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Skype Journal: Skype Tools - Restoring Contacts Beta

February 9, 2005 10:33 AM

It's a common question and panic moment. How do I backup my Skype Contacts and Files. Jeremy Wagstaff is thankful they returned, Ryan Farley tried to program his own Skype API solution, and Scott Hanselman makes it clear he wants two things. First he wants his Skype identity to be like his e-mail identity, and two he wants to backup his contacts.

We can expect both of these to be premium features in the future. A universal contact list is one of the most requested features / improvements in the Skype forums. While the @yourname.com has been impossible from the start. It make sense for domain operators to add it as a value-added service, or enterprises to use it. It provides an element of reputation.

Today I found a link to SkypeTools in the Skype Forum. It's hosted down in the Spanish forum. This little beta program enables you to export and restore your Skype. I was more intrigued by this. Like the Skype ComAPI Wrapper some capabilities are emerging. SkypeTools illustrates how a similar program could be used for directory updates and enterprise reporting.

Before you start cheering, SkypeTools will not eliminate the pain of going from PC to PC. Still I uploaded it, and after changing it to English (Configuration) pressed the "make a user profile" backup and saved it to my USB memory stick. I then went to my other PC, logged into Skype and applied Restore User Profile. It didn't work for me. Not sure what the reason was. Anyone else tested? Please comment.

SkypeTools. It adds some new features not included (so far) in Skype like user profiles backups, export contact and call lists... and much more very soon.

This is still a beta version so some problems might appear so we kindly ask you to report us about them. Suggestions, critics and so on are welcome. Some forums have been set up at Skype in Spanish web at http://www.skype-es.com/modules.php?name=Forums or http://www.skype-es.com/skypetools/index.en.html.

The only requirement for SkypeTools is .Net Framwork from Microsoft. You will be able to download it from this link. Skype Forum

Oh and there is a way to copy and backup those files without installing a beta program like SkypeTools. The answer is in this post.

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