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Lost contacts while trying to sync on laptop..
Lost contacts while trying to sync on laptop..
I tried t sync my htc with my laptop and i went thru the whole thing and then once i unplugged the phone from the computer, all my contacts were gone? I have been trying to re-sync and nothing happens. In addition, my contacts did not even save on outlook???
Thanks
All Replies
I'm afraid all your contacts are lost. Unless you have a backup.
- Proposed As Answer byzelric Monday, August 03, 2009 3:04 PM
- I find that to be an unacceptable answer.
Or to be more precise - an unacceptable action.
I recently switched from synching on a work computer to ahome computer (because the work computer is dead). I too lost all my contacts while synching. Not on the phone and not on my outlook2007 contacts section.
There was no warning that contacts would be lost, it simply said there was a 'pc problem' and then something about not having the correct outlook profile.
What is sick is that I wanted to create a backup - my windows mobile guide said I could use outlook to do so. Erasing all contacts is pretty much the exact opposite of backing them up.
The correct software action is *not* to erase all contacts. I can't even imagine what idiot would write a routine that would delete contacts with warning and without backup.
Brutal. Everytime I try to trust microsoft products they let me down.
Every ********** time. I'm sorry that you lost your data.
There are several ways to backup your data. You can do it through Outlook on your PC, using a backup software like Sprite backup; or copy a file called Pim from the device memory to you storage card.
I know this won't help recover your data, but make it a must to backup your data before synching. I personally regularly copy the Pim file as a backup. Certainly not the easiest way to do it but I don't need all the features in Sprite backup.
- I think we shoul do a class action lawsuit against microsoft and its "faulty" software. I have the exact problem and you have no idea how mad I'm right now. I "sync" my htc touch with my laptop in Jan/08 and the today I decided (stupid of me) let me make a backup of all my new contacts (business, friends, emails, address, etc) so I connect the cable open the wonderful Windows Mobile Device Center and stop the sync to check settings first. I went to check the settings, but there is no option to stop the WMDC from earsing anything in your phone, it just says "if there is a problem: replace from pc to device or viceversa" so I decided to sync and Bummm I lost all my new contacts since January including very important ones. I think this is something unacceptable.
Atleast you apologized (yes i am being sarcastic)... pfft i connected my b s phone with bull S windows mobile to this overpriced and overbloated with C.rap vista for the first time and lost my contacts. you would think that after giving all that money to greedy gateas he would have included a message saying i am going to loose all my contacts. thank you. and yes my next purchase will be apple branded.Microsoft MUST fix this or at the very least warn the user that they will lose everything on the phone. I just wiped out 150+ contacts on a client's phone this way. It will be hard for my company to stay in business supporting Microsoft products if this kind of stuff isnt prevented in the future.
Also, where is this alleged PIM file? I have been searching my phone but have yet to find it.
had the same thing happen to me. screw syncing. I'm just going to by a palm next time.Same problem. I was far more stupid to rebuild my contact manually over two months and tried again. Lost it all without a warning.
Can anybody at microsoft explain why a functionality available in activesync is not available in WM. You can sync both ways.
This has been the most frustrating experience. Now that Palm is almost dead, iPhone seems to be the only option.
- As is the case with most Microsoft stuff, they are big on bells and whistles and short on the whistles actually working. Not only should there be a warning but you should have the option (and if it exists be able to find it) to update the phone OR the computer. I mean lets be honest, who sit around and types contacts into their computer everynight. You type them into your phone. So WHY does Active synch only over write the phone and not the computer. Stupid!
- I do not know who's creating the most corrupt software. i'm very regret buying Windows Mobile. should maintain with Symbian. More reliable and stable.
- How is this possible??? Same thing happend to me. I just cant believe how stupid this is...who are the idiots that write these programs?
- I note the moderator has gone very quiet on this one.How can this problem be so obvious? Can the idiot programmer(s) reply and tell us why they overwrite over 200 contacts with a blank database when I connected to my new laptop that uses "Microsoft Exchange" i.e. I do not have contacts on my laptop, they are in my company's server.Why wasn't there a pop up window warning about this and/or a backup of the contacts made if the file size is larger than 0.I am very pissed off and stunned!!!Come on someone, I want a reply from the initiator of this junk program.
