I have a Palm Tungsten/C that came with a cradle that hooks up

I have a Palm Tungsten/C that came with a cradle that hooks up to a USB port. I have an hp pavilion f1503 desktop and a new Compaq Presario V5120NR laptop. I've had the Tungsten/C for about a year and a half and was able to sync it using both the cradle and hotsync on my wireless broadband service on my old Dell PC.

Since my old Dell died a few months ago, I have been unable to sync the Tungsten/C using either the desktop or the laptop; I cannot sync using the cradle or the built in WiFi.

I think it has something to do with the COM port settings, but other than that, I've no clue. It wants to use COM1, which is apparantly being used by another device (which one I've no idea). On the desktop I don't know which COM port is assigned to the Palm, but the laptop gives me a message telling me that COM 1 is busy and will sync once it becomes available (which it never does), and it looks like the Palm USB connection is set to COM 4, which obviously doesn't work.

I have no idea how to fix either the desktop or the laptop to change the settings so that I can finally be able to sync the Palm. As far as the Hot Sync option, no matter what WEP key or network name I input into the PDA, it shows the network with 5 bars but cannot access it. I've spent hours of my life trying to sort this out with Linksys (my router), to no avail. I do get the following error message in the log:

"Entering TcpHtalConnectPhase 1 Error in NetLibOpen error=0000; netIFErrs=12F".

If anyone can help me sort out any of this, I would be ever so gratefull.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

Optional Information:
OS: Windows XP; Browser: IE

Already Tried:
I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling software, calling tech support for Linksys, and the "geek squad" at Best Buy, where I bought all hardware, including PC & laptop.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Hello,

First off, down in the task bar check to see if the hotsync manager is running. It's a red and blue circle with arrows pointing into the middle. If you do not see this icon then start the hot sync manager by going to, Start -> Program Files -> Palm (or PalmOne) and click on HotSyncManager. Now that the hotsync manager is running right click on the icon. Make sure that USB and network is checked, if not select them from the list. From the same list make sure that Local is unchecked.

Make sure your USB cradle is plugged into a USB port on your computer. If there is any dust in the port blow it out before plugging it in.

Now plug your Palm T|C into the cradle and press the hotsync button on the cradle. If you speakers are on you should hear a windows sound, a low ding and a higher ding. Next you should hear your palm start its sync process. If all goes well the hotsyc manager will show on your screen and it will go through its sync process.

If this doesn't work let me know what version of Palm Desktop you are using.

As far as the network sync, it can be very flakey at times. I also have a T|C and there are times when it will sync with out a problem and there are other times it will not complete a sync to save it's life. I have yet to figure out what the cause of the problem is. I'm assuming if you are trying to do a network sync then you have setup your T|C with a profile of your network including your SID name, your WEP address (if your network is encrypted), and an IP address (if you have DHCP disabled on your router). If you can let me know what your wireless setup is I'll try and help you with this portion also.

Thank You,

Michael D.

If at first you don't succeed, so much for sky diving.
________

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Reply to Michael D's Post: Thank you Michael, for taking the time to reply. My fault for not being more specific, but I'd already done all the things you mentioned, about a hundred times. I should have included them in the things I've already tried.

The settings for the network are good; first, because I set up the SSID name and WEP key myself, and second, because my laptop is wireless and it works just fine with the same settings. It's got to have something to do with that nasty error message I get that's in my original message.

I'm pretty sure the reason it's not "finding" the T/C is because it's on the wrong COM port. That's the only error message I've gotten when I use the cradle.

Hope this helps, and that you can help solve this infuriating problem for me. Thanks again.

Hello,

Can you tell me what version of Palm desktop you are running? You can find this info by opening the palm desktop software and selecting Help -> About Palm Desktop. The version number will be at the bottom left of the window.

Thanks,

Michael D.

If at first you don't succeed, so much for sky diving.
________

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Reply to Michael D's Post: The Palm Desktop version is 4.1.0. I uninstalled and reinstalled the (Palm) software again, without success. I also noticed, which I forgot to mention in my e-mail, that the program (Palm) is unable to install the Microsoft Outlook conduits so that I can sync my e-mail.

