HOWTO: Palm Pilot / Handspring Visor HotSync under Vista
Well, Palm have proved themselves utterly uninterested in providing me with decent customer support. So, I've put together this post containing some background on the problem, and instructions for those who wish to get their Palm device going with Windows Vista.
The CSR at Palm with whom I've been communicating could neither confirm nor deny forthcoming support for older devices like my Visor under Windows Vista. In desparation, I even called their corporate offices in Australia, & received the same pathetic response: they simply didn't know whether my PDA will, or will not, be supported come the release of Vista.
To quote an email I received from their CSR:
As we have indicated in our last email, our development team has not provided any updates or feedback regarding the development and release of drivers for Palm handhelds to support Windows® Vista OS synchronization.
Rest assured that any updates and developments would be posted on our website or indicated on our newsletter.
We do understand your frustration and need to verify the availability of these drivers and we would like to provide a more accurate answer to your enquiry, however, no news has been forwarded. Should there be any developments and official releases, they are all posted on our website.
Now, those who know me, know I'm a wee bit prone to tilting at windmills. So, after much reading, struggling & cursing, I can suggest the following steps for those of us wanting to HotSync older Palm devices under Vista:
- Install the Palm software and drivers under Windows XP SP2, and perform at least one hotsync.
- Export the registry key [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics] from Windows XP SP2.
- Boot into Windows Vista Beta 2.
- Press the HotSync button on the Visor cradle, & use the Device Manager to update the drivers. When prompted, don't have Vista search online for drivers, but instruct it to search in the USB_Driver directory on your Windows XP SP2 partition (in my case, this was D:\Program Files\Palm\USB_Driver).
- Then, ensure the HotSync Manager is not running (right-click on the systray icon, and choose exit).
- Import the registry key you exported in step 2.
- Set the HotSync Manager (HOTSYNC.EXE) to run as Administrator, and run in Windows XP SP2 compatibility mode.
- Restart the machine and boot into Vista.
Sadly, you'll have to dismiss a UAC dialog each time you boot, as HotSync Manager will now need Administrator privileges to run. However, you should find that when you next press the HotSync button on the Palm (or the cradle, if you're using a Visor), the HotSync will run properly.
Thanks to the good folks on Palm Help Forums and PDA Street Forums for providing me with enough information to piece the above strategy together - and raspberries to Palm for their total lack of support.
Update 19th January 2010: Having learned nothing from the Vista support fiasco, Palm are now dragging their heels over Windows 7 support, and have reached an even lower standard of customer support than before.
This one is even simpler
I just use the COM port cradle rather than the USB, ran the install and it worked like a charm.
Vista with UAC running.
For my laptop which doesn't have a COM port, I am going to see if the software USB to COM port works otherwise, it looks like a 15$ cable will be needed.
For finding the old COM port cradles, I'd look at eBay.
Wow
I'd actually forgotten about the old COM-based cradles. Nice solution :-)
Transferring Data on Visor Deluxe
Well, I was all excited because I thought I was making progress, but even though the hot sync says that it was successful, data is not transferring in either direction between my visor deluxe to the Palm desktop. I just tried entering data in the address book both in the Visor and different data in the address book in the Palm desktop. Any ideas on what I need to do? I'm not very good at this so any simple instructions will help. Thanks, Pat V.
Are you sure you're running the right version?
There is a version specific to the Visor available for download here; just scroll down to "Palm Desktop 4.0.1 for Handspring Visor handhelds". Is this the version you're running?
Visor Platinum Hotsync with Vista and Palm 4.01
The older PDAs can have an easy job of doing a Hotsync under Vista. I just completed my first attempt with total success and very little hassle.
I installed Palm 4.01 desktop on a Vista Home Premium 64-bit machine. I obtained a SERIAL cradle ($3.00 at a thrift store), plugged it in the matching COM port on the back (you could add a card if you don't have one), and proceeded as advised back in the day before USB.
It wasn't real fast, but it worked absolutely perfectly...and without going through all sorts of software and driver contortions.
Visor Deluxe
Thanks for your help in getting my old Visor Deluxe synched with Vista submitted by Stephanie J. in 2008. Can anyone help me find where to purchase accessories for this old device (from 1999)? Does anyone know if there are any apps that are available to allow me to download and read ebooks?
Thanks, Pat V
Accessories and software
In terms of accessories, I suggest you try eBay (or TradeMe if you're in New Zealand). I bought my Visor from TradeMe and accessories like screen protectors from eBay.
