Can't hotsync with new cable...HELP!

[DANGERMOUSE]

For some reason my old USB hotsync crable inexcplicably stopped syncing so I went and bought a new cable (without the charger - the original charger still works).

Alas it still won't sync. I try syncing but my palm goes quiet for a while before then telling me that 'The connection could not be established'.

I know the USB ports work because I have a joystick connected that works just fine. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Do I need to reinstall the software, mess around with USB settings? I really am at a loss as to what to do; couple that with the fact that I'm largely computer illiterate.

Any help or ideas you could give me would be massively appreciated. I'm dreading all my data will be lost...there's lots of it!

Thanks in advance,

DANGERMOUSE.

[Calvados]

DangerMouse,

Sounds like you may be experiencing SUDS. That is a problem where the static electric discharge stops a Palm 500 or 505 sync from working. Palm came out with new cradles to avoid this problem but if you have not had the new cradle it is possible your Palm has been struck with the SUDS problem.

If you look on the bottom of your cradle if it is one of the new models it should have a "E" or an "H" on it. If neither is present it is the old model of cradle.

In either case the best thing to do is contact Palm. Hopefully your Palm is still under warranty.

Hope that this helps,
Calvados

P.S. you might try finding a backup program so that you could backup your data to an SD card so that in case you must wait you will have a saftey feature. These programs are available on Palmgear. One of them is called "bakcup buddy"

[DANGERMOUSE]

Thanks for the info Calvados.

I just looked and found no letter on the bottom of the cradle. I presume I have the old dodgy one then. I bought my m500 in May 2001 so I guess the warranty is out by now.:(

However, wouldn't my new cable by-pass any of these problems as I'm not using the cradle any more. This static discharge doesn't fry the actaul handheld...does it?

I live in the UK and it is a real pain that Palm seems to offer no support telephone numbers for us Brits. :mad:
.........

Thanks for the advise about an SD card - never even thought of buying one before. Maybe I will now, if funds are favourable that is!

Thanks Calvados.

DANGERMOUSE.

[Calvados]

DangerMouse,

Good thought about the cable bypassing the problem, but when the static discharge happens it fries something in the USB chip in the palm. Some people have done a complete battery drain until the palm shuts down, of course you will lose all information on the Palm and that seems sometimes to bring clear the chip out and bring the sync back, but can also damage the battery. Another solution is to try and see if someone you know has either a serial cable or cradle that you can use. Try and sync with serial port, (make sure that you have check serial in the hot sync manager) that is not effected by the SUDS problem. If that works it is surely SUDS.

In other words the problem is in the palm now, but the cause is the cradle. I would still try to contact Palm buy email and explain that you have the SUDS problem and ask them if they can't do something about it. It never costs anything to ask.

I would defintely buy an SD card and keep backing up until you can get the sync back.

Hope this helps and have a good day,
Calvados