Failed install of Palm OS 3.5 on Macintosh

Posted By: Brian R. Saturday, December 2, 2000 11:29:58 AM

Brian R., a Macintosh user, would like to point out a possible problem with Palm OS 3.5:

A word of warning, there seems to be a problem with the installer of the Macintosh download version of the Palm OS 3.5 Upgrade. I purchased and downloaded the upgrade. Once installed, I started the process. The installer had backed up my device as indicated. It then proceeded to install the OS upgrade. Once completed, it prompted me to put my device into debug mode. Once in debug mode, I placed the device back in the cradle where it proceeded to re-install the Palm OS. After going through this loop 3 or 4 times, I decided to give up. At this point in time, my device was stuck in debug mode, and would not respond to anything at all.

I then attempted to re-install OS 3.3 on my device, which was successful, and I finally had a functioning device once again.

After numerous e-mails to Palm Tech Support (which they finally stopped replying to), and a 30 plus minute toll call, I have received nothing but the runaround. The gentleman I spoke with on the phone admitted that there was a problem, although he didn't know what it was. I also turned to the web to see if anyone else was having similar problems. Sure enough, there were numerous reports of similar stories on MacFixit.com's Troubleshooting Palm Forums, macintouch.com's palm area, and the Mac area of DealChat.com. There is even reports of a burned out ROM on http://www.applelust.com

The result of this is, be careful when/if you upgrade your palm device from you macintosh. I have not heard of one successful case yet, and Palm Support doesn't seem interested in addressing this problem at all.

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Not here.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/2/2000 11:28:38 AM #

I recommended to a client of mine that they upgrade to 3.5... it's an office full of Macs... a few of them have done it, no problems. (I know at least one was a V and a III.)

RE: Not here.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/3/2000 3:16:38 PM #

Did they use the CD, or the download version? My IIIx failed with the download version.

RE: Not here.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/4/2000 3:03:03 PM #

I can't even download the 3.5 upgrade from palm because it keeps saying "credit card error". I've tried 3 different credit cards, and a friends' credit card and none of them worked.

Windows 2000

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/2/2000 2:09:03 PM #

I had similar issues with the OS 3.5 upgrade on a Palm Vx using Windows 2000 on a PIII laptop. After multiple e-mails with Palm support and a chat, they had no answers. Finally I tried with Windows ME on a 900 mhz desktop and it worked on the first try.

Same problem

jon61575 @ 12/3/2000 12:34:06 PM #

I had the same problem trying to upgrade from my Mac. Palm gave me a refund on the Mac version and I bought a Windows version. I used Virtual PC on my Mac and had no problems.

Palm OS 3.5

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/3/2000 7:54:50 PM #

I upgrade a Palm V on a 266mhz G3 Tower with no problem. The whole download part was alittle odd but it worked flawlessly.

Jason

There is no prblem for me...

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/4/2000 2:43:21 AM #

I have upgraded my Vx with my iBook. No problem at all.

Also

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/4/2000 7:16:19 AM #

I forgot to mention a key thing in my original post.
My failed install happened to be on a IIIx. All of the
other reports of failed intstalls that I have read about
were also on the III series.

Brian R.

Mac Upgrades

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/6/2000 10:16:44 AM #

Following this on the palm mailing list and it looks like it may be related to usb and not the downloaded.

RE: Mac Upgrades

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/6/2000 3:15:57 PM #

I have attempted this upgrade on my USB mac, and on my serial mac,
none of which worked. I did breakdown and buy the CD, so we'll
see if that works.

BTW, what Palm Mailing list are you referring to?

Brian

Success finally!!!

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/9/2000 5:00:31 PM #

This is my final update.. I decided to order the CD version, and once I got it, the upgrade went without a hitch. My IIIx is successfully running OS 3.5. It's just too bad that it took one purchased download, one attempt each on two different machines, numerous emails and phone calls to Palm, one returned download, and one purchase of the CD version before I was successful.

Brian R.