Introduction
If your HotSync crashes whenever you try
to sync your Palm Desktop with your Palm Pilot, the reason could be a
broken datebook.dat file.
The Palm Desktop for Windows has the tendency to sometimes slightly alter
the dates of certain entries in your DateBook. This will make
HotSync crash as soon as it tries to look at these entries.
The most vicious thing about this is, that you will only realize it once
the particular entry needs syncing. This happens for example when your Palm
Pilot has crashed and you try to restore it from the Palm Desktop.
Retrieving an old copy of your datebook.dat from backup will not
help, as it is possible that the damaged entry has been sitting in your
DateBook for months.
Modes of Operation
DTBRC can run in 2 different modes:
- Test Mode:
- If you do not enter a valid Keycode, you can still
upload your datebook.dat. DTBRC will test it for errors and will tell
you if it can repair the file.
- Repair Mode:
- If you own a DTBRC Keycode and enter it into the
Keycode field, DTBRC will repair the datebook.dat file you upload. As
soon as the uload procedure is completed, a save as window will pop
up for storing the repaired datebook on your computer.
Step by Step Guide
- Make sure neither the Palm Desktop nor the HotSync Tray
are running on your PC.
- Find the location of your datebook.dat file. If you do not know
where the file is, you can use to Search function in the Start
Menu to locate the file. Once you know where it is, enter its path into the
Datebook: field below. Note that your explorer my hide the ".dat"
part of the filename, but you should see the filetype: "DAT File" if you go into
the detailed view mode.
- You can now test if the datebook can be repaired by pressing the
REPAIR DATEBOOK button. Uploading your DateBook will take some time
depending on the speed of your Internet link. Once the upload is completed
you will get a report telling you if the datebook can be repaired or
not.
- If you are satisfied with the result (AND ONLY THEN),
go to SWREG and buy
a Keycode for 7 US Dollar. The Keycode will be sent to you via eMail.
- Enter the Keycode and click onto the REPAIR
DATEBOOK button again. After your datebook has been uploaded, a Save
As dialog box will open and allow you to save your repaired
datebook as fixed-datebook.dat.
- Go to the directory where your broken datebook is located and rename
it to datebook-broken.dat. Note, that your Explorer may only show you the
first part of the name (datebook) and list the second part in the "Type"
column as "DAT File". This does not realy matter though, as you only have to
edit the first part of the filename.
- Copy the fixed-datebook.dat to the datebook directory and rename
it to datebook.dat. Note, that your Explorer may only show you the
first part of the name (datebook) and list the second part in the "Type"
column as "DAT File". This does not realy matter though, as you only have to
edit the first part of the filename.
- OK, now you are done. Restart the PalmDesktop and HotSync your
palm.
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