software install w/o Palm Desktop

D

dodgers

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Is it possible to install Palm software from a machine that does not have the Palm Desktop installed.

I generally use Palm Install (pinstall.exe) to install Palm software. I can't get it to work on my laptop - it says missing drivers. I suspect the drivers would be included in the desktop, but I don't want to install the desktop on this machine.

Am I missing something? How can I get this to work?
 
if you have a T5 then use drive mode+Tealmover or another file transporter type app to copy to RAM, that works great. There is also 3rd party software to do that with an SD card on other models, other than that, search google for the driver i guess...
 
If you have an SD/MMC card installed you can always use CardExport (www.softick.com/cardexport/) to copy programs from a PC to SD card. Once the application is on the card, if you loaded it to /Palm/Launcher, and it is capable of being run from a card, no further step is needed. If the application must be loaded into RAM (internal storage), then you need a program like Filez or McFile to be able to move it from SD/MMC to Ram. (I should mention that CardExport loads the USB drivers it needs to the PC the first time it is connected, so you don't need any addtional software on any laptop/PC. But you do need at least Win98 to use it.)

fnagle/Frank
 
Thanks for the info, but it really doesn't answer my question.

Does PalmDesk have to be installed to use an installer like Palm Install?
 
PInstall is supposed to be able to work if Palm Desktop isn't installed. I used it at work on a PC running Windows NT 4 to install files to a Handspring Visor Deluxe with a serial cradle, and Palm Desktop was not on the machine at the time.
 
There are some questions you need to answer.

Are you running the "latest" version of PInstall?

What version of Windows are you running?

Are you using the USB port, serial port or a network connection?

The answer to these questions can narrow down the problem and lead to a possible solution.

If you have installed Pinstall to use the USB port you may need a USB driver for the version of Windows you are using in order for windows to recognize the device.

I use Pinstall just about daily, but then I have the desktop installed.

When I first connected the T3 to my computer and did the first hotsync "WITH PALM DESKTOP", Windows indicated it had found a new device and was searching/installing the drivers to make the "new device" operable.

So the answer is "maybe" - just need more information to accurately answer the question.

fnagle/Frank
 
If you have access to a linux PC with pilot-link installed you can connect the hotsync cable and then do 'pilot-xfer -p /dev/ttyUSB1 -i GreatGame.prc' and then press hotsync on the Palm.

-Tor
 
There are some questions you need to answer.

Are you running the "latest" version of PInstall?

Yes

What version of Windows are you running?

WinXP Pro SP2

Are you using the USB port, serial port or a network connection?

USB


If you have installed Pinstall to use the USB port you may need a USB driver for the version of Windows you are using in order for windows to recognize the device.

Now that you mention it, I think it's the USB driver that I need. Is that a Palm file or a Windows file? I use the USB port all the time without problem.
 
The original Palm Hotsync didn't provide a USB driver. Palm released it later as a download to allow USB connections.

Although provided by Palm, it is needed by Windows.

This may be the "missing link" in using PInstall.

I've attached the USB files found in:

C:\Program Files\Palm\USB Driver

They're only 39K.

The PalmOne website has these available but indicates you should have the Palm Desktop installed for the USB driver. I personally don't think you need the desktop. If you just "plug in" the Palm on the computer, it will indicate "New Hardware Found" and request a location for the driver. I'd try pointing it to the location you copied the files to and see if it works. If the install indicates a successful completion, I'd then try running Pinstall (USB port).

fnagle/Frank
 
Just had another idea, you could also think about running Pinstall through either the infrared or a bluetooth COM connection. That would eliminate the need for a USB driver. Of course this only works if the computer/laptop has either of these options available.

fnagle/Frank
 
1. Are you saying that with these USB drivers installed, you can install programs to my T3 WITHOUT Palm Desktop?

2. PInstall would take it's place, you'd lose the Hotsync button (and have something else) - but you're "freed" from the Palm Desktop?

3. If you subsequently REMOVE Palm Desktop, how do conduits like Sheet2Go or Bonsai (my only 2 concerns) function? If there's a way around that I'm down with PInstall and would purchase it TODAY. I'd rely on CardBackup, since I don't add address or calendar "stuff" on the desktop anyway.

I'm VERY interested in this as an alternative, provided

Bonsai
Docs2Go (and that"s necessary ONLY if I crate an Excel Sheet and want to sync TO THE T3 - I'd use TinySheet otherwise)

will transfer info in some way.

Thanks very much for this thread!
 
Hello PalmTealLover,

I don't think we're advocating a remove of the Desktop and HotSync. If I understand correctly, its the need to transfer items to/from a PC that doesn't have the desktop and HotSync installed.

I'm not aware of any software that "replaces" hotsync for the other "conduits" that software installs. Palm conduits for calendar, tasks, notes etc. and third party conduits such as Bonsai and Docs to Go.

PInstall only moves files to the Palm (either internal or SD card) and not much else, but it does this quickly and without the need to use QuickInstall or Hotsync.

Many time when I want to move a photo, an e-book or some such to the Palm, I'll use either CardExport or PInstall.

PInstall (non professional version is FREE) and has been around for quite a few years.

