stocktiki

If any of you Axim pros can give me any help on an issue I'm having, it would be greatly appreciated. To help you, below you will find detailed information about the issue -- which has been impossible for me to solve.

Here's the deal, do you ever get the Windows Mobile "spinning beach ball" when you try to start a program for the second time after turning the Axim off and then back on? The only way to get the spinning beach ball to stop is by doing a soft reset. It's a solution, I supposed, just not a very elegant one.

So, after weeks of trial and error -- I've found a pattern to what causes this. This is where I'm hoping you can help. The problem starts when you run a program, then "x" out of it, turn off the Axim, and then turn it back on. If you try to run the program again, you get the spinning beach ball. Sometimes when you try to run the program after turning the Axim off and then on again, you can only see the subject line display the name of the program -- but the full program screen never loads and you still see the "today" menu. This happens with programs stored on the "storage card," as well as some preinstalled programs such as the address book and e-mail programs. I haven't had the issue with Pocket Word.

Here's where things get interesting. If you go into Windows Mobile 2003's memory management BEFORE turning off the Axim, and "stop all" programs, and THEN turn off the Axim, the problem does not happen. Weird, huh?

I know, some of you probably are thinking -- OK, why not just load a program that will "close" the program when you hit the "x." Problem solved, right? Wrong. Turns out that running that program itself creates the same complication.

Hoping to get an Axim experts opinion in several areas (I'm running an Axim X30 mid with a Kingston 512 MB storage card):

1. Can you duplicate this error on your Axim? Try loading a program, like Windows Media, "x"-ing out, turning off your Axim, turn it back on and then try to run it. Do you get the beachball?

2. Any idea why this might happen? A problem with the memory card? What would possibly cause this?

3. Any suggestions on how to fix it?

Sorry for the long note. It's just that this problem has been pretty troubling -- it's reallly annoying when the Axim locks up right when you need it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

rob1303

This is happening because the 'x' in the top right corner doesn't close the programme - it minimises them - so when you try to run the programme again it is already running and this causes the problem.

This is also why when you go to Memoryt>Stop all> the problem doesn't recur as you have actually 'closed' the programme before you restart it.

Believe it or not, MicroSoft claims that minimising rather than closing programmes is a 'feature'.

There are plenty of 3rd party programmes that fix the problem. They are usually called 'Task Managers' and they turn the 'x' into a 'proper' close button.

I use WisbarAdvanced (Fee), others use MagicButton (free), others use SPB Pocket Plus...etc, etc.

Gigi

You can also use the built-in Switcher bar to close programs. (Start - Settings - System - Switcher Bar)

jmckeown

I have Magic Button but find the Switcher bar more conveinent.

psionandy

I have switcher bar but find Magic button more conveinent

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ikehiker

Since this relates to a storage card, I thought I'd make one suggestion. If you don't have a "My Documents" on your card, try adding one and then delete the ignore_my_docs file you'll find in the root directory on the card.

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stocktiki

I really appreciate the comments guy -- but unfortunately, the switcher bar solution does not work.

The trouble is that the switcher bar software, itself, causes the spinning beach ball issue. In other words, it works great the first time it is started. But if you turn off the power and turn it back on -- then the switcher bar software itself prompts a spinning beach ball.

stocktiki

Thanks IkeHiker! Just read your EXCELLENT thread on the mysterious ignore_my_docs file (http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=55230).

I did find that that file lurking on my storage card -- and have deleted it. I am feeling very confident that you may have solved the problem that has been plaguing me for months!!

Thanks again!