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-- Mac HotSync Issues (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=1970)

There don't appear to be many issues on the boards with Macs and Visors, which is good. Still, it makes my problem a little harder to resolve.

Here's the info: I am using a PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze) 400/DVD/192M RAM running OS9 with an Ice Visor Deluxe. I used the uninstall option from the Handspring disc to remove Palm Desktop 2.5 from the PB, then installed the HS Palm Desktop from the disc. The first time I synced, it worked just fine. The next time nothing at all happened on the PB and the operation appeared to time out on the Visor. I have repeated the uninstall/reinstall process several times and usually can sync the first time, but either can't get anything to happen on the PB or get a sync started on the PB and then receive a message on the Visor that the connection was dropped.

Deductive reasoning would indicate that the problem is with the Serial Port Monitor. Inspecting that tab in the HotSync Manager often reveals that HotSync has been made inactive. Reactivating it begins the same sequence of dysfunction, leading me back to the Serial Port Monitor as the likely culprit.

I should note at this point that Serial Port Monitor was implicated in some freezes on Bronze PowerBooks with OS9, especially when disconnecting from Remote Access, as it shipped as a part of the OS; I experienced these problems myself. Additionally, I use a Kensington trackball through the other USB port. Either of these might be useful in finding a fix for these issues.

Thanks to any on the boards who may be able to help with this issue or who can verify that this is occurring with others.

ThePenguin

Just a suggestion. I had similar problem but it was gone after uncheck "Local Setup" box in HotSync� Manager application. USB setup only. HotSync� Manager -> Seril Port Settings (tab) -> uncheck Local Setup (USB setup box should be check). Hope this help.

This works great after reinstalling the Palm Desktop and doing a soft restart on the Visor--the first time.

Two observations:

1) After the (relatively) successful first HotSync, none of the data on the visor appears in the Palm Desktop (and I double-checked to make sure I am still the selected user).

2) A second attempt at a HotSync results in the HotSync manager aborting the process before transferring information. The Visor reports that the connection with the PB was lost.

Buckyball, thanks for the advice on unchecking the local connection. Perhaps this is a process of elimination that will end soon. Any other ideas?

Quick update: I installed the software and cradle to my iMac running OS 8.6--worked perfectly. This confirms my suspicion that OS9 and the Serial Port Monitor aren't playing well together. Anyone else using OS9 with a Visor (especially on a PowerBook)?

ThePengium,

Regarding miss data: Try this, go to Palm folder->users > user folder (ie "ThePengium") > click on "User Data" (it will open palm desktop software. Your data should be there. Try Get Info to see the size of the file (User Data), mine is 80K with only 50 telephone entries. If your is greater the 80K then the data should be there. Good luck. Btw, have you try hotsync with your PB via ir??

Buckyball, that worked swimmingly! The only problem now is that the Palm desktop shows all the entries from the sync under the user "none" instead of the one that bears my name. Switching to my name causes them to disappear; switching back to "none" causes them to reappear. I tried the merge and could only merge my name into "none". The other way didn't display other users. Weird, but tolerable. Thanks for the tip--this is narrowing down a bit.

My only remaining problem is that I can get one--and only one--successful sync from an install. To get another one, I have to reinstall the Palm Desktop. I don't have to uninstall; it seems not to make a difference. Simply restarting never helps. Additionally, I notice the Instant Palm Desktop never gets beyond "starting up" after that first successful sync and that the only thing that ever appears on it after an install is "open palm desktop". My iMac displays a full menu under the Instant Palm Desktop icon. Perhaps this is an OS9 problem?

Thanks for the help.