Idiot's guide to installing new software please? - Treo Forum

Mandi · 06-10-2007, 05:30 AM

Sorry, this is really idiotic. I am so lost with this *^&%% operating system!!

Ooooh!!! Palm OS!!! How I miss you!!!!

How do you install ANY new software onto a Treo 750? I download it, save it to my desktop somewhere, then run it... in one case it seemed to install okay, in the other it gives me some weird message about I should be running it on the handheld not the desktop... but HOW do I get it there???

I just went ahead with the wizard anyway, and it seemed to do some stuff and told me to check my handheld for further messages. As I turned on the handheld there WAS a message but that was immediately overwritten by that stupid "Today" screen so I couldn't read it. And I can't find it anywhere. Now I have searched high and low on my handheld and the software is nowhere to be seen. So presumably it's taking up a whole lot of memory and I can't run it.

HOW am I supposed to install new software??? It was all so easy on the dear old 650. Please some CONSTRUCTIVE help, pleeese, pleeese!!

TazUk · 06-10-2007, 06:53 AM

There are two ways of installing depending on the type of file that's downloaded. Most software comes with a Windows installer in which case you download it to your PC and run the setup program which then should transfer the relevant files to your Treo via Activesync. If you've downloaded a CAB file then this should be transferred onto your Treo, either via Activesync or using a card reader to copy it onto a mini-SD card, and then run the CAB file using File Explorer on your Treo.

Mandi · 06-10-2007, 05:18 PM

Thank you - that's a very straightforward set of instructions. I did try your first suggestion and it didn;t work but perhaps there was something wrong with the software in question - I'll try with something else.

Mandi · 06-10-2007, 05:45 PM

Aha, I have cracked it. This is SOOO obvious, but there MIGHT be other newbies out there as stupid as me, and so this might be helpful:

The trick is to make sure that your handheld's screen is turned ON while you download, so that you can see whatever messages the downloading software is trying to send you. In the case of the PocketClock it was just asking quite politely for a confirmation that I really wanted to install it!

Another thing that I have learned (and don't flame me for this, it IS obvious NOW but it wasn't when I was still thinking in Treo 650 mode) is that the red phone button isn't the only way to turn the screen on. If you use it, the "Today" screen immediately overwrites whatever was on the screen before, and that included, in my case, the message from the installing software. (I still haven't found a way of getting back to that, if I DO overwrite it, incidentally...?) Instead you can use the centre key (whatever it's called - the big round one) and that just re-activates the screen without changing what's showing.

comiken205 · 06-10-2007, 07:52 PM

Feels good to learn, thanks.

jfa02 · 06-14-2007, 04:46 PM

I have found that it s good to be at the program screen becausre after the installation is almost done it asks you to check the device for further action needed and if your at that screeen you can easily figure out what needs to be done because its usually install to device or expansion card and not to decide is to decide!

06-10-2007, 05:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mandi Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 My Treo: Treo 750 My Carrier: Other My OS: XP Posts: 24 Thanks: 15 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Idiot's guide to installing new software please? Sorry, this is really idiotic. I am so lost with this *^&%% operating system!! Ooooh!!! Palm OS!!! How I miss you!!!! How do you install ANY new software onto a Treo 750? I download it, save it to my desktop somewhere, then run it... in one case it seemed to install okay, in the other it gives me some weird message about I should be running it on the handheld not the desktop... but HOW do I get it there??? I just went ahead with the wizard anyway, and it seemed to do some stuff and told me to check my handheld for further messages. As I turned on the handheld there WAS a message but that was immediately overwritten by that stupid "Today" screen so I couldn't read it. And I can't find it anywhere. Now I have searched high and low on my handheld and the software is nowhere to be seen. So presumably it's taking up a whole lot of memory and I can't run it. HOW am I supposed to install new software??? It was all so easy on the dear old 650. Please some CONSTRUCTIVE help, pleeese, pleeese!!

06-10-2007, 06:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
TazUk Mostly harmless Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kent, UK My Treo: Treo 750v My Carrier: Vodaphone My OS: XP Posts: 3,715 Thanks: 157 Thanked 410 Times in 321 Posts	There are two ways of installing depending on the type of file that's downloaded. Most software comes with a Windows installer in which case you download it to your PC and run the setup program which then should transfer the relevant files to your Treo via Activesync. If you've downloaded a CAB file then this should be transferred onto your Treo, either via Activesync or using a card reader to copy it onto a mini-SD card, and then run the CAB file using File Explorer on your Treo. __________________ Treo 180 > Treo 270 > Treo 650 > Treo 750v (Running WM6) + Treo 500v + Centro "Going to church no more makes you a christian than sleeping in your garage makes you a car." *Garrison Keillor*

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06-10-2007, 05:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mandi Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 My Treo: Treo 750 My Carrier: Other My OS: XP Posts: 24 Thanks: 15 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thank you - that's a very straightforward set of instructions. I did try your first suggestion and it didn;t work but perhaps there was something wrong with the software in question - I'll try with something else.

06-10-2007, 05:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mandi Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 My Treo: Treo 750 My Carrier: Other My OS: XP Posts: 24 Thanks: 15 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Aha, I have cracked it. This is SOOO obvious, but there MIGHT be other newbies out there as stupid as me, and so this might be helpful: The trick is to make sure that your handheld's screen is turned ON while you download, so that you can see whatever messages the downloading software is trying to send you. In the case of the PocketClock it was just asking quite politely for a confirmation that I really wanted to install it! Another thing that I have learned (and don't flame me for this, it IS obvious NOW but it wasn't when I was still thinking in Treo 650 mode) is that the red phone button isn't the only way to turn the screen on. If you use it, the "Today" screen immediately overwrites whatever was on the screen before, and that included, in my case, the message from the installing software. (I still haven't found a way of getting back to that, if I DO overwrite it, incidentally...?) Instead you can use the centre key (whatever it's called - the big round one) and that just re-activates the screen without changing what's showing.

06-10-2007, 07:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
comiken205 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Maricopa, AZ My Treo: Treo 800w My Carrier: Sprint My OS: Vista Posts: 2,540 Thanks: 198 Thanked 299 Times in 249 Posts	Feels good to learn, thanks.

06-14-2007, 04:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
jfa02 Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Arkansas My Treo: Treo 750 My Carrier: Cingular/AT&T My OS: XP Posts: 3,548 Thanks: 1,132 Thanked 212 Times in 192 Posts	I have found that it s good to be at the program screen becausre after the installation is almost done it asks you to check the device for further action needed and if your at that screeen you can easily figure out what needs to be done because its usually install to device or expansion card and not to decide is to decide!