Popular solution to the problem with the USB-syncing Palm m500

Many, though not all users of handheld computers Palm m500 series had problems with syncing via USB. After some time of normal operation of the CCP suddenly and permanently loses the ability to connect to any desktop computer via USB. Serial port connection continues to work to continue without problems. Users accessing a Palm, or seek an exchange unit, or receive advice to switch to synchronize via a serial interface. One of these days possible solution to this problem posted on the forums PIC Ales Omahen from Slovenia, the owner of the m505, which could make your handheld again learn how to sync via USB. Most likely, this advice does not solve the problem of all unsuccessful users, but many have already reported that it helped them. In any case, it makes sense to pay attention. DragonBall processor determines the speed of an outer join, in agreement with the values ​​of its internal registers. Mr Omaha suggested that somehow change these values, so that the CCP has lost the ability to communicate with the USB-cradle. Then he began looking for a way to restart my PDA so completely reset the memory contents and registers the device. He tried a variety of options reboot, but they have not helped, so he decided to fully discharge the battery and see what comes of it. Naturally, such an operation is completely zero the memory device, so that before it must necessarily make a complete backup of all data on your PDA. Since the Palm Desktop is not able to completely copy on a desktop computer memory contents PDA, it makes sense to use third-party applications, such as BackupBuddy, SafeSync or the like. Once it's over, you will need to change the settings of Palm Desktop installation "Handheld Overwrites Desktop" on the back - "Desktop Overwrites Handheld" and only then synchronize. Thus, we describe in detail the practical work on the application of USB-sync Mr. Omaha. First you need to press the power button Palm'a (Power Button) and then hold it, press the Reset button on the back of the device. Power Button should keep a few more seconds, until then, until the logo appears, Palm, and then let go. When you see the question "Erase all data?", You can press the up button. After downloading the need to run Notepad (Memo Pad), turn on the backlight (to the energy expended faster), to draw a sign of abbreviated commands (shortcut sign - looks like a handwritten Latin L - accurate mapping can be found in any brief guide to Graffiti) and then write .1 (point and unit). At this stage, the CCP no longer respond to the pressing of buttons, the backlight should stay on and the bottom line appears. If you change your mind, is not too late to make a soft reset (Soft Reset) - to do this, click once on the Reset button on the back of the unit. And if not, feel free to continue to follow the instructions of Mr. Omaha:) Now you need to leave the handheld cradle is discharged at least for a day. Importantly - completely exhausted the resources of batteries, so you need to patiently wait for a separate disconnect the handheld. On the other hand, one user, who applied this method, reported that a display of his Palm'a extinguished within an hour, and the problem still has been resolved. Once you make sure the batteries are fully drained, place the handheld in the cradle, and then recharge it will again be functional, will operate and the synchronization of USB-cable. According to some experts, the batteries Palm'a should not hurt him. Palm designers have provided the protective mechanisms that will protect PDAs from damage during the operation. However, some users have reported that after using this method had problems with batteries. This procedure should solve the problem, but unfortunately not forever. In the case of repeated loss of ability to bind to a pocket PC via USB to a desktop, the operation can be repeated. Sure, it does not solve the problem at the system level, but will at least temporarily, to work using the USB-connection. Similarly, until set, what exactly is the cause or the causes of this problem.

The patient will live ...

Try this method in the majority report on the successful outcome of the operation. "Patient" as if recovered :-) On the other hand, it helped amateur intervention, not all PDAs, and some have even led to additional complications. So to apply the method of Mr. Omaha can be at your own risk. There are also reports that this problem is not limited to PDA series Palm m500. Here are just some c guest's forum PalmInfoCenter owners PalmOS - Pocket PC, are experiencing such difficulties.

Well ...

That positive feedback from users about the proposed solutions. "I have everything worked - wrote one of them .- On Friday afternoon I began to drain the battery, on Saturday at seven in the morning put the PDA to charge and two hours later it worked. It has been only one day, and so far I have not mentioned any problems with the batteries. Twenty-four hours of discharge helped my m505. Five minutes later, charging cradle, he perfectly synchronized to USB ". And here is what another owner Palm'a, try this method: "When I have this problem, I contacted technical support Palm. They have not said anything about problems with USB-syncing, but suggested that I change my PDA. I Send me a new m505, so that I spent two weeks paid them back the old one. I transferred all data from the old to the new m505, and a couple of days, he showed the same problem. But the old Palm, which I have not had the time to send in company, after the application of this method is fixed, and now I'll leave it to itself, but the machine that sent me a replacement, and went back. "

... If not a "but "....

