Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

Setting Edge on USB Cradle kills computer

I just received a new computer at my office w/ Windows 2000 loaded on it. Nearly everytime (7 out of 10) I put my Edge in its USB cradle my computer kicks the bucket. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Oakland, CA USA
Posts: 61

From a previous thread--this is a static electricity problem. Touch the contacts and something grounded or a large metal thing before syncing.

From a previous post, here is the HS tech support advice:

--- Note: Computers with Tyan motherboards have exhibited this symptom. If the computer contains a Tyan motherboard, please refer
to Tyan Technical Support - http://www.tyan.com. By changing hard drive reconfiguring DMA settings, this problem may be resolved.

Without having your Visor in the cradle, do the following:

1. Touch your thumb to the metal contacts on the cradle for a couple of seconds. (This removes static electricity.) Then place your
Visor in the cradle and perform a HotSync operation.

If the above step does not work, do the following:

2. Click on the HotSync Manager icon in the system tray; this pops up a menu.
3. Click Setup... and, in the General tab, select the radio button labelled "Available only when the Palm Desktop is running." Then
click OK button.
4. Click Start | Shutdown... and choose to complete power down the PC (not merely a restart).
5. Unplug your cradle from the PC and take your Visor out of the cradle. If you have an external ZIP drive, unplug its data connector
cable from the PC.
6. Power up your PC. You will notice that the HotSync Manager does not appear in the system tray automatically due to the change
made in step 3.
7. Plug your cradle back into the PC (without your Visor seated in the cradle).
8. Click Start | Programs | Palm Desktop | HotSync Manager or simply launch Palm Desktop. This will make the HotSync Manager
appear in the system tray.
9. Attempt a HotSync operation and observe what happens. Most Visor users find everything works fine at this point.

10. Stubborn instances of this problem may require deactivating one or more start up items:
i. Click Start | Run... and enter: msconfig
ii. Select the "Startup" tab.
iii. Remove the check marks in every box EXCEPT "ScanRegistry", "TaskMonitor" and "SystemTray". Some PCs may have a small
handful of additional start up items that must remain but you must check the start up list to a minimum.
iv. Click the Apply and then the OK button.
v. Restart your PC and then attempt another HotSync operation. If successful, you will have to go back into MSCONFIG and
re-activate one or two items at a time, restart and synchronize again. Eventually you should find one particular start up program
that is causing the problem and you will have to permanently avoid that one while using the HotSync Manager.

Other troubleshooting tips for this problem:
11. Experiment by lifting your Visor out of the cradle and seating it back it again. Do this a few times to make sure the spontaneous
reboot does not happen again.
12. Also, reconnect your ZIP drive if you disconnected it previously. A few users report that if they install Palm Desktop while the
ZIP drive is not connected, then attach the ZIP drive, they never have problems again with their equipment.
13. For Windows 2000 users, click Start | Settings | Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Event Viewer. Look through any events
listed under "Application Log" or "System Log" and see if the messages provide clues as to what went wrong.

If you have any further questions you can contact us again or you can call the technical support line
at 1-716-871-6448

Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

GGRRRRR

I think you are right about Static Electricity. I have tried (over the last few days) to ground my cradle and even my Edge prior to joining them. I have been successful (50% of the time) while the computer is on. I am assuming it is not a computer chip issue because of the fact that sometimes I am successful and can hotsync to outlook.

To be on the safe side I have begun setting my Edge on the cradle prior to turning the computer on. I figured this was a fool proof way of solving my problem. However, this morning I set my Edge on the cradle, turned the computer on and ......nothing. My operating system wouldn't even come on.

So, I am at a loss. Do you think purchasing the serial/charger cable would help against this problem? Would Static Electricity still cause problems? Is anyone else having this problem?

BTW, thanks for the previous post/reply.

Hendon

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 'braska
Posts: 211

I have had pretty much the same problem with my VPL during the winter when there is not much humidity. I suspected it was static electricity because I would get a brief bit of static over the speakers connected to my PC.

To solve my problem, I would just touch the screw on the outlet cover by my desk before or while placing my VPL in the cradle. I have since relocated to a different office and don't have an outlet that is convenient. So solve the problem, I found a disposable anti-static strap in the closet, placed it under my cradle and attached it to a ground. I now just touch the strip before placing the VPL in the cradle.

__________________
www.jphillips66.org

Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

flips13,

Now that's a thought!! I just ordered an small anti-static mat off the WWW. I will let you know how it works. Thanks!!