Top 20 Palm LifeDrive Mobile Manager Handheld Questions & Answers

If your device encounters a system extension that is corrupted or contains an error after a reset, it will automatically reset and try to load the corrupted extension again, which causes it to reset again, and so on in an infinite loop.
"What's a system extension?" you may ask. System extensions are software programs loaded the first time your device starts after a reset. System extensions extend the functionality of your device; for example the software that allows your device to send data through the Infrared (IR) port is a system extension.
Break out of the loop
To escape from the loop, perform a system reset.
If the looping or freezing is related to an application or extension, a system reset will only temporarily resolve the problem. To ensure that the problem won't reoccur, see our article about diagnosing software issues.
Note: If a system reset does not restore your device to working order, you can perform a hard reset. A hard reset will erase all your data, so use it as a last resort only.
Handheld is temporarily frozen or slow, not completely frozen
If your handheld is running, but it's extremely slow and normal operations take a very long time time to complete (seems frozen but finally completes the task), check out our suggestions in Knowledge Library article 32440.

I have compiled these instructions from palm site only.Before this you can directly take advantage of the costumer support provided to costumers by palm.

Click here and you can ask them directly through live chat.

So do that before trying anything silly.


Regards........

It sounds like you need to setup the network settings on the palm or the wep or securty key or both.

When it shows the network id tap edit then enter the wep or wpa key if needed, then tap details to get to the screen where you enter the normal network details.

Usually it is just the security key that causes this. Get that code in and you might pop right on.

The switches are available but you might have to google a bit for a shop that has them in stock. The last time I noticed the price they were about $5. Since you are going to have the case open this is a good excuse to put a new battery in at the same time $20 (and up)and you should be like new.

Unfortunetly that usually indicates the harddrive has failed on you. Try a power on hard reset. It is the same as the hard reset but the power need to be plugged in as well.

If you look there are several places that will replace the drive with either a new drive of a compact flash card. The card is the way to go as it increases battery life but is about 10x faster acessing stuff.

That can be from a couple of things. If you have a screen protector on try taking it off. Also check for crud under the buttons. I've had it caused by both. The screen protector was perfectly in place and this stopped the instant I pulled it off.

It is possible it is a fault in the digitzer hardware but that is quite uncommon and requires replacement.

HI there,

Normal 0 The best thing I can offer for you to do is to go to the free palm chat service they offer. I have used this and it worked good for me. Here is a link to the free chat service. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see a Palm Chat. From there click on the link that says Chat Now and follow the online prompts. Best wishes...I hope this will help you.

Here is that link.....

Normal 0 http://kb.palm.com/wps/portal/kb/na/lifedrive/lifedrive/unlocked/supportservices/page_en.html

The clicking noise usually indicates a hard drive problem. There are replacements available. You can get a replacement hard drive or a flash card drive. Of the two the flash drive is by far the better choice.

Usually the click is the hard drive. There are places that can sell or install a replacement hard drive or even replace it with a compact flash card. The CF card is the way to go. Better battery life by a lot and much faster.

This sounds like the issue where the LifeDrive is stuck in a loop. You can see how to break the device out of the system loop on the Palm Knowledge Base article (26419) located HERE.

Hope that helps get you up and running again!

HI,
Normal 0 The best thing to do is to go to the free palm chat service they offer. I have used this and it worked good for me. Here is a link to the free chat service. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see a Palm Chat. From there click on the link that says Chat Now and follow the online prompts. Best wishes...I hope this will help you.

Now for the link....

Normal 0 http://kb.palm.com/wps/portal/kb/na/lifedrive/lifedrive/unlocked/supportservices/page_en.html

That is your battery telling you it has had enough. Usually they last about 2 years. You can buy a replacement battery from about $15 and up. Usually these replacements have more capacity than the originals and so you get much longer usable run time.

You can send it in to get it replaced but it is a very simple job to do yourself. You just need a 5.5 torx screwdriver to take 4 screws out and open the case. Undo one connector remove the old battery and then put the cover back on and the screws back in. Carge overnight and you are up and running.

If you do a search on google or bing you will find dozens of places that sell the battery and/or will replace it for you.

If you look at this link it shows the battery and shows a video on how to replace the battery. Have a look at that and it should give you an idea if you feel comfortable to fix it yourself.

http://www.directfix.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PA2030&Category_Code=LIFEDRIVE

Just go to the plamone website and download and install the dektop software for the LD. That will let you hotsync and upload to the LD

Make sure you have the latest desktop version which was 414E When you try to reinstall the desktop software DO NOT select or allow update setting over internet. Some of the earlier versions had a problem with earlier xp versions. It is stable and works well with sp2 and sp3 versions of XP so update your windows as well.

I would download TCPMP(core) player. This is a free player. There is a newer commerical version of it as well. There are other good video players as well but TCPMP is free and plays full screen. It will resize the video right up to to point where your lifedrive starts compaining a bit. As an experiment I tried a full size dvd movie. It played it, wasn't happy, wasn't nice to watch but it played it. On most other videos you will use it will maintain proper speeds without problems.

This link should get you to the download for the player but if not just search for "TCMCP player Palm" and you should find hundreds of locations to download from.

Enjoy

Does the wifi work at all after it resets? Have you applied the level 2 palm srvice pack to the LD? I believe the update changes how the wifi operates. If you go to www.palmone.com and go to the lifedrive page you should see a list of downloads for it. If you click on the 2.0 update there is a description of how to tell if you need this or if it is already installed. You just need to check the version of one file. Download and install the patch and see if that fixes everythng.

If that doesn't fix it you may have a more serious problem that could require replaceing or fixing the LD

I had the same problem and it was the battery.......

If the sdcard is the right type and size all you need to do is fully insert it into the slot. Its spring loaded so it will pop up if it isn't quite far enough in. It should only fit one way.

Generally the LD likes 2gb and smaller sdcards , it can use bigger such as 4gb but that's when you can be hit or miss. That depends on brand and sd version.If you search for a list of LD compatible sd cards you should find out what card to use or buy.

I had the exact same annoying problem. Easy fix though. Get the palm universal cradle. The power connector is either worn or loose and making partial contact. So when you use the normal adapter there might be a position that works but generally it won't. When you use the cradle the weight of the LD presses the contacts more and it will behave.

I went through a couple of chargers before getting the cradle and fixing it once and for all.

Seems the LifeDrive Micro Drive is the killer on these Palms. Mine did the same thing and after extensive online research I found that the micro drive can be replaced with a Compact Flash card which is much more reliable. Apparently there are only certain CF cards that work with the LifeDrive though. I have found at least one retailer that sells a compatible CF preloaded with the Lifedrive software. The route I took for repair was to send it out to a guy that advertises his service on eBay. You send in the LifeDrive, he diagnoses it for $5, and can install the CF card with software for $89 (he waives the $5 if you have him fix it). I am looking forward to getting mine back in permanent working order! Here is the link:
http://myworld.ebay.com/itsnothere/