Discussion Forum debugging USB-synchronization led to another topic of conversation. This is a problem that may arise from any PDA owner. So read on. "Perhaps this advice and good, but check it out, I can not, because the cradle" burned "USB-port on my motherboard. Fortunately, I have promised to change it under warranty, but I now generally afraid to use the handheld. The situation is aggravated complete lack of technical support of the Palm ", - continues the theme of another user. That's what tells him another: "Yes, the situation is familiar, some complained about a similar problem with a serial port. It is best to disconnect the power cord synchronization cradle. You can also connect the USB-cradle in a hub, rather than on the motherboard - then the danger would only be he said. And I've got last week from the USB-cradle m505 burned a port on the motherboard. Everything seems to work properly, when I decided to sync and put the handheld in the cradle. Immediately the lights go out on my USB-mouse, the synchronization does not start, and USB scanner is also no longer works. The main thing now is not clear: whether to change the motherboard, or a pipe, or something, and another. " But more concrete advice how to act in such a case: "My motherboard is Abit KT7A also lost the USB ports after sync with cradle m500, but since the reliability of USB on motherboards that use chipsets from VIA, was always not up to par, I'd prefer not to change fee, and buy a $ 30 PCI-adapter USB 2.0, which is much cheaper than buying a new motherboard. Add from myself that the problem USB-cradle and motherboards in mind. In California, even filed a lawsuit against Palm, which the company blamed its cradle that cause damage to the motherboard, specifically the integrated ports. In fact, to blame not only the developers Palm. Apparently, USB-ports "burn" due to static electricity, which damages the cradle, and he has, in turn, affects the ports on the motherboard. As confirmed by representatives of most Palm, the problem lies in the cradle, so users of Windows and Mac PCs exposed to it equally. USB devices are equipped with a chip that produces the identification of the components, trying to establish a connection. If the chip stops working, the connection is impossible. Older vehicles used a USB-cable in the original "sequential" (designed to connect through Com-port) cradle. The latter were not exposed to such danger, because they simply did not have such a chip that has a lot of chances to fire when struck by static electricity.Different users accumulate unequal amount of static in the workplace, so some have never experienced such problems with the m50x, and others suddenly got a dead device. And not once, but several months later. Actually, similar problem occurred in isolated instances of PDAs and other PDA makers on Palm OS-Sony, Hanspring, HandEra. True, under the influence of static electricity in these cases, c PDAs burned is not a port on the motherboard, and the handheld. We must assume that the design of m505 (with it often have problems with USB) admitted some mistakes that lead to a sad result of the above. In the USB-subsystem Palm m50x series used a chip that has no protection against static electricity (while almost all modern chips RS-232 have such protection). We can therefore say that "burns" the ports on the PC motherboard is not the cradle, as such, and static electricity. However, users of this no easier. Company engineers were required to provide such a problem. Instead, Palm developers say that they have in the laboratories of static electricity is almost entirely absent, and therefore detect spelling they could not. Technical support company denies the existence of this problem.

A slight digression ...

Allow ourselves to digress from the main theme. Static electricity is generally known as an enemy of electronics. In the U.S., for PC assemblers produced even a special wrist strap. In Russia, the collectors solve this problem the old fashioned way: to the process relating to arms anything metallic, such as the casing on your computer (captured, of course). Known cases of damage as a handheld and desktop computer due to static, and with similar histories. User electrified (in one case it was the owner of the Palm IIIxe perestilal at home carpets, in the other - the owner of the Palm Vx was playing with the dog), then installed your Palm PDA into the cradle. -Cotton, a spark burned a device ... Sometimes burns jack PDA, sometimes the port on the motherboard "big" computer. This, of course, a few cases, one might say extreme. But in any case of suspected increased amount of static in the room should be somehow "reset" it before you take on your PDA.

... Satisfactory

"I used this method and it works. But, unfortunately, after I became a very warm Palm. Also, the batteries have to sit on their own. If I do the evening charge the PDA and then leave it overnight outside the cradle by morning it is completely discharged, "- wrote the angry owner. Another echoed him: "I have twice with different m505 case, the same problem (a quick battery discharge / heat PDA). Now I have three. First, I worked six months, the second - per month. I have heard stories about at least three similar cases. And I made no attempt to discharge the battery or hard / soft reset - it all happened very suddenly and. This indicates some problems with the batteries installed in series Palm m500. I had a same problem with batteries two m505. Moreover, cradle is not here and, because the third m505 quietly working with the same cradle. Yes, and I do not even use the USB-connection, and synchronize via a serial interface. I have heard that hard reset (hard reset) Palm'a standing in cradle, will help in this case - will fully recharged batteries.

Clinical death? ..

In the forum as usually happens in such cases would, and one cry for help: "Help!" After using this method in my Palm all the time freezes, as if I clicked the "shortcut .1" in Notepad. Rebooting does not help - Palm hangs after a few minutes after downloading. " Immediately offer him a shock therapy: "We should try to make a hard reboot (hard reset), by simultaneously pressing the power button and the Reset button on the back of the Palm. Then it makes sense not to synchronize immediately after booting and see if everything is OK with standard applications. If it still freezes, it makes sense to apply to the Palm in exchange for working. If not - the matter of third-party programs, so it makes sense to install them one by one to figure out which one is causing the problem. "And another tip end: "I have achieved the desired effect, not fully discharging the battery, simply remove it. To do this, I opened the back door and pulled out a Palm with a fully charged battery for several minutes. It worked." As we see, the problem is solved by the above method. Regardless of its application, there is a likelihood of damage to the USB ports on the motherboard, especially when using a chipset from VIA. In this case, it makes sense to disable time synchronization cradle power cable. Software solution for today does not exist. In Palm m500 series are present also some problems with the batteries, which are expressed in the loss of capacity and a strong increase of the device. We must assume that this problem also has little to do with USB-syncing and discharging batteries, but for people cautious (or simply do not have enough time) have the opportunity to resolve the difficulty by simply pulling a few minutes the battery is not discharging it. Unfortunately, even in countries where the representation Palm agree to change the broken device to working order, it makes sense to use this method, since there is a high probability of occurrence of the same problem with the new handheld. Sources, Materials:

PalmInfoCenter

The authors, translation:

Vladimir Speransky