Hope this answers your questions.

fnagle/Frank
 
I'll Google it . . . would be handy. It's been some time, actually, since I needed to work PC/T3 on EITHER Sheet2Go or a Bonsai outline; furthermore I'm beginning to think sometimes you're better off WITHOUT the PIMS synching with the desktop!!

Either way, it's handy and would eliminate the long startup time for HotSync Manager (I took out of startup menu when I did the "Internet Explorer/Outlook Express/Outlook Assault") and my boot-up time is now 14 seconds. Likin' it - and PInstall would I think be a great asset.

Thanks to you and Captain K for discussing it! Now if I could just get an Excel sheet on the Palm without the "overhead" of Docs2Go or the NIGHTMARE of TiunySheet Conduit . . . I'd be sailing.

cheers.
 
I use Hibernate option when I shutdown my WinXP boxes. This allows one to boot just as fast as your stripped down system, but without disabling too many things (like hotsync). It does require WinXP (2k?), driver, and hardware support.

Hibernate copies RAM to hard disk, then turns off computer. Then when powered on the WinXP loader sees that there's a hibernate image to load, loads it to RAM, and BAM you're up and running.

The neat thing is that it remembers what state everything was in. What web pages were open, what programs were running... Kinda like when one turns off a PDA - when it's turned back on it's in the same place as it was when shut off.

Hibernate is also useful, as the computer can wake itself up to do maintanance tasks (like backup, defrag, ...).

The trickiest part of Hibernate is that it has to be enabled in the power control panel (hibernate tab) and it does not normally show up in the normal shutdown window (hold down shift key, or turn off welcome screen in User Accounts control panel to change shutdown window to have pulldown option list).

I find Hibernate works better than standby mode. Standby mode will fail if there's a power failure, and standby also wastes some power keeping RAM alive.
 
I should mention another "tip" for Pinstall. You can create a shortcut for it in the "Send To" directory on your pc, then when you right click an item you can select "SEND TO PINSTALL" and it will run Pinstall automatically.

Additional facts:

If you're running HotSync - Pinstall shuts it down, since it's using the same USB or Serial port, and when you exit Pinstall it restarts HotSync.

With PInstall you can specify internal or SD card for the transfer, you can also specify a folder other than Launcher for transfer. All my eReader books are in the \Palm\Books folder on an SD card and I can specify the transfer take place directly to this folder. No more using McFile or Filez to move the book from \Palm\Launcher. It also "remembers" the directories you've used in the past and you just need to select Option - Card directory - and click on the drop-down to select your folder.

fnagle/Frank
 
Unfortunately the 480k zip file from Freeware palm and the developer's site come up as "invalid zip" and open to . . . . nothing. Blank.

Any ideas how to get a zip that contains something? I'm good to go then and since I may reload the PC this weekend, I might even go with PInstall ONLY.

Sounds terrific, and will serve my needs.
 
Yep - that one actually had something in it. Installed it imediately . . . . .

OH . . . . MY . . . . . . . GOD.

Could it be SIMPLER? IT'S FANTASTIC! Palm Desktop's days are numbered, folks. Doesn't even require "install" for heaven's sake! It's like TDoc/TPaint - 3-400k and you're DONE! I have one small reeeaaalllly picky question though . . . and it's my "fault."

I download to a "hold folder," then transfer to a "PalmPRC" folder, which is within a Desktop "Palm General" folder (along with Teal Desktop Proggies/converters). No nosebleed yet? Good. This way I can aggregately burn "Palm General" to CD 2x/week and never lose anything.

Well, I didn't figure it would be launchable from the folder itself (thought it would have Windows Installer, yada yada). When it launched it put an icon up on the desktop - that's great. But I decided to have it in c/programs, as luck would have it under "PALM," since it's a "program" at least in my view.

Deleted the "unzipped app," and the shortcut, and moved the zip to its new program folder and reopened. It worked great, but no icon (so obviously I made one).

My question is: How did it know I'd already MADE an icon and not to put another one up? It must not be so "simple," but rather make at least a registry entry somewhere for "reference." I ran a search in the registry, found "PInstall.pqi" and deleted it thinking that was the "tracker," but to no avail. Can anyone tell me how to FULLY DELETE it and reinstall? I just did some extensive registry work, correcting . . . . wait for it . . . 814 reg errors (after uninstalling Internet Explorer, Outlook, Outlook Express, bunch of other stuff - PC runs GREAT NOW!!) - I'd like to keep a clean ship from now on and not have stray entries. It's working FANTASTIC - just don't like loose ends.

Also, it's default is 56000 on speed, and I upped it to 256 - but it didn't seem any faster - what is you guys' default "load speed?" - and how do you REVERSE making it the default installer if you change you rmind? I saw no "indication of that."
 
I think I counted 16 - took 2 screenshots and zipped them, attached. One or two are for something else with "pinstall" in it - namesly a Firefox file - but you can see for youselves it makes a bunch.

Deleting the app and deleting these reg entries should give me "clean slate, right?"

Sorry to be picky but I'm REAL excited about this and just want it done right. I'd make it the default immediately if I thought it could be reversed - but see no means to do that.

Anyway, this is at least some information for you should you ever "delete it," seeing as there's no uninstall. You'd have to clear up these reg entries.
 
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