(Last edited Feb 27, 2008)

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Remove unneeded programs and files from RAM to free up RAM memory

So, you’ve started playing around with the new software you’ve installed. Maybe you’ve figured now that you aren’t likely going to be subscribing to any Audible subscriptions or buy any Audible books so you don’t need the Audible player to stay installed on your Palm and hog up valuable RAM. And maybe there’s a few other programs that you want removed from your Palm so that you have some RAM left to run and install other applications.

Some programs are quite RAM intensive and will need at least a few MB (Megabytes) of free RAM available to load. Examples include map viewing software like Mapopolis, some games like Bejeweled 2, and others. If you don’t have a megabyte (MB) or two of free RAM, some RAM intensive programs like what I’ve mentioned above will crash when run. So, you’ll experience crashes and won’t be able to run the program until you have more free RAM available. So it’s advisable to keep at least a few MBs of RAM free. To do that, you’ll have to figure out which program you don’t use and remove them from the Palm.

Removing programs from the Palm

Here are a few ways in which you can remove programs from a Palm.

Select Delete from the App Menu to delete an application

1 - Deleting applications from the Palm using the Applications Launcher. Although it seems the most simplest method and it does work, this isn’t the best way to remove a program, or at least, all remnants of a program. To delete it using this method, tap on the menu (top left hand corner, or the menu icon in the silkscreen/graffiti area), select Delete and tap on the application you want deleted and tap Done. What happens is the Applications Launcher deletes the main .prc program.

Here’s a simulation showing how to delete an application in the Palm.

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

Unfortunately, the Applications Launcher doesn’t try to detect other files like preferences and databases that may be linked to the program. Many programs have preferences files that it requires to load in RAM to function properly. And the Palm Launcher doesn’t have the functionality to detect every file that is connected to the main program. So, even if you’ve “deleted” the program from your Palm, the database files and preferences files may still be on the device, hogging up valuable RAM storage space.

Screenshots of FileZ (left) and FileProg (right)

2 - Use a File manager utility like FileZ or FileProg or other similar apps and deleting the files. Although this also works, but unless you’re more knowledgeable about searching for Creator IDs and preferences files, you will most likely only delete the main application program .prc and be in the same situation as #1.

Screenshots of Uninstall Manager (left) and Destaller Pro (right)

3 - Use an uninstall manager utility like
Uninstall Manager or Destaller Lite (freeware) or Pro. In this case, the programs will detect all files linked to a specific program and remove them all when you uninstall a program from the Palm. This is probably the best way to remove all remnants of a Palm program. In the Uninstall manager, there’s also what’s called a Sandbox feature where you can try out a program to make sure it doesn’t cause any conflicts before you let it install onto the Palm.

This Sandbox feature in Uninstall manager can easily allow you to play around with a new installed program and delete everything associated with it if you find any conflicts or problems. You have the choice to enable or disable it.

Screenshot of Cleanup

Although using Unistall Manager utilities will work to uninstall application files, they can only monitor file and programs that are installed after you’ve installed these utilities. To be able to search for “orphan” files or what I call as leftover or remnants of the program files, you’ll need something like Cleanup to search for files that aren’t connected or linked to any installed programs on the Palm.

Cleanup will search the Palm for any connections or linkage to program files and allow you to delete any orphan files so you can free up more unneeded and useless files that’s hogging up RAM. The program has a feature where you can save a backup of the file before you delete it, just in case you make a mistake and need to recover it. Cleanup can be sold separately but it is also packaged in a special bundle named NeatFreak Pack Ultimate with Uninstall Manager, Cleanup, OnGuard Backup and NorthGlide Undo for a special price. It’s a very worthwhile investment.

There’s also a similar bundle package available for Destaller Pro. You can get either the Utilities Bundle which includes Destaller Pro, SilkScreen and SprayPaint or the Pro Pack which includes Backup Pro and Destaller Pro

And, Blue Nomad, the developer of BackupBuddyVFS Professional also offers a bundle of programs. Blue Nomad’s Nomad Security Suite for Palm OS offers a bundle that includes BackupBuddyVFS Professional, Remove It, and Swordfish.

Depending on what programs you already have, the bundles may or may not appeal to you. Obviously if you want a good deal and don’t own a similar program, then the bundle will offer the best value. But, if you already own a similar software, you may only want to purchase the software individually.

Simulation of Deleting Palm Program and Files

Alternative Flash links: Image Shack

This is a simulation showing the 3 ways discussed previously in which you can delete Palm applications as well as using the Cleanup utility to search and remove orphan files.

The simulation will play through to the end unless I’ve inserted a pop up note for specific points.

To continue playing the simulation, press the button.
To go back to a previous paused segment, click on the button.
To pause the simulation at any time, press the button. To continue after it’s paused, press the button again.
To scroll forwards or backwards in the simulation, click anywhere on the left (to go back earlier in the simulation), or right (to go forward in the simulation) on the progress bar.

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: archives categories uninstall filemanager gettingstarted palm uninstallmanager destallerlite cleanup onguardbackup

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