line across screen

[unicrnjuglr]

Someone please help me. My fiance gave me a Palm M500 last Christmas. This thing is my lifeline! However, over the past 2 months or so a line has appeared that goes right through the middle of the screen in a horizontal manner. Sometimes this line is dark black and other times it's just a blank line (nothing in that line shows on the screen). Anyone have any suggestions or know what is causing this? Thanks for any help!

[papazote]

how long since the present? any major drops or bumps since then? I can't think of anything that might be causing this or how to fix it without a screen replacement

[papazote]

possibility:
do you have any software programs that split the screen on purpose?

[unicrnjuglr]

I have not dropped or bumped the device...it's always in my purse or in my hand and I haven't put any programs on there yet except for what was alreadyon the Palm. It was purchased December 24, 2001.

[JohnKes]

You should try a Hard Reset. This would clear out any software problem. Be sure to do a HotSync first to save all of your data.

Hard Reset:
http://www.palmgear.com/faq/index.cfm?faqmain=faq&sid=93302620021108063645&faqID=26&catID=1

If the line is still there, you should just get it replaced while it is still under warranty. The cable may have come loose. Or vibration may have degraded the contact between the cable and its connector. Either way, why mess with it when you can get a replacement?

[reaganlion]

I had a similar problem with my first m500, and doing a soft reset in the cradle seems to have taken care of it. put it in the cradle, do a soft reset (hotsync first just in case!) by pressing the reset button with a paperclip, and let it charge for 2-3 hours (per Tech support @ Palm). It somehow re-conditions the battery, which has done the trick on my PDA.

I've also found that it helps to keep the battery topped off, and since it's a Li-Polymer it doesn't have the memory effect....just my $0.02!!!

[JohnKes]

reaganlion,
You did an In-cradle Reset, which resets the charge limits in the charging circuit. That way it does not stop charging prematurely. The battery charges fully, and seems like it got reconditioned.

Yes, topping off is good for Li-Ion.

[reaganlion]

is it that the PDA seems to lose it's charge capacity? I've been topping it off, never actually got it below 60% charge (according to "Battery Panel" guage under Prefs). sometimes it shows as 4.19 volts, 100%, other times it shows 4.17v & 100%.

As many of these things as I've had there's still a lot I don't understand about them! :D

[JohnKes]

Certain things that should be defined in hardware, like charge limits, are set in software. That causes confusion with many m130 owners who think their PDAs never charge up to 100% (100% set higher than 4.19V).

Certain things that should be defined in software, like USB registers, are set in hardware. A slight ESD zap causes USB Hotsync failure (SUDS).