As far as ebook software goes, I recommend Plucker (screenshots here). You can use it to download and compress ebooks and entire websites for offline reading on your Palm Pilot. It works with either MS Windows, Mac OS X or Linux so you're not tied to any particular operating system. Best of all, it's free.
Give it a whirl and if you get stuck, please feel free to ask for help here.
My experience with Visor device and Vista OS (Home Premium)
Thanks for this posting and the comments! I finally got my Visor to work with Vista - I figured I should post what I did b/c these threads helped me. So in an attempt to return the favor:
I used Palm's Download page for Vista software and downloaded Palm Desktop by ACCESS 6.2. Keep the same username as your device currently uses when setting up an account. I'm not sure it would matter, but I didn't want to risk it, so when I came to that and accidentally made up a different username, I stopped installation and re-started installation - there are 3 choices after installation has already been attempted once - modify, repair, or remove. Repair seemed to work best.
Anyways, once I got past that part, the program wanted to synchronize with my device, but it wanted to sync "install" apps too, which don't work with old devices, like Visor. So before continuing with the sync process, open Hot Sync (in taskbar or under "Palm" in start menu's programs) and go to settings, and then applications, and uncheck all 4 components having to do with install. Then continue with the sync process.
Anyways, that worked for me. Granted, these steps didn't go smoothly b/c I learned after making several mistakes, so I don't know what it would've been like to do it correctly from the beginning. Hope the next Visor users will! :)
Can't get Visor Edge to work
Hi,
I have a Visor Edge and just purchased a new notebook with Windows Vista Home Premium. I've tried every suggestion in this thread and I am unable to get any drivers for the Edge to install. My last attempt was with Palm Desktop 6.2 and HotSync Manager 7.0. I also tried my old Handspring software, and Palm Desktop 4.1.4E. No matter what I do it tells me it can't find drivers for the Visor Edge. I can't figure out how anyone was able to get this to work with the Visor Edge. I've tried the suggestion to go into the Device Manager while the HotSync is trying to run, went to Update Drivers for Palm and pointed it to the Palm USB Drivers folder. I tried copying my USB drivers over from my Windows XP system and pointing the device manager driver update to those, and it won't load those either. (Tried setting the apps to Windows XP SP2 compability mode too.) Has anyone been able to get drivers to load and sync a Visor Edge on Vista Home Premium? If so can you provide detailed information on how to do it? This is such a drag. I don't want to have to buy a new PDA when I have one I like that still works. Microsoft sure does contribute to an unnecessary accumulation of electronic waste. I've blown hours on this.
Lisa
No idea, I'm afraid
Take a look at this thread on the Palm Community Help Forums. You might find that the latest version of the Palm Desktop does some of what you need. Note they explicitly say that you should be using 4.1.4, not 4.1.4E.
Please let us know how you get on, I'm sure there are a few people here with the same issues.
Update on Visor Edge
Hi Duncan,
I have 64-bit Vista and after not being able to get the Visor Edge to work, and after purchasing a new Z22, I learned that Palm is not supporting 64-bit Vista or XP. They don't do the best job of making this obvious on their web site. It's there, but it's in the fine print and I missed it when I checked before I bought the Z22. There are no Palm USB drivers for the 64-bit Operating Systems for any Palm devices, including the brand new ones. So I spent more money and bought a Tungsten E2, which has Bluetooth. I found posts on multiple forums from people with 64-bit Vista who have been able to sync with Bluetooth. It works and that is what I am doing with the E2. I use Palm Desktop 6.2. Palm does not seem to endorse, advertise, or support this solution, but it's working for many people. I was too dependent on some of the data I have in my PDA to give it up. I'm upset that I had to spend the extra dollars, but I do like the E2. So that is how I solved my problem.
The folks who have been able to get the older Palm and Handspring PDAs working with USB must have 32 bit Vista.
Lisa
Nice solution
Nice solution ... pity it involved shelling out more money though :-( It's shocking that Palm don't support 64-bit operating systems; they've been out since 2001.
In fact, this is a subset of a more general rant I have: lack of readiness for new OS versions. I have been using and developing on Vista since August 2006, and yet I've seen companies who are only now starting to seriously test their software on Vista. Palm was one example of late Vista adoption that really annoyed me, because I had the misfortune of being a customer of theirs.
Now, I'll agree that avoiding a company-wide migration to Vista is one thing - and quite a sensible thing at that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it (although have a well-considered plan in place well in advance for when you'll have to fix it).
