Tracey or anyone with a Palm, HELP!

[jazzcat]

I am trouble performing a Hot Sync with my device. Sometimes the error says it cannot make the connection with my desktop and other times error says after identifying user that my connection was lost. I have performed successful HotSyncs in the past (I've only had this 2 days). I checked the connections, my setup, etc. Is there something I'm missing? I did find that when I shut down the computer and set the device in the cradle for about two hours I was able to be successful. Do you have to do this everytime you HotSync? Thanks

[tracey67]

Hi Jazzcat!

No, you shouldn't have to go through any sort of weird procedure to HotSync. Have you installed any new software lately? That's my first guess -- that something you installed might have altered some of your settings. Let me know anything weird or different that might have happened and I can try to figure out what's going on.

tracey

[wonderwoman]

I've had this problem occasionally, too, but only when I Hot Sync with my Mac at work. Restarting the computer and then re-syncing gets it to work for me. Not very technical, but ... :)

[kjl]

I have not had that problem with my Palm, but along the lines of Tracy's reply, I'd re-install the Palm software. Something may have corrupted it. If setup properly, you should just put your Palm in the cradle, press the button, hear the beeps, and it's synching!

Speaking of Palms, have any of you used the AvantGo (free) software for the palm (at www.avantgo.com)? My mom recently introduced me to it, and it is really neat! If you set this up on your Palm, when you synch, you get current information from whatever sites you've selected (weather channel, recipe of the day, words of the month, New York Times, USATODAY, local movie listings, etc). If you synch each morning, you have current news, weather, etc.

I'm a one-year Palm user (Franklin planner convert) and I love my Palm!

[lisas3575]

Are you on a Mac or PC? I'd suggest re-intalling your desktop software, making sure you have the most up-to-date version. Palm has a great website (www.palm.com) including searchable user forums-- check there to see if there's a solution.

[tracey67]

Jazzcat - something else just occurred to me...do you have a regular modem or a cable modem? If you have a regular modem, you're probably experiencing your problem whenever you try to HotSync and use the internet at the same time. The Palm uses one of your computer's COM ports to communicate with your desktop. Your computer also uses one of your COM ports to dial up to the internet. If your Palm and computer are both assigned to the same COM port - there's your problem.

And when I asked if you had installed anything new lately, I meant software other than the Palm software. If you've already successfully HotSync'd then it's very doubtful that it's the Palm software messing things up. I wouldn't bother with reinstalling this before trying a few other things first. However, if you've installed any other software in the past day or so - there could be a problem there. If you have - let me know which programs and I can maybe find the problem.


Tracey

[Nanci]

Avantgo is great! I have the BB for CL bookmarked so I can read posts when I'm at the gym or in line at the grocery store. The only thing is you big posts are take too much memory. Otherwise it has worked great.

I also love a program called Dietlog with its addons Exerlog and Weightlog. A great way to keep all your fitness info.

anci

[kjl]

I've only used the pages available to select from the avantgo website. Is Cooking Light one of them? If not, how do you setup other websites for synching via avantgo?

[jazzcat]

Thanks all for your input. Tracey, I have DSL. When I try to Hot Sync it's usually when the Internet is "on". I also downloaded epocrates ( a drug information database). It says it is compatible with Windows ME and the Palm. Last night I shut down the computer, left the Palm in the cradle for the night and then did the "setup". I was able to Hot Sync. Of course I was so excited so I did the Hot Sync about 3 times, although after the first hotsync my "mail" did not sync. Then after the other couple Hotsyncs I got a "Fatal Error. It doesn't appear I lost anything. Very strange! Anyway, I'm now back to not being able to Hot Sync again.:(

[tracey67]

Well - I'm totally stumped. epocrates shouldn't be your problem and your internet connection shouldn't be a problem. Before suggesting that you call the Palm support line, there are two other things I would suggest:

Right-click on the HotSync icon and check some of these settings. First click on Custom and double check all of these settings. You'll see your Date Book, Mail, and other programs listed -- just make sure that programs don't say "Do Nothing".

Also in the HotSync menu, click on Setup and double-check these settings. You should see four tabs -- General, Local, Modem & Network. Under Local and Modem - make sure that your Serial port is still assigned correctly (probably - although not definitely - it should be assigned to COM1).

If all this seems right then I would say to call Palm. They're very good there and I'm sure they'll be able to figure out the problem. Sorry I can't be of more help :( Oh -- and let me know once it's fixed and what the problem was.

tracey

[jazzcat]

Thanks so much Tracey but I've "been there, done that". I have called Palm tech support the first time this started happening and even returned my first Palm. Makes me think this has something to do w/ my computer, or connections vs the Palm itself. I'll do my basic shut down again this evening and then take very good notes about what is happening before I call them again. I'll let you know what "the conclusion" is. It has me crazy!!!!!!!! I'm going to go have a glass of wine now and try not to be so obsessive - palmpulsive.:D THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!

[jazzcat]

After countless attempts of checking this and that I noted there were two connectors in the front of my computer. I switched connections for my cradle and since then I've been able to Hot Sync without a problem. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tracey67]

Oh, I'm so glad you were able to get it working! Thanks for letting me know how it turned out.
tracey

[Nanci]

KJL

YOU CAN CHECK THE AVANTOGO WEB SITE FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON CUSTOMIZING YOUR PALM W/FAVORITE WEBSITES. THE AVANGO AUTOCHANNEL WORKS GREAT OR CHECK UNDER BOOKMARKING.

NANCI