[james_dean1986]

Replacement Lumia 920 comes tomorrow - how do I back my current 920 to a PC

Nokia suite doesnt detect the phone. The Windows Phone program is for media.

So how do I create a file back up to my PC of my contacts and messages.

Im fully aware things are back up to the cloud, but I have read enough forum posts about this not happening, and would really prefer to create a restore file for my phone. The same way I have done for years with every Nokia I have owned.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers,
James

[farby]

You can't do that .. The only way is the other method you are aware of..i.e. Back-up to the Cloud..

You can only copy the Media content to PC. If you have Windows7 or Windows8 PC you may do it thru' the 'Windows Phone' application ..

[james_dean1986]

Thanks Farby.

I know its not your fault but that doesnt really help me.

As mentioned in my original post I was already aware the "Windows Phone" program only backups media, just find it strange that neither Nokia or Microsoft have given the facility to do this with contacts, or even access your message and contacts through a PC. I used to love nokia suite for sending text when at work.

Think it is even stranger that since this facility is not available, no thridparty company/individual has created it yet.

Surely some creative mind out there has found a way to do this????..... i hope!

[paulheu]

Did you even try searching the store?

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/store/app/contacts-backup/bb09ae77-6e52-4326-883b-de8048e3dddf

Also you can export a CVS from http://contacts.live.com

[93tid]

Your contacts are automatically synced to the Live ID account you have set up the phone with. Messages are indeed synced to Skydrive, if you have that option active.

[caitlin1759]

But messages are deleted from Skydrive when they are deleted from the phone. I doubt the OP is leaving the messages on the phone he hands back.

[james_dean1986]

Thanks Paulheu - I will admit I did not try searching the store, just the forums and came across nothing, but have you used this app?

Three issues with this.

1. It only backed up my first contact - so good job I checked and I will shortly be leaving a negative review!
2. it only does contacts, so does that mean I've got to find another app to do messages?
3. I may be thinking illogical here but downloading an app, creating a backup file, logging into sky drive, uploading to sky drive, logging into sky drive from a PC, downloading the file to my PC seems really elongated when I have a cable in front of me.

I regards to the other posts, I know things are supposed to be backed up automatically to your Live ID and sky drive, but this is my point, you only have to spend two minutes on these forums to find out that this is far from 100% success rate.

I may be over cautious of things and all will work fine when my replacement arrives in about 4 hours, but why all these different methods to back your different bits of information up when Nokia suite did everything in one go.

Thanks for your help.

[paulheu]

The app works fine for me

You can't backup messages to a readable/accesible location. You can copy/past important messages to OneNote

In all fainess, the amount of people having issues with sync or wit the fact that they can't use a USB cable is small, if not tiny. The average joe does not even realize what is happening. Also, and from personal experience the issues mostly related to ignorance and not being able to follow IMO rather clear guides available and explained in several places.

You do not need any app to get to your contacts, they are readily available and getting a backup in CSV format takes two clicks.

[james_dean1986]

Im glad it worked for you, but after following the guidelines it did not work for me and I'm not the only one.

You may feel it to be a tiny amount, but I came across a lot of people posting about it in different forums when trying to find a solution, and that is just the people that have taken the time to post on a forum, which is a limited number of phone user so a full spectrum picture is never going to be obtainable.

Yes a wireless backup facility is great, but not always ideal. It has nothing to do with ignorance, it has to do with a useful facility no longer available that some people would like to have back. Not everyone has unlimited data usage or free constant wifi to be able to run this facility.

I was after a solution to a genuine problem, not a hindrance blaming it on peoples ignorance... which ironically is quite ignorant.

If you have something positive and helpful to the problem, then please share, if not then dont.

[paulheu]

I was talking in general not to you personally. I can see your point, but if this is a crucial issue for you then Windows Phone is not for you, it is that simple really. Also in the coming years you will see all similar smartphones move to using cloudbased storgae for this.

There is really no valid argument against it as I consider ít used to work like this on my previous phone' not an argument here. If you do not like it go somewhere that will offer the option.

I find the way Windows Phone works conveniant, simple, efective and smart. I have my data available wherever I go and am not depending on any location based hardware. It's perfectly fine if you do not agree with me on that but if you do then WP is not for you.

[james_dean1986]

I understand what your saying. Don't get me wrong, Im not complaining about the phone its self, I like the phone and most of its features, and I love Nokia - All I have ever had since my first 5110. Also its not really possible to stay with Nokia and have a high end phone when they are now WP.

There may be no argument from your point of view if everything works perfectly but my argument was affirmed by my end result.

My contacts had restored (which I will admit was nice it being automatic), but none of my messages or settings did. I had double checked all my settings prior to make sure that they should have been so it was not user error.

This may have been a result of the phone going back being faulty, but it is clear evidence to support the reason for this post - the cloud is ok if everything goes smooth, but if there are errors or issues....

Anyway, I have my new phone and all appears to be ok, apart from my Nokia BH-505 headset keep randomly disconnecting and blasting my music through the loudspeaker, normally when Im on public transport.... but thats for another forum post.

Thanks everyone.

[QBoonen]

I'm with James on this one! The cloud is nice, but I want to be able to have a file that I can saveguard somewhere. What if I lose my phone and want to switch to a non-WP. How shall I explain google or mac to go look for the messages in skydrive!

[93tid]

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QBoonen wrote:
What if I lose my phone and want to switch to a non-WP. How shall I explain google or mac to go look for the messages in skydrive!

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Probably the same way you would explain google or mac to go look for the messages in Nokia Suite.

[QBoonen]

No, that's exactly the point. Whit Suite I can extract a file. I can rework/modify this file until mac or android accept it. In skydrive I don't even know where the file is!

[cintwo]

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paulheu wrote:

I was talking in general not to you personally. I can see your point, but if this is a crucial issue for you then Windows Phone is not for you, it is that simple really. Also in the coming years you will see all similar smartphones move to using cloudbased storgae for this.

There is really no valid argument against it as I consider ít used to work like this on my previous phone' not an argument here. If you do not like it go somewhere that will offer the option.

I find the way Windows Phone works conveniant, simple, efective and smart. I have my data available wherever I go and am not depending on any location based hardware. It's perfectly fine if you do not agree with me on that but if you do then WP is not for you.

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I don't agree, the Samsung Galaxy S IIII is syncin to the PC. Anyway Windows Phone isn't very smart, the smart part isn't working well but it's a cheap phone so fair enough

[paulheu]

If you don't agree wit the way WP works don't use it.. Fine with all of us as it would give us peace and quite and a chance to help people who have valid questions or issues.

Windows Phone works the way it does for some very good and valid reasons, security being one of them. IF that is something you do not care about or if your find features you want with other phones then why are you even here?

[cintwo]

What has security got to do with syncing to your own computer? There's a big issue going on security of clouds, and apart from that contacts are not even stored in the cloud but listed in the email account which is a mailbox. I find all that more risky than my pc. I'm her ebecause I have 3 nokia phones, last is a Lumia 620, which isn't really a smartphone but it's very cheap so it's ok untill next one