- Hi Rustybkts - I'm so sorry about your contacts. I've shared this entire thread with the team.
Thank you from the Microsoft Windows Mobile Team
http://www.WindowsMobile.com/TotalAccess I note the moderator has gone very quiet on this one.
It is not that he did not want to continue to offer info but rather there was nothing more to add from what I could determine.
It does happen and I am not sure why. In fact it happened on my sons device .... and he was not a happy camper however, we did have a backup and that saved the day.
I would suggest that as a precaution for any future issue, try out PIMBACKUP. It is free and can be found here:
www.dotfred.net
Another option to consider is the FREE service called MyPhone
http://sn1-p3.myphone.microsoft.com/mkweb/Start.po?mkt=en-US
Jack Cook
http://www.experiencemobility.net
http://www.mobilitysite.com- Thanks Jack for that reply. I am very pissed that so many people as well as myself have lost their contacts list. As a business person supposedly using business software, I cannot afford to lose contacts from all over the world as has happened. How do I get these contacts back? They are gone as has my business with them!!! The mobile is where you receive new calls and add them to the list. Why do Microsoft seem to think that the laptop is where the primary list is kept? Others have offered backup software but surely that is defeating the object of "Active Sync!" Surely it is supposed to be a backup program. I do not even like to plug my phone in to transfer music files because you cannot check how the program is set until the phone is connected. Crazy!!! No wonder people are flocking to IPhone. A simple pop up window with a "delete/overwrite all files" warning is all it would take. Doesn't anyone try out the programs first? This problem has been on all the versions to my knowledge.
- Same thing here too. I have so many problems with Vista and now with Windows Mobile! Lost all my contacts. Microsoft don't want to know and frankly couldn't care less. Apple for me next time, phone and laptop.
The guy who mentioned class action..............I'm in. Let's sue 'em 'til they bleed! - I'm furious, and the latest member of the "Microsoft deleted all my contacts" club. I had over 500 names, addresses and telephone numbers on my Phone. All the folks I deal with, work with, etc. The backup was my laptop. The calendar sync has always been a bit "iffy", adding duplicates and occasionally changing things back to an earliler status (different meeting locations, times, and the like). I'd got round that by making Google Calendar my master copy - that works fine. It won't let the laptop change anything on it.
Last weekend, Windows crashed and trashed my laptop (the other half of the sync) so I spent a happy day reinstalling everything. Then, I thought I should back up my contacts before I went any further. I set up WMDC on the laptop, and told it the phone is the default (if there's a clash, keep data on phone).
I connected it, and whoosh! All my contacts GONE. Microsoft, you should warn people NOT to use WMDC at all. It's not competent or fit for purpose.
It also started to screw up my calendar - but then I spotted what was happening and pulled out the USB lead.
I don't think it's wiped any of my files - that would compound the disaster!
So - anyone reading this: FORGET ActiveSync / WMDC. DO NOT USE IT! Your data is too important to trust to this incompetent software. If I had time, I'd be inclined to start a class action against Microsoft: reading back in history, the problem's been known about for years, yet NO warning has been issued, and MS continues to "market" this lethal software. That's close to criminal negligence. Withdraw it till it's fit for purpose!
I wonder how many folk have been put out of business by this disastrous software.
Meanwhile, does anyone know of a SAFE, reliable way to back up stuff on the phone to a PC? Nothng clever, no synchronising, just keep backups (preferably a different one each time)? Meanwhile, does anyone know of a SAFE, reliable way to back up stuff on the phone to a PC? Nothng clever, no synchronising, just keep backups (preferably a different one each time)?
As I referenced above:
I would suggest that as a precaution for any future issue, try out PIMBACKUP. It is free and can be found here:
www.dotfred.net
Another option to consider is the FREE service called MyPhone
http://sn1-p3.myphone.microsoft.com/mkweb/Start.po?mkt=en-US
Jack Cook
http://www.experiencemobility.net
http://www.mobilitysite.com- Thanks - I have downloaded PIMBackup and copied everything off the phone (everything that's left, that is - the 500 or so contacts seem to be gone for ever).
