Palm TX DIgitizer Issues

[sebadams]

Bought my TX in Oct 06. In Feb 07 I sent it back to Palm as the Digitizer became eratic. I received the same unit back. After a few months the issues are back. Most of the time it works OK, then it becomes eratic. It is especially bad when you try to write with 'Full Screen Writing', by clicking the squiggle (3rd icon from right bottom of the screen).

So before I return it again, before my year under cover is up, I read some post here and am trying some suggested solutions, listed here below. Has anyone had any success with these:

1. Hard Reset - Suggested by Palm. Does not seem to make much difference.

2. Clean the edges of the screen by sliding a edge of paper in the space between the screen and case - This seems to make sense, it removed a few breakfast crumbs !

3. Power Digi 2.1.0.1 ($16.95 Shareware, Free Trial Available) http://www.palmpowerups.com - Has anyone tried it ?

4. Digifix 1.2 (Freeware) - http://www.copera.com - Has anyone tried it ?

5. Cleaning Screen

Any other ideas ?

[RickAgresta]

Originally Posted by sebadams

Bought my TX in Oct 06. In Feb 07 I sent it back to Palm as the Digitizer became eratic. I received the same unit back. After a few months the issues are back. Most of the time it works OK, then it becomes eratic. It is especially bad when you try to write with 'Full Screen Writing', by clicking the squiggle (3rd icon from right bottom of the screen).

So before I return it again, before my year under cover is up, I read some post here and am trying some suggested solutions, listed here below. Has anyone had any success with these:

1. Hard Reset - Suggested by Palm. Does not seem to make much difference.

2. Clean the edges of the screen by sliding a edge of paper in the space between the screen and case - This seems to make sense, it removed a few breakfast crumbs !

3. Power Digi 2.1.0.1 ($16.95 Shareware, Free Trial Available) http://www.palmpowerups.com - Has anyone tried it ?

4. Digifix 1.2 (Freeware) - http://www.copera.com - Has anyone tried it ?

5. Cleaning Screen

Any other ideas ?

ok, the things I *know* about first: both PowerDigi & DigiFix help if you're having problems with drift -- you touch at a point dead-center, but the response is as though you'd touched elsewhere (usually up to 3mm, although some cases are much worse). I have used both products and found each to be better than the built-in calibration program; in particular PowerDigi can work wonders if drift is the problem. Neither will help with *dead spots*

now: erratic? that sounds like a loss of sensitivity and/or dead spots. *sometimes* changing the orientation will help, since different parts of the screen are used for input. either way though, imo, the poor behavior is a sign of a hardware problem and as such can't be corrected by software.

no other suggestions, I'm afraid, since you are still under warranty. although unlikely, a loose connection could be a contributing factor -- but looking inside would void your warranty, so don't. good luck

[davidbec]

I would advise purchasing the glass digitizer from usedpdaparts.com or pdaparts.com.

I've seen other posts on the forum where the user's TX comes back or a replacement is sent and some time later the issue returns. There are a few of course who's replacement is still working.

The best option however to my mind is having it fixed by one of the two mentioned companies.

[sebadams]

When using the 'Original' entry mode (using the 2 boxes to write) I would say that my TX's digitizer is 90% OK. When I change to 'Full Screen Writing' the problems start. It can be OK then gets 'Jumpy'.

Now the question is, can Palm fix this or is this the case for all TX's ? Shaould I send it back B$ the warentee runs out or should I just abandon 'Full Screen Writing' ?

9Wrote this in 'Full Screen Mode')

[Gregte]

Originally Posted by davidbec

I would advise purchasing the glass digitizer from usedpdaparts.com or pdaparts.com.

The one from "usedpdaparts" is not glass backed, it is plastic, according to Shaun Lux.

[Gregte]

If, when writing in the normal graffitti input area or when writing in the full screen area, the mirror trace of your input follows your stylus and does not skip or break up or jump or whatever you want to call it, and if your text recognition is till bad, then the problem is not a bad digitizer. It is either sloppy writing, not keeping it in the correct place, not waiting long enough between certain characters (F space becomes F), waiting too long between certain strokes (T becomes l space) OR it is caused by a software problem on the TX. The test to be sure about software is a Hard Reset then try it before putting any third party software back on it.

