Fwd: Installation and use

Forwarding to the list, in case anyone else has insight on my responses.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Andrew Browning <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Familiar] Installation and use
To: "Ashcroft, B.A." <[email protected]>


On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 1:19 PM, Ashcroft, B.A.
<[email protected]> wrote:

> I tried the instructions for setting up the pda for usb (i have no serial port on my desktop)  but I could not load the new files into the PDA.  I tried using my wifes SD card, but it did not work.

SD cards on 2.4 linux devices can be pretty tricky. What's the card
capacity? If it's over 4gb, then the card is SDHC which I'm pretty
sure the kernel won't recognize. Even if it's under 4GB, it might not
be readable. If the file system is NTFS (likely not the case, but it's
a possibility), I don't think the kernel will be able to read it. In
fact, I'm not even sure if it can read a FAT32 file system. FAT12 and
FAT16 should work, unless the card is just a really finicky one.

> So I basically have a brick as I cannot sync the device, I cannot access the files, I cannot even download enough software to make this run like the basic setup of pocket pc 2002.
>
> Can someone tell me what I need to do to get this device connected to anything?  I have the option of a w2k machine with cygwin and a serial port,  windows xp with a serial port, or ubuntu/windows xp with usb.  I would just like to be able to connect to the PDA and access it's filesystem.  Connecting it to the internet would be fun too, but just being able to load software on the machine would be enough.

This probably isn't the solution you had in mind, but if you're
willing to spend more money, it can work. You can purchase a sleeve
for the iPAQ (there are various models available) that supports a CF
or PCMCIA card. You can also purchase a CF or PCMCIA wired or wireless
network adapter. I bought a dual-PCMCIA sleeve for around $100 back in
2003/2004; I bought a near-new iPAQ 3800 WITH a dual-PCMCIA sleeve for
around $100 in 2005 or so. Both came from eBay. The prices have
probably come down since then. The sleeve will let you insert a wired
or wireless network adapter so you can then transfer files, and remove
the sleeve when you don't need it. As a bonus, many of the sleeves
include extended batteries. Back before I got my first Windows Mobile
phone, I used to carry my iPAQ w/ dual sleeve, PCMCIA wired network
adapter, and PCMCIA wireless network adapter with me to hotels and
conferences, and I was pleased with the setup at the time.

> Just one more question is it possible to use the PDA as a usb memory stick.  This would be enough for me to use.

Don't think this is going to happen. Even if there were a way for it
to work, it's not worth carrying around something that large (and
battery-powered) that can only hold like 64-128MB of data.

good luck!
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