need to set up pc to run Palm OS4 & OS5

[JJB]

I have a clie nr70v that runs palm os4.01. I recently purchased an nx70v for my wife (since nr70v has been discontinued). NX 70v runs palm os5. When trying to install os5 on my pc, install program tells me to uninstall previous version (os4). I need to run both os4 and os5 as the nr70v won't support os5.
Is there a way to run both versions and use two separate cradles ( and user names) on the same pc?
help!
thanks
Jeff

[euroclie]

Originally posted by JJB
I have a clie nr70v that runs palm os4.01. I recently purchased an nx70v for my wife (since nr70v has been discontinued). NX 70v runs palm os5. When trying to install os5 on my pc, install program tells me to uninstall previous version (os4). I need to run both os4 and os5 as the nr70v won't support os5.
Is there a way to run both versions and use two separate cradles ( and user names) on the same pc?
help!
thanks
Jeff

Hi Jeff,

This stuff can be quite confusing at times, especially if you're new to the PalmOS, and I'll try to make it short:

1) Your Clié device runs the Palm Operating system (PalmOS). Depending which model(s) you own, this can be PalmOS 3.x, 4.x or 5.x, as you already know. The NR70V runs PalmOS 4 and the NX70V runs PalmOS 5.

2) Your PC, on the other hand, can run many flavour of Windows, but in every case, you need to install Sony's version of the Palm OS Desktop. The current version that ships with the NX70V is 4.x.x (I have 4.0.1), but it is backward compatible (the ony problem may be with USBSwitcher with old devices like the S300 or N710C, but it is included in recent versions of (Sony's) Palm Desktop).

All in all, you will most certainly be able to hotsync your NX70V using the version of the Palm Desktop you used with the NR70V, and if you install the Palm Desktop that comes with your NX70V, you'll still be able to hotsync the NR70V... The version of PalmOS running on your device is mostly irrelevant in that case, the hotsync utility works just the same with OS4 and OS5 devices! ;)

Hope this helps...

[Eric S]

Euroclie is right, Jeff. In our house, we hotsync an NX-60, T-615, and SJ-20 all off the same computer. I installed the NX-60 software (including updates available off of Sony's web site) and haven't had any problems. I think you might even be able to use the same cradle for the NX and the NR. I know that between the T and the NX, they moved the little tab on the back that locks the PDA into place, and that's the only reason the NX doesn't sit comfortably in the T cradle. I still use it to hotsync, I just don't leave it in there for charging.

[JJB]

Thanks for the help.
I had to uninstall OS4 ( backed up saved my settings first) and then installed OS5. Successfully transferred Palm III files to NX too.
Had a little trouble with conflicts on using two cradles. However, I disconnected the NR70V cradle and synced the NX ok. Then plugged in the NR70 cradle and performed sync. System was then able to correctly recognize the two cradles.
Thanks
Jeff