Palm Troubles

[+Airmapper]

Seems a little odd to put this in the GPS forum, but I guess it falls under the "Software" section.

 

I've never had much trouble out of my Palm m125 that I couldn't fix myself, but this one is getting on my nerves a little.

 

Ever since I started using the Palm with Windows Vista the digitizer (or more precisely the alignment of where I tap in relation to the objects on the screen) goes way off track when I put in new batteries. The problem occurs after Hotsync, when the unit asks to reset itself after re-setting the user on the unit.

 

For example, I cannot tap on any buttons to get me to the digitizer alignment screen, as the Home button, or the top dropdown will not work, their tap region is off screen somewhere in space. I can usually fix it by not using the computer, doing a full reset and getting data solely from the SD card, but that defeats the entire purpose of a Palm.

 

What I think may have happened, is I mistakenly installed Palm Desktop version 6 before I realized it was version 4 I needed the update for. I now have the correct version, but operating it with the other may have done something to it.

 

Anyone else have this happen or know how to fix it? Technically I can operate the unit for caching without Palm Desktop, but it's somewhat annoying, as it makes the process a lot more convenient.

 

The Palm runs OS version 4 I think. (Cannot get to that screen either.)

[+sduck]

Try a complete reset - the kid that erases everything, and starts the unit from scratch (after backing everything up, of course) - I forget the correct name for the kind of reset it is - check the palm support page for your unit. Once it's reset, see if the calibration is still wacky with nothing installed - if it is, ditch the unit, if it works normally, reinstall all your stuff. If afte reinstalling everything it gets flaky again, you'll need to do the complete reset again, and install all your apps one by one and find out which one is causing the problem.

 

This is an extremely old unit, tech age-wise, and replacing it with the same kind of unit will be very easy - you can find m125's on ebay for 15$. It might be worth considering upgrading a bit - the zire's are very nice, and don't cost much more. And even the top of the line TX's are pretty affordable these days.

[+Miragee]

I agree with the idea that a complete reset might do the trick. Since I have problems with HotSync and this DELL laptop with XP Media Edition, I found that using the card reader to put the .pdb files on my Palm m500 works better, without the risk of the "Blue Screen of Death." If you upgraded to a Palm m500 and got an SD card for it, you could put the .pdb files on the card in between the occasional HotSync. The m500 isn't very expensive on eBay, and I've had mine for more than six years now.

[+embra]

If needed, I believe the term is "hard reset." The soft reset doesn't erase all the data.

[+Airmapper]

If you upgraded to a Palm m500 and got an SD card for it, you could put the .pdb files on the card in between the occasional HotSync. The m500 isn't very expensive on eBay, and I've had mine for more than six years now.

 

The M125 is nearly identical to the M500, the only differences being the M125 uses standard AAA batteries, and has a backlight, and of course the shape of the case. The M125 does have a SD slot, and I use a 512MB card to store my caches, programs, and other necessary files to run programs like ZLib and MathLib.

 

What I do is use the SD card to store the data for Plucker, so I'm in business even if I can't use the HotSync cradle or Palm Desktop. However it's just another step I could eliminate if it I used the computer for this as intended. Another thing that not being able to use the computer does is makes my Palm useless for storing my contacts and calendar appointments, which while not the main reason I got it, is nice to have.

 

I tried the hard reset and the unit works fine. It's after I Hotsync and allow the unit to reset is when the trouble begins. I tried the "soft" reset by itself and this will cause the problem as well.

 

If I have to hit the reset button for any reason it will throw off the digitizer, then requiring a "hard" reset to fix it. However it never done this before my change to Vista and using it with Palm Desktop.

 

I can get it running correctly with the computer, but I think it means removing my account and starting over each time I change batteries. (The memory wipes during battery change, and taking the battery out for a few moments is the same as a hard reset.)

 

If worse comes to worse I'll go back to just using the SD card. Thanks for the suggestions.

[+daudalrumi]

Did you check the coduits (Right-click Hotsync manager, Custom, and make sure the last one (System) is set to "Handheld Overwrites Desktop"?

[+VENTUREMAN7/ "A" TEAM"]

If you upgraded to a Palm m500 and got an SD card for it, you could put the .pdb files on the card in between the occasional HotSync. The m500 isn't very expensive on eBay, and I've had mine for more than six years now.

 

The M125 is nearly identical to the M500, the only differences being the M125 uses standard AAA batteries, and has a backlight, and of course the shape of the case. The M125 does have a SD slot, and I use a 512MB card to store my caches, programs, and other necessary files to run programs like ZLib and MathLib.

 

What I do is use the SD card to store the data for Plucker, so I'm in business even if I can't use the HotSync cradle or Palm Desktop. However it's just another step I could eliminate if it I used the computer for this as intended. Another thing that not being able to use the computer does is makes my Palm useless for storing my contacts and calendar appointments, which while not the main reason I got it, is nice to have.

 

I tried the hard reset and the unit works fine. It's after I Hotsync and allow the unit to reset is when the trouble begins. I tried the "soft" reset by itself and this will cause the problem as well.

 

If I have to hit the reset button for any reason it will throw off the digitizer, then requiring a "hard" reset to fix it. However it never done this before my change to Vista and using it with Palm Desktop.

 

I can get it running correctly with the computer, but I think it means removing my account and starting over each time I change batteries. (The memory wipes during battery change, and taking the battery out for a few moments is the same as a hard reset.)

 

If worse comes to worse I'll go back to just using the SD card. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Here is a Really Good Program that will fix most any Digitizer Problem on an Early Palm! Follow the Instructions, Calibrate the Digitizer using the Program , then Delete the Program from the Palm and it will remember the Digitizer Setting! Works Great!!!

 

http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/z-digitizer.shtml

[+Airmapper]

Thanks daudalrumi and VENTUREMAN7, I will try your suggestions.