected by access codes known only by the cellular carrier. Losing data may mean a trip back to your cellular dealer to regain use of your phone and network card.
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Last but not least, don't forget about all your configuration settings and other things you've done to personalize your device.
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