.KEYWORD hotsync
.FLYINGHEAD TROUBLESHOOTER
.TITLE How to diagnose HotSync difficulties
.OTHER
.SUMMARY HotSync problems can be extremely frustrating. They’re also tough to diagnose and troubleshoot, but if you’re having difficulty performing a HotSync with your Palm device, Claire Pieterek has some great ideas you might want to try.
.AUTHOR Claire Pieterek
.EDNOTE Elements of this piece originally ran in the Letters to the Editor column in the May issue of PalmPower. Due to the recent glut of letters from Palm device users asking for solutions to problems related to performing HotSync operations, we’re expanding and re-running the information.
HotSync problems can be extremely frustrating. They’re also tough to diagnose and troubleshoot, but if you’re having difficulty HotSyncing your Palm device to your desktop, read on and I’ll take you through some things you might want to try.
.H1 Check your HotSync Manger
First off, let’s check something that’s easily overlooked. Is "Local" checked in HotSync Manager? If Local isn’t checked, and if there are no check marks next to Modem or Network, you’ll get the Time-out error. I found this out after installing a lot of new hardware into a PC. Of course, I thought it was the hardware. Boy, did I feel stupid when it was something as simple as this!
The next thing to try is backing the speed down in HotSync Manager. Right click on the HotSync Manager icon in the system tray and select Setup. Click on the Local tab and then pull down the Speed menu. Choose something pretty slow, like 19200 or 9600 baud. It’s a drag, but a slow synchronization is usually better than none at all.
Make sure you have the right port number. You might have to make sure that HotSync Manager is pointing to the correct port, since HotSync Manager 3.0.4 officially provides support for USB and IR synchronizations.
.H1 Check the brand of motherboard
You might also want to check on the brand of motherboard used in your PC. I corresponded at length with a fellow Palm device user last year who had gotten a new PC and couldn’t perform a HotSync. It turns out he had a Tyan motherboard. If I remember correctly, he ended up swapping motherboards before he could synchronize. As long as we’re talking about odd hardware problems, Palm, Inc.’s Web site mentions an issue with inability to synchronize on COM4 if the PC has an S3-based video card. See http://www.palm.com/support/helpnotes/desktop/com4s3.html for details.
.H1 Check the cradle
Maybe the cradle you’re using is faulty. If your home HotSync cradle is different from your work HotSync cradle, try using that one.
.H1 Check the connection
Another way to test the connection is to hook up the cradle and drop your Palm device in it as though you’re going to synchronize. Close HotSync Manager and fire up HyperTerminal by selecting Programs->Accessories->HyperTerminal->HyperTrm.exe from the Start menu. You’ll need to create a connection using "Direct to COMn," where n is the number of the serial port you’re using. In Figure A, you’ll see how to create a new connection in HyperTerminal. You can name the connection whatever you’d like and choose any of the icons displayed. Click OK to continue.
.FIGPAIR A Create a new connection in HyperTerminal.
In this example, I’m creating a connection to COM2. In the Phone Number screen, pull down the "Connect using" box and select "Direct to COM2." As you see in Figure B, choose the COM port you want to test. Then click OK to continue.
.FIGPAIR B Choose the COM port you want to test and click OK to continue.
The next step is to configure the COM2 settings. The only thing you need to change is the speed. The default speed is 2400, but you should change it to 9600. In Figure C, you see how to select 9600, which is a good speed for testing. Click OK when you’re ready to continue.
.FIGPAIR C Change the speed in the COM port properties.
Now you’re ready to test the connection. You see in Figure D that you should select Call->Connect. Then press the HotSync button on the cradle.
.FIG D Select Call->Connect and then press the HotSync button on the cradle.
If you see gibberish on the screen, your serial port is receiving data from the Palm device, indicating you don’t have a hardware problem with the Palm device or cradle. Figure E shows you what you might see.
.FIGPAIR E You’ll see something like this if your hardware is working.
.H1 Other things to try
Some other things you might want to try can be found by visiting, http://www.palm.com/support/helpnotes/desktop/comports.html and http://www.palm.com/support/helpnotes/hotsync/timeout.html.
If none of these suggestions work, check out the other HotSync-related articles in this special HotSync issue of PalmPower Magazine.
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.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on checking HotSync cradle performance, visit http://www.palm.com/support/helpnotes/hardware/terminal.html.
For more information about an inability to perform a HotSync on COM4 if your PC has an S3-based video card, visit http://www.palm.com/support/helpnotes/desktop/com4s3.html.
For more resources to help with HotSync troubles visit, http://www.palm.com/support/helpnotes/desktop/comports.html and http://www.palm.com/support/helpnotes/hotsync/timeout.html.
.H1 Bulk reprints
Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.
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.BIO
.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ee6efb4
