Newby here...forgive my ignorance....

Daveinater · 03-30-05, 10:02 PM

Hello all.
I am a brand new X50v Axim user, which I bought to help me run a non-profit foundation from the road (the e-mails were killin' me when I got home!) Anyway, I'm a pretty savvy PC user but am having a hard time getting used to this thing. I'll try to keep this short, but here's where I need your guidance:

1. "Storage"...the Dell manual is pretty vague on this. I got this unit from Dell with the 3-D game bundle and loaded the two games onto the Axim (Stuntcar Extreme and Enigmo). The only other things I have loaded from my PC are the Foundation word documents from "My Documents" and about 10 pictures of my family. Then a funny SNL video I think is hysterical (ever seen the "Cowbell" skit?) Now perhaps I've overloaded the unit already (I hope not) but when I turn the unit on and try to play one of the games, I get a "not enough memory" message (or something to that effect). I have a 91 MB Storage card (the little guy....compact flash I think) and that's it. How does the "storage" on this system work? I guess what I mean is that with a PC you have RAM and ROM. Does this Windows mobile operating system work the same? When I click on the "Memory" icon and look at the Main tab, I have 61.75 MB Total Main, and 3.30 MB Free in "Storage" and 3.60 MB free in "Program" (whatever that means),with an itty-bitty blue band that the "slider" can be adjusted in (barely adjusted....). I guess I just dont understand what I have to work with and why it already seems so overloaded!

2. Wireless connectivity. I have a home network and can get this to connect to my wireless hub (after alot of headache). Unlike my laptop, I'm unable to access the files on this Axim using networking. Is that normal, considering this is a Pocket PC with a different operating system? Also, not having taken my laptop out of the house, I'm not well versed on accessing other wireless networks. I noticed that near some businesses in town, I pick up a wireless signal (and can see it using the Dell Wireless LAN utility) but cannot connect....it keeps telling me I need to configure a proxy server. What exactly does this mean, and should I expect to be able to connect to other wireless networks easy enough, or are some "off limits?" It seems like you have to reconfigure everything to connect to other networks. If so, that's a pain. (I'm an airline pilot and travel for a living, so I was hoping this connectivity would be easier as I travel....)

Thanks for your help everyone. Sorry to be so long-winded!

**Frenchy** · 03-30-05, 10:14 PM

welcome to Aximsite,

1: Memory is ROM 128Mb but the OS takes part of it for its installation and storage so only about 90Mb is free. You can install software there by saying no to "install to default location and selecting Built-in Storage (BIS) which is ROM. This is nonvolatile memory.

RAM is volatile and after a hard reset you lose its content. Yes you will have to reinstall any software put there unless you have a backup and can restore to file.

According to your memory numbers everything install so far is probably in the Main memory including the pictures. 3Mb left is not much which is why you get a low memory error. Try removing the pictures or software and reinstalling to BIS.

For the networking stuff look at View MyPDA under my avatar and follow the WiFi Guide. It will help you get things going. I hope this helps you, buddy.

Daveinater · 03-30-05, 10:25 PM

Wow Frenchie, that was a fast reply! Thanks!

Okay, that makes sense...question: when I've been transferring files over to the Axim, I've been putting them in my "Dell Axim My Documents" folder, which syncs using ActiveSync. I don't get an option as to where to put those files...it does it automatically. When I installed programs (ie the games), it asked me and I put it in the BIS but the photos, video, etc. it didnt ask. Am I doing this correctly or should I use the file explorer and just copy and paste them over to BIS? there has to be an easier way....
Thanks again. Keep the suggestions comin!

P.S. I looked at your Axim...very cool but there is NO WAY I'd get all that stuff on my unit with existing memory. I dont have a Compact Flash card in my unit....just the little Secure Digital card. Would adding one (perhaps a 512MB or even a gig) help my situation?

**Frenchy** · 03-30-05, 10:32 PM

Use Explorer of the ActiveSync to move your picture and video to the BIS or Sd card. I have a 1Gb Sd card in mine and install some testing software there. PIM software and skins are in BIS. At the moment I have 13Mb free in programs and 9Mb in storage. I also have 54Mb free in BIS. My Sd card has 431Mb free. You can fit a lot of programs in it.

Have fun moving things around and when done do a soft reset to clear memory space and get the unit clean.