It seems that it's the COM port problem with the cradle (or local) syncing, and it's the error message that's the reason behind my inability to hot sync using WiFi.

Thanks again. Sharon T.

Hello Sharon,

If your T|C cradle is has a USB interface then it's not dependent on a comm port on your PC. I believe the T|C came with a USB cradle by default. Is there any data on your T|C that you want to save? I have had a problem in the past with my T|C that I could not get it to sync with my PC. I finally had to do a hard reset. Once I did this, it finally was able to sync with my PC.

Are you using any other USB devices on your computer? Is the cradle plugged directly into a USB port on your computer or is it plugged into a USB hub? Have you tried moving the cradle to a different USB port on your computer?

One more thing I forgot to add. Do you hear the sound in windows when you press the sync button and/or the sound from your T|C when you try to sync?

Michael D.

Edited by MichaelD159 on June 5 2006 at 7:32 AM

If at first you don't succeed, so much for sky diving.
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Reply to Michael D's Post: Hello Michael,

I know what you're saying about the USB interface, which is why the annoying COM port window made me crazy; it just doesn't make any sense. To answer your questions:

The T/C did come with a USB cradle.

I do have data that I'd like to save; I also have a couple of those little USB flashdrives I think they're called (the little guys that plug right into a USB port...they're both blank), if that's any help. If not needed, I guess I'd have to create a new folder to save the data from the T/C in, but I've no idea exactly how to transfer the data either on to my hard drive or one of the flash drives, in such a manner as to easily re-install on to the T/C. Also, I've no idea how to do hard re-set on the T/C, but have done tons of soft re-sets on it; all without enabling it to sync. (I also have a memory card installed on the Palm).

Since I want to use the cradle with the new laptop, I can tell you that the only other USB device I have installed at the moment is a Logitech wireless mouse, which works just fine, but is not necessary and can be removed whenever I have to sync the T/C if necessary.

I have tried moving the cradle between both my laptop and my desktop (described in 1st e-mail), and neither work. I was able to get it to work, once, on a friend's desktop, but only using the local, or cradle connection. I cannot sync any of the programs that require a wireless connection because of that (I suspect) nasty configuation error. That is the most frustrating thing about all of this. The program I depend upon the most (Epocrates) hasn't been updated since March. I've also tried moving the cradle from one port to another, using every single USB port on each machine, all without success.

I do hear a Windows sound on my desktop (it's the dreaded mistake sound), but nothing on the laptop. When I run the installation program from the disk (for the T/C), I cannot get passed the "installing Microsoft Outlook conduits" part; it just seems to bypass them.

I hope this has answered all of your questions. Again, many thanks for your help.

Sharon

Hello Sharon,

Ok for this procedure you are going to need a few things. First is an SD card that is 256MB or larger. I know you have an SD card, but I'm not sure what size it is. Second you will need an SD card reader on one of your PC's. Last, you should do this procedure with your palm on the cradle connected to power or connected to power with a portable cable.

Download CardBackup using the following link:

http://www.jkware.com/download/CardBackup_2_1a_Shareware.zip

Remove the SD card from you palm, insert it into the reader on your PC, extract CardBackup and copy CardBackup_2_1a_Shareware_en.prc to Palm/Launcher on the card

Reinsert the card into your palm, select Card from the upper right menu. Select CardBkup, say ok to the shareware menu.

Now click on Backup Now and the program will start a backup of your palm to the SD card. Assuming your main memory isn't full you should have enough memory on the card to complete the backup. Once the backup is complete remove the SD card, insert it again into the reader on your PC and copy the backup set Backup1 from the card in the Program/jkCB directory to the hard drive on your PC.

You can remove it from its cradle. Once you have the file copied it's time to do a hard reset on your Palm. *NOTE: This is going to wipe all of your data off of your palm. We do have a backup, but keep in mind there's always a possibility we won't be able to get the data back.

