I’m having trouble setting up a Palm Pilot IIIc to a serial port on an HP Pavilion 7960. Desktop Computer: Windows ME PC Processor: Pentium III.
When the device is connected to the PC, the PC freezes in the boot process. (It will continue if the serial cable is disconnected.). PC has internal modem set to COM3. Have Palm Destop Syn software set up to COM1. The PC has been checked for address or IRQ conflicts. None are evident. The machine will boot up ok when
the Palm is not connected. I’ve contacted HP. They claim that the problem is with the Palm. I’ve contacted Palm. They provided the instructions below.
I executed the instructions. The result was that we were able to connect the first time after the software was reloaded and the docking cradle connected. And we were able to sync. HOWEVER, we tried to reboot the PC with the cradle connected. The PC froze during the boot process. The freeze up occurs after the Windows ME splash screen and prior to the desktop icons being displayed. We tried to reboot multiple times with the same freeze up occuring. However, if the serial cable to the Palm cradle is disconnected, the PC will continue it's boot process.
Pudge
The Instructions from Palm.
To completely remove Palm(TM) Desktop software from your computer, you
will need to back up your data, uninstall Palm Desktop, delete files
from your computer, and possibly edit the Microsoft(R) Windows® Registry
file.
*Back up user data*
NOTE: If possible, perform a HotSync® operation before following the
instructions below.
1. Double-click My Computer on the desktop and open the C: Drive.
2. Open the Palm or Pilot folder.
3. Right-click the User folder and select Copy.
NOTE: The User folder will be a truncated version of your User name.
4. Minimize the current open windows.
5. Right-click an empty location of your Windows desktop and select
Paste.
You should now see a backup copy of your User folder on the desktop. If
you do not see a backup, please repeat steps one through four until the
backup is visible.
*Uninstall Palm Desktop*
1. Close all open windows.
2. Click Start, select Settings, and open the Control Panel.
3. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
4. Scroll down, select Palm Desktop or Pilot Desktop, and click the
Add/Remove button.
5. Follow the prompts until Palm Desktop is completely uninstalled.
*Delete Palm or Pilot Folder*
1. Double-click My Computer again, and select the C: Drive.
2. Right-click the Palm or Pilot folder and select Delete.
*Search the hard drive*
1. Click Start, select either Find or Search, then choose 'Files or
Folders'. In the 'Named:' window, type the following command:
PALM.*
2. Select Find Now or Search Now. Ensure you have selected your
Local hard drive.
3. Delete any files that are found with the exception of word
processing documents, Internet shortcuts or text files.
4. Repeat steps two and three using 'hotsync.*' for the typing command.
NOTE: Once this step is complete you will need to empty the Recycling
Bin on the Windows Desktop.
*Check/Remove the Palm registry entries*
1. Close any open windows.
2. Click Start, select Run and type the following command:
REGEDIT
3. Click OK to launch the Registry Editor. Click 'Registry' in the
upper-portion of the window and select Export Registry File.
4. Choose a file name for your backup (i.e. Regbackup), ensure 'All' is
selected for the Export Range, and save the file to the desktop.
5. Click Save and verify the file was created on the desktop. If the
Registry backup is not visible on your desktop, it is imperative to
repeat steps three and four until the backup is visible.
6. Return to the Registry Editor window and click the plus (+) sign
next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
7. Click the plus (+) sign once each, next to Software, and next to U.S.
Robotics.
NOTE: If you do not see the U.S. Robotics folder you can close the
Registry Editor window and restart the computer; the registry file does
not need to be modified.
8. Right-click the Pilot Desktop folder and select Delete.
9. Close the Registry Editor window and restart the computer.
Palm Desktop should be completely removed from your computer. If you
are unable to complete the steps above or experience difficulties,
please contact Palm Technical Support.
<< Installing Palm Desktop >>
To complete a Typical install of Palm(TM) Desktop for Windows®, please
follow the directions below:
NOTE: If you do not have your Palm Desktop CD that was supplied with
your Palm handheld computer you can download a full copy of Palm Desktop
version 4.0.1 from our Web site at:
1. Connect your Palm cradle to your computer and ensure all programs
are closed prior to running the installation program.
2. Place the Palm Desktop CD into your CD-ROM Drive and wait for it to
Autorun. For the download version of Palm Desktop, simply
double-click the file to begin.