I can open the files in the backup (after extracting them with WinZip) but can't read all the detail there. Dates and telephone numbers seem to go a bit strange. Maybe the PIM itself can read the files happily. I don't intent to try until I'm very sure all is well and there are valid copies elsewhere (such as on another phone).
I'm now researching how the iPhone stores stuff, and how well that backs up and synchronises. I don't want THAT experience ever again! - I just lost all of my contacts today trying to sync to a new laptop. I didn't have outlook installed yet because I wasn't interested in syncing any contacts/calendar stuff. Well for some inexplicable reason Microsoft decided to wipe out all of my phone contacts on the HTC device. Nothing else important was wiped off the phone thank God (music, photos, notes remain). Well I can safely say that I will never buy another Windows Mobile device after this experience. It is just way too dangerous to use crappy software like this. My heart goes out to anyone with a business who has had this happen to them. I'm glad HTC is moving towards making Android devices instead of Windows. I'm done with Windows Mobile after this. I really liked my Touch Pro too, but I just can't accept a phone that has software that functions this erratically. Microsoft has put very little effort into supporting Windows Mobile and it shows when something like this can happen. I'm not one to normally call for Microsoft's head, but they do deserve to be sued for something this egregious.
I'm still in shock that their software could do something like this without even notifying you. I used a Palm Treo for 3 years and nothing like this ever happened. I never thought my contacts would be in danger of being deleted like this. I don't intent to try until I'm very sure all is well and there are valid copies elsewhere (such as on another phone).
Consider the MyPhone service I mentioned above. It will serve as a supplemental backup and BTW, it works very well. I am using it and like it a lot. It is well worth checking it out.
Jack Cook
http://www.experiencemobility.net
http://www.mobilitysite.com- Wow, I would not expect this to happen aambro. If you didn't have Outlook installed, can you tell me what your settings were on the device in ActiveSync, and your settings on your desktop in WMDC (Windows Mobile Device Center)?
For WMDC
What do you have selected under Mobile Device Settings/Change content sync settings?
For ActiveSync on the device
What do you have for under Configure Server (at the end of the wizard you should see an advanced option under the menu selection).
Are you using ActiveSync on your desktop, or WMDC?
Sorry that you had this experience aambro. - Hi aambro,You have had the same problem I and probably countless hundreds of thousands of others have had.My sympathies. I have had this problem with my smartphones for years and it still catches me out. If I forget to backup the PIM file before plugging in to my laptop, I lose the lot.I do not have outlook on my PC as I use Exchange.The moderators replies are so "matter of fact" which really p****s me off! What we are talking about IS SERIOUS!!!This is not a bug but downright poor programming to allow a database to be wiped clean or overwritten without warning or backup.Still no apology or answer from Microsoft though.I have used PC's since they had 286 processors. I do know what I am doing but this software is junk with a capital "J"!!!Repeated statements to download free/pay backup software is a joke and admitting guilt.Can anyone give me a proper reply?
Hi Rustybkts, Aambro,
please see my reply above. My response wasn't matter of fact, but it was an attempt to gleam more information so that we can understand what is happening here - especially if you are seeing this on a regular occurance.
Can you and aambro, and anyone else experiencing this provide the following info:
1)desktop and OS that you are using to sync with
2)device and version of Windows Mobile - Aambro, I see you are using an HTC Touch Pro
3)Whether you are sync'ing with an Exchange server like Rustybkts, or Outlook back by an Exchange Server, or Outlook
4)Any contact management software you have on your device or your desktop?
Thank you
'- With much effort and too many hours of work, I've re-created my contacts list, and I've removed the duplicates and triplicates and the old entries mixed with new ones from the diary on the phone. As far as I can see, there's just one of each, and they are all at "latest status". It's a poor show that Microsoft knows about the problem and hasn't fixed it.
