Handheld Computer Backups

Backup and Archive Folders

TrackAbout creates backup and archive folders on handhelds and on PCs. When a handheld is synced, these folders are purged by default of any files older than 60 days. This default can be changed if necessary.

Memory Cards

Some handhelds have memory card slots that can store TrackAbout data backups. Using memory cards to backup TrackAbout data on your handheld can prevent data loss in case of a handheld failure. To find out if your handheld has a memory card slot, or what type of card your device requires, visit the Find Your Handheld Computer page.

TrackAbout Memory Card Requirements

Type: SD, MicroSD, SDHC Storage: 500MB minimum Speed: 150X or Class 6 minimum

Purchase Recommendations

Brand Options

Sandisk
Kingston

Resellers

Newegg.com
Amazon.com

TAM6

Folder structure

The backup files are stored under the TAMobile6Backup folder in the SD card. The top level folder contains the following sub-folders:

Current: This contains the current backup data.
Timestamped folders in the form yyyy.MM.dd.HH.mm.ss : This contains historical backup data.

As of TAMobile 6.0.259, the software will attempt to save backups on a Flash or Application drive if no SD card is found. If neither of those alternative drives are found, it will next attempt to save in the TAMobile6 application directory (or Data location for TrackAbout desktop). If it's not getting saved where expected, it could be that there is a folder named the same as one of these backup locations. For example, in testing, there was an issue with the backup failing due to insufficient disk space even though the Flash drive had nearly 400MB free. Ended up there was a folder named "storage card" on the device. Previously this was not an issue because the code checked a property on the directories and would only return those marked as TemporaryStorage, however that check had to be removed since Flash and Application are not TemporaryStorage.

Backup frequency

Backups are taken at the following times:

Every time a record is saved in batch mode.
When a wireless save fails, and the user selects the option for saving the record locally instead of retrying the wireless save.
Before every sync, if there are any records saved locally.
During application startup, if there are any records saved locally.

Backup archival

We maintain a history of the backups by periodically copying the backup to a timestamped folder on the SD card. The archival is done at the following times:

After every 20th record is saved following the start of the application.
Before every sync, if there are any records saved locally.
At application startup, if there are any records saved locally.

The archives backup files are deleted after 7 days. The deletion of the archived backups are done during sync.

TAM5

Folder structure

The backup files are stored in the TrackAboutBackup folder in the SD card.
Historical backup files are stored in timestamped folders (in the format in the form yyyy.MM.dd_HH.mm.ss) in the TrackAboutDataArchive folder in the SD Card.
Historical backup files are also stored in timestamped folders (in the format in the form yyyy.MM.dd_HH.mm.ss) under the %LOCALAPPDATA%\TrackAbout\DataArchive\<DeviceName> folder on the sync computer.

Backup Frequency

Backups are taken at the following times:

Every time a record is saved.
During application startup.

Backup Archival

Backups are archived to timestamped folders on the SD card and the sync computer during sync. The backups are retained for 60 days.

This feature needs to be turned on by TrackAbout Support. For more information about this feature, or to have it turned on, please contact the Support Team.

Handheld Computer Data Recovery

Link to Handheld Computer Data Recovery page.