How Do I Single Out Instability!!??

[ApheoXAIo]

Good evening/morning/afternoon to all,
I have a TX and it is slightly unstable - That is, I often get random resets when synchronising and when backing up. Now, it would appear to me that the palm is seeing a file it does not like and resets because it is confused perhaps??

Is it somehow possible for me to work out EXACTLY what program/file is causing this?

Thanks to all responses.

[juggernaut#2]

Is it somehow possible for me to work out EXACTLY what program/file is causing this?
this is how i did it (and still do it), since i came across a discussion here between pruss and dmitry here:

1. get offflush (i used v1) and install,
2. do a reset with PAGE UP, which will restart the device without automatic loading of apps,
3. try to flush. if it works, continue, else ... well.
4. reset once more, move all your "resident" apps to card (apps that do something in behind, if unsure, check description or help),
5. try to flush. if it works, good.
6. move those apps back, one at a time, try to flush after each of them. if it works, it´s likely that ist´s not the app you just moved that causes problems, it it doesn´t work, you might have a candidate.
7. repeat 6.

this will sort out pretty good, at least it did that for me. i had to get rid of Clipper, which i sorted out this way and have not had instabilities since - i even re-installed the EUAudio patch (with RLock) without problems.

[kiteandcamera]

My method is to do a hard reset and start loading apps - one by one - back to the handheld. This is sort of like doing a routine cleaning. Unfortunately, you may never identify a single application that is/was causing instability, becuase after all of your hard work, it is possible that everything currently on your handheld may work fine when all have been reinstalled. This leads me to believe there are some preference settings or other mysterious changes that get fouled up over time. I do not understand the internal technicals of handhelds or software, only my personal experience with this procedure. Conversely, you may find a problem app as juggernaut#2 explains in the above post - which is a joyous occassion.

[Zxanphorian]

Yeah, both are good (although time consuming) methods to try. In the future, try to do a more proactive approach to this. Use something like NVBackup to back up everything to the SD card before installing a certain type of program. Usually, you don't have to do this if you install a calculator, game, etc, since those generally don't run in the background. You should, however, backup the device when you are installing hack-like programs, such as mySkin/Kbd, YAHM, and any other program that runs in the background. Also, ALWAYS full (not just Hotsync) backup the device when downloading Beta programs, or programs with a lot of documented bugs in them.

I used this technique, and my TX never became horribly unstable.

[Dick Tracy]

Application compatibility list at palmfocus.com.

Hard reset and rename backup folder on computer. Do not reinstall red light apps.

Backup Conduit MUST be set to Handheld Overwrites Desktop.

[cyberdude]

I found this article (http://mytreo.net/archives/2007/03/inside-your-treo-how-to-fix-a-cache-crash.html) at mytreo.net very helpful both in understanding why crashes take place and in troubleshooting them.

I also have used a method with UnCache (http://palmpowerups.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=9) and Stability Test (http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/stabilitytest.shtml).
If you are using UnCache (UC) you have an UC list of apps that require notifications in ordeer to run properly. If you're not using UC, you should be. UC speeds up start time and defrags your dbcache on reset. It also makes it easier to find problems. To find what items need to be in the UC list you need to run either palm internals and tap the notifications button - these items probably need to be in the list, unless you are going to physically start the app before using it. You can also use Resco Explorer's notifications list - which I find a little easier to read. Once you have everything that should be in the list there.

1. Write down everything in your UC list
2. Delete everything in the list
3. Reset TX
4. If it works, put back the first half of the items in the list
5. reset TX
6. if it works skip to step 13
7. remove half the item in list
8. reset tx
9. repeat steps 7-8 until it works
10. Put back 1 item at a time until it doesn't reset correctly
11. The last item you put back is the culprit
12. Skip to step 18
13. put back two items at a time
14. reset tx
15. repeat 13-14 until it doesn't reset correctly
16. remove one of the items you put back and reset
17. If it works, the culprit is the item you removed, if it doesn't work the culprit is the item you put back.
18. you are done

Running Stability Test after each reset (get it free at freewarepalm.com) is a double check.

[tarverator]

Stability Test does not seem to be available either from FreewarePalm, or from the link from the article to Handango, but I found it on mytreo.net. (http://mytreo.net/downloads/file-522-1.html).

I am very glad that my TX passed the test, as I just finished hard-resetting it a few minutes ago, and I am about to re-load all the apps to see which one was causing the mayhem. The timing couldn't be better to find out about this tool!!

[cyberdude]

Stability Test does not seem to be available either from FreewarePalm, or from the link from the article to Handango, but I found it on mytreo.net. (http://mytreo.net/downloads/file-522-1.html).

I am very glad that my TX passed the test, as I just finished hard-resetting it a few minutes ago, and I am about to re-load all the apps to see which one was causing the mayhem. The timing couldn't be better to find out about this tool!!
Just so you are aware, Stability Test although a great tool, is not the be all and end all. Your device can pass all the tests and exit properly and not even reset, but still be unstable. I found this out recently when I tried to add an app to my device only to find that it made other parts of my device function improperly (Showbattery after version 1.00 seems to completely incompacitate my device). So beware of gremlins ...

[FerdFerd]

Stability Test has never showed that my TX was unstable, even on two occasions when I knew it was unstable. Those occasions had two completely different causes. I've given up on it.

[cyberdude]

A good test is running PalmInternals, at least on my device. Everytime I've run PalmInternals when I think the device is unstable, it has crashed on me. Run PI and try and get the full notifications list. If that doesn't cause a reset than your device is most likely stable.

[tarverator]

Obviously, StabilityTest is a sanity test, not an exhaustive system test, but very useful all the same. For anyone else who's looking, PalmInternals is here (http://yahm.palmoid.com/pali.zip), and not to be confused with (Palm) Internals (http://znark.com/palm/internals/).

[FerdFerd]

Obviously, StabilityTest is a sanity test, not an exhaustive system test, but very useful all the same. Could you say a few words about how to make good use of it?