The diary entries on my laptop and desktop PC are both corrupted, with wrong entries and hundreds of duplicated entries - so totally unusable. The contacts lists on both are blank. I'd like to wipe the Outlook files on laptop and desktop, and copy everything over from the phone. My worry is that ActiveSync (or its Win 7 different-name cousin) will just wipe the phone instead. I'm hoping the PIMBackup of the phone's contacts and diary will restore OK to the phone if that happens, but I'd rather not have to find out.
The plan thereafter is to use only the phone as "diary updater", sync that to the laptop, and copy the laptop's outlook.pst file to the desktop each night. I think that will keep phone, laptop and desktop in sync without any more 86000107. Not ideal, but I think it will work.
But first I have to get the stuff from the phone to the laptop.
Does anyone know: is here a way to tell Activesync to copy everything FROM the phone TO a PC, without changing anything on the phone? Would deleting the PC's outlook.pst file achieve that, or just wipe the phone? Or is there an alternative to ActiveSync that works correctly?
To all those user's who are struggling with this issue, it is a microsoft problem and here is what happens. So you take your phone and set it up to snyc with your pc to sync with outlook. Then you don't sync it for a few weeks or even a few days. Then you go to sync again and bam, no contacts. This issue all revoles around the windows moblie device center not keeping the settings that you have set forth for items that you want to sync. I have contacts, mobile favorites and my calendar to all sync, but everytime I go to re-sync it, it wipes out the calendar and contacts, but for some reason mobile favs are still set to sync.
Microsoft needs to address this issue and fix their faulty program, this more than proves that the windows mobile device center has an issue.
- OK 2GrokMobile,Like AAmbro, I am using an HTC but mine is a Touch HD.I have used "Active Sync since the early days of HTC when they were badged SPV in the UK.It was an irate call from me to HTC helpline that informed me about the pim file. Trouble is that I always forget to back it up when linking up to transfer music files and copy photos from the mobile.It is not easy to restore either as it always seems to be open.I am using Mobile Device Centre on Vista business. I do not use Outlook but connect to Exchange when at the office.I never link the mobile with the laptop when at work so where is the contacts file that my mobile is linking with if Outlook is not used?i do not use any other contacts software.I do not understand how there are so many people on Microsofts own forums complaining about this software and yet the fault is is still there.I have just ran Mobile Device Centre to check which direction my mobile contacts list was set (PC to mobile or mobile to PC) and you cannot check or set it before the mobile is plugged in!!! Crazy.I understand software and write it in a small way (PLC control systems) and there is no way my company could allow this situation with anything I write.What is wrong with you people???
I am a windows programmer and I had this same issue. Microsoft does not think there products through. All they need is a simple message box. Stop outsourcing programming and do things right the first time. Do it right in V1.0.I tried t sync my htc with my laptop and i went thru the whole thing and then once i unplugged the phone from the computer, all my contacts were gone? I have been trying to re-sync and nothing happens. In addition, my contacts did not even save on outlook???
Thanks
- unfortunately the same has happened with me...... i know the contacts r gone.... forever !!!! fells more shitty as it was my husband's HTC fone i tried 2 sync. LOST ALL CONTACTS :( !!!!!! wish i had never done it. guess cant trust microsoft with their faulty software.no windows mobile next time for sure .... BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY !!!
- I can confirm PIMbackup works. I had to use it!
I backed up my HTC using it, then uploaded everything from the HTC to Google Calendar.
Then I connected the HTC to the PC, and BAM! All contacts gone AGAIN, and Calendar all goofed up AGAIN. I wiped the PC, which wiped the HTC's calendar (without asking!).
I restored the HTC from PIMbackup, and everything appeared again on the PC. That left me with the worry - do I risk using the calendar and diary on the PC, or not? The final solution is that I've ordered an iPhone (no Windows Mob on that) and will be checking very carefully before I do anything with that. Thanks Jack for that reply.
Thank you Rusty for your response. It is hard to say why some have issues and others do not. Like you, I experienced it with my sons device. In fact, I'm "sort of glad" I did experience it so I know that it happens. Why? Just not sure and it does bother me. I hope that we can figure it out as users ....
