Windows Mobile 2003 plagued with problems?

[kuyars]

I don't have a pda right now, but I still visit the forums everyday just to feed my addiction. One thing that's keeping my wallet fatter right now are these posts about problems with Windows Mobile 2003.

First off, there's the very basic alarms problem -- they don't wake up the device. I find it rather disturbing to find that the problem existed in PPC 2002, but still hasn't been fixed.

Then there's the thread about the soft-reset bug, where the PPC will become increasingly unstable after a certain number of soft-resets.

Now, am I just blowing things out of proportion or are these a very real and very daily annoyance?

[gai-jin]

The alarm issue has a fix out for it... I think it was posted here on the main page... might have been on brighthand. It's actually a fix for the Pocket Backup software on the units, which in was causing the devices not to wake up for alarms.

Gai-jin

[kuyars]

Are you referring to this thread (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15261&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0)?

I followed it and the fix for the pocket backup apparently doesn't fix the problem...

[dangerwit]

Now, am I just blowing things out of proportion or are these a very real and very daily annoyance?

I must be a lucky guy... my 2210 is working like a champ. I've put several apps and games on it, and while I've had to soft reset a few times due to misbehaving, older apps, I've not experienced any issues.

Granted, the 2210 does not activesync when I dock it -- I need to turn it on first. But, I actually prefer it that way since I use a few different CE devices at work and home, and sometimes just want to charge, not sync.

All in all, I have no gripes at all to report on the 2210, save for one: the networking is just as confusing as in 2002, but when it works, it's much faster than 2002. It's really been the best handheld I've ever used, I love it.

*Phil

[kuyars]

Does that mean that you use alarms and you haven't run into those issues?

Your post is good to hear, but it may make me go out and buy one already!

I hope some more people chime in with their experiences to see whether these "problems" are actually commonplace..

[gai-jin]

Alarms are working fine here on a 5455 with 2003 & the backup fix. Note that the backup fix specifically says it's not for users of the plus version, which many in the thread you pointed to seem to be using.

Gai-jin

[rzanology]

Well....i don't know if its the OS or the damn ipaq....but my 2215 pissing me off. I reset the thing on average 5 times a day. When i turn it off and turn it back on after a long period of time....it just locks up. When i turn it off with a bluetooth connection and turn it back on again...it locks up! When i drop it in the cradle to sync....it soft resets!!! Some people might think im being crazy but i know 3 other people who ran out and bought it and they are having the saaaaaame problem. After comming off the 3970 this is just crazy. How can you go from a flawless device like the 3970 to something that reboots itself. Some one at hp needs to do something because i am tired of pulling out my ipaq to take a note and having it lock up on me!

[griffin911]

I have a 2210 and it is working great!! I had the alarm issue but it cleared up the moment I put Sprites patch in. I've had to soft-reset a couple of times but thats because of things I have done, not the OS. I use a bluetooth connection to GPRS daily and have not had any problems there. Hope this helps.

[rzanology]

DAMN IT!!! why must i get the bad one :(

[SHoTTa35]

Now, am I just blowing things out of proportion or are these a very real and very daily annoyance?

I must be a lucky guy... my 2210 is working like a champ. I've put several apps and games on it, and while I've had to soft reset a few times due to misbehaving, older apps, I've not experienced any issues.

Granted, the 2210 does not activesync when I dock it -- I need to turn it on first. But, I actually prefer it that way since I use a few different CE devices at work and home, and sometimes just want to charge, not sync.

All in all, I have no gripes at all to report on the 2210, save for one: the networking is just as confusing as in 2002, but when it works, it's much faster than 2002. It's really been the best handheld I've ever used, I love it.

*Phil

you sure bout all that? It takes 5 seconds or something before it turns on when off. Drop it in the cradle and leave it there for a second but i guess you've done that before since sometimes you just put it in the cradle to be charged and i'm guessing leave it there for a while too. Dunno but it shouldn't do that. Mine turns on after bout 3-5 seconds in the cradle and starts to sync.

I don't have any problems with my Ipaq tho... running like a thorobread right now :D

[szamot]

DAMN IT!!! why must i get the bad one :(

you are not alone, I am yet to get two good alarms go off without the darn thing locking up the device and what is worse the damn thing does not shut down just freaking drains the battery. I truly am disappointed with 2003 on my 5450! :evil:

[Autarch]

Mine turns on after bout 3-5 seconds in the cradle and starts to sync.

Ditto. Unfortunately, mine seems to stay on indefinitely in the cradle after syncing. If I turn it off after syncing, it is always on some time later (the next morning, for example). Isn't there a way to keep the device in the cradle, but turned off?

I haven't tried using the alarms yet.

[The Half-Ling]

I would say there is a lot of glitches in Windows Mobile 2003, but at least they can be fixed...It's an optomosic outlook but Pocket PC 2002 could not be fixed...They don't revamp things like connection managers and processor type in a Service Pack...I am disappointed with Windows Mobile's Problems though, it is almost most like MS Servered us a beta :lol: who would have thought :lol:

Jake-

[PetiteFlower]

Ditto. Unfortunately, mine seems to stay on indefinitely in the cradle after syncing. If I turn it off after syncing, it is always on some time later (the next morning, for example). Isn't there a way to keep the device in the cradle, but turned off?

