Thinkpads Forum

Hi everyone,

I have a little problem synchronizing my Palm m515 with my laptop IBM ThinkPad 770 [9548-30U] (with Windows Me) using the infrared port. (Cradle HotSync runs perfectly well).

When I initiate the infrared synchronization process, laptop opens a dialog window asking/waiting for a file name to be transfer, but do not performs any synchronization. It seems that laptop has the infrared “File Transfer” application only.

Reading some white papers I found:
Palm OS 3.5 or higher (m515 is 4.1)
IR port supports the IrCOMM implementation of the IrDA standards. To perform an IR HotSync operation your computer must meet:
- Support the IrCOMM implementation of the IrDA standards.

IrDA (Infrared Data Association) supports programs created for other software and equipment manufacturers who sell programs that use the Winsock API (or proprietary interfaces) to provide infrared connections to PDAs.

How can I update the infrared port with the IrCOMM application/protocol and where can I get it?

Best regards,
Fernando Reyes

You have to select IR as the method for hotsync both in the hotsync app on the 770, and in hotsync on your palm device. Further, you should disable the "search for and indentify computers in range" (or something like that) in the infrared settings of Windows ME.

Are you selecting "Infrared" in Hotsync on the 770, or are you selecting the comm port it's attached to?

Also, get the latest PalmOS update you can, and sync it via the cradle.

Hi ,

Thank you so much for your answer. I already fixed the problem. Technical Support from Palm suggested me two changes:
a) In the HotSync icon on the taskbar choose "Setup" and then "Local". Change the virtual port from "COM2" to "COM4".
b) In the HotSync icon on the taskbar change the selection from "InfraRed" to "Local Serial".

This way it worked perfectly well.

Just a little history:
Since the beginning, I did what you suggest first, but at the moment I chose "InfraRed" in the HotSync icon on the taskbar, it appeared the following error message: "HotSync Manager: Error accessing the IR port. See the //Helpnotes//IR_Readme.txt for more information."

Those notes say:
Palm OS 3.5 or higher (m515 is 4.1)
IR port supports the IrCOMM implementation of the IrDA standards. To perform an IR HotSync operation your computer must meet:
- Support the IrCOMM implementation of the IrDA standards.

And Win Me white papers say:
Infrared device support.
The Windows Me operating system is installed with the Wireless Link file transfer program and infrared printing capability (IrLPT). Additionally, the IrDA Winsock API supports programs created by other software and equipment manufacturers. These manufacturers sell programs that use the Winsock API (or proprietary interfaces) to provide infrared connections to printers, modems, digital pagers, personal digital assistants, electronic cameras, organizers, cellular phones, and hand-held computers.

Thereby my doubts started: I thought I had to buy the IrCOMM protocol. Fortunately, WinMe do have IrCOMM protocol and it was just a matter of configuration on the HotSync application side.

I appreciate your interest and support.
Best regards
Fernando Reyes