NiwRoC · 03-30-05, 10:57 PM

Your questions has been answered by our resident expert!

Welcome to Aximsite! See you around. :approve:

**Frenchy** · 03-30-05, 11:01 PM

Correction... many experts here at Aximsite, it takes one to recognize another. I was just the first to reply.

NiwRoC nice to see you.

stoneraven9 · 03-30-05, 11:04 PM

Welcome to the site. Always nice to see new people.
The memory thing had me going for a while too. For a simple explanation, try clicking on the link in my signature block.
For other useful ideas, go to "view my PDA" in people's avatar, and see what they do with their Axim and what programs they use. (Frenchy's is nice, so is Bondr006) And be sure to ask a lot of questions. People are always willing to help here.

**Frenchy** · 03-30-05, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by stoneraven9

(Frenchy's is nice, so is Bondr006) And be sure to ask a lot of questions. People are always willing to help here.

Yours is very nice too. I just added a comment. :approve:

stoneraven9 · 03-30-05, 11:14 PM

hehehe, where do you think I learned to do it from, eh? mon ami. Don't you recognize some of the programs you use?

Daveinater · 03-30-05, 11:50 PM

Thanks for the memory lesson. I have a few questions.
What is the purpose of the main memory "slider"? As I understand from your tutorial, the main memory is the remnants of the 128MB ROM chip that isnt used by the OS. What does moving the slider actually do??

Secondly, how do you store and access info on the SD card?
My Memory/Storage Card screen says 91.43MB "Total Storage Card Memory"...this is NOT the ROM memory but the small CF (SD?) card that I have installed, correct? I did as suggested and used the ActiveSync Explorer to move my documents, pictures and video to the
Built In Storage (the remnants of ROM if I'm correct). I dont believe I've even used the card at this point. Perhaps I'm confused. Anyway, your tutorial was very helpful in discussing the ROM and RAM (built-in)....but not sure how the CF and SD cards fit in to the whole system.

Sorry to beat a dead horse!

Dave

stoneraven9 · 03-31-05, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by Daveinater

Thanks for the memory lesson. I have a few questions.
What is the purpose of the main memory "slider"? As I understand from your tutorial, the main memory is the remnants of the 128MB ROM chip that isnt used by the OS. What does moving the slider actually do??

Secondly, how do you store and access info on the SD card?
My Memory/Storage Card screen says 91.43MB "Total Storage Card Memory"...this is NOT the ROM memory but the small CF (SD?) card that I have installed, correct? I did as suggested and used the ActiveSync Explorer to move my documents, pictures and video to the
Built In Storage (the remnants of ROM if I'm correct). I dont believe I've even used the card at this point. Perhaps I'm confused. Anyway, your tutorial was very helpful in discussing the ROM and RAM (built-in)....but not sure how the CF and SD cards fit in to the whole system.

Sorry to beat a dead horse!

Dave

Hi Dave.... The memory slider gives you some small control of the memory in the 64 meg "main memory" that the system normally operates on. To the left gives more RAM for the programs to operate from. Some programs (today screen stuff) are best installed here. Try not to install too much stuff into "main memory" as your programs operate on this RAM.
The ROM (BIS) is ok to store things on that are important for running your system. This is where Windows is installed.
As for the CF or SD cards, they will show up in your file explorer as similar to how a drive would show up on your home 'puter. When you are given a choice to install programs, choose either of these cards. (as per my explanation earlier) When you want to access these programs, just to to "start" then "programs" them pick the icon of the program you want to use.

Any hrlp? Hope so.

Daveinater · 03-31-05, 12:21 AM

Stone,
Got it....Thanks!
Do you recommend going with the CF or SD Cards? Any real difference? I need to buy one asap so that I can move stuff from the BIS to the card, and save some room. I assume I can just do this via ActiveSync or even the file explorer, right?
thanks again. I think I'm getting the hang of this. It reminds me of the time a buddy gave us a Mac desktop for my son to use. We stared at it for about 30 minutes and finally called my friend to ask him how to turn the stupid thing on!

stoneraven9 · 03-31-05, 12:35 AM

either card is ok, but there are more accessories that might fit the CF card slot which you might use later on. I personally use the SD card for storing programs, and the CF card for multimedia. Yuor choice though, as either will work fine. You are right about the file movements.