I upgraded to PPC2k3 and I must be soooo STUPID!!!

[msa]

I must make this confession;

Yesterday I got my upgrade CD from Dell. I followed the instructions and the upgrade was a smooth ride with no problems except for the "Language Not Supported" issue reported in other threads. A hard reset cured that problem. ActiveSync 3.7 installed fine on my computer as well.

However after using the system for 24 hours I have ran into a lot of problems that I did not have previously - the plauge of Microsoft systems - STABILITY! I have been forced to reset the Axim at least 10 times just during the last 24 hours. A multitude of problems leads to a reset, for example:

1) "Sometimes" when I use the HW-button to access mail, I get the menubar from the Inbox and then the system freezes completely -> Reset.

2) ActivSync on my device hangs and does not recognize the PC and starts to sync -> Reset cures this as well.

3) During normal use, ActiveSync looses connection with the Axim (could be due to #2 above) -> Reset does not solve this, I must also restart my computer.

4) ActiveSync connection takes forever with 3.7. The initial handshake (before the Calendar, Contacts etc are shown) take three minutes and then I get the dialogue to connect to the Exchange server.

5) I haven't got the "Include file attachements" in ActiveSync to work properly. I don't get any attachments in the Inbox of the Axim despite several resets and reboots. I have to manually download the attachments from the Axim (and often misses this since it is a manual thing to do).

6) AvantGo problems that makes it impossible to view the pages off-line, I need an Internet-connection and then the pages starts to show. This was solved with a hard reset and restore from backup combined with a reinstallation of ActiveSync 3.7. (The version number in the AvantGo ActiveSync component was from the old version).

7) During syncronization with the desktop, the system is not possible to use (i.e. locked up). Is the ActiveSync PPC2k3 version really drawing so much mud from the CPU so it is not impossible to even get the Start-menu to fall down. This combined with #4 makes it really tragic....

8) Resetting the device and just leaving it (i.e. not entering the password) make the system go blank in 30 seconds and I have to reset it again. This caused the memory to be lost once and I had to restore from backup.

9) Resetting sometimes just gives me a white screen ("My Info" not shown) and I have to reset the device again

System is Axim X5/400 MHz, no expansion card or whatso-ever. Installed programs (as reported by Remove Programs):

IA Style -IA Presenter (Dell)
Resco Picture Viewer
Pelmar WisBar (1.4.2)
Applian Virtual Wallet
PHM Registry Editor
Applian PocketLock
PocketStars
Jonathan Sachs StopTime
Ages of Empire
Paragon Software LEng Swedish
Flow Simulation Calc98
Adobe Acrobat Reader 1.0

OS Info: Version 4.20.1081 (Build 13100) ROM Version A05 (07170300EN)

When running PPC2k2 I had theese and many more application installed and did not see any of the problems mentioned above.

The only doubts I have is for the LEng Swedish that gives me a Swedish layout of the keyboard. I have tested to uninstall it but the system does not seem to be better. My regional settings are Swedish.

Any ideas before I revert to the save ROM image of stable ol' A02?!? I am really glad I choose a new Nokia phone (6610, which I haven't managed to get working with the Axim in either OS) and not a Motorola + Microsoft SmartPhone. A nightmare having two devices to reboot 10 times a day....

A not too happy camper...
/msa

[IM5150]

No answer here, but I appreciate all the info-I don't plan to upgrade--Don't need the headaches...

[msa]

Thanks for some feedback to ease my misery. I *thought* I waited long enough to sort out the first wave of bugs, but that was probably firmware-related and I think most of this is OS related... My advice is to wait some more time before running to Dell Shop and purchase the upgrade...

[Swanny]

Sorry, no advice here either.

So I'm not the only one whos taken the "I'll sit back and use the old 2002 while everyone else finds the bugs"

I think going back to 2k2 a03 might be the best way. Or hang around, others have had better results than this.

[Warrior]

My best advise is what you are probably going to do anyway, that is, GO BACK!!! I agree with Star. When 2k5 comes out then maybe I'll go to 2k3.

[Freddy]

Anyone know if this is related to the upgrade or will new Axim also experience these problems?

[Crazyfish]

I was sort of spewing about the non-availability of 2003 in Thailand, but after watching the disaster unfold, now I'm sort of glad it isn't !

I'll upgrade to 2003 eventually - probably when I buy an X7 :)

[empty]

I upgraded to 2003 (A05) over a month ago (From A03) and I havn't experienced problems appart from having to soft reset 2 or 3 times when Battery Pack made the Today screen look funny.

[macjbraun]

Am I the only one that loves WM2003? I have had no problems. Wireless internet has improved 100%. IR Activesync now behaves. Overall speed increase is noticable in all applications. Me thinks something is amiss.

[JakeRich]

I have a new Advanced with WM2003 and the performance/stability improvement is really noticeable. I have had none of the problems listed by msa, and in fact have seen some problems I was noting under 2002 go away, particularly in wireless connectivity and syncing. The speed increase is nice, and battery use seems to be better. Overall, I'm happy with it.

[picnic9]

my Axim was built02 dec my rom is A00 I have not had a lick of problems at all and will not get any the "new" upgrades until I buy my new/next axim. Lesson to learn is "newer" or the newest" is not always the best. is wm2003 that much faster?!?!?! Just my Rant

[FrstdOne]

Maybe you need to step the upgrade, try going to A03 first.

[guinness]

You didn't restore a PPC 2002 backup to WM 2003 did you? I've read that it's recommended that you don't do that and just clean install everything. I've been running 2003 since late July and have only run into the odd bug caused by older software.

[macjbraun]

guinness is right. That could be your troubles. If you restore from a backup all dll's and registry entries that don't work with WM2003 will hose you up.

[proberts31]

I have a completely different experience with my Axim and PPC2003.
I have a basic 300Mhz - 32/32 system originally from Dec-02 with A00 on it. After my upgrade to 2003 I have found my Axim to significantly faster and much more stable. I actually soft reset less with 2003 than I did with 2002. On the basic model I find the memory management much better.