I believe you have to change your ActiveSync settings so it's not trying to continuously sync when docked, and you also have to change your power settings on the ppc so that it will automatically shut off after however many minutes, if you want it to shut off automatically.

[jkendrick]

:D I have experienced ZERO problems with my Toshiba e755!

[griph]

Mine turns on after bout 3-5 seconds in the cradle and starts to sync.

Ditto. Unfortunately, mine seems to stay on indefinitely in the cradle after syncing. If I turn it off after syncing, it is always on some time later (the next morning, for example). Isn't there a way to keep the device in the cradle, but turned off?

I haven't tried using the alarms yet.

What's the problem with it staying on in the cradle? That is my preferred use - I have the backlight go out after 4 minutes - using SOTI's Pocket Controller Pro and having the iPaq on PC screen for immediate use is invaluable. You can set how the PPC works under Settings/System/ Backlight/External Power and set it to turn off after X minutes. You do not have to disable Activesync's 'Auto' functions.

[ctmagnus]

I don't alarms much, but the one time I have on my 5550, the text was chopped off in the notification box. Then I snoozed the alarm and it locked up when it went off again.

And it has been waking up in the cradle on occasion (not recently though) and I haven't found anything in AS settings that would logically prevent this.

[racerx]

I don't alarms much, but the one time I have on my 5550, the text was chopped off in the notification box. Then I snoozed the alarm and it locked up when it went off again.

Do you have spb Pocket Plus installed? If so, uninstall it and that chopped text problem will go away. Unfortunately, simply uninstalling it won't fix the alarm lock-up problem. I ended up doing a hard-reset and reinstalling all of my applications sans Pocket Plus to get my alarms and everything else working properly.

[ctmagnus]

Do you have spb Pocket Plus installed?

Yup. I just hope that they'll come out with an upgrade that doesn't require a hard-reset to install and function.

[PetiteFlower]

And it has been waking up in the cradle on occasion (not recently though) and I haven't found anything in AS settings that would logically prevent this.

It's under Options -> Schedule

[fmcpherson]

I've removed Pocket Plus but continue to have notification problems. I guess I'm heading towards a hard reset but so far I've been too lazy.

[mc_03]

Anyone notice how the calculator program is now back to the old PPC 2002 EUU1 style? No more money conversion, no more nice skin, just bland black circles on a white background. :?

[PetiteFlower]

I thought it was Pocket BACKUP Plus that was causing the problem not Pocket Plus?

[szamot]

Anyone notice how the calculator program is now back to the old PPC 2002 EUU1 style? No more money conversion, no more nice skin, just bland black circles on a white background. :?

Nope, on mine 54xx it is as nice as it was with the money converter? Would this vary from device to device?

[szamot]

In defence of PPC2003 now that I have ditched PocketPC Plus my alarms are flawless...too bad becasue I really enjoy that programm and I hope they fix it soon.

[mattchapin]

Update on my e755... My alarms were working fine for a week or two, but recently they've been failing to wake up the device at least half the time. (No funny software installed that could be messin' 'em up.)

-Matt

[mar2k]

Can someone tell me about this soft reset bug and what can be done about it?

My Calendar entry operations are suddenly flaky. I get an "x" instead of 'ok" button and I can't press it, so it gets stuck on the entry page and I have to soft reset every time. Also it won't let me change the text entry method when it gets stuck like this...! (MyPal A620 - WM2003)

[ctmagnus]

And it has been waking up in the cradle on occasion (not recently though) and I haven't found anything in AS settings that would logically prevent this.

It's under Options -> Schedule

That's in PPC2002. We're talking about WM2003. ;)

[SHoTTa35]

Can someone tell me about this soft reset bug and what can be done about it?

My Calendar entry operations are suddenly flaky. I get an "x" instead of 'ok" button and I can't press it, so it gets stuck on the entry page and I have to soft reset every time. Also it won't let me change the text entry method when it gets stuck like this...! (MyPal A620 - WM2003)

hmm.. that's an Asus bug... annoy em about that :D

[racerx]

Anyone notice how the calculator program is now back to the old PPC 2002 EUU1 style? No more money conversion, no more nice skin, just bland black circles on a white background. :?

:?: :?: :?:
I just checked my calculator again to make sure - I have the same blue backgrounded calc with currency conversion. Maybe you're lauching some other calc program?

[racerx]

In defence of PPC2003 now that I have ditched PocketPC Plus my alarms are flawless...too bad becasue I really enjoy that programm and I hope they fix it soon.

I must say that I have found the same to be true. I ended up doing a hard reset and reinstalling all of my applications without Pocket Plus and my alarms all work.

