Nokia’s Built-in Backup Feature
There is a feature on the Nokia n97 that tends to go unnoticed, and that is the built in backup feature. I absolutely love this. To my knowledge not even Nokia Pc Suite is able to save your calendars and text messages, but this baby will!
You can find it under File Manager folder right at the bottom. This feature even comes with the option of scheduled backups. I particularly like this more than the one on Nokia Pc Suite, since I know that if I try to back my messages or calendar it will not work. Not sure if Nokia are aware, and I hope this is now enabled on the new Nokia Ovi Suite. If you have tried this on the Ovi Suite please let us know by leaving your comments below. Just recently I found out how important this feature is, when I decided to download a theme for my phone and I was unable to remove it afterwards. The only way was to reset the phone to factory. Since I had done a backup of all contents my phone was back to “normal”. Even applications I previously downloaded they appeared back on the phone.
Share your thoughts if you already use this application and tell us which method you prefer.
24 Comments on “Nokia’s Built-in Backup Feature”
I have done this back-up before but I don’t seem to be able to do the “restore”. After having back up using file manager back-up, then reset my N97 but then when I go back to file manager there is no “restore” button??
The Restore is right below the backup now menu selection. You have to select the backup screen and then it will appear from there.
File Manager > Backup > Backup contents > Options > Restore
Thanks. Got it.
I thought there would be a “restore” button rather than under “options”
Hi there, I’m new with N97 and did a back up only to realize my messages(sms) inbox became empty. How can I retrieve the messages back? I’ve already restored but the sms inbox is still empty.Pls help. Thanks
Kay check the configuration of the messages program. mine changes from c to f and back all the time. i have gone to archiving my messages to text csv files so I can off load them to excel or access. I have seen that the restore and backup works well for contacts and calendars. but not too sure about program restoration at this point. hard resets have been necessary a couple times already. have to be careful to not install incompatible software. it does cause issues and lockups.
Have you used Nokia Pc Suite in the past, ummm, I dunno, several years? Backing up messages and calendar has been there for as long as I can remember.
However, having said all that, I used to regularly use the built in backup on the N95 (onto a microSD), and I will continue to do it on my N97 too.
Never had to do a restore, but it’s nice to know it’s there
For you guys who make regular restores thru *#7370#, wants to keep msgs and clean install.
Since everyone uses the mass memory for messages, there’s no change here.
Delete all apps thru application manager. *#7370#.
After restore, setup everything, including messaging back to E:.
Voila! New restoration with saved msgs. The point of deleting all apps before restoring is that Nokia does not auto-install a single thing, leaving you free to leave the mass memory intact.
@kaykay: Same here. All SMS, MMS and emails deleted and the email account details lost.
Nokia: Nice hardware but when are you going to hire someone who knows how to run a software project? You’re an international company for fucks sake.
Not sure if anyone can help me but i a have a lot of groups set up in my contacts but when i backup the groups are not saved.
this was really annoying me as i did a backup before i sent for repair. and i’ve spent the best part of a couple of hours tryin to do a contact restore!
finally i admittted defeat and looked in the operators manual. no help.
then i googled it – straight here. answer was in the questions below. cheers guys.
to backup on ovi suite click tools then content copier then follow the instructions and there you go
i want to sync my n97 wid my macbook uzin isync.. but dat demands d latest software.. so i need to backup all my contents includin msgs contacts nd calender entries.. tried it on ovi suite bt calender entries failed.. dunno wat to do..:(
Hai, i was trying to save one contact in my n97. After feeding name, number & all, i tried for saving, but couldnt. Then i checked my contact, but i couldnt see none of the contacts which i saved from last 8 months.I lost around 500 numbers, please help.
hey its probly the wrong place for tis but…. i have the problem wit the dissappearing msgs etc my contacts are still there as i saved the to sim.. i have searched and read that the most common answer to this problem is the swithching memory from phone to mass which my n97 seems to do all by itself at times. ive tried switching back and forth between to no avail. its weird tho cos it happened once before and now some but not all of those missing messages are back while my inboxgot completely wiped. only messages left are a small number of drafts which were missing but hav now re appeared. please help. i dont care so much about the texts its the drafts i lost as the majority were poems which i never wrote down on paper
I got to do a phone software update which is important but it tells me to back up content as I may lose some of it in the process.
However, when ever I try to use the PC Suite backup, I am never able to find my device under the drop down box where it is supposed to be. And now I am getting a little anxious. Tried restarting my cell but it’s not helping. Will this backup, that you’ve suggested help me in this situation?
hi, am trying to copy all my contacts from my n97 to nokia 2690 cos am giving it out…i tried using d backup options.but after i inserted d memory card into my new phone(nokia 2690) i see nothing.pls help…how can i get all my contacts copied to my new phone…its like backup isnt working for it..need help pls.
Hi everyone!
How can I retrieve the messages back? I’ve already restored but the sms inbox is still empty.Pls help. Thanks
guys i have a query i have messages in all i.e C:phone memory,memory card n internal harddrive……so i want to ask…if i create a backup using filemanagers backup will all messages will be backdup from all 3 storage memories…i.e from memorycard ,C,hardrive….??
When I want to back up sms, according to the instruction mentioned i.e., using backup command in “file manager”, my N97 fails with this message: “unable to perform scheduled backup. Selected memory not available”. This error appears, no matter I choose, E: or C:
ive used the updated ovi suite for back up and it has successfully backed up everything contacts messages calender entries tasks notes the lot but i have it on a cpl of computers and ovi suite works far better on my windows 7 ultimate 64 bit system its allright on windows 7 32 bit but i find it pretty poor on xp pro hope this gives a lil insight
I have tried numerous times to backup using the File Manager, have not been successful.
It first prompts whether I would to create backup on my F drive (memory card), when I choose Yes, it says preparing for backup. After 1 second, a message
“File Manager
memory full. Close some applications and try again”.
This happens all the time, even when the “Show Open Apps” is showing no application is running. Anyone has any idea?
Hi everyone, I’m new with Nokia N97 and i can’t find the File Manager. Someone help me!
Hi, if i deleted all data( contacts, smses, etc ) and do a hard reset, will those data be recovered by this feature?
In addition, I had format (using file manager) the memory card folder by folder (in E:\images, E:\messaege, etc.).
Anyone know in what format the backup is stored on the memory card? I did a backup, and when I tried to restore, it couldn’t “see” the backup on my memory card at all. So I’ve basically lost all my contacts. Anyone know how I can find the file/s to which it writes my contacts on the memory card?