VisorCentral.com - Upgrading from VDX to Platinum

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-- Upgrading from VDX to Platinum (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=17436)

Posted by volcanopele on 08-07-2001 06:34 AM:

Upgrading from VDX to Platinum

I decided on my last hoorah of my summer spending spree (please don't tell my parents), I would get a Visor Platinum. It was within my price range and had the features I wanted, like having OS 3.5. So my question is, what is a good step-by-step procedure for upgrading from one visor to the other. I have a MemPlug SM with a current backup, an eyemodule2, and an 8MB memory module. Also most of my programs are on the SMC. What would I need to do to go about upgrading.

Thanks,

Jason

Posted by atroup2000 on 08-07-2001 12:05 PM:

Jason,
Wow, that's a heck of a purchase to slip past your parents! (Next time go for the Prism and see if they will notice!)

Good Luck!

Drew

Posted by hloakes on 08-07-2001 03:24 PM:

I got a Platinum when my VDX crashed. I put in my backup module and restored the info. No problems at all.

I saw something about having to put the name in the unit before using the Memplug backup, but that has not been my experience. I once use the Memplug restore without any set up. There was a warning about the name not being correct, but I hit the button to bypass and it worked fine.

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Posted by volcanopele on 08-07-2001 03:32 PM:

Okay, so just putting in MemPlug SM and restoring from backup should work fine? Does that cause any problems during syching?

Jason

Posted by dick-richardson on 08-07-2001 04:19 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by volcanopele
Okay, so just putting in MemPlug SM and restoring from backup should work fine? Does that cause any problems during syching?

Jason

If it's anything like restoring from the backup module, the first sync afterwards will take a little longer as everything is compared to the backup folder and contacts - as opposed to just the ones that got changed.

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Posted by volcanopele on 08-07-2001 04:55 PM:

I have read in other threads that people have had problems upgrading from one OS to the other when using a backup module or the MemPlug SM. Something about how the preferences are stored differently and what not. Would it be okay then to delete the system files in the backup directory on my SMC and then restore on the Platinum? If so, what are these system files? I know about saved preferences, and I don't backup unsaved preferences.

Jason

Posted by hloakes on 08-07-2001 07:19 PM:

I believe that if you restore from the backup module or the MP it should look the same to the desktop. I could be wrong, but I do not believe the desktop looks at the OS. The only time I had a long sync was when I synced after a hard reset w/o using the backup module. If I synced after using the backup, it was just like any other sync.

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Howard

Posted by septimus on 08-07-2001 07:27 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by volcanopele
I have read in other threads that people have had problems upgrading from one OS to the other when using a backup module or the MemPlug SM. Something about how the preferences are stored differently and what not. Would it be okay then to delete the system files in the backup directory on my SMC and then restore on the Platinum? If so, what are these system files? I know about saved preferences, and I don't backup unsaved preferences.

I would clean out everything in the backup directory first. Then, do a warm reset (holding the up scroll button), and then delete any handspring patches you've installed (using Z'Catalog) & disable all hacks. Do a soft reset and then a complete, clean backup on your SMC. Then restore on the VPL, if possible w/out getting rid of the VDX until you're sure it works.

This is the procedure I followed w/ a backup mod, and it should work fine for you, I'd just caution you to be more careful and methodic b/c I doubt that the memplug is as idiotproof as the backup mod (i.e. I actually got away w/o deleting a system patch and it was ok).

Incidentally, if you think you've got any other patches/software that really dig into the OS (i.e. the stuff people install to get their visors to run PQAs), it would be a good idea to delete those too (after a warm reset), especially if you can easily restore them afterwards from another source (i.e. another directory on your SMC).

...Finally, if you can't keep your VDX around when monkeying with the VPL, maybe spend some time making sure you've got stuff backed up to the SMC or your desktop, just for kicks.

good luck!

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Posted by volcanopele on 08-07-2001 08:24 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn

I would clean out everything in the backup directory first. Then, do a warm reset (holding the up scroll button), and then delete any handspring patches you've installed (using Z'Catalog) & disable all hacks. Do a soft reset and then a complete, clean backup on your SMC. Then restore on the VPL, if possible w/out getting rid of the VDX until you're sure it works.

Thanks for the help. What files should I look for while in Z'Catalog so that I can delete the patches?

quote:

Incidentally, if you think you've got any other patches/software that really dig into the OS (i.e. the stuff people install to get their visors to run PQAs), it would be a good idea to delete those too (after a warm reset), especially if you can easily restore them afterwards from another source (i.e. another directory on your SMC).

Rather than deleting my VDX backup that first time, maybe I could just rename the directory that way if anything goes wrong, I can fully restore my VDX. I don't have any other patches or software that deal with the OS. just the HSUpdater.

Jason

Posted by volcanopele on 08-07-2001 08:27 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn

...Finally, if you can't keep your VDX around when monkeying with the VPL, maybe spend some time making sure you've got stuff backed up to the SMC or your desktop, just for kicks.

good luck!

I got a potential buyer here at the office but I told him that it would be Friday before I got the VDX ready for him. I'm going to leave some of the programs on there because he said he wanted to try it out before deleting them.

Jason

Posted by septimus on 08-07-2001 08:28 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by volcanopele
Thanks for the help. What files should I look for while in Z'Catalog so that I can delete the patches?

