The backup is totally independent of the version of Windows Mobile running on the device and independent of the device itself. The backup is also independent of the language used on the device. You can easily backup on a Chinese device and restore in a German one.

There are two kinds of backups. The binary based backup has been implemented in order to have a backup/restore process which is fast and more reliable, the disadvantage being that the backup contents cannot be easily modified or viewed. The text based backup has been implemented in order to see/edit the contents on a pc for instance.

For users with Windows Mobile 2003 SE, please download this software here (169 KB) or its miror here.

Use notice:
The exe contained in the zip file, should be copied and launched on the Pocket PC, and not on a PC.

TODO:
MMS Backup/restore doesn't work!

- Fix problem with MMS "attachments" which are stored on disk but are not considered as attachments in the cemail.vol (wonderful!). Arcsoft MMS software uses own-defined properties (blobs) in pmailMsgs table in cemail.vol but I cannot decipher them for the moment.
- Conversion of text backups <-> binary backups.
- Conversion to other known formats (icalendar,...).

Features:
- Backup/restore appointments.
- Backup/restore call logs.
- Backup/restore contacts.
- Backup/restore messages (SMS, Mails, ...) NEW !!!.
- Backup/restore speed dials.
- Backup/restore tasks.
- Backup/restore custom files.

Restore contacts:
It is possible now to restore a text file containing contacts backed up from other applications, like in Outlook Express, the only constraint is that the first line should contain the fields and the fields need a separator. (See screenshots). The tool allows to map default fields to fields found in the file. It is possible now to insert duplicates.

Backup messages:
The mail database is completely parsed to retrieve all the messages stored in every directory and subdirectory. It is possible to select which account and directories should be backed up. You can save attachments as well if they exist on the Pocket PC.

Restore messages:
Same as the backup, you can select which account and directories should be restored to the device. Caution, if an account doesn't exist on the Pocket PC, this application will discard the messages that belong to that account.

Schedule backup:
It is possible to schedule a backup, each day of the week and this at a specific hour. If the Pocket PC is suspended, it will wake up and do the backup. You can eventually control the number of backups to keep and switch off the Pocket PC after the scheduled backup is finished.
The schedule backup creates a notification that can be cleared via the Options Menu.

File types:
There is only one file type now, which is .pib (Personal Information Backup), in fact it is just a zip file (so you can open it with a zip application) which contain the different text files used in PPCBckpContacts, so you can still extract these files, edit them and eventually restore them without putting them back in the .pib file.

Update Description:
v2.8 (20-01-2008):
- Fix for keeping old files when value is 10 (schedule options).
- Fix for subfolders having same name as folders under root (messages restore).
- Fix for the delimiter selection when restoring contacts from csv file (contacts mapping fields).
- Fix for "add only new messages" when restoring binary backup (messages restore).

v2.7 (26-12-2007):
- In v2.6, the backup/restore thread priority has been diminished so it took less resources during the task, and so other programs could continue to work properly. The problem is that a backup/restore task could take much more time to end. This has been changed by adding this feature as parameter, and so it can be changed manually by the user.

v2.6:
- Fix bug in binary restore of contacts (birthday overwritten by anniversary).
- Fix bug in binary/text restore of appointments (status, reminder not correct).
- Fix bug in zip utility => unicode compliant.
- Fix bug in restore of tasks (wm2003se only) for (partially) undated tasks.
- Fix bug in restore of messages (only messages from an unknown account are discarded).
- Fix bug in csv contacts import (csv coming from another application).
- Fix bug in restore of speed dials (wm6 only).
- Added restore custom files individual selection.

v2.5:
- Fix bug in binary backup of appointments containing recipients.
- Fix bug in binary/text custom files backup.
- Added rename old file option in custom file restore.

v2.4:
- Fix a crash bug during restore of a text backup for messages having no subject.
- Fix a bug in scheduled backup.
- Add one instance only.

v2.3:
- Fix for notes in wm2k3.
- Add more error messages in case of backup/restore failure.

v2.2:
- Fix for messages backup problem that causes wm2k3 pda's to soft-reset.
- Fix for custom files not found in list in csx backup file.

