port in use by another application

[betwalk]

Hi-

I know this problem has been posted before by about a jillion people, but I when I read the posts and the replies, I just get twisted into a pretzel trying to follow links and posts and suggestions that all seem to lead me all over the place. Sorry, but I just get really confused. I have attempted to do an online chat with a Palm rep, but the sign-on screen keeps repeating back to me over and over for me to fill out my name and info over and over and I don't seem able to connect to their chat agent.

So here I am. Here is my situation:

Tungsten E2 handheld cannot sync via bluetooth to my Windows 7 laptop. I am using OS 4.1.4 because the download screens for the newer versions say they don't work with Windows 7. Also a Palm rep has told me that, too. I synced very successfully via bluetooth this fall, but recently experienced a laptop crash and then a handheld failure. (What a month this has been!!) These have both been fixed but syncing seems no longer to work.

• I have Bluetooth turned on and set up as discoverable on the handheld.
• My Bluetooth devices are listed as in working order in my Windows 7 device manager.
• My Hotsync manager is turned on.
• I have tried setting to Serial and also to Network via the Hotsync Manager in the system tray. No matter what I click in the Hotsync manager list, I get a message telling me that the port, Com1, is not available but that the Hotsync manager will open the port when it becomes available. This, of course, never comes to pass.
• When I attempt a Hotsync, I am unable to connect and get the message on my handheld that the port is in use by another application.

Please help. And please keep it as straightforward as possible.

Thank you SO MUCH-

BWalker

Post relates to: Tungsten E2

[thetreoguy · Accepted solution]

Hello!

If the reason for using 4.1.4 Palm Desktop are just compatibility concerns then please use 6.2.2 .  Palm Desktop 6.2.2 is the only build compatible for Windows 7, especially due to changes MS put on saving 3rd party app data.  First uninstall PDT 4.1.4 and then install PDT 6.2.2.  This version of Palm Desktop would not make you go through the grind of figuring out which COM port to use too.  In the hotsync manager, go into connections and check off bluetooth.

After that, go through the parring process on the PC to pair the Tungsten E2 again.  The hotsync should work fine this time.

Just a note that if you are using a bluetooth USB dongle that sometimes upon reboot you will need to just exit out of hotsync manager and reopen it since Windows could change up the COM ports on USB devices.

[betwalk]

Thank you thank you thank you! I was really afraid to use the 6.2 OS because of all the cautionary notes I'd read. But I downloaded and installed it this evening and you are SO right! Whew - so much easier.

Thanks for your reply and my apologies to everyone for my semi-hysterical message from before. Chalk it up to exhaustion and frustration.

BWalker

[thetreoguy]

No problem at all, I'm just glad your back in business.  Enjoy!

[DorothyMarks]

Hi, I have recently started to read this forum having just bought a new laptop with windows 7, 64 bit, and had the problem of syncing my tungsten E2 to it. I have installed the desktop 6.2, given up on the cable, bought a BT dongle, but no matter what I do I cannot sync and always get the message 'port in use be another application' as per this thread....

I have read the extensive thread on Vista / 7 and hotsyncing, and wonder if the confusing factor is Office 2010?

(The Palm worked fine with my old laptop with Vista, via the cable, grrrr)

I have tried with COM ports and without COM ports, I understand that I do not need the Virtual Serial Port, and have bypassed that step, to no avail.

I have found the 'compatiblity' sections in preferences in both the BT and HotSync manager, and selected Windows 7, still to no avail.

Both the computer and handheld are discoverable.

any other suggestions? - I would rather not tear all my hair out today!!

I would be eternally grateful for the answer to this conundrum....

Dorothy

[DorothyMarks]

Problem solved......

compatibility in preferences needed to be to Vista, as that is the system the info is coming from, together with a COM3 port, they are now talking

[jdrach]

I've been having this same problem.

Where can I find this "compatibility in preferences" that you are talking about?

[Zenophile]

I have had the problem of syncing Palm Tngsten E with Outlook on Win7.  I followed the solution described by Paul71666, which is the closrest to working of any suggested solution.  It uses an IR-USB dongle so I am essential syncing through IR.  I set up all the settings described by Paul 72666 in http://bit.ly/ej1JAt.  Now I have the problem that people are reporting in this thread -- I get the error message that some other application is using the port so it can't sync.  Is there a typical probem causing the "port in use" error message?

Thanks