Phone Data Panic
When it was time to replace my cell phone, one of my requirements for the new phone was the ability to synchronize the contact list with my computer. I had several hundred contacts in my old cell phone accumulated over five years, and I didn't want to have to rekey all of that data on a phone keyboard. With my cables from Gomadic and BitPim as the software, I've achieved my goal.
I fired up BitPim today to add a new number to my phone. BitPim observed that I was still using 0.8.06 while 0.8.12 was available. I downloaded the latest version and ran the installer. It found the old data perfectly and noticed when the phone was plugged in. Excellent. I had it download the new information from the phone, added the new entry, and uploaded the address book. BitPim always forces the phone to reboot after uploading the address book. When the phone came back up, though, there were no contacts. BitPim still listed everything, but it had erased everything from the phone. Eep! I tried the upload again, but got the same result. Yes, folks, the program that was supposed to keep me from losing my contacts lost my contacts.
I reinstalled 0.8.06 and uploaded again . . . whew! Everything was back. I wanted to submit a bug report, but the help is adamant about checking the mailing list first. Sure enough, somebody else had already had the same problem. The workaround is pretty simple, and I almost stumbled onto it myself. When first installed, BitPim defaults to a particular phone model. It's in the same family as my phone, but not the same one. I'd switched it to the correct model, but that change doesn't take hold until BitPim is quit and restarted. Oh. I'd done both my sync attempts without restarting. I reinstalled 0.8.12, configured it, quit, restarted it, and uploaded. Bingo! Everything's happy again. I probably could've continued with 0.8.06 forever, but that won't be necessary now.
I fired up BitPim today to add a new number to my phone. BitPim observed that I was still using 0.8.06 while 0.8.12 was available. I downloaded the latest version and ran the installer. It found the old data perfectly and noticed when the phone was plugged in. Excellent. I had it download the new information from the phone, added the new entry, and uploaded the address book. BitPim always forces the phone to reboot after uploading the address book. When the phone came back up, though, there were no contacts. BitPim still listed everything, but it had erased everything from the phone. Eep! I tried the upload again, but got the same result. Yes, folks, the program that was supposed to keep me from losing my contacts lost my contacts.
I reinstalled 0.8.06 and uploaded again . . . whew! Everything was back. I wanted to submit a bug report, but the help is adamant about checking the mailing list first. Sure enough, somebody else had already had the same problem. The workaround is pretty simple, and I almost stumbled onto it myself. When first installed, BitPim defaults to a particular phone model. It's in the same family as my phone, but not the same one. I'd switched it to the correct model, but that change doesn't take hold until BitPim is quit and restarted. Oh. I'd done both my sync attempts without restarting. I reinstalled 0.8.12, configured it, quit, restarted it, and uploaded. Bingo! Everything's happy again. I probably could've continued with 0.8.06 forever, but that won't be necessary now.