[HELP] Palm Centro and Vista x64

[mikerisner]

Wow. This was truly a painful thread to read.

Here's the bottom line: The USB cable will not work in Windows Vista x64.

Why? There's no 64-bit drivers for the Centro. While 32-bit software will operate fine in Vista x64, drivers are another story. Drivers in x64 are supposed to be digitally signed and true 64-bit versions. Not hard to do, but ACCESS doesn't seem interested in supporting Palm devices.

Meanwhile, Palm Desktop 6.2 works fine. And you can enable Bluethooth HotSync. It's slow but it works fine.

Good luck.

[phwelo]

i, not having bluetooth on my primary desktop, came up with the alternative of using card reader to install applications and rescobackup to make sure everything's backed up. this doesn't much solve the problem for those that sync calendar data and contacts with outlook, but for some it may be enough.

[Treo Musketeers]

This is turning into a very helpful thread. While there is no optimal method for syncing with 64bit, there are several workarounds. Thanks for sharing guys!

[mikerisner]

Agreed, Treo Musketeers. The only completely missing functionality is trickle charging when connected to an x64 Windows computer.

And that is a bummer...

[denisellen]

I don't know anything about Vista but have an aversion to it anyway. So many people I've talked to hate it. The IT dept at the major university where I work won't touch it even though Microsoft is just next door. We're all still running XP Sp 3. But it looks inevitable that it will come on a home PC that I'll purchase soon.
--So my question is - is there a version of Vista that will support the Palm Desktop? Is this a problem with the Treos as well? I also have a 680 that is a bit ill, and in need of fixing, so I am using my Centro exclusively.

[sfhub]

Originally Posted by mikerisner

Agreed, Treo Musketeers. The only completely missing functionality is trickle charging when connected to an x64 Windows computer.

And that is a bummer...

Why can't you connect the USB cable and simultaneously continue doing a bluetooth sync for the data portion? The trickle charging from the USB cable should have no dependency on the drivers.

[CentroAngie]

Originally Posted by denisellen

I don't know anything about Vista but have an aversion to it anyway. So many people I've talked to hate it. The IT dept at the major university where I work won't touch it even though Microsoft is just next door. We're all still running XP Sp 3. But it looks inevitable that it will come on a home PC that I'll purchase soon.
--So my question is - is there a version of Vista that will support the Palm Desktop? Is this a problem with the Treos as well? I also have a 680 that is a bit ill, and in need of fixing, so I am using my Centro exclusively.

I have two computers running vista and both work perfectly with my Palm desktop and sync with no problem. It's only the 64 bit version off Vista that is the problem.

Frankly I've been running Vista for some time and it's been a way more stable OS than the XP systems that I've had previously. I'm running a desktop and laptop both with Vista, and then I just rec'd a netbook running XP SP3 and all work well with the palm desktop and hotsync.

[jfa02]

well the 32 bit Vista seems to be okay it is just the 64 bit vista thats really difficult. the 64 bit seems to be more and more prevalent in the best buy and office depot sales ads for desktops and laptops

[sfhub]

I don't think it is that big a deal on vista x64. Just do the bluetooth sync for vista x64 and everything will be fine. I would have done that even on vista x32 just because I hate having to carry around more cables.

If your PC doesn't have a bluetooth adapter, just go out and get an USB adapter for $5-$10.

[mikerisner]

@sfhub: The drivers do make the difference for trickle charging. Your logic is sound enough, it's just not reality, unfortunately. When you plug the Centro into Vista x64, Windows just starts an endless loop of trying to install the drivers, failing, and starting all over again.

@everyone: The 32-bit (x86) version of Vista will support all aspects of Palm Desktop, trickle charging, USB HoySync, etc. The only real reason to use x64 over x86 is if your computer has more than 3 GB of RAM. There really isn't any noticeable performance gain using 64-bit Windows.

@denisellen: There's a stigma associated with Vista that is very real, but mostly for imagined reasons. Bottom line: There's nothing wrong with Windows Vista. In fact, Windows XP debuted with many more problems (and people made a big stink back then, too). I've been using it for a long time, and I haven't had any more problems with it than I have with my XP machines.