Won't identify user

[daren3002]

In our operation, we use 5 palm V's and Vx's. One of the five will not identify the user during a Hotsync operation. The other 4 work fine. I've adjusted the sync speeds and made sure the serial option is checked. I've tried soft resets and hard resets. I've tried running the battery completely down and recharging. In each case, the results are the same. I've tried Palm's e-mail help but can't get any workable suggestions out of them. Any other ideas out there?

Thanks.

[DrMud]

Have you check to see if the Palm V has LOST it's name? You can reinstall the name using an app from palmgear.com called changename.
DrMud
PS: I am a bit concerned that I have missed the point of your question. If so please restate if you have not had a solution appear.

[daren3002]

Sorry, DrMud. My original question was a bit convoluted wasn't it. This palm V will not HotSync. When I put it in the cradle, and push the hotsync button on the cradle, it brings up the popup window on the desktop and tries to identify the user. It eventually times out without identifying the handheld. After a hard reset, this handheld doesn't bring up the window on the desktop asking you to pick a name for the handheld, and it no longer has a name in the upper right corner of the handheld's hotsync screen. The desktop and cradle work perfect with the balance of our handhelds. My question is, is this handheld toast or is there a fix for it?

daren

[DrMud]

Daren,
Suggest you try "changename" to reinstall the HotSync ID on the unit. Only put in the HotSync "userNAME" do not change the USerID numbers. Then "set name/ID."
DrMud
PS: What OS is on this V?

Change Name (http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=41786920020807020534&prodID=2456)

[daren3002]

DrMud, the OS version is 3.5.0. I tried the changename utility but the results were the same. The changename screen came up with a blank user name and user ID of 0. The help said that this indicated no user set in which case it should trigger the set new user routine on the desktop. It didn't. It just gives me a message after 30 sec. or so that the connection was lost and some data wasn't backed up.

Thanks for all your help! Do you have any other ideas?
Daren

p.s. I beamed the changename from a different palm, incase you were wondering how I installed that utility.

[DrMud]

Have you the ability to rename the Hotsync folder on the PC? Generally if the hotsync backup folder with that Palm V's name is "hidden" or removed it will force the ID issue when you strat the hotsync.
DrMud

[daren3002]

Yes, I can rename the folder. However, I don't think that the hotsync procedure ever gets that far. On our other Palms, when you push the hotsync button on the cradle, the hotsync window pops up on the desktop then the red and blue arrows move and it identifies the user and proceeds with the hotsync. This one brings up the window but the arrows don't move and it never identifies the user or brings up the new user/pick user sub-routine. It's like it picked up a personality trait of the employee that used it, forgetting what it's suposed to do next.
Daren

[DrMud]

Daren,
Sorry to have disappeared. My appendix burst and put me on my back for a week.

Your problem sounds almost like hardware. As if the contact that signals the Conduit Manager that the Palm V is in the cradle is disconnected in the Palm. I have never run into this. I will contact a friend who has had more Palm Vs apart that anyone outside Palm inc. Back soon!
Doc

[daren3002]

Hi Doc

Sorry to hear about your appendix, glad your OK. I did some further checking on this palm... I can initiate a hotsync from the palm's hotsync screen button. It just stalls when it tries to tell the computer who it is. I don't know if this concerns the same hardware contact. Hope your friend can help.

Thanks!
Daren

[DrMud]

Here is what Chris had to say:
I read the thread, I have come across this a couple of times. It turned out to be a problem with one of the RS232 lines. I could not say for sure if it was the receive or the transmit line. I would suggest cleaning the contacts. I have also seen a few cases where there is a connection problem inside where the same connector makes contact with the motherboard.

Not what you want to hear. If you are interested in an address for Chris to accomplish a repair let me know.

Doc

[daren3002]

Thanks Doc,

Could you e-mail me Chris's address or have him contact me via e-mail? I have a couple of questions for him.

Thanks for all your help! :D

Daren

[Bill Amon]

I had the same problem as Daren - but at home everything worked fine! I removed and reinstalled the Palm desktop to no avail. The comment about the serial interface caused me to experiment with that. Merely by changing the settings (SETUP/MODEM/9600) to a slower serial port speed, rather than "AS FAST AS POSSIBLE" fixed my problem! Checking SYSINFO on my Win2K Pro laptop here at work indicated that the default COM1 port speed was set to 9600. I haven't tried increasing that speed yet, but Daren - you should try slowing down the baud rate. Good luck...