NOTE: to install the Palm Desktop software, you must be logged into the PC as an Administrator and to use the Palm Desktop, you must be logged into the PC with the SAME Administrative user name.
- Determine version of the Windows operating system running as follows:
- Click on the Start button
- Move cursor to “My Computer” icon (or “Computer”) and right click
- From the pop-up menu that appears, select properties
- From the About screen that appears, see whether the operating system is 32- or 64-bit, and reference the chart below for the correct version of Palm desktop
Tip: Always turn off all antivirus software when installing Palm Desktop Software. We have seen lots of partial installs due to virus software.
| Palm Desktop Version by Palm Device/PC Operating System | |||
| Device | Operating System | Palm Desktop | Comments |
| Palm Z22* | Win98, Win2000, WinXP, MAC | Version 4.14 | 4.14 works great on Win2000 and WinXP |
| Palm Z22* | VISTA 32-bit | Version 4.14 or Version 6.2 | Version 4.14 installs on some Vista machines and if it works, great. If 4.14 fails, then install 6.2. The latest version of MemoPad2CSV does work with version 6.2 of Palm Desktop. |
| Palm Z22* | VISTA 64-bit | Version 6.22 should work with special 64-bit USB driver | Palm Desktop should work. See Windows 7 64-bit directions below. If you’re getting a message about the USB drivers not working, then check if you’re on a 64-bit OS.To see if you’re running Vista 64, go to your computer icon and right click. A menu will pop up – select properties and the screen shown below will pop up. If it says Vista 64-bit, then Palm Desktop will NOT work. |
| Palm Z22* | Windows 7 Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise (32 bit)
Windows 8/8.1 |
Version 6.22 | For Windows 8.0/8.1 see this link for further instructions.
If running a 32-bit version of Windows (Home Premium, Profession, Enterprise), then just install the Palm Desktop 6.22 (see link below) and use the standard 32-bit USB driver that comes with Palm Desktop 6.22. In other words, this just installs and works.To see if you’re running Windows 7 64-bit, go to your computer icon and right click. A menu will pop up – select properties and the screen shown below will pop up. It will say Windows 7 64-bit or 32-bit. |
| Palm Z22* | Windows 7 Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise (64 bit)
Windows 8/8.1 (64 bit) |
Version 6.22 works with special 64-bit USB driver | For Windows 8.0/8.1 see this link for further instructions.
If running a 64-bit version of Windows (Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise), then install the Palm Desktop 6.22 and then install the 64-bit version of the Palm USB driver. |
| Palm Z22* | Windows 10 | Version 6.22 works with special 64-bit USB driver | For Windows 10 see this link for further instructions.
If running a 64-bit version of Windows (Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise), then install the Palm Desktop 6.22 and then install the 64-bit version of the Palm USB driver. To see if you’re running Windows 10 64-bit, right click the Windows icon. A menu will pop up – select system.In the system window look for System type, it will say Windows 10 64-bit or 32-bit. |
| Handspring Visor† | Win98, Win2000, WinXP | Version 4.01 or 4.14 | Palm Desktop 4.14 does not officially support Handspring devices, but we and our customers have found Version 4.14 works great and is actually faster and more robust than 4.01. |
| Handspring Visor† | Win VISTA | Try Version 4.14 but Vista is not Supported. | Version 4.14 installs on some Vista machines and if it works, great. If not, you have two choices. One is to move to another PC with WinXP/Win2000 or try to downgrade to WinXP/Win2000. A second approach is to try to install 4.01 on Vista see below. |
* Includes IDVisor Z22 Mobile, CounterTop, MSR
† Includes Deluxe, Edge, Pro
Tip: Always turn off all antivirus software when installing Palm Desktop Software. We have seen lots of partial installs due to virus software.
Palm Desktop 6.2 (72MB exe file)
Palm Desktop 4.14 (18Mb exe file)
Palm Desktop 4.01 (12MB exe file)
Reminder: When installing the Palm Desktop, always turn off all anitvirus software and any software which uses the USB port. We have seen lots of partial installs due to virus software and conflicts with USB ports.
VISTA Operating System
If you’re using a Handspring Visor or Palm Z22, we suggest you use the Palm Desktop 6.2. Many customers use 4.14 which comes with the hardware on the Orange CD and most seem to have no issues with this version of the Palm Desktop on Vista but an unfortunate few run into problems. If you are having problems Hotsyncing, first try right-clicking on the “Start” menu button, select Open, select Programs, select Startup, right-click on Hotsync and select Properties. Make sure that on the Compatibility tab, both “Run this program in compatibility mode for XP SP2” AND “Run as an administrator” are selected, then Hotsync.
If you’re using the Palm Z22, then try the Palm Desktop 6.2 (Hotsync Manager 7.0).
Note: The Palm Desktop 6.2 is designed for Vista Machines and newer Palm OS devices. It will NOT work with the Handspring Visor. We have tested it and gotten the Hotsync process to run but none of the Memos were synced. Thus if you are using Vista, use version 4.14 (not 4.14E) to Hotsync the Handspring Visor on Vista.
Installing Palm Desktop 4.01 in Vista
We found a web site that describes how to install version 4.01 of the Palm Desktop to work on Vista. We have not tried this and it appears to require a high level of technical expertise. Therefore, proceed with caution. The post was found here.
NOTE: WE HAVE NOT TESTED THIS AND IT SHOULD ONLY BE ATTEMPTED BY FOR ADVANCED COMPUTER USERS.
- Install the Palm software and drivers under Windows XP SP2, and perform at least one hotsync.
- Export the registry key [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics] from Windows XP SP2.
- Boot into Windows Vista Beta 2.
- Press the HotSync button on the Visor cradle, & use the Device Manager to update the drivers. When prompted, don’t have Vista search online for drivers, but instruct it to search in the USB_Driver directory on your Windows XP SP2 partition (in my case, this was D:\Program Files\Palm\USB_Driver).
- Then, ensure the HotSync Manager is not running (right-click on the systray icon, and choose exit).
- Import the registry key you exported in step 2.
- Set the HotSync Manager (HOTSYNC.EXE) to run as Administrator, and run in Windows XP SP2 compatibility mode.
- Restart the machine and boot into Vista.
Sadly, you’ll have to dismiss a UAC dialog each time you boot, as HotSync Manager will now need Administrator privileges to run. However, you should find that when you next press the HotSync button on the Palm (or the cradle, if you’re using a Visor), the HotSync will run properly.