But if you're a software company - or even if you sell software along with devices or services - then you should be ready to roll with the latest version of your target OS the day it hits the shelves. Anything less is simply professional negligence.
Thanks for the advice, I'm
Thanks for the advice, I'm sure it'll be of use to many others. I think I'm going to 'sticky' this page in fact (pinning it to the top of the front page) so that it's easier to find.
Older Handspring
Good postings! I appreciate the info! Does the hotsync work with an older version of Handspring, or just the newer Palm/Handsprings?
Sorry your post took so long
Sorry your post took so long to appear, it got lost in a flood of comment spam.
Thanks for the feedback
As far as I'm aware the latest Palm software works for the older Handspring devices as well as the newer Zires.
Fix for Vista and the Palm T3
HI Guys a fix for the palm t3 on vista
I followed a few suggested steps, I downloaded the 414e update from palm and installed it. Then found the locations within the palm folder in program files of hotsync(hotsync.exe) and desktop manager(palm.exe) - and set their compatibility to xp and administrator.(Setting this second made no difference to the desktop hanging issue later**)
Now for the tricky bit
.
Open up the device manager from the control panel and find the "OTHER DEVICES" section. Once you press the hotsync button on your palm or craddle (it doesnt matter.) The "Palm Device" will appear for a limited period there (this is the that you have a limited period to access the "UPDATE THE DEVICE DRIVER" -the duration is while the unit attempts to sync with your PC.) Right-click on the palm and select update drivers. Select browse for driver and go to program files then palm folder and find within palm folder the usb_driver folder
C:\Program Files\Palm\USB_Driver
This will install the drivers for the palm. Once i completed that everything synced perfectly. The (**)Only issue i have with the desktop software is the program hangs when i access the some of the section of the software. (There are know compatibility issues between vista and the palm desktop software)
Driver Install
Thanks for the information on this thread. It has been very helpful. I'm still having a problem getting my Visor Edge working with Vista.
The hotsync software seems to load fine. The problem is with getting the handheld drivers loaded. When I press the hotsync button, vista knows it's a visor edge and prompts me a couple times for driver installation. Eventually I get to a pop-up that asks me to insert the disc from the manufacturer. By that time, the handheld times out and all windows disappear because the handheld was "unplugged".
I tried a manual driver installation from the driver files I had on my XP machine, but Vista gets a blue screen when trying to install it via "install legacy device driver".
My driver file, PalmUSBD.inf, is dated 5/22/2002. Is there a more recent version?
I get the sense that everything would work if I could just get the drivers to install. Any comments?
Thanks!
Did you get the Visor Edge
Did you get the Visor Edge going with the latest drivers from the Palm website?
Yes, there are much newer
Yes, there are much newer Vista-compatible drivers available. Have a look at the Windows Vista Information page on the Palm website, & you should find Vista-compatible drivers to download.
visor handheld on Vista - can't see my data in palm desktop 6.2
I Installed palm desktop 6.2 on my vista laptop. It appeared I could hotsync based on the log and timestamp on my visor data. However, I can't see my address, memo etc data in the palm desktop application. Any idea why? Do I need to install palm desktop 4.01 (that's the version of my palm desktop running on my xp laptop which has been running fine)? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Janice
Hmmm ... when I did this, it
Hmmm ... when I did this, it was with an older version of Palm Desktop, but it was the same version on both XP and Vista. Is the version you're running on Vista the latest version from the Palm website? What type of Palm are you using?
Hot Sync 515
For those of us less computer savvy, can someone point me in the direction of directions to hot sync my palm m515 with Vista. I don't really understand the limited directions here but am very appreciative that someone has figured it out. Your help is appreciated. Joe
Limited directions?
Anyone who has enough of a social life to fail to follow my fantastic instructions clearly doesn't deserve a functional PDA to organise it with
Seriously, you probably don't need to try to decipher my instructions any more, as Palm has announced (laughably limited) support for Windows Vista. Visit their Windows Vista Information page for more information, including a link to download the very latest version of Palm Desktop.
The main problem with their software is that under Vista you can't upload apps to your device - however all is not lost. Try PalmVista Simple Installer, which should allow you to install apps without any hassle.
If you get stuck with any of the above, feel free to post questions here, & I'll try to help.
(I should mention at this point that I'm back to running Ubuntu Linux on my laptop, and using that I can synchronise my to-do lists, contacts, applications, memos, etc. etc. with Evolution.
