Dell slows down on and after specific date

PETJW1 · 05-09-09, 10:49 AM

I have had a Dell Axim X51V for some years and besides problems with Activ Sync it's ok
Today however, when I was synching in the cradle with my PC it froze. After unsuccessfully trying soft reset (it just stayed on Windows Mobile screen) I then tried a hard reset but when option came up to continue I cancelled. This got me back into my Dell without losing data but it reset the date to 1st Jul 2005. Whilst in this date the Dell worked fine. As soon as I changed the date to todays date (9th May 2009) or after it would literally take about 5 mins to respond to my tapping an application. (in some instances it was longer than that ) It did not appear to be frozen as the screen would light up after I touched it.

I also did a backup , complete hard reset, and then restored but with the same result.

Any suggestions as I can now only use this with a date prior to 9th May 2009

psionandy · 05-09-09, 10:58 AM

is it a problem if you hard reset and don't restore?

PETJW1 · 05-09-09, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by psionandy

is it a problem if you hard reset and don't restore?

I have just tried a hard reset , changed date from default to today and it works OK.
But obviously no current data/programs

Box · 05-09-09, 11:19 AM

That's why Andy asked the question.

When you make a backup it needs to be when your device is running well.
Restoring from a backup made when you have a problem generally restores the problem as well.

Something in your system is causing the date problem, did you install any new software recently?

PETJW1 · 05-09-09, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Box

That's why Andy asked the question.

When you make a backup it needs to be when your device is running well.
Restoring from a backup made when you have a problem generally restores the problem as well.

Something in your system is causing the date problem, did you install any new software recently?

No new software at all recently

Box · 05-09-09, 11:23 AM

Then your best bet is to reinstall the applications and data that you need manually.

PETJW1 · 05-09-09, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Box

Then your best bet is to reinstall the applications and data that you need manually.

thanks for your help. To avoid having to restore all the programs and data again is there some way I can restore from a backup (I have Sprite and standard WM backups) and omit anything that would likely cause this problem. Just for good measure I have tried restoring an old backup before today's date (over a month old) but when I restore, it still has the same problem.

AKAJohnDoe · 05-09-09, 12:49 PM

After the hard reset, did you set the date to today before you restored the backup?
How far back does your PIM data (Calendar & Tasks) go?
Have you ever cleared the completed Tasks?
Do you have the DST fixes applied?

PETJW1 · 05-09-09, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by AKAJohnDoe

After the hard reset, did you set the date to today before you restored the backup?
How far back does your PIM data (Calendar & Tasks) go?
Have you ever cleared the completed Tasks?
Do you have the DST fixes applied?

calendar goes back 2/3 years.
Tasks not 2/3 years but there aren't that many
Never cleared completed tasks but there aren't that many
By DST I presume you mean daylight saving time. In which case I have never applied any fixes. As I say it all worked fine up until today

PETJW1 · 05-09-09, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by PETJW1

calendar goes back 2/3 years.
Tasks not 2/3 years but there aren't that many
Never cleared completed tasks but there aren't that many
By DST I presume you mean daylight saving time. In which case I have never applied any fixes. As I say it all worked fine up until today

Sorry forgot to answer your first question
I didn't not set the date to today before hard reset

PETJW1 · 05-09-09, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by PETJW1

Sorry forgot to answer your first question
I didn't not set the date to today before hard reset

sorry again
I mean I didn't reset the date to today before restore

psionandy · 05-10-09, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Box

That's why Andy asked the question.

When you make a backup it needs to be when your device is running well.
Restoring from a backup made when you have a problem generally restores the problem as well.

Something in your system is causing the date problem, did you install any new software recently?

Box... you're right. (note to the rest to the world... Box is a smart cookie :approve:

My guess (and it is a guess) is that there is something date related in your restore files thats 'corrupt' in some way. The PIM would be the obvious guess.

I haven't used Sprite in a while but i'm pretty sure you can do a partial restore... and I think you can explore your backup files from the desktop pc with a sprite utility.

BUT before you do any of that I'd make sure your outlook data is backed up to a PST file on your PC...

Then if it was me, I'd sync my freshly hard restored axim (with the correct date set) to my PC. without installing any apps see if it still has a problem. If there is a problem at that point you may want to work on tidying your outlook diary. consider archiving old data...

If that works then I'd install all of the apps individually. Taking a backup with sprite after you've reached certain milestones of your choice.

Hope thats of some help

KimChee · 05-10-09, 08:42 AM

I think if it was me Id experiment with the settings to find out which program or setting is causing the problems..better than manually installing everything, especially if you have any purchased software with the serials. Last time I did a manual install it took about 10 hours.

control · 05-10-09, 09:18 AM

Also, have a look at:
Start->Settings->System->Certificates and see if you have any under the Personal or Root tab that expire on the date in question. Note that you might have to do this with unit in the "corrupted" condition as the offending certificate (if any) might not be there after a hard reset.

JakeRich · 05-10-09, 10:40 AM

It might also be a "bad" repeating task or appointment in Outlook. I had that same type problem until I deleted a meeting that had been synced from Lotus Notes using mNotes. Turns out that endlessly repeating events cause problems for Outlook.