palmIIIx buttons no reaction after machine is on

[abovit]

There's a problem with my palm. Everything is ok, except that all the buttons will not work after the machine is powered on. What I'm saying is, when I power on the machine by pressing down any one of the buttons, after that, none of the buttons will react when I press them again. It shouldn't be a machanical problem cos the buttons will act the first time I press on them when the machine is off, neither will it because of software incompatible reason for I even hard reset the palm pilot and the problem is still there. I dont want to ship it to Singarpore to check. Is there anyone in this board ever met this problem before? Thanks for help!

[iiicRules]

Go to preferences under the System category then select 'Buttons'. Check all the buttons are assigned to the appropriate program. If they are all assigned to the right programs and it still doesn't work let us know.
Also can you access the programs by going to the Main category? Do they work when you click on them and are they there.??
iiicRules

[iiicRules]

P.S Have you been using JackSprat atall??

[abovit]

Thank you iiicRules.
first, the button settings in the preference are assigned as originate. I never changed that.
Except the button problem, the palm is very good. Everything works. I can use the stylus do anything.
I never used the JackSprat. Actually I hardly installed any software other than the Avantgo.
It's really confusing... I once ask a local dealer to have a look for my problem, he checked and shrugged n told me he had no idea about it.
one thing I forgot to say is the hotsynce button on the cradle is not working. I have to sync by clicking the icon on the palm's screen.

any idea? come on guys help me.....

[vollie]

seems more as an OS problem, if the hardware, settings and software are all fine, it's the only thing left. try flashing the OS may seem radical but if you still have the default 3.1 on it it's only a gain.

[abovit]

thank you vollie. I am still using the 3.1 OS and never upgrade it. So will ya tell me how to flash the OS by myself?... thanks lo...

[vollie]

it's simple: just get your hand on a flashtool (Read This (http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=387), though by now i'm sure jacksprat can make an OS backup as well as some other apps (palm emulator)) it's as simple as executing the app and following instructions (if above mentioned thread doesn't discourage you, though that would really be a shame).

[abovit]

I'm doing it now. God bless.... donno what will happen but promise i will report on board after i did it.

one thing i dont understand, I use my own OS image to update the same machine, how should I expect anything different to happen?

[vollie]

eeerrm :rolleyes: not really my suggestion to use you're own. get yourself a fresh working OS from somewhere, PM me if necessary, but flashing your OS with your OS won't really make any difference indeed (that is if you mean you extracted the ROM recently -while it had the bug- and are using that one <g>).

[abovit]

yeah vollie, I did it with my own OS image and it seems no use at all.... sucks. Seems I need to go to somewhere to find a working ROM image. But it 's hard you know, first, few guys are still using the IIIx machine now. More than that, how can u persuade him to backup the ROM for ya, if he 's not as a tech-madness as myself.
According to author of the flashtool, I cant find any ROM image from anywhere.... dear lord.... what can I do then? I must have a working OS lah....

[iiicRules]

ok. I don't really know much about flashing OS's but I read this on another thread that this Vx rom (Free from Palm) works on a IIIx:
This is the ROm
http://www.palm.com/support/35upgrade/palmvx_upgrade.html
This is the thread
http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5434
Actually on rereading the thread it's an upgrade, but you never know.
Let me know how you get on
IIIc Rules

[iiicRules]

actually the thread also says stuff about Os 3.3 for IIIx

[abovit]

hey buddy I went to the palm support and download the upgrade exe file of OS v3.5 for Vx. after running the exe file and when sync the 3.5OS pdb file to the palm, it reported an error saying model not compatible problem. So.... terrible, this software is not made for my IIIx. I wonder if I can find a 3.3OS somewhere, did 3Com ever release such a copy or where can I find it?
thanks lah..

[DrMud]

I'm not sure I agree with the idea of reflashing the OS to solve your problem but since you are on that path try the link below.
Doc

UpGrade (http://www.palm.com/support/33upgrade/33_legal_eng.html)

[abovit]

yeah Dr I agree with you now. I 've tried to flash the ROM for several times and till now I can see nothing good by doing that. In the letter from Palm they also said the problem looks not like a ROM failor. So... what else I can do by myself other than ship the equipment back to factory?.....

[DrMud]

When you power on, using... lets say the Address button, am I assuming correctly that you end up in the Address Book? Is that correct for all of the buttons?
After your Palm is turned on the buttons have no functionality....correct?
What version of the OS have you ended up with? If you have not moved to 3.3 I encourage you to do so. Reflashing your 3.1 is not a solution.
Doc

[abovit]

Dr, what u described is just the case of my palm, very exactly.
yesterday I've gone to the Palm upgrade site and upgrade my palm to OS3.3 with the package I download there. no use.

[DrMud]

The back of the Palm is held on by four very small screws. Start by removing the batteries. Then the screws. The two halves may be engaged and seem stuck simply pry around the edges tell they release. Once apart get the front cover off of all the guts and take a look at the buttons and their inter connections. Look for trash and broke links. I can't say that I have much faith in your finding the problem but it is worth the try and a learning experience.
If your trip to the inner world fails to find a problem, you may want to email one or both of the companies below to see if a repair is possible and worth the price.
Doc


gethightech.com
stnecorp.com

[abovit]

Thank you dr,I'll check it out.