New software install but files are old

Question

I just got a Palm Centro.  I've had a Palm 505 for years, had Palm desktop on my Vista computer for 1 1/2 years.  I installed the Palm Desktop software that came with my Centro on my Vista computer and my calendar, memos, addresses all look like they did 1 1/2 years ago.  I had synced immediately before installing the new software.  I had a back up of my folder with all these files, so I replaced my folder "Kris" with address, datebook, etc files.  I closed Palm Desktop and restarted it.  No luck, I still have all my old info - not up to date.  I have not synced my phone with the computer since this isn't right.  And, I'm afraid to sync my current palm and lose everything off there (since my "backup") didn't seem to work.  Help!  How do I get all my current info back?!
Post relates to: Centro (Sprint)
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Answer 1

Did you install the version of Palm desktop that you got with the Centro, 6.2?
There is a procedure to try to recover your files. Look in the following location for the Palm desktop username folder.
C:\Users\(Windows username)\Documents\Palm OS Desktop\
Look in the username folder for the category folders, address/contacts, datebook/calendar, etc. In those folders are the data files. Look for the files with names like address.mdb, address.mdb.bak. The .mdb file is the current data file, the .mdb.bak is the backup file. Try to rename the .mdb file to .mdb.old. Then rename the .mdb.bak file to .mdb (remove the.bak extension). Open Palm desktop and see if the data is there. IF you don't have the .bak file then you cannot rename to recover the data.
When you upgrade to a new device using palm desktop 6.2, the files from the old version of Palm desktop in the username folder are not compatible. You cannot drag and drop the files into the new username folder.  The data files in Palm desktop 6.2 are in a Microsoft Access Datbase format, thus the .mdb extension.
See if you can rename the .mdb files first to see if you can recover the data. If you can't using that method, you can "clean" uninstall the Palm desktop currently installed, install the version you were working with before the upgrade, copy the Username folder you backed-up from the old version and paste it in the old Palm desktop folder. Open Palm desktop and see if the data is there. Another option is to sync the old device to the old version of Palm desktop and then export the data.
Once that is installed and you have the data intact in the old version of Palm desktop, export the data, install the new Palm desktop and import the data. With the export and import procedure you can use the data in any version of Palm desktop.
If the rename doesn't work, do the "clean" uninstall using the directions below.
You should first make a copy of your data to have just in case something
happens. You can find your data files by going to Start --> Documents -->
Palm OS Desktop. Highlight your Palm Desktop username and right click and
copy. Then go to your PC desktop right click on a blank spot and select paste.
Now you want to uninstall Palm Desktop and remove everything that has to do
with Palm Desktop from your computer.
Go to the following locations on the PC and delete the folders listed below.
C:\Program Files\Palm or Palm One
C:\Users\[Vista Login Name]\appdata\local\virtualstore\Program Files\Palm or
PalmOne
C:\Users\[Vista Login Name]\appdata
*Note you may need to view hidden folders to get to appdata. To do that go
into your control panel and open folder options. Go to view tab and uncheck
hide hidden files.
Once this is done you will need to delete some registry keys from your PC Operating System.
Word of warning, going here and deleting the wrong thing can cause your PC
from starting up, crashing and deletion of programs and data. If you feel
you are unsure of yourself, see if you have a friend that can help you or a
PC technician that you can pay to help you. This procedure will show them everything they need to delete. To make sure we have a good copy of the current registry, we need to do a backup of the Registry.
Go to start on the PC, in the search field type "regedit.exe" without quotes.
Highlight COMPUTER, go to File --> Export. Should pop up with a Save As box.
Current location is fine, should be in My Documents or save to a location you will remember. In the file name on the bottom type "backup[todaysdate]" i.e. backup07072008. Next, the hard part.
The easiest way to make sure your working with the correct key, highlight the key i.e. palm quick install, and press delete on your keyboard. It will ask you, are you sure. Say yes. Do the same thing for all keys below.
If you make a mistake, stop what you are doing. And call a PC technician.
BUT do not turn off your computer.
The reg keys are as follows (Note: some of theses reg keys will not be here
but if they are delete them)
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\Palm Quick Install
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\PalmOne File Transfer
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\Pilot Desktop
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Palm
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Palm, Inc.
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PalmDesktopAutorun
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\palmOne
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PalmSource
* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\PalmSource or anything else that says palm
Next reboot your computer.
Then reinstall your palm desktop from the CD and do a hotsync. If it asks
you for a username and you synced your device before, put in 'test" if you
did not sync before create a hotsync name.
Post relates to: Palm i705
Message Edited by cygnusX1 on 10-07-2008 04:00 PM