Palm software compatibility with Clie

[anesthesiagal]

I have been a Palm m500 use now for over a year but have unfortunately had my device get stolen. I am now in the market to replace this device. Initially, I had planned on replacing it with a Palm m515 but am now seeing more information about the Clie's that I really like. My concern is that I won't be able to transfer my data that I have on my desktop from my Palm software onto a Clie if I get one. I can't afford to lose my data and am willing to sacrifice some features and get the Palm m515 if it means that I don't have to re-input all of my data. Does somebody know whether or not this is possible and if so, how would I go about transferring the information once I get the Clie? I feel lost without my pda and am desperate to get a new one.
Thanks
Kristen

[sonicxracer]

Hey Kristen :)

You really shouldn't have to worry, since both the Clie's and the Palm's operate on the Palm Operating System. All the programs you run on your Palm should run on any Clie you choose with no problem!

However, you have to make sure the Clie would be on the same version of the Palm OS... and most importantly, before syncing a new Clie, the version of the Palm Desktop Software needs to be the same.

What you're gonna have to do, since of course the versions aren't gonna be the same, at least not on the desktop software (Sony uses their own specific versions...) You're best best is just to start with a clean fresh slate... get together all the software you want to keep on your new Clie, check out palmgear.com for the latest and greatest versions, download em... Then install the version of Palm Desktop that comes with the Clie... What you wanna prolly do is uninstall the old Palm Desktop software to be safe, and clean, but just make SURE you do a backup of it just to have... What I did in your situation was just copy the whole "Palm" folder somewhere else on my C Drive... Another thing I suggest is do an "export" of your address book, to do list, calendar, and memo's... That way you can directly import them into the new desktop Palm software, then sync onto the new Clie.

God I hope that helped... I know I typed a lot and it might be hard to understand but I tried :D

[NickC]

When I upgraded from my Palm III this past summer, I didn't even uninstall the old Palm Desktop. I just overwrote it with the Palm Desktop that came with the Clie & it read all the info (addresses, calender, etc.) no problem! Then when I did a Hotsync, all the info transferred to my Clie without a hitch.

You will have to reinstall any third party software on your Clie, and as sonicxracer said, it is always good to keep a backup of your data, but overall this is a very painless process because the Clie's use Palm OS.

[Juggernaut]

Hi,

Wow, that sounds easy.

I had to call customer support to transfer my data from my palm IIIx to my clie 615.

At least I was smart enough to realize that if you follow the upgrade directions that come with the clie, that you will erase all of your data and lose it forever! The 615 is a great product, but the manual is aweful.

Next time I'll try what you did.

Juggernaut

Originally posted by NickC
When I upgraded from my Palm III this past summer, I didn't even uninstall the old Palm Desktop. I just overwrote it with the Palm Desktop that came with the Clie & it read all the info (addresses, calender, etc.) no problem! Then when I did a Hotsync, all the info transferred to my Clie without a hitch.

You will have to reinstall any third party software on your Clie, and as sonicxracer said, it is always good to keep a backup of your data, but overall this is a very painless process because the Clie's use Palm OS.

[weintdm1]

One small caveat:

If you change PA manufacturers (Sony to Visor,
Sony to Palm), you might have one more complication on
switching, and that is the need to remove the old USB
drivers before installing the new desktop SW.

This doesn't seem to be a potential issue in your case,
but I felt it should be mentioned.

Dave

[rboylee1973]

In regards to this subject, my workplace uses about 5 PalmIIIxe's with the latest Palm 4.1 OS. We are in need of buying more and I am exploring a little. We have tried purchasing some "Excellent Cond. /Non-Refurb" Palm PDA's, but have had to send back for operating issues. I have dinked around with the Sony SJ20's and these would work fine for what we require.
Here's the question: Can I use the SJ20 along with a PalmIIIxe using one Desktop Software? I know they both use the "SAME" Palm OS, but can I pull this one off?

Thanks,
Richard

[JohnKes]

The latest Palm Desktop from Palm will sync both, however, some built-in Sony apps won't sync. The latest Desktop from Sony won't sync a Palm at all.

For what you probably are doing, a Sony will be ok with Palm's Desktop.

[hcamstra]

In my experience it is better to start afresh, especially if you go from Palm to Sony.
I.e:
- install FILEZ on your old device
- give your new palm a new identity
- remove your old Palm/Sony folders (keep em on CD or in any other safe place)
- install the desktop that came with the new device
- beam (IR) your PIM content (via FILEZ) to your new device and hotsync
- after that you beam each application (but only those that you really used and want to keep) from the old to the new device, hotsynching regularly in between. Test each application! (I found some of them crashed under OS5) before you go to the next one.
-
PS: if you want to transfer say DateBk5 without paying for it again you need to keep your identity (assumingg you still have the code). The procedure above is the same exept you need to remove the old Desktop and its folders first; then give your new device your old identity. After the new device is up and running and thouroughly tested you can give the old device a hard reset and a new identity

This sounds like a lot of work (take less than an hour though), but prevents the transfer of all sorts of (invisible) trash that you have accumulated in your old device.

[JohnKes]

Yeah, I have some invisible trash that prevents me from running Palm Reader. Someday I will Hard Reset and re-install only the apps I regularly use.

[LVheretic]

I had a Visor Deluxe for a few years and when I got the Clie, all I did was hot sync and all data transferred...initially...one of the other posts mentioned the need to have the same OS....dunno why...but there are SOME minor concerns to watch for...

I prefer the OS 3.1 on my desktop because it highlites and goes to found items from a search...but my Sony PCG-NV170 laptop has to have a signed driver and limited me to the new improved OS--that has a lousy search...


Oh, and I still do update the Visor as a failsafe...

The only draw back is deletion of random files and lots of duplicates... by having 2 handhelds, 1 database and 2 machines, direct supervision of the hot sync will usually prevent disaster but it can be a hassle.

Good luck,

Nick/Las Vegas