Palm desktop software won't load

Question

Palm desktop software won't load

I got a new Palm Zire for Christmas. I have not used a Palm with my PBg4 previously. I installed the software from the CD and when I opened the Palm Desktop I got the spinning beach ball....I repaired permissions, removed and reinstalled -- same thing. I spent an hour on the phone with Palm Support. Reinstalled several times - same thing... They had me install in the root user. It worked fine in the root user, but not in MY user login. They finally said it was an Apple problem. I'm not convinced, because I've installed lots of other software with no problems. But thought this might be the place to start in seeking a solution.

BTW - the hotsync works fine. My events that I transfered from the palm to the palm desktop show up. I just can't DO anything in the desktop on the computer.

Thanks...

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Dec 29, 2005 7:57 AM

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Answer 1

Jrsy Man

Level 4

1,890 points

Dec 29, 2005 8:09 AM in response to Carolyn Thalman1

Hi Carolyn,

Well I have Palm Desktop running with no problems. In System Preferences under User Accounts do you have the following two items listed in 'Login items' under your user account?

Palm Desktop Background
Transport Monitor

Jrsy

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Answer 2

Dec 29, 2005 12:00 PM in response to Jrsy Man

Thanks - I didn't have those checked. I tried it and even restarted - but still get the spinning beach ball. Any more ideas?

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Answer 3

Jrsy Man

Level 4

1,890 points

Dec 29, 2005 12:12 PM in response to Carolyn Thalman1

Well, checking them only hides them on start up. The reason I wanted to see if they were in there at all was to determine if the Palm Desktop properly loaded for your user name. After installing the application as root user, switch to your other user name. From that point if you launch Palm from your Application folder it should prompt you to either set up a new user for the Palm handheld or it will ask if you want to search for an existing user name. If you were/are able to get through that the two items I mentioned previously should show in your user login items. Were you able to set up the Palm handheld as root user? Also, are you using a USB cable or cradle or Bluetooth for hotsyncing?

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Answer 4

Dec 29, 2005 5:12 PM in response to Jrsy Man

I solved the problem with a work around. I discovered that Entourage has a sync function and I can set up an Entourage Conduit and sync with my Entourage Calendar, address book and to do list, so I don't need the palm desktomp.

thanks for your help.

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Answer 5

Jrsy Man

Level 4

1,890 points

Dec 29, 2005 5:28 PM in response to Carolyn Thalman1

Excellent work. I should have just suggested that or iSync.

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Answer 6

TRFall

Level 1

60 points

Jan 5, 2006 12:09 PM in response to Carolyn Thalman1

I know we're Apple not Palm, but you guys seem to have some experience so I'll post here: I just upgraded to Tiger and when I download Palm Desktop 4.2.1 I get a .SIT folder, but I can't run the installer. (Says "application is missing"). Is Tiger missing the correct installer application? Or is this something else? (BTW, if it matters, my device is an old Vx -- that's the download link I selected.)

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Answer 7

Jrsy Man

Level 4

1,890 points

Jan 5, 2006 12:16 PM in response to TRFall

Hi TR,

You just need Stuffit to expand those files.

Jrsy

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Answer 8

JDee

Level 5

6,491 points

Jan 5, 2006 12:17 PM in response to TRFall

That .sit file is a compressed file that you need to expand using Stuffit Expander. Check your Applications > Utilities folder and make sure you have Stuffit in there (you probably do).

The following Q & A is from Stuffit Expander's Help File and explains more:

Q: When I download files from the internet, my web browser doesn't launch StuffIt Expander to open them.
A: In many cases StuffIt Expander will be used automatically by your Web browser to expand files immediately after they are downloaded, but you can also expand files by dragging and dropping either onto the StuffIt Expander icon or into the "Drag Window" that appears when you launch StuffIt Expander. This kind of manual expansion is needed when your Web browser fails to call upon StuffIt Expander, or when the file comes as an email attachment or other non-Web source.

Good luck.

-- JDee

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Answer 9

TRFall

Level 1

60 points

Jan 5, 2006 12:48 PM in response to JDee

Stuffit was in Apps, so I moved the icon to Utils. Still asks for an app to open the file, then when I navigate to stuffit, I get an error "a folder was specified when a file was required". I think I'll download the Palm desktop again and get back to you.

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Answer 10

Tallan

Level 4

3,095 points

Jan 5, 2006 1:00 PM in response to TRFall

I've left stuffit in the Apps folder since version 9 with no ill effects. To avoid confusion I make sure to delete older versions as new ones are installed.

Also for all PALM people, be sure you have the latest version of Palm Desktop (revision D as of this writing) - earlier versions (especially A & B) had major installation snufus. I would suspect that the version on CD is NOT the latest, which can be downloaded for free online.

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Answer 11

TRFall

Level 1

60 points

Jan 5, 2006 12:58 PM in response to TRFall

yep, that was it. bad download. thanks all.

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Answer 12

Jrsy Man

Level 4

1,890 points

Jan 5, 2006 1:16 PM in response to Tallan

Also for all PALM people, be sure you have the latest version
of Palm Desktop (revision D as of this writing) -earlier versions (especially A & B) had major installation snufus. I would suspect
that the version on CD is NOT the latest, which can be downloaded for free online.

The version I have is 4.0 which works just fine. Had no issues installing it either.

Jrsy

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Answer 13

JDee

Level 5

6,491 points

Jan 5, 2006 1:53 PM in response to Tallan

Palm Desktop 4.2.1 here -- works sweet.

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