Dell Releases Joypad Center Press Patch

[Ed Hansberry]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://support.dell.com' target='_blank'>http://support.dell.com</a><br /><br /></div>By installing this patch, the push down button of the D-pad will perform the Action function, just the same as the push in behavior of Jog Dial.<br /><br />Dell's direct links don't always work, so go to the link above. On the left, select your system. You want the Handheld Axim which is about 80% through the big dropdown - you can also press the letter "H" since it is the first one on the list that starts with that letter. Then select Standard Support, Downloads, choose Microsoft Pocket PC as the OS, English, All for Categories and Go. Now click the Dell Center Navigation Button.<br />Whew!<br /><br /><b>Update</b>: Try this <a href="ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/Handheld/R54079.EXE">direct FTP link</a>.

[Captain Obvious]

I couldn't download it when I went to Dell's site, but the direct link on aximsite.com worked fine.

[Fzara]

DAMN. Kudos to Dell ;)

Now THIS is what support is all about. The only complaint i'll have is for the faulty d-pad, not being centered, and being "mushy". I'll deal with that later.

And it works! Nice job Dell ;)

[Foo Fighter]

Good to see Dell supporting their product! :)

[shawnc]

DAMN. Kudos to Dell ;)

Now THIS is what support is all about. The only complaint i'll have is for the faulty d-pad, not being centered, and being "mushy". I'll deal with that later.

And it works! Nice job Dell ;)

I agree that it seems to work fine. A little off-topic but my D-pad is exactly as you describe. I'm not sure if that is the faulty D-pad I've been hearing about. I don't want to send it back if my replacement is going to have the same issue. So I guess my specific question is: if the D-pad is off-center, is that the faulty piece I've been hearing about? Also, are there people with the Axim with a perfectly centered D-pad?

[Jonathon Watkins]

DAMN. Kudos to Dell ;)

Now THIS is what support is all about. The only complaint i'll have is for the faulty d-pad, not being centered, and being "mushy". I'll deal with that later.

And it works! Nice job Dell ;)

:D Good - if Dell keep up that kind of support things are looking very good indeed - just keep raising the bar Dell! :D

[priesmeyer]

It works... I'm so in awe that one of the number one complained about features was fixed. So there, all you Dell support naysayers. Give 'em a chance once in a while.

[Rirath]

shawnc, you're questions have been answered a dozen times over in the Dell forum. To put it as simply as possible: If it doesn't click when you push down it's "mushy". If it doesn't do ANYTHING and doesn't register at all, it's defective. If you feel it's bad enough to warrant returning, call Dell's support and tell them to send you a new one. Personally, I was too worried about getting one even worse so I kept mine.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

This is a VERY encouraging sign from Dell...

How rare is it to see support from vendors this quickly, especially on something that could IMO be easily dismissed as a minor feature.

[rommels]

Yes this very encouraging ...and great support from Dell. Now if they can only fix the link on their website. :lol:

[shawnc]

shawnc, you're questions have been answered a dozen times over in the Dell forum. To put it as simply as possible: If it doesn't click when you push down it's "mushy". If it doesn't do ANYTHING and doesn't register at all, it's defective. If you feel it's bad enough to warrant returning, call Dell's support and tell them to send you a new one. Personally, I was too worried about getting one even worse so I kept mine.

Rirath,

Thanx for the answer. I searched and it was to difficult to find my answer through the myriad topics. Just a reminder, if my (or anyone else) asking a question that you deem inappropriate irritates you, you can always simply choose to not respond.

[Bearjaw]

What the heck! Can someone please write some step by step instructions. I cant get this to my Axim. Nothing seems to install on the Pocket PC. Please help. Jeff

[KiLLiN-TiMe]

this is great. i thought it was funny... we all knew the D pad pushed in... i just wonder why they didn't do this to start with.
as far as d pad problems, this is my second axim (first one lost part of the Rom and wouldnt boot) and both d pads have been fine. my only complaint is they are a little too recessed so that when you press them they go down below flush making it a little hard to game, but im getting use to it.
had a casio em 500 before this ... it had a great d pad! :D

[matyee]

Here's some help:

You have to extract the three files on your computer then transfer them onto your Axim. Then run the AximX5.CAB file on the Axim. Then it will prompt you to proceed and then reset for the changes to take place.

[Bearjaw]

OK so I have the four files on the Axim in the My documents folder. I tap on the .cab file and nothing happens. It says there is no application associated with this file. I must be dumb cause I seem to be the only one having problems with this. Jeff

[KiLLiN-TiMe]

thats not how i installed mine :roll:

here is how i did it.


download the patch and remember where you saved it. go there and open it. it will self extract to here by default.

C:\Dell\Drivers\R54079

go there and open the file that says setup. it installs through activesync. follow the on screen instructions.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

had a casio em 500 before this ... it had a great d pad! :D

I agree (I was also a former EM500 owner). The D-Pad on the EM500 (and even E125) were the best ever for PPC BAR NONE. With all the complaints about mushy/stiff buttons and bad d-pads, I wonder why vendors don't just follow what Casio did back then.

[Bearjaw]

Well Thanks for trying to help Killin time. I cant get it to work so i guess I 'm not supposed to have a D-pad that works. jeff

[Fzara]

Just run setup.exe on your desktop. It'll work. Trust me.

[dorelse]

All I did was copy the AximX5.zip file over (did not Unzip it on the PC) to my Axim (cut & paste, via Windows Explorer) to the root directly. Tapped on it once, PPC OS unzipped it, and installed the file. Voila!

BTW...the Setup did Nothing on my machine, no Activesync install, nothing. So apparently its not working on all OS's.

[Fzara]

I just remembered a genius idea.

Why doesnt Dell upgrade the "buttons" feature, in "Personal", so I can assign the d-pad a special function? For example, like the new TT, hold down the d-pad for 3 seconds and I get to the today screen. What a genius idea. I'm so smart. :lol:

[etalianstallion]

Worked fine for me too...just ran the exe file which extracted another exe file....ran the setup which popped up a window explaining what was involved with the patch, clicked "okay", watched the installation, followed prompts on the Axim for the automatic soft reset and the rest is history...I'm a happy man. :D

[Bearjaw]

Thanks for the help dorelse! I finally got it. I guess the setup doesnt work with 98SE. I just copied the zip to the PPC and it opened and installed when I clicked it. YEEEAAAHH! Jeff

[dorelse]

Yep, I'm running Win98SE as well, glad I could help!

[KiLLiN-TiMe]

glad you got it to work. I am running windows xp pro. As I said the installer worked great with it.

[Polly]

Well, I'm having trouble installing the patch too. I tried unzipping in on my desktop computer, then opened the "setup" file. It told me how to verify the installation on the device, but when I checked through that process (open settings/remove programs) it wasn't there. Then, I copied the file to the device without unzipping it, and it says it isn't a valid pocket pc program.

Any other ideas anyone???

Thanks!
Polly

[Polly]

Nevermind...found the problem. It doesn't work with Windows 98 on the desktop pc. What you have to do is unzip it on the desktop and then copy the 3 files to your "Programs" folder on the ppc device. Then run the install from the device. Works perfectly!

Polly

[ux4484]

The patch fixed my D-pad "bounce" problem. If I scrolled in one direction (down was the worst) the screen would "bounce" back up after releasing it.