My new Palm isn't working!

[Zara]

Hi. I just got my m515, and it's not working. Since I'm very very very impatient, I thought I'd check if anyone here has a solution before customer service does. :)

I've gone through the installation process repeatedly, checked the cables repeated, gone through their troubleshooting guides and everything, but nothing at all happens - I just get the opening message "Use stylus to tap center of target" and nothing else.

Do you suppose something is malfunctioning or am just being very dense and missing something?

We are not amused. :(

Thanks in advance, if anyone can help.

[djmangen]

Help me out a little more here. My questions and statements may seem very stupid, but I am just trying to understand exactly what you have done.

1. The opening screen that you report is normal the first time you use the PDA. Have you: (a) gone through and completed the calibration exercise, or (b) won't it even let you tap the various screen touch points?

If (a), then what happens?
If (b), you have a defective unit. Return to store for warranty replacement.

2. Is the issue that the screen calibration exercise comes up every time you start the Palm and, once you complete that boring exercise, the Palm functions properly?

If so, I believe that there is a setting under Preferences (although I am not 100% certain about this) that can get you to the main launcher screen immediately.

[Zara]

Hi! No, I can't tap anything, that screen is as far as I get, and none of the buttons do anything either. When I press the hot sync button on the cradle, the unit turns on and displays the opening screen, that's ALL that's happened.

So it's probably defective, then? :( *sigh* Bracing myself for a long battle with customer services, then...

Thank you. :)

[djmangen]

If you can, go through the return process at the store where you purchased it. That is usually much faster.

If you purchased online, I hope your merchant was a reputable one.

djm

[Zara]

It's Palmdirect.com... so they should be reputable. So far they've told me I need to pay for a service pack before I even get to talk to anyone, but since I just received the unit they'll give me one "free call".

Wheee.

Too late to call on this side of the world, so I'll have to wait until Monday.

Siiiigh - so, does this happen all the time, or am I just really really unlucky?

[DrMud]

Zara,
What I seem to be hearing you say is "you turn the Palm on and the "Welcome" app appears asking you to use your stylus and tap anywhere on the screen." Correct to this point?
Next can I assume that when you tap on the screen nothing happens? No little beep is heard when you tap and the application does not change to the next step which is a series of targets that you must tap on their centers. If you do not tap on the target centers, you have a non functioning Palm. All this tapping of targets must be done before any HotSync. Am I correct in assuming you were not shown any targets to tap on?
Let me suggest the following. Do a Hard Reset. Follow the directions below. After the Hard Reset has finished you will be presented with the Welcome Application again. Follow the instructions this time and tap as close as possible to where you see the center of these targets.
DrMud

The Hard Reset is as follows: Hold down the Power On button. At the same time poke the reset pin in the Reset hole on the back of your Palm. The reset pin is built into the top of your stylus, unscrew the top. Pull the pin back out the reset hold but continue to hold down the Power Button for 10 to 15 seconds or until you see the Palm Logo on your screen. Now let the power button go. You should see a Statement on your screen offering to remove all of your data if you push the Scroll Up button. Say Yes by pushing the top center scroll button and you have done the Hard Reset. The Welcome screen will appear if you have done the reset. Any data you have on the Palm (seems unlikely you have any) will be deleted.

[Zara]

Thanks, Dr. Mud - you're right, nothing happens when I tap the original "tap center of target", and I've tapped every micrometer of that screen. ;) I tried the hard reset, and lo and behold, the scroll up button worked so I could choose "erase all data", but it didn't help the problem.

We'll see what customer services have to say on Monday.

Thanks a lot. :)

[DrMud]

It appears that the European Warranty is different from that offered custoner in North America.
Stand firm on this being their problem.
Best of luck.
DrMud

[Zara]

Okay. Update.

The good news is that my Palm is okay.

The bad news is that apparantly I'm an utter idiot.

Turned out that *somehow* I'd managed to tap incorrectly. I mean - I didn't think that was even possible! I tapped that screen about a zillion times, and nothing happened.

Then a friend picks it up, tries to tap once, and says "Hey, didn't you say something was wrong with this??"

Yup. It's working fine.

I'd never used a handheld before, and didn't leave the stylus long enough on the screen. I was probably afraid I would be pressing too hard or something.

Since you were so helpful, I had to let you know, but now I'll slink away in shame, and register under another name. ;)

[DrMud]

Great news!
You are not alone, many of us have been confined on this planet for the duration because we were a little to odd for the other planets.
Use your Palm in good health.
Doc