Backups, what can I say about these, you should be doing them on a regular basis. What you aren't. Didn't you know that Samsung and Verizon have included a free version of Sprite Backup on our phone? Well I guess we are going to remedy this.

Currently I backup my phone in two different ways, 1. with Sprite, and 2. manually. As I explained in my original guide, I normally don't care about backing up my whole i730, and there are many reasons for this, but the short one is, the only information I can't replace is the call log, and even then I can get access to it online at Verizonwireless.com. So in reality, with syncing the phone with my computer I can get everything back on the phone, it just takes a little bit to load it on the phone, and following this "wonderful" setup guide. Now I do use Sprite at certain times, one while traveling, actually right before traveling. I do a full Sprite backup of my phone and store that on the SD card. So if my battery completely dies while traveling I can restore from backup very quickly and easily. I also do a Sprite Backup before testing any programs or registry hacks. This is because I have, and probably will, mess up my phone where I have to do another Hard Reset.

But backing up manually, how do you do that? Glad you asked. I use the term manually for the process I backup. See Sprite will backup the whole i730 without a problem, but I want to be very selective about what it backs up because many of things I don't want, and Sprite has a tendency to screw up the mail store on the phone (which is why I included CleanMail as one of the tools in the Tools Pack). So you need to make a list of the software you use on the i730 and determine if it's something you need to backup, or if it will be restored when you sync the i730 next.

So, since I already have my list created in this guide we will use it to check out if I need to back anything up before doing a Hard Reset:

abcDB - Not off the i730. I used the Desktop Studio to create my database, and it's backed up on my computer, so I really don't have to worry about this, although if you are using a database program, I highly suggest you make sure you have everything backed up, because if you are like me, you have MANY hours in to the development of the database.

abcDB Desktop Studio - Well since this is on my computer, I can skip is as well. I do have it backed up and my files I have created. In fact they are in MULTIPLE locations, just in case something big happens.

Bejewled 2 - Yes most definitly. What you backup a game? Yes. I have beaten the puzzle mode, and I don't feel like doing it again, and being at such a high level on the Never-Ending game, I really don't want to start over. Now Bejeweled, even though I have it installed in SafeStore, still keeps it's saved game files in Main Memory, which is fine with me as they are small. This is something I manually backup to the SD card. So first thing I do is open File Explorer on the i730 and navigate to the Program Files directory. You will see a folder called Astraware, and I click/hold on that folder and say copy. Then click on the drop down arrow at the top of the screen and click My Device. You will see the main list again and now select Storage Card. You should whatever files you have on the SD card, and I now click/hold the background and choose "New Folder". I name it "Backup", and then open that folder. Now Click/Hold in the background and choose "Paste". A folder will appear called Astraware. You now have the Bejeweled 2 data files on your SD card. Don't won't to loose those games...

eWallet - Well since it syncs to the computer, again no. It's on the computer and I backup the database on the computer, instead of on the phone.

EZDial - There really is nothing to backup here, it rebuilds it index each time you install it, so nothing here either.

iLauncher - Nothing here either. Yes I could back up the files so I don't have to set it up again, but normally when Hard Resetting my phone I make sure I have the newest versions of the software, and sometimes those vendors make changes, so again, nothing.

IM+ - Nothing here either, although you could backup your friends list, but AIM and MSN both download the list, which are the two main apps I use when communicating with IM+, so really no need.

phoneAlarm - I don't backup anything. I would suggest you backup your configuration file, but every time I Hard Reset my phone, there is always a new version of phoneAlarm to install, and I don't want to load the same configuration file for an old version as some settings might have changed. I just manually go through EVERY setting after it's reinstalled and set it up from scratch.

Photo Contacts Pro - I am sure you could backup your photo and ringtone assignments, but I don't. I only have around 10 pictures for people that call (family and girlfriends), as many of my callers are business related and I don't want their ugly mugs showing up on my phone . I also do a LOT of my ringtone assignments as group based, and have very few individual assignments. So setting up ringtone assignments takes all of 30 seconds, so it's no big deal to set those up. So again, nothing here.

PIEPlus - Nothing here as well. Only a few settings, and I really don't change many of them away from default.

Pocket Quicken - Again nothing. Since this syncs with Quicken on the desktop, why back anything up. Just make sure you sync it before the hard reset if you make changes in it. I normally don't do a lot in it, but I like it loaded for those times I need it.

Pocket DVD Studio - Nothing here as well since it's on the desktop.

SPB Pocket Plus - Nothing here as well. This I setup each time I install and it only takes a minute or two to setup, so I skip trying to back it up.

So as you can see I don't manually back up many files, mostly my game. The reason is that it either syncs, or there isn't anything to back up. As a NOTE, sync, sync, sync if possibly before you hard reset. This will get MANY of your files on the computer, and make it easier to get them back on the i730. Without syncing, you could EASILY lose many of your files.

