How to backup contacts without pc suite or oxygen

[mapla]

I have trouble with my Nokia 6600 and not able to run pc suite backup on my office and home pc.

I want to format and later upgrade the firmware, I have problem lately on my Nokia pc suite backup program.

Before this I am not able to get Oxygen to run with my 6600, any sugesstions on copying certain file for contacts with epoc file manager.

I'm only concern on contacts if possible to maintain the groups and photoid. :)

[nokier7650]

if you want to use oxygen you need to have Oxygen Phone Manager 2 for SYmbian. Install it, the install client on your phone
C:\Program Files\Oxygen\SymbianOPM\Agent\Nokia
Start agent on your phone, then start OPM.
If you have a problem just write more precisely.

[Musicb0ffin]

You could back up the fone onto the mmc. Im pretty sure that covers the contacts.

[paradis_22]

You can back up the contact file, by copying it to another location like for example E but when you try to copy the file or restore it to its original location the FExplorer tells you that file in use, to avoid that plz run Memory Card App in the Extras, and from option choose Backup phone mem., while the backup in progress open FExplorer and you can copy Contacts.cdb to another location or restore it. then you can delete the folder backup from E:\

[mapla]

:D
nokier7650
Still not able to paired my 6600 using oxygen with msi bluetooth on pc.
Bluetooth icon idicate paired and mrouter showed 2mobile icons but oxgen still can't search my phone.

paradis_22 & Musicb0ffin
Didn't realised this backup & restore is built in with 6600, thanks dudes..

[tyler]

easiest way:

use smartVcard

[nokier7650]

you have to shut down mrouters (or turn off com3,4 in mrouter)

[tzeonn]

u shld copy all the contacts to sim, 6600 can mass copy/move contacts.

[OmarNawaz]

saw this somewher on the forum:

using fexplorer got to C:\system and rename the folder named "Data" to something else.
Then opened the folder and copy Contacts.cdb and paste to MMC.

Then change the name of the folder back to exactly what it was "Data"

To restore you do exactly the same.

[djcool]

What i actually do...is that i have all the contacts in my outlook as well..

[Musicb0ffin]

Yeah, thats a pretty good plan, but i thought i'd be clever and save space last time i put office on, and didnt out outlook on. I spose i could install it, but its one of those things u say you'll do and never get round to... Ah well...

[reficul_x]

You could back up the fone onto the mmc. Im pretty sure that covers the contacts.

no...it doesnt...backup doesnt cover contacts! pls try it urself b4 u post!!!

read the nokia symbian general forum n look for this thread, called, contacts file name.

hope by reading the thread u get a better pic of how to backup contacts. hope that helps! :smile:

[reficul_x]

u shld copy all the contacts to sim, 6600 can mass copy/move contacts.

tzeonn, its jus that most pple's sim cannot contain ALL the entries! sim card isnt powerful enuff u c? it will be troublesome too....the renaming method is by far, the easiest way to do it!

[Skate-Scout]

Hi,
under Linux i can over an Solution for Backup the Compleate Contacts with the mRouter Protocol
This mean no extra software on the phone side needed. Backup in vCard format.
Testet with 3660. Would this help ?

[syedabbas]

You can back up the contact file, by copying it to another location like for example E but when you try to copy the file or restore it to its original location the FExplorer tells you that file in use, to avoid that plz run Memory Card App in the Extras, and from option choose Backup phone mem., while the backup in progress open FExplorer and you can copy Contacts.cdb to another location or restore it. then you can delete the folder backup from E:\

Hey,

Thanks for coming up with a great idea of how to copy the file i was trying to do it since last 2 days... now the problem is i have formatted the phone and now want to paste it back in the same folder.. however it says yes pasted but it still is not replaced... i have also tried taking the back up again and in the mean while pasting the file inthe folder.. but that does not work...... Please help...

[Thanh]

Hello :)

I am happy being able to contribute someything which i just recently had the chance to experience for myself. I successfully backed up all contacts from a 3650 to MMC, and re-"installed" them from that MMC into a freshly-resetted 6600. Worked like charm, it copied everything inclusive the caller groups (with settings!!) and thumbnail pictures/caller ID's.

Here is a step by step "manual", required is a file manager application that is able to view and modify system files (i used seleQ).

1) with that file manager, browse to c:/system and find a folder named "data".
2) rename that folder to whatever you like.
3) open that renamed folder.
4) find a file called "Contacts.cdb" without the quote marks.
5) using the file manager app's options menu, "copy" that file.
6) browse to the MMC card (e:)
7) using the file manager app's options, "paste" the file in the root directory of the MMC.
8) browse back to c:/system and rename the origin folder to "data" again. VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

Then do whatever needs to be done with the phone, hard reset, format, flash, throw away and get new one, etc.

Now you got the phone back, and no contacts. OK put in the MMC (i assume it's the same phone but re-flashed or another phone, therefor be aware that in most cases, the MMC needs to be formatted before it will work CORRECTLY again. This happened for me when i had the 3650 flashed, it wouldn't accept the MMC anymore unless booted in safe mode) so keep following my advise here:

9) ignore eventual system error messages when booting or using the menu, that is because most likely (if re-flashed or different phone) the MMC needs to be re-formatted. Re-Install the file manager application, trust me it will work even if the MMC fires error messages. Install it to phone memory just to be sure.

10) repeat steps 1 and 2, i.e. browse to c:/system, find "data" and rename it.
11) browse to the root directory of MMC (e:), don't worry it WILL work!
12) find "Contacts.cdb" and select "copy" in the file manager app's options.
13) browse back to c:/data and "paste" the file into your renamed folder.
14) select "OK" if it warns you that the file is present and if you want to overwrite.
15) IMPORTANT!! Rename the folder to "data" !!!
16) exit file manager and reboot phone IN SAFE MODE.
17) open "Contacts", it might open with an error saying "data base corrupt". Ignore that, close contacts again.
18) reboot phone normally, ignore eventual error messages caused by MMC needing to be formatted. See if your contacts are present, they should be now, inclusive their caller ID pictures and caller group settings.
19) if NOT, repeat steps 10-18. But i did this three times (6260 after reflashing, 3650 after reflashing and from 3650 to 6600), the 6260 produced the "data base corrupt" error but it worked fine after the second reboot.

Tip: Get an application called "Stacker" and use it to compress your Contacts file. It is amazing how much memory can be saved without losing ANYthing! Mine went from 412 kilobytes to 185. ALL details still available! NOTHING lost!

Also it is possible, via file manager software, to "backup contacts" by sending that contacts.cdb file to a PC via bluetooth and just save it there. Again, you will need to rename the "data" folder to do that, otherwise it will come up with "already in use" error.

Hope i could help :)

Kindest regards......

Thanh