v2.1:
- Fixed bug introduced in hex fields in text backup in v2.0.
- Add a custom backup functionality for specific files, folders or file types.
- Changed some cosmetic things in the layouts.
- Fixed some minor bugs.
- Fixed bug in binary appointment backup.

v2.0:
- Added escape character in text, so the parsing of csv text works in all cases. CAUTION, a bad parsing can still appear for backups made in earlier versions.
- Added binary backups for fastness and reliability. (A tool will be provided in the future to allow to convert text backups to binary backups and vice-versa).
- Schedule problem fixed.
- Added UNC folders names for default folders (inbox, outbox, sent items, drafts, deleted items) in messages, so the restore could be done on a device having another language.
- Fixed the problem of messages stored in folders at the same level as Inbox.
- Creation of temporary backup files can be either in memory or in the backup destination folder.

v1.9:
- Fix bug in all day recurring appointments restore.
- Fix bug in non recurring tasks restore.
- Restore for "add only new..." option should go faster.
- Remove empty files from \Windows\Messaging.

v1.8:
- Fix problem of lost records (csv parser has been redesigned).

ADVICE:
In WM6 if you have to restore call logs, do it separately especially if you have a lot of them, because cprog.exe (phone application) will take all the cpu to rebuild the links between contacts and calls, so this is not good for the rest of the restore.

v1.7:
- Fix for crashing bug during restore of contacts or messages.

v1.6:
- Yomi included for contacts (not tested, need confirmation on this).
- Fix for call logs in WM6 (allynm).
- Fix appointments load (leo ramik).
- Fix problem for messages load (same as appts).
- Fix csv parser bug (last one, I hope).
- Fix problem with speeddials restore (WM6 only) (it is slow, but it works) (work around provided by dan1967 (thanks!)).
- Fix for appts restore (_vint).

v1.5:
- Fix toolbar bug (wm2003se only).
- Fix sms backup bug (wm2003se only) (carolos).
- Fix schedule bug (ebliss).
- Fix birthday bug in contacts (gambit999).
- Fix csv parser bug (exel07).

v1.4:
- Fix a bug found in backup/restore of messages in WM2003SE (choas).
- Fix a bug concerning exclusions of folders in backup of messages (faria).

v1.3:
- Fix a bug found in restore of call logs backup under WM6 (backup made on WM6 only) (faria).

v1.2:
- Fix a bug found when handling unicode files with chinese character set (Sipher).

v1.1:
- Fix a bug in CSV parser (borjok536).
- Added option verbose in main menu (allynm) (the status list is less updated without verbose).
- Added SystemIdleTimerReset to avoid that the pda is suspended during the backup/restore process.

***** [Apr 28, 2011] by Nikolai Wilkomirsky using HP iPAQ HW6945 Smartphone
Just performed a hard reset, then restored all my contacts, mail accounts and messages. Awesome, works perfect! It's one of the most useful tools i've seen for those who *need* to hard reset their devices frequently. Again, awesome and freeware. Thanks.

***** [Aug 26, 2010] by doceave using HTC Touch Diamond
Awesome!!!

***** [Jul 15, 2010] by bubbah using motosurf a3100 wm6.1
I hate th M$ MyPhone app which puts so much crapware on the phone and will not run from the sdhc card ...also, I don't trust them to NOT lose my data ...before, I had a RazrV3 and the motorola backup was slick and easy ...I've been waiting for this!! Your program lets me backup to my sdhc card and is coool and easy and small and great!! Thank you!!

***** [Sep 5, 2009] by Matt using Samsung Saga
Great product. Very easy to use.

**** [Aug 27, 2009] by videopete using Palm Treo 700wx
I agree with the last guy. Schedule keeps resetting to nothing after a reset. Always have to schedule your backups to keep the schedule updated. Other than that, Great program!!

**** [Jul 28, 2009] by Chris using i-mate Ultimate 8502
Good software. However, seems after a soft reset, the schedule is not followed any more. I have to redo the schedule.