In fact, provided you've got even vaguely standard hardware, it's easier, friendlier and quicker to install Ubuntu than it is to install Vista. But that's a whole different story
)
Vista x64
Anyone able to get HotSYnc working with Vista x64?
hotsyncing handspring visor in Vista
Duncan Bayne,
I ran into a problem when trying to execute your instructions. When I got to the point about updating the drivers (PalmUSBD.inf and PalmUSBD.sys found in D:/Program Files/Handspring/Drivers) the Vista driver updater gave me this message: "Windows found driver software for your device but encountered an error while attempting to install it . . . The system cannot find the file specified."
The odd thing is that when I opened up the Palm Desktop program there was the data from when I originally tried to install the software a couple of months ago. However, it will not take a new sync.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Steve
No idea, I'm afraid
No idea, I'm afraid ... what version of Vista are you installing on?
You should also check out the post Palm Now Supporting Windows Vista ... there is now (finally!) limited Vista support from Palm, meaning there are new versions of drivers and Palm Desktop to download. Give that a go, & let me know how you get on.
Vista Home Premium, Outllook 2007, Visor,Hotsync
Go to Palm's website and download Desktop414e, (NOT 414). It can be found under the Palm Z22 software. Install it, then download palmpoutlook2007conduits.zip and install it. You now have the correct Hotsync manager and conuits. Outlook 2007 must NOT be running to Hotsync. Works great with my Visor.
Using Palm Desktop 414e
Downloaded and tried to install this for my Visor but Windows wanted "a disc with your device's software". Of course, I was already trying to install the software. What hand held device did this work for you on? Perhaps my hand held's OS is too old to work with 414e.
Steve
Zire 22
I've only tried the newer stuff with a Zire 22, I'm afraid - nothing much older than that. What are you running, & what version of Palm OS has it installed?
Palm m515 sync with Vista and Outlook 2007
Hi everybody
Just wanted to share my experiences getting the trusty old m515 to sync with Vista (Ultimate) and Office 2007. I tried a lot of things, and finally got it going...
1. Install the Palm Desktop414, I used a "strange" that's around 48 Mbytes.
2. From the m515 CD install POcket Mirror. It's in the english/PalmSFW/Disk1 folder (this is silly, as you have to install it even if the Palm Desktop installer asks you if you want to sync with outlook). Then upgrade it to Version >=3.16 (an free Upgrade can be downloaded from the web)
3. Start Outlook 2007 and sync. If Outlook is not running, it won't sync.
I did install Chapuras Trial PM for Outlook 2007 but it wouldn't sync properly. So I deinstalled it and removed all folders relating to it. But maybe there's still something in the system (it still knows the trial has run out...)-
This is my experience and I got it to work! YAY!
Hope it helps someone out there :-)
Submitted to Microsoft ...
Since Palm seem utterly uninterested, I have submitted this information to Microsoft, in the hopes that they'll create a KB article for it.
This is terrific, thanks. Works under RTM.
Thanks for the tips!
I found that I can install Palm Desktop for XP in Vista RTM, then install Chapura's PocketMirror. The most important step is to set HOTSYNC.EXE to WinXP SP2 compatibility mode.
Thank again!
It's good to know this works
It's good to know this works for RTM, too. Thanks
thank you thank you thank
thank you
thank you
thank you
No problem Hopefully
No problem
Hopefully you'll enjoy many more years of useful life from your Pilot ... which is presumably what Palm is trying to prevent 
You're a Genius!
Thanks for this info. Rotten tomatoes to those lazy palm coders. My question is have you tried this under Vista RTM? Does it/will it work there too?
Thanks :-) Unfortunately
Thanks :-) Unfortunately no, I haven't tried in Vista RTM, only under Beta 2 (which I'm still running). That said, I can't see why it shouldn't work ... but then I've been saying that from the outset :-)
I'd offer to test it under Vista RTM, but sadly, my Visor died recently. Given the lack of support I've experienced from Palm throughout ownership of the Visor, I have no intention whatsover of buying another.
YAY!
Awesome! I was banging my head for a couple hors trying to get my palm T3 to sync. You article provided the magic steps to get it running. Though I am doing a slightly different sync. I have Vista running on my PC, and my old OS (XP SP2) running under VMWare as a virtual machine. So I'm techically network hotsyncing.
Great find! Thanks for the information.
Sonja Michelle
Glad to be of help
Glad to be of help
Funnily enough, I just
Funnily enough, I just received an email from Palm requesting that I complete a customer satisfaction survey - so I did. Personally, I hope that someone with sufficient clout in Palm reads the thing, & does something about what appears to be a culture of poor customer service within the company.