m515 dismantling

[dr rx]

Has anyone reading this message ever taken apart a m515? If so, I am wondering what kind of tools are involved (especially for the very small screws holding the back plate on). Once these screws are removed (I'm questioning ahead now), can the back simply be lifted off, or are there traces and wire-runs to be wary of?

Thanks for your assistance!

[Larken]

Check out this link for step by step directions :)

http://********hightech.com/generic147.html

[dr rx]

Thank You Much for that link...it is far more detailed than I could have hoped for!

[gremmie88]

Dr R X...

I hope this isn't the unit you bought the 3 year warranty for at Best Buy. I believe the warranty is void if you tamper with the casing. If you expect them to honor the warranty, don't mess with the unit.

[dr rx]

Indeed it is the same unit. I had entertained the idea not as a way to hoodwink anyone, but out of an interest to be able to do it in the event I would need to (ie, replace battery, whatever). However, after seeing the link for dismantling the unit, it seemed to be too delicate a matter for me to want to mess with (if the battery goes, I'll utilize the warranty, but I don't know what I would do without my Palm pilot for weeks on end as it gets sent God knows where for repairs).

Thanks for the concern, but I kind of figured that attempting to dismantle the unit would void the warranty (it usually does) assuming that it could be discerned that the unit was dismantled.

:)

[swithin]

dr rx: I purchased a new battery for my m505. replacement of the battery was easy...but I did strip one of the torx screw heads with the torx screwdriver. I recommend you do just what you planned, leave it alone while under warranty.

[dr rx]

Swithin: How much did the replacement battery for the m505 cost? Overall, do you think it was worth it to replace the battery, or would it have been better to get a new PDA? One thing else, how many months/years did you have the m505 before you needed or wanted to change the battery? I ask because I am under the impression that my m515's battery is going bad prematurely (I bought it in March 2002, but don't know when the unit was actually made). After a 24 hour charging session (just to be sure), the unit seems to expend the charge at almost twice what I believe it used to....I recently put a battery monitoring proggy on the palm m515 to confirm/refute my impression.

[swithin]

Originally posted by dr rx
Swithin: How much did the replacement battery for the m505 cost? Overall, do you think it was worth it to replace the battery, or would it have been better to get a new PDA? One thing else, how many months/years did you have the m505 before you needed or wanted to change the battery? I ask because I am under the impression that my m515's battery is going bad prematurely (I bought it in March 2002, but don't know when the unit was actually made). After a 24 hour charging session (just to be sure), the unit seems to expend the charge at almost twice what I believe it used to....I recently put a battery monitoring proggy on the palm m515 to confirm/refute my impression.

The battery costs about $50 from LaptopsForLess.

I can't say whether it was worth it or not because of some trouble I ran into. I purchased my m505 in November of 2001. So it's a little over a year old.

If all went as expected, I'd say it was worth it because the $50 would be much less than the current market price for a new m515. And the process of replacing the battery was easy.

But I ran into some problems which I haven't sorted out yet. I'll explain and you can judge for yourself whether my case is an abnormality. When I put in the new battery, it wouldn't hold a charge. My old battery held a charge for at least a few minutes, sometimes up to about 30 minutes of continued use when lucky. While trying to put the old battery back in (to make a ruling on whether the new battery was truly a dud or not), I stripped one of the torx screws. Now, I'm going to seek professional (and more expensive) help. I still don't have enough information to figure out exactly what's wrong.

1. Is the old battery was wearing out after only a year of heavy use, AND the new battery is a dud? Both of these situations at once, seem improbable.
2. Is there something wrong with the charging mechanism and the batteries are okay? This also seems improbable becuase the old battery could charge--seemingly to %100--but it would run down fast.
3. And I have a tough financial question also. I already sank $50 into a new battery. What's it going to cost to get it fixed? And is that more than a new m515?

I'm loggin my continued experience in my original thread regarding this. The next update should be after I send it to Palm (or someone) and get some information back as to the problem).

Because you downloaded the battery monitoring program, and you're within the 1yr. warranty, I would recommend getting the results of the monitoring program and, if the results indicate a problem, asking Palm for some help (under warranty). I am interested in your results.

[dr rx]

Swithin:

Well, I recently put together enough cash to buy the palm tungsten t. Therefore, I won't be using my m515 as extensively anymore. The battery log program reported about an 80% efficiency with the battery (not as bad as I had thought, but not 100% either). I'm not sure at what efficiency point it gets bad enough to consider a replacement battery, but my m515 hasn't become unbearable as yet.

I'm wondering if the tungsten and the m515 share the same battery? I am not able to use the battery log program on the tungsten because as yet, it doesn't seem that Palm OS 5 supports any hacks..., but I'd be interesting it tracking it as well...

[palms/o]

Swithin-

A possibilty you may want to consider is that the new battery lost it's charge completely... it does happen, if only rarely. If this is the case then a forced charge of twice the operating voltage of the battery for maybe a minute should "wake it up"

You may even try a 12 volt zap to it... then charge it for the requisete 16 hours before using

[jpf22467]

If you still have that m515, now that you bought a Tungsten, let me know. I will buy it for parts. I buy, sell and repair them, http://www.geocities.com/jimfisher3/palm.html

thanks,

Jim

[dr rx]

JPF22467:

I think I would be interested in selling my Palm m515. I have plans to use the thing in the future. The one possible sticking point is the balance of the 3 year extended warranty. That might be enticing to someone who wants to use the palm m515 as a pda as opposed to parts. But I am interested....

[N_Jay]

Get it replaced!!!

Then you can sell a brand new M515!!

Best Buy is not going toi fix it they usually replace stuff.

Play dumb, and tell them it is only lasting 1/2 as long as it used to.

Keep insisting that the sales guy told you it would be covered.

Have fun

Remember, the trick is to act dumer than the sales guy, not smarter. (Its hard but it works).

"But sir, I just don't understand why you can not give me that on in the cabinet?"

[dr rx]

N_Jay:

I just might do that, though I don't exactly have a buyer for a new Palm 515 anyway. Maybe I can act dumb enough for them to give me a Tungsten T! :)

[jpf22467]

If you get a new palm, put it on EBAY. You can get at least $225. Maybe even $25 or $50 more.

You also might be able to return it to the store after you get a replacement. Just think, You will have a new M515 in a sealed box. Some store will take it back and give you store credit.

[dr rx]

JPF22467:

Quite the devious little plan...I am tempted to be sure, but I'm keeping my options open! :)

[eminere™]

FYI

When you send your handheld to Palm for replacement while it is still under warranty, chances are they will return to you a refurbished one (I know they did - it happened to me four times with Palm Singapore :( ).

You can check this by comparing the serial number sticker on the back - the refurbished one looks simpler than a brand new one.