3. If the Autorun does not start:
a. Double-click My Computer on the desktop, and right-click the
CD-ROM Drive.
b. Select Open, then locate and double-click the 'autorun.exe' to
begin the installation.
4. Click Install if that option appears on the screen.
5. A Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard screen will appear; click
Next.
6. A prompt should appear stating you must have the cradle attached to
the computer, and to leave the Palm handheld out of the cradle for
now. Click Next.
7. If you are installing Palm Desktop 3.1 you will receive a screen
asking if you wish to choose a Typical or Custom installation;
choose Typical and click Next.
8. Setup will now designate a location where it wishes to install Palm
Desktop (i.e. C:\Palm), please keep the default location and click
Next.
9. If you have Microsoft® Outlook® installed on your computer a prompt
should appear on the screen asking if you wish to choose to
synchronize with Palm Desktop or with Outlook. Choose Palm
Desktop and click Next.
NOTE: If you are using the downloaded version from the Internet, you
will not have this option. To synchronize with Microsoft Outlook, you
should purchase a conduit program such as PocketMirror®.
10. Enter a User name that you wish to associate with your Palm
handheld and the data on the computer; click Next.
11. You should now receive a prompt to put your Palm in the cradle and
click Next. This will assist you in selecting a COM port for
communication with the computer. If a screen appears asking you to
choose a COM port, select COM 1 and click Next.
12. You may receive an error message stating that an error occurred
while installing one or more macros for either Microsoft Excel or
Word®. This may be caused by one of the programs running in the
background or by Palm Desktop being unable to find that program on
the computer. Click Next.
13. The installation should begin and a status bar should appear,
indicating how long the installation will take.
14. If you are using the CD version, a Product Registration
section will appear. Continue through the Registration, unless you
have already done so.
15. A screen should appear prompting you to perform Mail setup. If you
wish to synchronize E-mail, click Yes, if you do not wish to use
the E-mail option for your Palm handheld, choose No.
16. If you chose Yes for Mail setup, pick which E-mail application you
wish to synchronize with (i.e. Microsoft Outlook 97 or higher) and
follow the instructions.
17. Click Finish when the 'Setup is complete' screen appears.
When the device is connected to the PC, the PC freezes in the boot process. (It will continue if the serial cable is disconnected.). PC has internal modem set to COM3. Have Palm Destop Syn software set up to COM1. The PC has been checked for address or IRQ conflicts. None are evident. The machine will boot up ok when
the Palm is not connected. I’ve contacted HP. They claim that the problem is with the Palm. I’ve contacted Palm. They provided the instructions below.
I executed the instructions. The result was that we were able to connect the first time after the software was reloaded and the docking cradle connected. And we were able to sync. HOWEVER, we tried to reboot the PC with the cradle connected. The PC froze during the boot process. The freeze up occurs after the Windows ME splash screen and prior to the desktop icons being displayed. We tried to reboot multiple times with the same freeze up occuring. However, if the serial cable to the Palm cradle is disconnected, the PC will continue it's boot process.
Pudge
The Instructions from Palm.
To completely remove Palm(TM) Desktop software from your computer, you
will need to back up your data, uninstall Palm Desktop, delete files
from your computer, and possibly edit the Microsoft(R) Windows® Registry
file.
*Back up user data*
NOTE: If possible, perform a HotSync® operation before following the
instructions below.
1. Double-click My Computer on the desktop and open the C: Drive.
2. Open the Palm or Pilot folder.
3. Right-click the User folder and select Copy.
NOTE: The User folder will be a truncated version of your User name.
4. Minimize the current open windows.
5. Right-click an empty location of your Windows desktop and select
Paste.
You should now see a backup copy of your User folder on the desktop. If
you do not see a backup, please repeat steps one through four until the
backup is visible.
*Uninstall Palm Desktop*
1. Close all open windows.
2. Click Start, select Settings, and open the Control Panel.
3. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
4. Scroll down, select Palm Desktop or Pilot Desktop, and click the
Add/Remove button.
5. Follow the prompts until Palm Desktop is completely uninstalled.
*Delete Palm or Pilot Folder*
1. Double-click My Computer again, and select the C: Drive.
2. Right-click the Palm or Pilot folder and select Delete.
*Search the hard drive*
1. Click Start, select either Find or Search, then choose 'Files or
Folders'. In the 'Named:' window, type the following command:
PALM.*
2. Select Find Now or Search Now. Ensure you have selected your
Local hard drive.