You also want to make sure you all of your install codes and software packages for the i730. These are the codes that you were e-mailed by buying the software and the files you downloaded. Keep them in a safe place (eWallet on the desktop?), print them, store them on your computer, keep the e-mails in Outlook. You don't want to have to re-buy the software. Luckily many of the software companies keep a history of what you have purchased and let you redownload the software (also the updated versions). Also many of the "trial" versions of the software are actually the full versions, they just have to be unlocked with the install codes. So make sure you keep them in a safe place.

You also need to backup what you name is on the i730. This is important for many software packages as they require your name to be entered and setup correctly before the install codes will work. To do this, click Start, then Settings. In the first tab (Personal) of the Settings area, you will see an icon that says "Owner Information". Write down the Name you have in there, then click the OK in the corner to close this screee, but stay in the Personal Tab of the Settings Area.

Also if you have followed my instructions in the past you will have had your voicemail password stored in the phone, we want to make sure you have it recorded as well. While in the Personal tab of the Settings area, click "Phone". It could take 10 seconds or so to open, so be patient. In the voicemail box write down what's there. For example mine says *86pp********. (Also if your password is the last four digits of you phone number I think you should stand up, go look in a mirror, look at yourself, tell yourself you are stupid, stupid, stupid, then slap yourself upside your head. You should change your password, as ANYONE can log in to your voicemail and check it. Ex-Girlfriends/Boyfriends, spouses, anyone who knows you telephone number, etc. Not saying you have anything to hide, but think about it...). Once you have it written down, click the OK in the corner but stay in the Settings Area.

I also write down the name of my i730. This is in the System Tab within the Settings area, so Click the System Tab on the bottom of the screen, then click the ABOUT icon. On the bottom, you will see a tab titled Device_ID. Click that, and write it down. Mine says "RAILING_IT", so I record it. Now click the OK in the corner but stay in the settings area.

Really there is nothing else I backup in here, unless you have created additional connections or have some weird software installed, then go ahead and close the settings area.

Now you need to ask yourself if you have everything else backed up. Go through your own software list and make sure that whatever you have is either synced, or something that just needs to be setup again. Also use File Explorer on the i730 to check the My Documents directory in Main Memory. Make sure you have any Voice Notes, Hand Written Notes, Phone Notes, etc. all backed up or synced. Check all the sub folders in the My Documents Folder on the i730 and make sure you have everything that can not be replaced. Copy those files to your SD card.

Now go into the Programs list. Look at each icon, and possibly open that software to make sure you have everything.

Ok, now that you have manually checked the files and software, we do use Sprite for two things. The Call Log, and Speed Dial list. This is the ONLY thing I use Sprite for because as you can see above, there really isn't a lot to backup provided you sync with your computer and use Outlook for your Calendar, Notes, Tasks, and Contacts. So while in the Programs list, click Sprite. It will scan your system files, and down at the bottom you will see an Options button on the system bar. Click that and then click "Switch to Advanced Mode". If it says "Switch to Basic Mode" then you are already in advanced mode, and then just click out of the menu. You will see a folder structure listed in the top, and a file location at the bottom, so first thing is change the file location to be \Storage Card\Backup\ (remember this is the folder we created above when backing up Bejewled 2, so if you didn't do that, quickly look above and make the folder on your SD card). To change the file location, click the {...} next to the path and it will give you four boxes, the top one asks for a name, just leave it alone, as it already has the Backup name and date. The second box should say "Storage Card" and if not, change it to it (you do you have your SD card in the phone right?). And in the folder box, choose "Backup". Enter a description if you want, I normally don't as I know what this backup includes. Click OK on the bottom and then you are back to the Main Backup screen.

Now we choose our options. I uncheck My Documents, well because I manually backed them up, and because they are normally synced. I also normally don't store a single document on the i730, I always store them on the SD card which means they are on the SD still. I also uncheck e-mail. Even though this means I don't have the SMS messages saved, which I still really want, it does mean that my mailbox store normally won't be messed up, and that I get all the mailboxes cleaned up ready for my "fresh" phone. I then uncheck "System Data", because I don't need the file system, registry, or other databases backed up. I then click the + next to Personal Databases, and uncheck everything but "Phone Databases". This maintains the Speed Dials and Call Log. So that's the ONLY thing I have checked is Phone Databases.

Now on the bottom of the screen I click "Backup..." and then "start" when the next screen comes up. It copies to the backup file on the SD card under the backup folder, and normally is very quick (after it stops all the processes, and very small. After it's done, it says click OK and should say Operation Completed, and after you click ok, it should reboot.

Now one FINAL thing I do for backup it to sync my phone one last time, so stick it back in the cradle and sync it one last time to make sure you data in Outlook and on the computer is up to date.