Document number: 39046

 

Sometimes you can correct a problem with your Palm by resetting. Sometimes your Palm will be locked up and you will be forced to reset to diagnose or correct the problem. Always trying these steps before deciding the Palm needs to be repaired or checked by a technician.

Note: This document is intended to be used in connection with situations in which you are locked up, frozen, or otherwise prevented from using the normal method of closing programs. It is a solution of last resort. Please try to save the exact text of any error messages before resetting. 

1. Stop everything and restart with soft reset.

2. Try again with a warm reset.

3. Erase all data with a Hard reset.

4. Erase all data and programs and start fresh

 

 

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1. Soft reset. A soft reset won't affect the contents of your Palm's memory, so all your programs and data will be intact.

• You will need something with a hard tip that is not sharp. You can use an unfolded paper clip. On the newer Palms you will find what you need by unscrewing the top of the stylus.

• The reset button is in a small hole in the back of your Palm.

• Use the paper clip or poker to press the reset button.

• If that doesn't work try pressing the reset button twice in quick succession.

2. Warm reset. Sometimes this works. It bypasses any type of system "extensions" that you may have installed and will delete Palm OS updates. It may also resolve "boot loop" problems where you keep seeing the Welcome to PalmPilot message over and over again.

• Press and hold the UP scroll button on the front of the unit and then press the reset button.

3. Hard reset. A hard reset deletes the contents of your memory— so all your data will disappear. If you can, HotSync before you hard reset. Otherwise you can restore data as of the last synchronization. If you have kept current on your synchronizing needing to do a hard reset is just a nuisance, not a disaster.

• Do not try this step until you have first tried the Soft reset above.

• Hold down the on/off power button and at the same time use the paper clip or stylus poker to press the reset button. Continue holding the power button until you see the boot up "logo" screen then release the button.

• You should get a message asking if you want to erase all data.

• Press the UP scroll button to complete the hard reset.

• If you push any other button you will only do another soft reset.

• Before you initiate HotSync to restore your data avoid duplicate records by doing the following:

1. Start up the Desktop Software

2. Under the HotSync menu select Custom.

3. Set the sync for "Desktop overwrites PalmPilot".

4. This will restore only the data for built in applications. You will need to manually reinstall other applications. The data for those manually reinstalled applications should be reinstalled on your next synchronization.

• Be sure to reset the date before synchronizing or past alarms may all go off at once.

4. Erase everything, start fresh

• If the hard reset doesn't fix your crashes, you might have to resort to more serious means. The following will completely clear the contents of your Palm and restore it to the original factory state.

• Remove the batteries.

• Let your Palm rest for 10 minutes, then put it back together.

If your Palm organizer is still crashing after all that, it's time to call tech support!

 

 

 

 

 

Created by the PeopleSoft Knowledge Management Team.
Copyright © 2000 All rights reserved.
Created: db 03/01/2000
Revised: dv 10/09/2002