3. Delete any files that are found with the exception of word
processing documents, Internet shortcuts or text files.
4. Repeat steps two and three using 'hotsync.*' for the typing command.
NOTE: Once this step is complete you will need to empty the Recycling
Bin on the Windows Desktop.
*Check/Remove the Palm registry entries*
1. Close any open windows.
2. Click Start, select Run and type the following command:
REGEDIT
3. Click OK to launch the Registry Editor. Click 'Registry' in the
upper-portion of the window and select Export Registry File.
4. Choose a file name for your backup (i.e. Regbackup), ensure 'All' is
selected for the Export Range, and save the file to the desktop.
5. Click Save and verify the file was created on the desktop. If the
Registry backup is not visible on your desktop, it is imperative to
repeat steps three and four until the backup is visible.
6. Return to the Registry Editor window and click the plus (+) sign
next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
7. Click the plus (+) sign once each, next to Software, and next to U.S.
Robotics.
NOTE: If you do not see the U.S. Robotics folder you can close the
Registry Editor window and restart the computer; the registry file does
not need to be modified.
8. Right-click the Pilot Desktop folder and select Delete.
9. Close the Registry Editor window and restart the computer.
Palm Desktop should be completely removed from your computer. If you
are unable to complete the steps above or experience difficulties,
please contact Palm Technical Support.
<< Installing Palm Desktop >>
To complete a Typical install of Palm(TM) Desktop for Windows®, please
follow the directions below:
NOTE: If you do not have your Palm Desktop CD that was supplied with
your Palm handheld computer you can download a full copy of Palm Desktop
version 4.0.1 from our Web site at:
1. Connect your Palm cradle to your computer and ensure all programs
are closed prior to running the installation program.
2. Place the Palm Desktop CD into your CD-ROM Drive and wait for it to
Autorun. For the download version of Palm Desktop, simply
double-click the file to begin.
3. If the Autorun does not start:
a. Double-click My Computer on the desktop, and right-click the
CD-ROM Drive.
b. Select Open, then locate and double-click the 'autorun.exe' to
begin the installation.
4. Click Install if that option appears on the screen.
5. A Welcome to the InstallShield Wizard screen will appear; click
Next.
6. A prompt should appear stating you must have the cradle attached to
the computer, and to leave the Palm handheld out of the cradle for
now. Click Next.
7. If you are installing Palm Desktop 3.1 you will receive a screen
asking if you wish to choose a Typical or Custom installation;
choose Typical and click Next.
8. Setup will now designate a location where it wishes to install Palm
Desktop (i.e. C:\Palm), please keep the default location and click
Next.
9. If you have Microsoft® Outlook® installed on your computer a prompt
should appear on the screen asking if you wish to choose to
synchronize with Palm Desktop or with Outlook. Choose Palm
Desktop and click Next.
NOTE: If you are using the downloaded version from the Internet, you
will not have this option. To synchronize with Microsoft Outlook, you
should purchase a conduit program such as PocketMirror®.
10. Enter a User name that you wish to associate with your Palm
handheld and the data on the computer; click Next.
11. You should now receive a prompt to put your Palm in the cradle and
click Next. This will assist you in selecting a COM port for
communication with the computer. If a screen appears asking you to
choose a COM port, select COM 1 and click Next.
12. You may receive an error message stating that an error occurred
while installing one or more macros for either Microsoft Excel or
Word®. This may be caused by one of the programs running in the
background or by Palm Desktop being unable to find that program on
the computer. Click Next.
13. The installation should begin and a status bar should appear,
indicating how long the installation will take.
14. If you are using the CD version, a Product Registration
section will appear. Continue through the Registration, unless you
have already done so.
15. A screen should appear prompting you to perform Mail setup. If you
wish to synchronize E-mail, click Yes, if you do not wish to use
the E-mail option for your Palm handheld, choose No.
16. If you chose Yes for Mail setup, pick which E-mail application you
wish to synchronize with (i.e. Microsoft Outlook 97 or higher) and
follow the instructions.
17. Click Finish when the 'Setup is complete' screen appears.
. Have you tried (for testing) disabling the modem? Maybe you have a bad com port. I noticed a USB cradle on the Palm store website for $29.95