macleme

I've been unable to synch my Axim since early July. I've received many good suggestions here in these forums as well as in those at http://www.mobilitysite.com/forums/active-sync. Unfortunately, nothing has helped me recover my Axim. What makes matters worse is that I have a flawed partial A12 ROM update that can't finish because ActiveSync needs to be intact. This has left me with a hard reset screen that flashes by in a tenth of a second and no matter how quick I am, I can't seem to hit the 'contacts' button fast enough to do a hard reset (if that would even help). Furthermore, I can't install any new programs to my device. Luckily, my data is backed up and safe.

What I'd like to do is reset my device to its default state, that is, wipe it clean and start all over. I can't do a hard reset with the power button and the soft reset button because of the above problems, so I was wondering if anybody knows of any other way to reset my device. Thanks

laurie53

This may seem so obvious that I hesitate to suggest it, but have you tried taking the battery out for an hour ?

Laurie

Mokubai

After the fist part of the A12 upgrade you aren't meant to properly hard reset (though you do use the procedure for a hard reset), that screen is meant to flash past and activesync then reconnects to the axim and the update utility (which you leave running during the "hard" reset) opens up an option to continue the upgrade. There are two "hard" resets during that upgrade, and it's the second one that is real, the first is just a bootloader upgrade.

Sadly, because of this the only way to get a proper hard reset is to continue the A12 upgrade, and if Activesync isn't working then the only other way is using the upgrade method from the following thread:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=137015

bigdave240

Originally Posted by laurie53

This may seem so obvious that I hesitate to suggest it, but have you tried taking the battery out for an hour ? Laurie

Right too obvious - he has the x51 so no matter how long you take it out it won't hard reset.

bigdave240

Originally Posted by macleme

I've been unable to synch my Axim since early July. I've received many good suggestions here in these forums as well as in those at http://www.mobilitysite.com/forums/active-sync. Unfortunately, nothing has helped me recover my Axim. What makes matters worse is that I have a flawed partial A12 ROM update that can't finish because ActiveSync needs to be intact. This has left me with a hard reset screen that flashes by in a tenth of a second and no matter how quick I am, I can't seem to hit the 'contacts' button fast enough to do a hard reset (if that would even help). Furthermore, I can't install any new programs to my device. Luckily, my data is backed up and safe. What I'd like to do is reset my device to its default state, that is, wipe it clean and start all over. I can't do a hard reset with the power button and the soft reset button because of the above problems, so I was wondering if anybody knows of any other way to reset my device. Thanks

You might want to try it on another PC. If you have access to another PC start the whole process over again. You only need to be connected as Guest to make it work.

laurie53

Originally Posted by bigdave240

Right too obvious - he has the x51 so no matter how long you take it out it won't hard reset.

Sorry, didn't realise the X51 was not supposed to reset on battery removal. Since mine does just that I had assumed it to be normal!

Yet another fault for Dell to ignore

Laurie

bigdave240

Originally Posted by laurie53

Sorry, didn't realise the X51 was not supposed to reset on battery removal. Since mine does just that I had assumed it to be normal! Yet another fault for Dell to ignore Laurie

Actually its the difference between WM2003 and WM5. WM5 has persistent memory so that no backup battery is needed to keep your programs from being deleted when the battery is dead. It is a 'feature' of the OS not somethind Dell did. It also lets you use more of the battery since you don't have to keep a reserve. IMHO it is one of the best parts of WM5!

laurie53

Originally Posted by bigdave240

Actually its the difference between WM2003 and WM5. WM5 has persistent memory so that no backup battery is needed to keep your programs from being deleted when the battery is dead. It is a 'feature' of the OS not somethind Dell did. It also lets you use more of the battery since you don't have to keep a reserve. IMHO it is one of the best parts of WM5!

Feature of the OS or not, since I bought my Axim from Dell it is their responsibility. They are just as responsible for OS faults as they are for any other bought in components which they install on their products.

Laurie

Haesslich

Originally Posted by laurie53

Feature of the OS or not, since I bought my Axim from Dell it is their responsibility. They are just as responsible for OS faults as they are for any other bought in components which they install on their products. Laurie

Uh? The backup battery existed in pre-WM5 devices because they used normal RAM, which required power to keep the data intact. WM5 no longer needs it, so they removed it and replaced it with a supercapacitor of sorts - a battery change will usually result in a soft reset, but that's something that happens with WM5 when you lose power to RAM, just as losing power to RAM caused a hard reset with WM2003SE. The only difference here is that data is NOT lost, because it's actually on built-in flash storage.