Conversely, if when writing in the normal graffitti input area or when writing in the full screen area, the mirror trace of your input does not follow your stylus or does skip or break up or jump or whatever you want to call it, then the problem IS a bad digitizer or you are not pressing hard enough. It should not require very hard pressure but some people, like me, at times actually lift the pencil from the paper while writing without meaning to. I know this to be true about me as I can see it when using pencil and paper.

[sebadams]

I completely solved Digitizer problem by doing this:

1. Hard reset.

2. Deleted back up folder on Palm Desktop.

3 Synched back just my data, not any additional applications.

The unit is operating about twice as fast. Graffiti input, near perfect.

I had a Treo 600 before, so when I synced for the first time with the TX I probably still had some shxt from the Treo 600.

========================================================

Here are the directions from Palm to get your device clean and truly back to the beginning:

From the information that you have provided it seems that you may be experiencing a software problem which may be a result of installing 3rd party applications. To solve this problem we suggest that you try a hard reset and remove the 3rd party applications from the backup folder before synchronising. We do advise to back up your data, if possible, before you perform a hard reset. Please read below for instructions:To remove the contents of the Backup folder please use the following instructions:1. On your PC click on Start, go to Programs and select Windows(r) Explorer2. In Windows Explorer click on the + beside the Palm(tm) folder3. Click on the + beside your 'user' folder4. Right click on the Backup folder and select 'Copy'5. Minimise Windows Explorer & go back to the main Windows Desktop6. On the main Windows Desktop right click and select 'Paste' (this will create a folder
named Backup on the desktop)7. Go back into Windows Explorer8. Click twice on the Backup folder. On the right hand side of the screen you will find the list of 3rd party applications contained within this folder 9. Highlight the 1st item in this list10. Along the top of the screen, go to Edit and Select All. This will highlight the contents of the folder11. On the keyboard of your PC press the Delete key. This will delete all of the 3rd party applications from the Backup folder.When you perform a hard reset, all records and entries stored in your Palm product will be erased. Formats, Preferences and other parameters are restored to their factory default settings. You can restore any data previously synchronised with your computer during the next HotSync(r) you perform, and you must reinstall your 3rd party applications. WARNING: WHEN PERFORMING A HARD RESET, ALL DATA ON THE PALM UNIT WILL BE
LOST!To perform a hard reset: 1. Press and hold the power button of your Palm product. 2. While holding down the power button, use the reset tip tool (or a similar object without a sharp tip), to gently press the reset button inside the hole on the back panel of your Palm product. 3. Release the reset button. 4. When the Palm Powered logo appears on the screen, release the power button. If you are entering the preferences screen, please start over from Step 1.5. When the message appears on the screen, warning that you are about to erase all the data stored on your Palm product, press the upper half of the scroll / 5-way navigator button (on the front panel) to complete the hard reset and display the digitiser screen. To get the data onto the product you will be required to perform a custom synchronisation.1. Click the HotSync Manager icon and choose 'Custom'.2. Change the action for
'Datebook' to 'Desktop overwrites Handheld'.3. Repeat for 'Address', 'To do' and 'Memo'.4. Perform a HotSync.Now, one by one reload the 3rd party applications stored in the new folder on Windows Desktop, until you find which one is causing the problem.

[wozofoz]

Great news sebadams
Well done and well done Palm Support and everyone here.

Originally Posted by sebadams

The unit is operating about twice as fast. Graffiti input, near perfect

I recently did a 'Spring Clean' of my TX, getting rid of some stuff I rarely used and could do without.
Although I thought it was performing well before this, I was very surprised to find how quickly and efficiently my TX could perform.

I love my 'new' TX

All the best, woz of oz

[ward.smith]

PowerDigi does improve drift- more than any other app that I have tried. I notice that graffiti works much better as well.

[cfalz]

My new TX started skipping after about 3 days. I did a hard reset and it worked great, for about an hour, then started skipping again. Other hard resets had no effect. This was running at factory default with no additional programs and no data. Just didn't work. I returned it. Seems to be a common hardware problem and Palm doesn't seem to be addressing it or surely after all this time it would be fixed.