HELPHELPHELP "notes" prog shut down

Bulldog · 09-09-03, 05:11 PM

I need some techies to help me figure out why all of a sudden my "notes" program (the one built in to the software not third party) has quit working.

When I try to access it it freezes the Ax
When I tap the icon in my launcher program it freezes the Ax
When I open a notes file through File Explorer it opens but when you close it freezes the Ax

I would gladly trade you a burger next tuesday for some much needed advice today

Bulldog · 09-10-03, 12:26 PM

Okay, it looks like no one knows the answer, which is normally the case with my questions. I somehow manage to screw things up so bad that no one, including the "brains" at Dell can fix it.

What are some different "notes" type programs that people are using and why/why not should I buy one, or get it for free if available??

JakeRich · 09-10-03, 01:35 PM

Did you recently add that 512 SD card? I ask that because when you open notes, it starts to look for notes files on all storage devices. It starts in My Documents, but if there is no My Documents folder, signaled by a file named ignore_my_docs in the root of the card, then it searches the entire card. With 512, and with a lot of files, that search can take a loooooooong time. It might be that the Ax isn't frozen, it's busy. Try taking out the card(s) and opening Notes with just the basic memory to see if it works then.

09-10-03, 01:38 PM

Couldnt you just delete that file named ignore_my_docs or do you need that?

JakeRich · 09-10-03, 02:36 PM

ignore_my_docs is put there by the operating system if it cannot find a My Documents folder. If you create a My Documents folder, then you need to delete ignore_my_docs or it will do just that, ignore My Documents and search everywhere anyway. If you delete ignore_my_docs and do NOT create My Documents as a folder, the operating system will recreate ignore_my_docs the first time you use one of the "office" suite to look at that device.

Bulldog · 09-10-03, 03:49 PM

No new memory cards, and I took care of the ignore my documents problem shortly after I received my first memory card.

Okay JakeRich you're like a god, not THE GOD but the Ax god.
While writing this I decided to pull out my two cards and test the notes. To my surprise/pleasure/wonder the notes now work.

That leads to another question...
What do I need to look for on the cards that may be causing problems and then if I don't already know what to do, how do I fix it????

Thanks again for the first advice, I never even considered taking them out!!

JakeRich · 09-10-03, 04:52 PM

Ok, now put ONE of the cards in and try Notes. If it works, take it out and put the other in and try again. One of them should make it hang. That's the culprit. Do you have a card reader, or is the Ax the only way to search the cards? If you have a reader, try copying everything from the offender to your PC, then erasing the offender and then copy everything back. That should clean up the directory.

If all you have is the Ax, then it gets a lot slower...do the same thing (copy and erase and copy back) but you'll have to do it over Activesync (pack a lunch, it's going to be a while).

Bulldog · 09-10-03, 10:06 PM

I followed your instructions/advice. I have a card reader and the SD card is the culprit but when I transfered everything back and plugged it in still got the same result.
I am going to try using the storage tools program and see if I can clean up the SD card using the Ax, not sure what else to do?

JakeRich · 09-10-03, 10:11 PM

Try formatting the SD card and then putting everything back. Also look in the files on the PC that you copied over to see if there are any strange looking files, zero length, characters in the name, etc. That might also be hanging up the card. Don't copy them back and see if it gets better. Finally, if all else fails, copy the files back one directory at a time and then one file at a time in the offending directory until you isolate the troublemaker. PITA, but that's the way it is.

Bulldog · 09-10-03, 10:20 PM

Thanks I'll try that after my 2.5 yr old and 3.5 month old are asleep.

JakeRich · 09-10-03, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog
Thanks I'll try that after my 2.5 yr old and 3.5 month old are asleep.

That would be like in 2020?

Bulldog · 09-11-03, 03:33 PM

It seems like the only chance I get to play with the Ax is when i am at work. By the time I get home my wife is in dire need of a break.
So while at work today I managed to figure out that it is one/some/all of the audio notes that I had stored on the SD card. I had been messing with VITO's sound explorer and sound editor. I think that somehow this helped mess things up. Thanks for the help and I'll see you again in 2020, earlier if I can get them to college out of town!