Be aware that third party alarm programs, like AlarmX, AlarMe and some others will sound the alarm but not necessarily turn on the screen. They will usually only sound the alarm for about 30 seconds before stopping :? . Near as I can tell, this is due to a change in how alarms are handled on WM2003. But any program, like Pocket Plus, that intercepts alarms and notifications, seem to cause other problems. My two big ones were sporadic alarm failures and then when the alarm would sound, I couldn't read some of the reminder text because it was being chopped off. Since I haven't installed Pocket Plus, these problems have gone away and now I'm VERY happy with my iPAQ 5555 again! :way to go:

[mc_03]

Anyone notice how the calculator program is now back to the old PPC 2002 EUU1 style? No more money conversion, no more nice skin, just bland black circles on a white background. :?

:?: :?: :?:
I just checked my calculator again to make sure - I have the same blue backgrounded calc with currency conversion. Maybe you're lauching some other calc program?

I have no other calc program...

Must be axims, I guess. It's also like that in the PPC 2003 SDK Emulator.
I know someone else with a 2003 axim who also has the old calculator. Anyone else with an axim have this problem?

[ctmagnus]

I can't sync via WiFi. I can browse the net via Wifi but I can't sync.

Also, I can't get my email. I just did a hard-reset and setup my acct info in Inbox. Still wouldn't download, on a completely virgin system. I can't get it through WebIS Mail either. And then there are the lockup problems with that one.

And WorldMate won't update anything.

But aside fom the networking issues, I absolutely :ppclove: it.


Edit:I got it to sync via WiFi once today. It hasn't been able to do it since.

Edit #2: As of 08-04-2003, it syncs! A rampant hosts setting was the culprit. But still no email or WorldMate. :cry:

[disconnected]

I'd never even noticed that the calculator had a currency converter -- although it would be more useful if you could set it to automatically update rates when you sync.

My iPAQ 5555 calculator (it's the blue one) has, as the default, European currencies. Is this normal for units sold in the US? (I know I can go into edit and change this, but I would have thought they'd have set it up for the region it's being sold in.

[Autarch]

What's the problem with it staying on in the cradle? That is my preferred use - I have the backlight go out after 4 minutes - using SOTI's Pocket Controller Pro and having the iPaq on PC screen for immediate use is invaluable. You can set how the PPC works under Settings/System/ Backlight/External Power and set it to turn off after X minutes. You do not have to disable Activesync's 'Auto' functions.


Yeah, I'd prefer to have the device on but the backlight off in the cradle. I mainly wanted to avoid having the bright screen on most of the night when it wasn't even being used. I thought I had already changed the setting to what you suggested above (like I had for battery power) but after checking found that I hadn't! Stupid of me :oops: .

[midili]

Well.... When i turn it off with a bluetooth connection and turn it back on again...it locks up! When i drop it in the cradle to sync....it soft resets!!! Some people might think im being crazy but i know 3 other people who ran out and bought it and they are having the saaaaaame problem. After comming off the 3970 this is just crazy. How can you go from a flawless device like the 3970 to something that reboots itself. Some one at hp needs to do something because i am tired of pulling out my ipaq to take a note and having it lock up on me!

You are not crazy, I'm having the same problem, and it seems to have gotten worse!

I purchased and installed the TomTom Bluetooth GPS and immediately ran into the problem that if turned my 2210 off with Bluetooth enabled then the only way to turn it back on was via a soft reset.

Now today I can't even turn the damn thing on! I can't do a soft- or hard-reset and I am at a loss as to how to get it started again. I must have left bluetooth on and maybe it drained the battery??? But it won't take a charge either.

Anybody else besides rzanology and me having these bluetooth issues?

[darrylb]

My 2210 has locked up upon starting up with bluetooth on, but if I wait for a few seconds, all seems to start working again. So I'm happy.

I had some serious problems with PocketBackup though. The device would turn off as soon as I turned it on and also alarms would not wake the device up. I ended up removing PocketMon, BatteryMeter and SpaceDetective. I had to manually remove the battery meter from the startup folder and once I did that, everything went back to normal. All the alarms work, the device powers on and off properly and everything else seems to work as expected.

The only hassle I have now is that PocketBackup wont wake the device to do a backup, however, since the backup only takes 10 minutes (compared to 30 minutes on my 3970), I can live with that for the moment.

I hope HP releae a ROM patch to fix the pocket backup problems. I just wonder how long it will be before it comes out :roll: . While they are at it, they can put the latest version of MS reader on there... I refuse to use my precious memory to upgrade :evil:

[rzanology]

Anybody else besides rzanology and me having these bluetooth issues?





Hey midili...I seemed to have found a temporary solution. Before I tell you...I still think some one at hp needs a kick in de a$$. This issue is getting out of hand....I called and they made me hard reset my damn ipaq for no apparent reason....and then they lied on the phone and said they've never heard of any such issue. But any way. After each use of bluetooth...TURN IT OFF!!!!!!!!! no matter what you just did...gpr...gprs..sending contacts...TURN IT OFF!!!!! First turn of the radio...then wait for 5 seconds or so and turn off the ipaq. I don't know if that will work for you...but every since I started doing this it doesn't seem to lock up. But its still a pain in de a$$. Good luck man!