To do a hard reset unscrew the top of your stylus to get the reset pin. Now hold down the power button, press the reset button, release the reset button, and hold the power button for 5 seconds. Now release the power button and you will see the Palm logo. The next menu will say press the up button to erase data or any other to exit. Press the up button on the round menu navigator on the palm. It will now go through another reset and bring you up to the initial palm setup when you got your palm new.

Did you backup your profile from your old machine when you moved to this new machine? If not and you still have access to your old machine copy the folder located under c:\program files\palm\*yourusername* to the same directory under your new PC. If not we can continue, but any of the data that you had back from your last sync in March will not be transferred back to your palm.

At this point let's try to do a hotsync. Insert your palm into your cradle, press the hardware hotsync button. You should get a menu from the hotsync manager to select a profile or create a new profile. Select or create the profile you normally use with this palm. Let it sync and when it is finished the palm will prompt you to reset. Once it's finished we now know we can sync.

Let's restore the backup from earlier. Insert your SD card, select CardBkup, Select Backup1, and click Restore from the bottom left. Let it restore your palm. When it is finished let it go through its reset and try to sync your palm with your desktop again. With your fingers crossed press the hardware sync button and let's see if it will sync.

If you are still unable to sync after the hard reset then the problem isn't with your palm itself. You can restore your palm using the same procedure above. Let me know if this has worked. If not then I'll need to think to determine what the next step is.

Thank You,

Michael D.

If at first you don't succeed, so much for sky diving.
________

If this answer has resolved your question please click the Accept button. Bonuses are appreciated. If you need more help please ask.

Reply to Michael D's Post: Wow, thanks for all that. I will have to go and get a card reader; I do have a 256MB card. I do not, however, have all my data stored on the card as some programs will not be transferred over to the card. What do I do about that?

I don't have the hard drive from my old Dell; it's with a friend who's in the process of pulling whatever files I still need off of it to reformat the drive, so I will ask him to save any/all Palm related files. Too bad he cannot help me with this...not a Palm guy.

Question: if, instead of reformatting my T/C, I pulled all the Palm related files off my PC, and then reinstalled the Palm T/C files from the CD that came with it, might that help? I just hate the idea of having to spend another nickel on yet another piece of hardware (the card reader), unless you tell me I should have it anyway...just in case.

I'm so fed up with this bloody thing I wish I could just hurl it out the window. Unfortunately, it cost way too much for me to do that, so I will follow your suggestions and get back to you in a day or two. In the meantime, thanks again for all your help.

Sharon

Hello Sharon,

I know how frustrating technology can be. At time I want to go get a pad a paper, a pen and go to work.

As for the card reader, I would ask your friends or friends of friends if you can borrow one. They are pretty inexpensive and someone may have one lying around that you could use.

Yes, if you can get your palm data backed up from your old PC then you can use that data to restore to your T|C. Make note though that any changes that you have made to your palm, contacts, notes, ect... will be lost since you would be reverting to data that is 3 months old. You can reinstall the Palm Desktop from the CD, but I doubt that will help with the sync issue. I'm guessing something in your palm has gotten hosed and the only way to fix it is with a hard reset. It's happened to mine one and it was a royal pain the butt, but luckily I only lost about 3 or 4 days worth of stuff.

It's your call on how you want to proceed. If I were you I would try and do a backup of my palm somehow (electronic, paper, however), do a hard reset, restore my backup files from my old PC, do a sync of my old backup to get my palm back and then try and selectively restore the databases I need like my contacts ect.

I know this is a lot to think about, but boils down to how much info is really on your palm that you can't live with out.

Michael D.

If at first you don't succeed, so much for sky diving.
________

If this answer has resolved your question please click the Accept button. Bonuses are appreciated. If you need more help please ask.

Reply to Michael D's Post: Thank you again for all your help. I'm going to embrace the horror and do a hard reset, after I sort out how I'm going to salvage the data I need.

I will press Accept next as I wanted to make sure I could thank you first.

Sharon

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Palm Tungsten/c; cannot sync at all

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