Using Clie on 2 computers

[Blade Master]

I currently synch my Clie to my laptop computer, and I recently bought a new tower that I would like to synch my Clie to as well. My questions are:

1. What do I need to do this properly without risking any data loss? I'm assuming I need to run the setup CD that came with my Clie on my tower and then do a synch, but will that transfer all the data on my Clie to the new computer? Should I install all the programs from my laptop onto my tower that the clie synchs with first, or after I install the Clie on my tower?

2. Is there an up-to-date Hotsynch manager or version of Palm desktop I should get before I do all this?

3. Do I need to do some sort of back-up first and then use that back-up to restore my data on the tower computer?

[captainao]

Every PDA manual has a pretty big warning against doing this. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but unless you know what you're doing and are very careful there's a good chance of data loss. If you're determined to do this, I'd suggest you provide some more information on exactly what you wish to sync on each computer, etc. For example, you may want to think of one of the computers as your "main" sync computer, and just use the other one to install software, or update AvantGo (for example).
Again, unless the computers are in 2 different locations, or there is some other compelling reason to do so, I wouldn't proceed in this direction.

[banjo]

I regularly sync my NX70 with both my work & home PCs. The only minor problem I have encountered is with Data to Go, where it of course reports errors if a document does not exist on a particular PC. (easy solution was to configure DTG not to sync documents).

db

[Wolfsmoke]

I sync daily at work and a couple times a week at home. (Can you guess where I spend the majority of my waking hours?) I have encountered no problems, except (similar to banjo) I get an error on Docs to Go if a Doc doesn't exist in one place or another. I took the same route and set it to not sync at home. I take the added precaution of making sure any programs that have a desktop interface (and especially the Palm Desktop) are all at the same version on both PC's.

[Bill Veik]

I do this with no problems. When you first set up the new computer, make sure your PDA is synchced and saved when you leave the first computer. You will have that to fall back on.

Just set up your first synch to the new computer to have the handheld overwrite the desktop. All programs on your handheld will be installed into the backup area in your handheld. Anything new you installed at one location wiill be placed in the backup area of the other location when you synch.

I send all new Docs to Go items to my home computer through e-mail, just making sure it is the updated file. once saved, there are no discrepencies between computers. Just set both to "Handheld overwrites desktop", and set all active conduits to synch.

[Wolfsmoke]

Originally posted by Bill Veik
I send all new Docs to Go items to my home computer through e-mail, just making sure it is the updated file. once saved, there are no discrepencies between computers. Just set both to "Handheld overwrites desktop", and set all active conduits to synch.

 

Ahh, the email is a good trick! Doc to Go, however, doesn't have a "Handheld Overwrites Desktop" in the conduit options.

[cerberus]

I sync to both my laptop and desktop with no problems whatsoever. I love being able to keep my calendar up to date on both! From work and home!!

[jaimejr66]

Synching on 2 computers is still risky. I would definitely recommend that you decide which computer is your Primary computer and which is your secondary. On the primary computer set it to Sync with Desktop. On the Secondary, set it for Palm to override desktop. I know that this will not help with Documents to go. The authors must have assumed that you would never actually be crazy enough to use 2 desktops.
Anyway, I have an even easier way to move those Windows documents from one desktop to another without using email. Using MS import, I actually write the documents into a Folder on the Memory stick. Then when I get to the other desktop, again using MS import, I copy the files to the second desktop.

Hope this helps.

[pdagal]

I sync my NX70V to both my Win2k desktop and my Mac TiBook with no problems. I even have Docs to Go on both. Since the days of the original Palm Pilot, I've been syncing to both home and work machines.

[Wolfsmoke]

Originally posted by jaimejr66
Synching on 2 computers is still risky. ...The authors must have assumed that you would never actually be crazy enough to use 2 desktops. 

Why is it "risky" or "crazy"? Obviously people are doing it, have been doing, without issue. If you plan for certain elements (Docs to Go, etc.) there isn't a hitch. I don't recall seeing any warnings not to, so I'm not sure what "risk" you mean.

[applejosh]

I think it's generally considered risky because if you edit the same record on each PC (without hotsyncing inbetween), then some things might get overwritten. I personally have two PC's which I occasionally sync to, but on one of them, the handheld always overwrites the desktop for the standard conduits/apps, and I only sync each third party conduit on one PC. (eg. Docs To Go I sync at work, set to Do nothing at home, and PocketQuicken is set to Sync at home and not even installed at work.) Plus, some conduits (especially third party ones) really don't do well when syncing with multiple PC's. I always had issues with the QuickOffice conduit creating multiple copies of stuff on the two PC's I used to sync it with, and eventually I didn't know which copy of the document was the current/correct one.

I'll admit I used to sync on two PC's regularly, but sometimes I'd end up with some missing note fields or something. Nothing major, and it was usually because I'd edit the same record twice (once on each system but not edit the same part of the record) without hotsyncing inbetween. I generally don't need to do this any more, as my home PC simply serves as an additional backup of standard app information that I enter at work or on the Clie itself.

[testcard]

I've done this with both a Palm Vx, and now my NX70, on my work PC, and my laptop at home. The most important thing it to ensure that the user name is identical on both computers. Never had a single problem.