The Tungsten PDA

A reader who prefers to remain anonymous, has had problems recently with Palm Desktop, the Windows program that lets you change the information on the Palm PC. To find the solution, has followed a very well-reasoned that can give us clues on how to resolve this and other intensive problems in the Palm, so I have decided to publish it. All text is this reader, because he has the credit for this post.

The reason for this post is to mencionarte a problem that I had with my palm (well, actually, with Palm Desktop) or how I found the error and how to fix it. Besides a few tips to avoid it. Summing up a lot, I am not running Palm Desktop and the problem was in one of the databases of Palm, specifically the contacts (address.dat). The story, in the attachment.

Location: Palm Tungsten E2 software edition, with core applications installed and some extra (NVBackup and FileZ among others.) Palm Desktop installed on two Windows XP (the household and labor), without any problems synchronizing information on the three devices.

One day, one of the desktop an error message appears:

First window of error in adjudicating Palm Desktop

Palm Desktop Application has encountered a problem and needs to close.
If you are in the process, may miss the information that we are working with.
For more information about the error, click here HACA

And two buttons, "Debug" and "Close". Pressing any of the buttons, closes Palm Desktop and reappears the same mistake when they launch the application again. Even after restarting the computer ... If you click on the link for more information ( "click here") appears a new window of error:

Second window of error in adjudicating Palm Desktop

Palm Desktop Application
Error Signature
AppName: palm.exe AppVer: 4.1.4.0 ModName: Mfc42.dll
ModVer: 6,2,4131,0 Offset: 00004973
To view the technical information on the reports of errors, click here

The message "click here" is a link, and is also a button to close. If we close the window closes Palm Desktop and again begins the same problem even after rebooting.

Third window of error in adjudicating Palm Desktop

The last window shows the error "Content of error reports" that a non-expert does not say anything, but we do include information on the operating system and an error in module 1 palm.exe . This information is stored in a temporary file text, which tells us not to consult much more information. In the end, a button to close, and again the same process.

The odd thing is that synchronize seamlessly, both multimedia files (movies, photos, music) as office documents (Documents to Go), or could be sent to the Palm, but no one could do anything from Palm Desktop. After consulting with the support of Palm (fast and friendly, by the way) tells me that the error may be due to a third-party application installed on the Palm, whose database has become corrupted (damaged), and this can cause problems in Palm Desktop.

I do a full backup with NVBackUp (excellent program) and after a full reset. Palm Desktop can be opened without problems, and you can add contacts, appointments, ... But after restore the backup and synchronizing, go back to the same problem. I begin to remove all applications outside the Palm operating system, even DocumentsToGo and synchronize again. NVBackUp stays installed just in case he was in the external SD card. Another time the same error.

I update the version of Palm Desktop and re-occur the same mistake. Among the errors cited two files Mfc42.dll and palm.exe. Are cleared, turns off the computer and is updated Palm Desktop software to see if there was something wrong with those. But that does not work.

Meanwhile, in another of the PC with Palm Desktop (initially the problem existed only on a computer) is working normally and Palm Desktop works. They spend the day without being able to use the desktop application in one of the teams, and the error is reproduced in which functioned well. Exactly the same problem.

Initial findings: the Palm Desktop works, but only when it has no data. When it synchronizes the information in the PDA, the problem appears. Thus it appears that one of the databases core of the operating system has a problem PalmOne. How to identify which one is it?

Restore a full backup with NVBackUp, synchronized and make a backup of the Palm Desktop folder you created for that user. We delete the folder of the user within the palmOne folder and start from scratch.

Again a full reset of the PDA and sync with Palm Desktop. The application works but has no data. Within a folder named as the user (although sometimes it is not exactly the same) creates a series of folders:

• address for contacts,
• Datebook for the calendar,
• memopad to the memos,
• notepad to notepad,
• in addition to other folders.

After making a backup copy of the folder created by palm with the basic structure of folders in a user empty, we started to copy the databases in the folder with all the full information of the user in the user's folders empty. We started with the address database, called "address.dat" and that is stored inside the folder "address", y. .. prize. Error. Restore the file of the user information and works with Palm Desktop. After doing tests with the rest of the databases core of the operating system Palm One (datebook.dat, memopad.dat and notepad.dat) we see that all the databases work perfectly, except the contacts.

Now what do we do?

As I ignore the operation of the database and to open the file address.dat (well, a backup) do not appreciate nothing strange for me to retrieve the information by hand from my Palm.

Again, we restore a backup with NVBackup, with all our previous information (appointments, contacts, memos, programs ,...) and we copied "by hand" our contacts in the Palm Desktop program on a database of contacts for my user information. Fortunately it did not have many contacts, and many of them I've been able to recover later in the mobile phone via infrared (holy compatible formats for intercamibar information).

Another hard reset the palm and after sync, no problem!

Well, so what was special for my agenda of contacts? None of the other world. About 70 contacts, with not too much information and some photos. In the new contacts, I have omitted the pictures, and no time has given me any problems. You can take sharp pictures from Contacts (or may not) be the cause of the error.

Moral: To avoid problems with the information of a prime Palm, do not forget from time to time to make backup copies of databases relevant to the agenda, schedule ... just in case you have a similar problem.

By: Mark Gonzalez Troyes in Palm Tricks
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