Sidekick 98 data loss from power outage -

[SPI2]

I have used Sidekick 98 for 10 years, currently on a Win2k IBM laptop.

Unfortunately I experimented with removing the battery from my laptop, and my son subsequently unplugged it while Sidekick was running.

All of my programs work fine, including Sidekick, however all of the previously stored Sidekick data (since 95) is gone.

I loaded SK98 in 2003. When I search for files 'last accessed' it is not possible for me to find any .skw files accessed during 2005, except those accessed after the 'crash'.

I have tried finding skw files with data recovery programs, and am still not able to locate any call.skw (the part of my application I need / used the most) files used during most of 2005.

I tried following the 'backup faq', but got an error that ISKpgbk.log was not present so I had an incorrect source directory. When I copied and pasted that file from another sidekick subdirectory, the backup program still wouldn't accept it.

Needless to say, there is significant data that I should have backed up. When reviewing the faq, I couldn't find an analogous circumstance to mine, so here I am. Many thanks for any input.

Steve

 

[WDane]

Steve

I have been using Sidekick from the beginning and settled on Sidekick 98. All my calendar files containing the call.skw files have been kept in my userdata subfolder of Sidekick. WHen they were too full of data to continue, I saved former year calendars in that folder and created a new calender with a different name. I can open them when I need to refer to activities in earlier years. This works smoothly. Thus, I am assuming that you did not save earlier calendar data by a different name, or for some reason did not maintain former calendar data in the userdata subfolder. Otherwise, you should not have experienced the loss you describe. I offer these observations with a desire to be of help, but am not sure how since I don't know how you preserved older calendar information.
Warren
chaplain@ifca.org

 

[SPI2]

Hi Warren -

Thanks for your response - I didn't know the call.skw files could become to 'full of data to continue'...I just kept saving my files using the 'yes to all' command when I was exiting the program, and all the data (to my knowledge) came back.

The only files I can currently find were either saved after 12/6/2005 or before Feb, 2004. Can't find anything modified or saved in between, though I continued saving daily before exiting the program.

I have given up and am repopulating my database with names and contact info from other applications.

Thanks again - blessings to you in your ministry - our family served with om.org for a year FYI.

Steve

 

[james33]

Dear Warren and Steve,
I would be interested in finding out about this problem regarding the loss of calendar data, this is not the first time I have heard of the situation.
I feel that to lose Data in this way is a little suspicious.
When did you last change computers?
It is possible that if you had checked out the Userdata folder immediately after this situation (CRASH) has occured you would have found a lot of temp files named ####.TMP (where the #### represents the calendar name in Sidekick) these .TMP files are created by sidekick once you open the program and deleted in the normal course of events when the program closes normally, BUT NOT DELETED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

If you open Sidekick after the crash it will usually point out that there is lost data available to the program and will ask you if you wish it to be re-instated.
If that doesn't happen those files may STAY there forever or may be overwritten.
There is an option here to you in that you could, with Sidekick98 running, go to File|SaveAs and then save your present Calendar in another folder completely (Temporarily Create a subfolder in Userdata called Calendar and put it there).
Then with Sidekick turned off, rename the NAME part of the current calendar files and the .TMP files if there are any there, to the same name.
Then re-open Sidekick if there is no difference, or if Sidekick crashes, then copy those ####.Tmp files to another folder and send them to me.

 

[james33]

Dear Steve,
WHOOPS Panic panic, When I say rename the current calendar and .TMP files, I am talking about the one in the USERDATA folder not the one you put into the temporary folder.
You will then open the one in the userdata folder and see if the lost data is there.
Regards
Jim

 

[james33]

Dear Warren,

Once you have got your old calendar backed up to another location, CLOSE Sidekick and follow these instructions:

Rename the original ##CALL.SKW file in Userdata to ##CALLOLD.SKW and then rename the .TMP file to ##CALL.SKW. where ## in all cases are the initials/Name on the Calendar in Sidekick.
Open Sidekick and see what effect that has if works you will only see the calls before the crash but all the events etc since,
If it fails to work, then create a new Calendar and save it in another folder within Userdata CLOSE SIDEKICK and then re-name the ##CALL.TMP to the same name as the one in that folder and then drag it into that folder and choose THE OPTION to overwrite.
Now re-open Sidekick and see if the calls that were missing are there.
You can then get to a situation where you can Merge the 2 Calendars.
More on that later......
Regards
Jim

 

[SPI2]

When I search for tmp files using explorer titled call.tmp, I end up with a file from 12/15/05 - the 'crash' happened 12/2/05 - and I find nothing from that time.

I've resigned myself to using a 2 year old backup and living with the mistake, unless I'm missing something. Seems if I can't find tmp files dated 'pre-crash', I'm toast.

Thx for the advice though!

Steve

 

[Gyula]

SPI2, James has done an excellent job in offering options to change certain files. Have you given any thought to changing sons?

Is he still under waranty?