USF Health PDA Users: Don't Lose Your PDA Settings!

If your PDA runs out of battery power you lose all of the data on it! Since you probably have a copy of most of that data already on a server or on your laptop/PC, this warning may not sound very imposing... however, keep in mind that you will have to re-configure everything (including the synchronization with your laptop/PC) and you will have to re-install all of the PDA programs! To avoid this, you should occasionally make a backup. Please feel free to contact us for assistance with this. Included below are instructions for the types of PDAs which we are most familiar with - HP iPAQs and Dell Axims.

The Microsoft-based PDAs (Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, and Windows CE) have two types of memory. The main type needs electricity in order to hold your information. So if the battery power goes away, so does your data. Fortunately, the second type of memory is permanent storage (like a USB Flash drive or pen drive). However, it usually takes extra effort to locate this permanent storage space. For example, if you open the program called File Explorer, it is very likely that you will be brought to "My Documents" which is part of 'main memory' (which needs electricity). If you then click the words "My Documents" and drop-down the menu, you can select "My Device" to see other locations. If you have an SD card or a Compact Flash card, then those should be available as permanent storage options under "My Device." If you have a Dell Axim, then you will also have the option, "Built-in Storage". If you have an HP iPAQ, then you will have the option, "iPAQ File Store". Both "Built-in Storage" and "iPAQ File Store" are permanent. So, the instructions below explain how to back up all of your data to the permanent location. After completing them, if your PDA loses power, then you can restore from this backup and you will not have to redo your settings!

HP iPAQ
	1) Select "Programs" from the "Start" drop-down menu.
	2) Locate and click on the "iPAQ Backup" icon.
	3) iPAQ Backup may start in "Basic Mode" which looks like this. If you have an SD card, then this mode might be fine for you (if you have room on the SD card). Otherwise, click the "Options" menu and choose "Switch to Advanced Mode."
	4) This is the "Advanced Mode" of iPAQ Backup. Find and click on the three dots located to the right of the "File" name. In the diagram, they are highlighted in black.
	5) From the "Save As" window that appears, choose the "iPAQ File Store" to find your built-in permanent storage space. Alternatively, you could choose your SD card or Compact Flash here. Click "OK" to return to the "Backup Overview" window.
	6) Click "Start" to begin the backup process. Once completed, your data/settings/programs are safe!
	7) Now that your settings, data, and programs are backed up, you can restore back to this point if your battery ever runs out. To do so, you would repeat steps 1-3, select the "Restore" tab at the bottom, and then click on those three dots again (highlighted in black in the diagram).
	8) You would then choose your back-up file and click "Open." Then you would just have to click "Restore" to bring your data and settings back again.

Dell Axim
	1) Select "Programs" from the "Start" drop-down menu.
	2) Locate and click on the "Data Backup" icon.
	3) Insure that the "Backup to:" drop-down menu shows something permanent like "Built-in Storage" or your SD card. Click "Start" to begin the backup process. Once completed, your data/settings/programs are safe!
	4) Now that your settings, data, and programs are backed up, you can restore back to this point if your battery ever runs out. To do so, you would repeat steps 1 and 2 and then click on the "Restore" tab at the bottom. Either allow it to choose your latest backup file or choose a different one with "Restore from following backup." When ready, just click "Start" to restore your data and settings.