***** [Jun 23, 2009] by Nitin using HTC 3400
HATS OFF to the developer... Its excellent... Its simple, sober and perfect... It does what it says... Thanks a lot... :) Above all these its free... ;)

***** [Dec 9, 2008] by ADAM SAH using lg XV6700
OMG, this worked *perfectly* -- I backed up my old Windows Mobile 5.0 phone contacts, edited the CSV file (excel), imported to gmail, then sync'd to my Android gphone!!!

***** [Sep 30, 2008] by thiru using htc diamond
Great great and greatest software... I was able to do back and restore from old mobile to new htc diamond.

***** [Sep 4, 2008] by Akshay Kumar using htc diamond
Worked pretty smooth to transfer my data from O2 Atom Exec (WM5) to HTC Diamond (WM6).

***** [May 3, 2008] by Aries using HTC Touch Cruise
Great program! Did a great job of backing up my contacts, appointments, tasks and 1000+ SMSes from my WM2003 O2 Mini to HTC TC. Very efficient and quick.

***** [Mar 31, 2008] by Chris using Samsung SCH-i760
Thank you for saving me from wasting an entire weekend trying to figure out a workaround to the sync problem I was having. This took minutes to download/install/run/test. Works great for me.

*** [Mar 28, 2008] by Denis using HTC S620 smartphone with WM6 Standard
Downloaded and started OK but GUI is not acceptable on 320x240 screen (horizontal x vertical).

***** [Mar 10, 2008] by Anders using HTC Touch Cruise
I just downloaded the tool, and my first impressions was great. It worked! - And I was able to edit my contacts in Excel. Note that I had to look in the manual before I discovered that the backup file (.pib) just was a zip file. I tried backup, and edit and the restore. Beware that you restore using tabulator as separator if you saved your contacts in Excel.

***** [Feb 12, 2008] by Alex using hp6965
There is no free software utility provided by the operating system for what should be a standard application on a mobile device. To that end, a great thank you to the developer who created a simple and flawless program which does what it says on the box. Its not honey-glazed with lot of fancy graphics and colours - but the point is it lets you back up crucial data (even call logs!) and that is what you will be thankful for the next time you lose your device and perhaps more importantly - the data on it.

**** [Jan 4, 2008] by Chris using Treo 750V
Good software. One question though: I encounter restored files having their read-only bits set, when it was not originally. Is this a bug?

***** [Dec 29, 2007] by Hassan using i-mate k-jam
Its working good but slow, good for WM 5.0.

***** [Dec 13, 2007] by jdfjunk using tilt, kaiser, 8925
Incredible. Exported outlook from another computer to csv file and imported to wm6 using pim backup. Great program.

**** [Oct 2, 2007] by Chris using Treo750V (WinMob6)
Good software. But when backing up email/SMSes, the log indicates nothing was found to be backed up. Has anyone backed up and restored SMSes successfully?

***** [Oct 2, 2007] by Olivier H using HTC Touch P3450
It worked perfectly on my HTC Touch running Windows for Mobile 6.0. I needed to reset my phone because mms were not getting sent (seems to be a problem on a series of those phones with my cell phone operator, Orange), and I did not want to lose all contacts and calendar anniversaries I had already transfered from my old phone. It kept everything but caller pictures that I had to reload. Great soft, quick and reliable.

***** [Aug 26, 2007] by sholmes using MDA PRO
Wow!!! Thank you for this excellent Software. Very very helpfull.

***** [Jul 16, 2007] by gagsaw using HP IPAQ
Solid... It works excellent. I deleted SMS and contacts and it was restored successfully. Cool Software.

***** [May 9, 2007] by Gerace using Many
Great software. Really helpful. Only problem is to restore into different language Operating Systems without additional efforts.

**** [May 9, 2007] by August Dela Paz using xdaiis WM 2003 SE
Tried the updated version but still unable to restore my inbox messages.

**** [Apr 30, 2007] by Mike using PPC - 6700
A really useful tool for me. No problems encountered on my phone.

**** [Apr 2, 2007] by August Dela Paz using xdaiis 2003 SE
Great! It works in backup & restoring except for the messages in my inbox. But thanks been looking for this kind software that works on WM2003.

**** [Mar 30, 2007] by badai using Dopod 838
I just download it yesterday and I have try it for backup and restore data on my phone it work succesfully. What a usefull and nice program.