Four huge, crammed suitcases! Why, I complained to my wife, do we have to take so much stuff? We were about to embark on our annual trip to her native Uruguay. But who was I to complain? You should have seen what I stuffed into my Pocket PC!
To prepare for the trip I decided to bulk up my HP iPAQ h2215. I had Leonard Wesson of Pocket PC Techs (http://www.pocketpctechs.com) perform his specialty operation. He added an internal 64 MB RAM disk creating a 128 MB unit. I filled the h2215’s two storage slots with a new SanDisk 2 GB CF card and a SanDisk 512 MB SD card. In addition, I loaded a variety of foreign-language and other kinds of software on the Pocket PC, some of which is described in an article I wrote about last year’s trip to Uruguay (http://www.PocketPCmag.com/may03/pocketview.asp).
Where to safely store files
I have a three-fold strategy for storing files and it works well with my bulked-up Pocket PC.
. Install applications in internal RAM. Since software can be re-installed easily, I always load it into the main RAM—in this case, into Pocket PC Tech’s 64 MB RAM disk. I keep the original installation files and registration information on my desktop PC, so if I ever have to restore them on my Pocket PC, all I have to do is connect it to my desktop PC and re-install them. The ActiveSync 3.7 connection makes the process relatively quick.
. Store data on memory cards. I store most of my data on CF and SD memory cards. This includes Word and Excel documents, music, photos, e-books, and movies. This strategy places all potentially irreplaceable data on non-volatile storage media. In addition, I can easily back up these cards to a laptop or desktop PC equipped with a card reader. It’s also quicker to use storage cards and card readers to transfer music, video, and other large files between your PC and Pocket PC. I also store CAB files of my most important software on storage cards. These are small executable files created during the original installation process. Copies of the CAB files can be found on your desktop PC, in the \Program Files folder. I copy them from this folder to a storage card. Then, if I ever need to reinstall the program, all I have to do is use File Explorer to find the desired CAB file and tap on it.
. Back up vulnerable files to internal flash memory. The Pocket PC forces users to store certain critical data files internally in main memory. To protect these files, which include the data files for Pocket Outlook and other database programs, I regularly copy them to the user-accessible portion of my Pocket PC’s internal flash memory. On my HP h2215 this is called the iPAQ File Store. For example, I have Iliumsoft’s eWallet application installed on my h2215, and regularly back up its data file to the iPAQ File Store. eWallet contains all my software registration codes.
Quickly accessing 80+ software programs
Traveling to Uruguay involved long plane rides, and I spent most of that time organizing over 80 built-in and installed software programs to make them more accessible. Screen 1 shows my updated Start menu containing five new folders: Board Games, Built-ins, Card Games, Spanish, and My Playlists. Tapping on the Spanish folder icon gives me access to all my Spanish software, including dictionaries, audio tutorials, and more (Screen 2). I put shortcut icons for Word, Excel, Inbox, and other Microsoft applications in the Built-ins folder. My Playlists gives me direct access to Windows Media music and video playlists. Board and card games have their own folders—all other games remain in the original Programs/Games folder. Finally, the rest of the software stays in the Programs folder.
Screen 1 shows how I organized the 80+ applications on my Pocket PC using program folders on my Start menu. Screen 2 displays the contents of the Spanish folder.
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