Shoot, I don't remember. I know that you run the updater, then it install the patch, then you can delete the updater.. I'm pretty sure it's called something like HSPatch or HSyomammy or something like that... Help, anyone?

quote:
Rather than deleting my VDX backup that first time, maybe I could just rename the directory

Yes, much better idea than mine. Do that.

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Posted by imabug on 08-07-2001 09:20 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by volcanopele

Thanks for the help. What files should I look for while in Z'Catalog so that I can delete the patches?

Look for a file named HSExtensions. That will be the patch file.

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Posted by septimus on 08-08-2001 01:23 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by imabug
Look for a file named HSExtensions. That will be the patch file.

Yep, that's it. Thankee, bug!

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Posted by volcanopele on 08-09-2001 06:48 AM:

Just wanted to post that everything worked fine. Thank you very much for the help. The only program that had trouble was WordSmith. Since there was an update today I didn't mind deleting it and reinstalling it and my docs. Plus, I just got my PiDirect Registration Code. Yeah!!!!!! Wonderful. Fantastic. All is good with the world. I am so happy I am going to try to cut down a tree with a herring.

Jason

Posted by septimus on 08-09-2001 12:56 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by volcanopele
I am so happy I am going to try to cut down a tree with a herring.

Yes! With a herring! With a herring! Cut down with a herring!

We shall do no such thing ... let us pass!

Congrats.

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Posted by on 08-09-2001 04:25 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by volcanopele
Okay, so just putting in MemPlug SM and restoring from backup should work fine? Does that cause any problems during syching?

Jason

Don't do it so fast. The are many threads throughout VisorCentral discussion boards of people who used a backup module to move from one model to another. Some have had good luck and others and had bad luck. Since they are posting to the board, most the time bad luck was the result.

The DLX and PLTM use different settings and saved preferences since the OS is different. By restoring the backup from a 3.1 device to a 3.5 device you are using the saved preference db's that may hold invalid data for the new OS.

It seems to differ from user to user so your results may vary. Obviously the best way to do it is just reinstall everything like it was a new device. Most of the apps that require a conduit usually have the prc/pdb files in the program directory so you can reinstall those prc/pdb files. Any other type of programs just find your prc/pdb for it and reinstall. Programs like Docs To Go will move the data back over to the new device after the first hotsync.

Also, to do a completely clean install, before the first hotsync rename the backup folder under c:\program files\palm\{username}\ (or c:\program files\handspring\{username}\) to backup.old. The hotsync will try to reinstall these files onto the new device because it doesn't know you switched devices it just sees that the new device has never been sync'd before.

Posted by volcanopele on 08-09-2001 04:40 PM:

You are right, I probably was lucky. But following a very systematic procedure helped to minimize any problems. Again, the only program that had problems was WordSmith. I started it up and I kept getting a fatal exception. I ended up deleteing all my WordSmith files and fonts and then reinstalling them from the computer. There was an update yesterday so I didn't really mind doing that. Plus, I had to delete my eyemodule2 stuff because I had backed up the 3.1 version and it would run on Platinum. So I deleted that, put back in the eyemodule2 and it installed the 3.5 version of the program. Luckily I didn't have many images installed at the time but it was still annoying. Other than those two minor problems, the upgrade went find. Now I just need to find a buyer for the VDX.

Jason

Posted by septimus on 08-09-2001 04:44 PM:

I think that for every one person that has an upgrade go haywire there are three that have it go fine and don't post. I'm glad everything worked out for you, Volcano. I should have known about the eyemod2, b/c I had the same thing with the eyemod1. To be honest, I'm surprised the eyemod2 didn't have compatible software already in flash for you!

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Posted by on 08-09-2001 04:48 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by volcanopele
...Plus, I had to delete my eyemodule2 stuff because I had backed up the 3.1 version and it would run on Platinum. So I deleted that, put back in the eyemodule2 and it installed the 3.5 version of the program. Luckily I didn't have many images installed at the time but it was still annoying...

Actually I found this out the other day by mistake. When you insert the eye2 module, it actually installs both versions of the software, one for 3.1 and one for 3.5. But what it does, it checks your system to see which OS you are running then turns on the hide attribute (bit) on the other version. So if you insert into your PLTM, both 3.1 and 3.5 eye2 software is installed but the 3.1 is hidden. When you pull the module out the 3.1 version is deleted. Somehow the other day I had 2 icons for eye2 s/w. When I went to open one it said that the version was only compatible with 3.1. I closed it and went into the other program and it worked just fine. When I pulled the module out, the 3.1 icon went away. I don't how it happen or why (just a glitch I guess) but I thought that was interesting....

Posted by volcanopele on 08-09-2001 04:53 PM:

I actually have three icons Apparently one is the program that stays permanently on the Visor and the other two are always on the module. Apparently those are the two versions of the software for 3.1 and 3.5. I have noticed a bit of a difference in the appearance of some of the programs I run since moving over to Platinum and all are good. They look a lot better.

But the one thing I am really happy about is PiDirect. Now that I have VPL, I can run it now. It is much faster in loading the apps in Launcher III (I decided to keep it even though I don't really need it anymore) than when I used Launcher III to load to programs off the SMC. Also the programs load a lot faster than before. All in all, money well spent.

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