Jack Cook
http://www.experiencemobility.net
http://www.mobilitysite.com- I have been around windows software for a very long time so I was very careful about backing up my contacts before I let WMDC "sync" my phone. I also agree that the person who wrote the software has no understanding of how people in the real world work with their phones and laptops. Like someone mentioned most of us add contacts to our phones during the day...not the other way round. Also, developing software that will delete all the contacts on the phone without warning goes beyond stupid! Also, try and read the pwi files your phone creates on your laptop...these are WINDOWS mobile files!!!
- Same thing happened to me.
I upgraded my Windows Mobile phone five months ago. I've been running XP Pro. I recently lost my hard drive AND my Outlook backup---the only thing left is what was on my phone. So... I decided the bugs were probably worked out of Vista by now, I setup a new computer with Vista. What a mistake.
I have (I mean HAD) about 1500 contacts, a couple of hundred of them generated this past season working on a large business deal.
You all know what happened when I plugged my Windows Mobile phone into Windows Mobile Device Center. Yep. Every contact I had in the phone was wiped without ANY WARNING whatsoever!!! Nothing!! I told it to keep both copies with a conflict, too!!
Who the &^77 wrote this ____?
I setup a clean copy of XP, ActiveSync 4.5. Plugged in my old Windows Mobile phone, it got my (outdated) contacts back. I plugged in my new phone, it loaded them all on to it. Simple. Smooth.
I am missing a couple of hundred of my MOST IMPORTANT contacts.... the most current ones. And if I didn't keep my old phone, old computers and old backup hard drives I would have ZERO!!
What idiot decided to change the format to by DEFAULT wipe out the phone contacts? Don't you have any CLUE that the phone is most likely the most current copy?
I've been using computers since the original PC came out, and I"ve never seen such an incompetent piece of software.
A tip please: NEVER NEVER NEVER erase data without the user knowing EXACTLY what is happening is PLAIN ENGLISH!!!! Is that a problem??- Proposed As Answer byIreyan Monday, October 19, 2009 7:07 AM
- I can't understand why Microsoft hasn't fixed this problem...it just doesn't make sense. Thank God I took Jack Cook's advice after it happened to me and backed up with Pimbackup and Microsoft's own My Phone. My Phone is actually quite good in that it archives everything it deletes so you can always retrieve them if you need to.
- Microsoft is too big to care that a few percent of its customers are being infuriated by incompetent software. I managed (just, by the skin of my teeth) to recover my address book - no thanks to Microsoft. I've now stopped using Outlook, Win Mobile telephones, and ActiveSync & Sons. Once bitten...
The reality is that MS isn't going to fix this. It's not even going to issue a warning to its customers. It (or its management) just doesn't give a monkey's.
History is full of examples of outfits that got too big for their boots and suddenly found themselves out on their ears. The trigger is often something apparently minor. Who knows - this may turn out to be Microsoft's. - I know what you say about Microsoft (too big to care etc..) is true in a lot of ways, in the same way it is true about a lot of huge business'. You want to try living in South Africa with Telkom (State owned) as just about the only provider of telecommunications. But to me this problem seems to go deeper than just a lack of caring, it's almost like Microsoft don't want us to use the program (Mobile Device Centre with Active Sync) and that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Here's another weird dilemma I have with my Omnia phone and Active Sync. I don't have a licence for Microsoft office for my laptop, but my phone came with Office mobile preinstalled, so Mobile device Centre won't function because it needs Outlook on my laptop to work properly. Now how difficult would it be for Microsoft to make Outlook a free download if you already have a licence for Mobile Office? But, as much as I hate Microsoft my next computer and phone will probably have windows 7 on them...sad isn't it.
- Well, a few weeks into owning an iPhone, and I'm happy. There's no more ActiveSync and no more WMDC (I think I know, now, what the WMD bit of that stands for). Contacts, diary, tasks, etc update flawlessly. Apple can do it! Why can't Microsoft?
I won't be risking a Windows Mobile device ever again. I lost two days of my life recovering my address and contacts list - and I suspect a few have slipped away even so.
For those still stuck with WMDC, I can confirm that PIMbackup does a good job. The only trouble is, it encrypts stuff so you can't use it to transfer out to PC and thence into Apple.
