Thursday, October 26, 2006
What to do when a database is corrupted in a Palm?
A reader who prefers to maintain his anonymity, has had problems recently with Palm Desktop, the Windows program that allows changes to the Palm from the PC. To find the solution, has followed a very well-reasoned process that can give us clues on how to solve this intensity or other problems at the Palm, so I decided to publish it. All text is this reader, since he owns the credit for this post.
The reason for this post is to mencionarte a problem I had with my palm (well, actually Palm Desktop) and how I found the error and how to fix it. In addition to some tips to prevent it. Summing up much, I worked Palm Desktop and the problem was one of the databases Palm, specifically the contacts (address.dat). The story, in the enclosure.
Location: Palm Tungsten E2 software edition, with basic applications installed and some extra (NVBackup and FileZ among others). Palm Desktop installed on two Windows XP (home and work), seamlessly synchronizing information on the three devices.
One day, one of the desktops an error message appears:
First window of error to fail Palm Desktop
Palm Desktop Application has encountered a problem that must be closed.
If you're in the process, may miss the information that is working.
For more information about the error, click here
And two buttons, "Debug" and "Close". Pressing any of the buttons, closes Palm Desktop and reappears the same mistake again when they start implementation. Even after restarting your computer ... If you click on the link for more information ( "click here") appears a new window of error:
Second window of error to fail Palm Desktop
Palm Desktop Application
Signing of error
AppName: palm.exe AppVer: 4.1.4.0 ModName: mfc42.dll
ModVer: 6,2,4131,0 Offset: 00004973
To see the technical information on the reports of errors, click here
The message "click here" is a link, and also see a button to close. If we close the window closes Palm Desktop and again begins the same problem even after restarting.
Third window of error to fail Palm Desktop
The last window of error shows the "content of the reports of mistakes" that a person not experte not say anything, but we can see among others, information on the operating system and an error in the module 1 of 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 curious thing is that without synchronization problems, both multimedia files (films, photographs, music) as documents of office automation (Documents to Go), ie could be sent to the Palm, but no one could do anything from Palm Desktop. After consulting with technical support from Palm (fast and kind, of course) tells me that the error may be due to a third-party application installed on the Palm, whose database has become corrupted (crashed), and this can cause problems in Palm Desktop.
I do a full backup with NVBackUp (excellent) and then a full reset. Palm Desktop can be opened without problems, and you can add contacts, appointments, ... But after restoring the backup and synchronize back to the same problem. I begin to remove all applications outside the operating system PalmOne, even DocumentsToGo and resync. NVBackUp stays installed just in case he was in the external SD card. Again the same mistake.
Updates the version of Palm Desktop and re-occur the same mistake. Among the errors cited two files mfc42.dll and palm.exe. Clears, turns off the computer and is updated Palm Desktop to see if there was any problem with these files. But that does not work.
Meanwhile, in another of the Palm Desktop PC (initially the problem existed only in a team) are working normally and Palm Desktop works. They spend days 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 conclusions: the application Palm Desktop works, but only when you have no data. When it synchronizes the information in the PDA, you can see the problem. Therefore it appears that one of the databases PalmOne's core operating system has a problem. How can detect which one is it?
Restore a full backup with NVBackUp, synchronize and do a backup of the folder you created Palm Desktop 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 synchronize with Palm Desktop. The implementation works but has no data. Within a folder called as the user (although sometimes it is not exactly the same) creates a series of folders:
- Address for contacts,
- Datebook for the calendar,
- memopad for memos,
- notepad for notepad,
- in addition to other folders.
After making a backup of the folder created by palm with the basic structure of folders a user empty, began to copy databases in the folder with all the full information of the user in folders user vacuum. We started with the address database, called "address.dat" and that is stored inside the folder "address", y. .. prize. I see error. Restore the user's file with information and runs Palm Desktop. After we test with the rest of databases basic operating system Palm One (datebook.dat, memopad.dat and notepad.dat) see that all 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) does not appreciate anything unusual, I touched retrieve information manually from my Palm.
Once again, restore a backup with NVBackup, with all our previous information (appointments, contacts, memos, and let copying programs ,...) "by hand" our contacts in the Palm Desktop program in a database of contacts for without my user information. Fortunately it did not have many contacts and many of them I could recover later mobile phone via infrared (blessed format support for intercamibar information).
Another hard reset in the palm and after sync, no problem!
Well, so what was special to my address book? None of the other world. Around 70 contacts, with not too much information and some photos. In the new contacts, he omitted the photos, and yet has given me any problems. Perhaps pictures of contacts (or may not) be the cause of the error.
Moral: To avoid problems with the primary information from a Palm, do not forget from time to time make backups of databases relevant to the agenda, calendar ... just in case you have a similar problem.
By: Mark Gonzalez Troyas in Tricks
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Dirás not read carefully (and perhaps I did not really), but it was where the problem: the Palm or the Desktop? because if it is in the Palm, could have been used DbScan, according know that corrects several problemillas with databases of PIM's in Palm now that if it really was in the desktop, because if there no idea how analyse, since it appears that this user tried everything
What is corrupted is the database, so insurance would have been good utility program to comment. I remember when I go for something like
Where once I step So did the same steps, and finally with the database that produced the error, set for the Desktop-write on the matter settled and Palm……
There is another problem with Palm Desktop… in the vision of full week, as we move forward 4 weeks freezes and closes… no problem database of the Palm… problem is the program itself…… veanlo
Greetings
hey hello, which is the most powerful palm.
A I do not pass Mr Anderson… and already tried the alternatives you mention, you may need to reinstall software
Thanks for the information to me exactly the same thing happens with my E2, in two different computers. I just delete adress.dat and voila! Palm Desktop is already operating without hanging - a million thanks
Hello, hopes and could help ME
I have a Palm Tungsten E2
The purchase in a bazaar,
But when coming to my house and wanted to sync to my PC, asked me a password.
In the spleen does not know anything about COMPUTERS, AND NOT ME Super guidance.
What can make friends?
Thank you
This has already had read in any forum… and I repeat the recommendation made in this Forum: Make a Hard Reset. I seem to recall that the TE2 this is done and hold the power button while tighten the reset button, then both loose, and the palm should ask if you want to erase all data from the Palm, you have to answer that if.
After that, when sync "for the first time with your PC tell that cree a new user, and avoid being restblesca everything at Palm
Your problem reminds me indirectly a post that Mark has done:
http://www.pdatungsteno.com/2006/09/08/como-evitar-que-nuestra-informacion-conficencial-caiga-en-malas-manos/
Greetings!
Reinstall the Palm Desktop Uninstall, doing cleaning registry, and now is not the problem… the problem was between the keyboard and screen
Greetings
Hello help!
By removing the application error Documents To Go V. 7 of pda Paml TX. How can I retrieve it from the PDA?
Thanks in advance
Vte