I've yet to have a problem doing a BIOS update, by following the instructions in the sticky thread above. The key here is to disconnect the USB cable from the PC after the second 'hard reset', so the Axim doesn't attempt to sync with the PC. It's not Dell's fault that it DOESN'T hard reset when you remove the power from the system - that's the whole point of WM5's Persistent Storage in the first place. It's like blaming Ford for putting airbags and seatbelts into their vehicles and then complaining that a crash doesnt' kill the passengers - those features were put in to AVOID that possibility.

laurie53

Originally Posted by Haesslich

Uh? The backup battery existed in pre-WM5 devices because they used normal RAM, which required power to keep the data intact. WM5 no longer needs it, so they removed it and replaced it with a supercapacitor of sorts - a battery change will usually result in a soft reset, but that's something that happens with WM5 when you lose power to RAM, just as losing power to RAM caused a hard reset with WM2003SE. The only difference here is that data is NOT lost, because it's actually on built-in flash storage. I've yet to have a problem doing a BIOS update, by following the instructions in the sticky thread above. The key here is to disconnect the USB cable from the PC after the second 'hard reset', so the Axim doesn't attempt to sync with the PC. It's not Dell's fault that it DOESN'T hard reset when you remove the power from the system - that's the whole point of WM5's Persistent Storage in the first place. It's like blaming Ford for putting airbags and seatbelts into their vehicles and then complaining that a crash doesnt' kill the passengers - those features were put in to AVOID that possibility.

I think we are at cross purposes. My point is that my Axim X51 v, A12, running WM5, DOES hard reset after battery removal. That is why I thought it was normal, and that is why I tentatively suggested that original poster try battery removal.

You obviously have an Axim that works according to spec. Mine doesn't. That is Dell's fault, like so many of the other problems which I, and other posters, have with the Axim

Laurie

WJHamel

The problem you're experiencing is a flaw with the A12 upgrade when done on certain hardware versions of the X51v. It permenantly screws up the hard reset function. It cannot be fixed. Dell will have to ship you a replacement unit. When you receive it, unless you can confirm that the new unit is a different hardware version, DO NOT UPGRADE TO the A12 ROM.

bigdave240

Originally Posted by WJHamel

The problem you're experiencing is a flaw with the A12 upgrade when done on certain hardware versions of the X51v. It permenantly screws up the hard reset function. It cannot be fixed. Dell will have to ship you a replacement unit. When you receive it, unless you can confirm that the new unit is a different hardware version, DO NOT UPGRADE TO the A12 ROM.

Thats a new one on me. Where did you hear that? What hardware version is it that causes a problem?

Berzelius

Hi!!

I had make a language change in my axim x51v. All the process went very good, but after the last hard-reset, my pda power on but only appear the DELL logo indefinitely. The pda don´t finish the load of WM5. What´s the trouble? Have I broke down my pda? I don´t know what to do. Please, Help. Thanks!!

laurie53

Originally Posted by WJHamel

The problem you're experiencing is a flaw with the A12 upgrade when done on certain hardware versions of the X51v. It permenantly screws up the hard reset function. It cannot be fixed. Dell will have to ship you a replacement unit. When you receive it, unless you can confirm that the new unit is a different hardware version, DO NOT UPGRADE TO the A12 ROM.

Easier said than done. I have been trying to get a response from Dell since I first started having problems with my Axim two days after it arrived in January. After many attempts all I have received is one e-mail advising me to do a soft reset!

However, thanks for the response and suggestion

Laurie

bigdave240

Originally Posted by laurie53

Easier said than done. I have been trying to get a response from Dell since I first started having problems with my Axim two days after it arrived in January. After many attempts all I have received is one e-mail advising me to do a soft reset! However, thanks for the response and suggestion Laurie

It actually is very easy. And I would't have waited either. Since you waited this long you will now receive a refurbished device instead of a new one. All you have to do is open a chat with them and it should be taken care of in a matter of minutes. What other problems are you experiencing?