Of the hundreds of questions we receive each week, a notable percentage concern memory allocation.  Users often ask: How can I save internal memory space?  or How can I move audio files from my Pocket PC's memory to my SD card?  Perhaps the most frequent question in this category is How do I move programs installed in my Pocket PC's internal memory to a flash memory card?  On this page, we'll show you how.

In the following tutorial, we will move the Windows Mobile game Spb Freecell from the internal memory of a Dell Axim X50v (with Windows Mobile 5) to a 512MB Secure Digital (SD) card. 

Be aware that the procedure shown below is not the only method of transferring a program from a Pocket PC to a flash memory card, but it is, by far, the least complicated in most cases.  Also, depending on how your program initially installed itself on your Pocket PC, you may loose settings you've entered into the application since first installing it. 

Removing the Software from Internal Memory

We've decided to remove the program Spb Freecell from the internal flash memory of the Axim, but rather than lose the software, we want to move it to our SD card.  The first step is to locate the program in the Add/Remove Programs menu of ActiveSync. To do this, sync your Pocket PC with your Windows PC and, from the ActiveSync toolbar, select Tools > Add/Remove Programs.  Locate the program currently stored in your Pocket PC's memory and uncheck the box to the left of the program's title.

Once you've deselected the checkbox, click "OK."  ActiveSync will remove the program from your Pocket PC, but leave the installation files necessary to reinstall it intact on your Windows PC.

Reinstalling the Software to a Flash Memory Card

The second and final step is reinstalling the software, but directing it to be installed on a flash memory card rather than the Pocket PC's internal memory

Because we're using a Windows Mobile 5 device for this tutorial, the process as outlined will not work for Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003 handhelds.  Continue with the rest of the tutorial and then take a look at this page in our Help Center for details on the pre-WM5 method of directing a program to be installed on a flash memory card.

With your Pocket PC synced, select Tools > Add/Remove Programs again from the ActiveSync toolbar.  Once you're back to the Add/Remove Programs menu, re-check the box to the left of the program you wish to reinstall to a flash memory card. 

Click "OK."  The application will be re-transferred to the Pocket PC.  Now, look at your Pocket PC's screen.  You'll see a screen very similar to this one:

Deselect "Device" and select "\SD Card" (or CompactFlash, etc.). Tap "Install."  The program will be re-installed, but directed for storage on your flash memory card. 

You've now freed the space required to store the program on your Pocket PC's internal memory, yet the program is still available as long as the flash memory card is in your Pocket PC.

Need more flash memory storage space?  Take a look at our Flash Memory Card Center.

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