Apparently dead Palm m500 HELP!!!!

[Skon]

Apparently dead Palm m500. This is what happened:
1) I was using the palm to read
2) I put it in the cradle to give a charge
3) Took it out of the cradle and headed to bed. I read in bed a lot.
4) In bed turned it on and… nothing

What I have tried:
1) took out the SD card I was using
2) Tried turn on and tap contrast icon and use up and down buttons
3) Tried a reset
4) Tried a reset with power button down
5) Tried a reset with press of up button
6) Doubt it’s ESD as Palm already replaced my cradle about a year ago and I live in a desert so no thunder storms this time of year. I also have everything (computer cradle monitor etc.) plugged into a very nice surge protector (Belkin $65).

This is how it behaves:
Nothing on screen in any situation BUT the power button glows faintly. The glow from the power button is not visible except in a very dark room. If anybody has any ideas on what to do to fix this problem please let me know. Even if it’s just an idea as to what caused the problem. I do support on desktop PC’s and networks I think I have covered everything obvious. HOWEVER you guys all seem to be very knowledgeable and helpful, and I have gotten no response back from Palm yet. Any ideas anyone?
:confused:

[Skon]

Please does anybody have any ideas??? HELP!!!!

[JohnKes]

ESD happens a lot when the air is dry. Cold desert air is very dry.

So it does not Hard Reset? If that is the case, I would guess that it is dead. I hope it is still under warranty.

ESD can cause Green Light Crash + SUDS. GLC freezes the Palm and lights the power button. It usually is cured with a Soft Reset. SUDS is cured by removing power from the unit - either draining the battery (8 hr) or pulling the battery out (2 min.)

[Skon]

How do I find out if it's still under warrinty? I can't find anything in the paperwork that came with it. Palm does not answer any of my e-mails and I can not afford the rate of $25 per call to call them. It took me two years just to save up enuf for one of these and I have had it only 1 & 1/2 years. There charging just to call them is rediculous. I do tech support for desktops and the company I work for doesn't charge for techsupport. Why $25 per call on a $200 item is charged is beyond me.

[Skon]

Originally posted by JohnKes
ESD happens a lot when the air is dry. Cold desert air is very dry.

So it does not Hard Reset? If that is the case, I would guess that it is dead. I hope it is still under warranty.

ESD can cause Green Light Crash + SUDS. GLC freezes the Palm and lights the power button. It usually is cured with a Soft Reset. SUDS is cured by removing power from the unit - either draining the battery (8 hr) or pulling the battery out (2 min.)

JohnKes,

I am not sure how it could be static as I have a static matt all around the desk and it's been about 70degrees with 20% humidity. It is possible. If indeed it was do you think I should try taking the back off and disconnecting the batterie? At this point I can't see how it would hurt. I have been unable to get a responce from Palm for over a week now via e-mail so I figgure they pretty much don't want to support the m500 any more.

[JohnKes]

The warranty is 1 year, so you are out of luck here.

To open, you will need a Torx #5 or #6 driver (depending on where it was mfg). Then pull the plug on the battery (step 5):
http://********hightech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=GHT&Category_Code=_M5TAKEAPART

Simple stuff like walking on carpet or taking off a jacket can generate static. At work we have blue adhesive tape that generates 30,000V when you pull off several inches! If you are charged up for some reason, then touch the case of the Palm, it will get zapped :( esp. if you are away from your anti-static desk mat.

[Skon]

Thanks for the help. I did try an overnight charge and that did not work. Also the screen did not work in the cradle either. After waiting a week and a 1/2 for a reply in the e-mail from Palm I finaly got a solution that worked. The person that replyed focused on the fact that the power button on the m500 had been faintly glowing since the loss of the screen. He had me do a hard reset IN THE cradle. Not a step I have seen published anywhere before. Apparently a very slight ESD can effect the curcuit that tells the battery to charge or not charge esentialy locking it in a neither charge or not charge state. Kind of like having a switch half way. Why this would effect the screen in anyway I don't know, except in the event that the baterie was to low. However I distinctly remember it being at about 50% before this all started. Weird huh?

[JohnKes]

Yes, that is weird. Usually an In-Cradle Reset is needed only when the battery charging circuit cuts off too soon. Nothing about blank screens. Handspring has instructions for their PDAs:
http://support.handspring.com/esupport/forms/hsResolutionView.jsp?ResolutionId=7183&ResType=il