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Again, this was already discussed in my Hotsync application part 2: Install Palm programs but I wanted to make it an easier to look up or search by putting this under the How To Series postings. Please check out the previous posting for the Flash simulation or demo showing how to install a program for more information.

Program installation summary

To summarize, you should only be installing Palm programs normally with the extension of .prc (Palm executable program file) or .pdb (Palm database file). If you encounter other extensions, you will likely need to first deal with it first either by decompressing the file if it’s a zip, .rar or .sit. Or, if it’s a Windows executable file .exe, you will first need to install it in Windows which will then do the necessary installation for you, only requiring you to do the Hotsync.

Disable programs that will be updated

If you have a previous version of the same program already installed in the Palm, and it is currently running or “enabled”, it is advisable to “disable” it first. This is normally true for most programs that “run in the background” like hacks or DAs (Desk Accessory). Doing so will ensure that there is no conflicts or problems when upgrading to the newer version. Not all programs will have the “enable” or “disable” feature as they may not be “running in the backround”. For those ones, you don’t need to “disable” it.

Put a copy of the .prc and/or .pdb in the Quick Install window either on the handheld or on the expansion card, depending on where you wish to install it. Then do a hotsync by either pressing on the hotsync button on the cradle or charger or launching the Hotsync program on the Palm and tap on the Hotsync icon. Normally, it should be installed if the program disappears from the Quick Install window and you don’t get any error messages in the Hotsync Log.

Or, any of the other methods of installing that I’ve discussed in my previous posting.

Depending on whether the .prc program is an actual installer program, it may then start to extract and truly install the necessary bundled files and program into the Palm. For example, Ringo and TypeRight are two examples that self-install on the Palm.

Soft reset before running the new program to make sure it “takes”

Normally, most of us, once the program is in the Palm, will immediately or shortly thereafter, run the program. Depending on whether it is an upgrade to a previously installed program or not, you may want to do another extra step BEFORE you start running the program. This is somewhat similar to doing a warm reboot in Windows whenever you install a new program.

For example, if you have previously installed TypeRight or StopDim on the Palm, to ensure that the latest version’s preferences and files overwrite over the previous version, first make sure you “disable” the program first (as I’ve already discussed) and then, do a manual soft reset (poke the reset hole in the back of the unit) to “clear” any settings still temporarily stored in DBCache that may conflict with the newer version.

With these types of programs, failure to do the “disabling” of the program as well as a soft reset before running it may cause the older program files and settings to remain so that the program doesn’t necessarily “work” properly or reflect the newer update changes.

So, if you are updating to a newer version of a program, be sure to do a soft reset BEFORE you run that newer version.

Not all programs require this, but it doesn’t hurt and only takes a few extra moments of you time. Doing the soft reset will ensure that you are running the program with the settings and files that should be loaded.

So, if you are struggling with a new update or finding that the problem you were experiencing in an older version is still there, maybe try uninstalling the program and re-installing it again, making sure to do a soft reset before running it. It may now work properly.

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