When you double-click a Palm OS application (.prc) or Palm OS database (.pdb) to your device under Windows Vista, you will be prompted to Allow or Cancel the program. If you click Allow you will see the following error messages:

You will not be able to install Palm OS applications or databases from your desktop PC through HotSync.

What to do
Although the desktop Install Tool and Quick Install applications are not compatible with Windows Vista, there are other ways to install Palm OS applications and databases.

Your options Email the file to yourself (easiest for smartphones and Wi-Fi handhelds) Use an SD/MMC expansion card Download it from the web

These methods will not work for .exe (executable) installers Some software uses an executable installer to transfer the Palm OS file to your device. If the installer file has an extension of .exe (such as "setup.exe"), you won't be able to install it from a Windows Vista machine. In that case, you may wish to install the file from a PC running Windows XP or Windows 2000. Keep in mind that you'll need to install Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager to that PC first (get it here), and that your personal data will be synchronized with that PC when you perform the HotSync operation as requested by the .exe installer.

Email the file to yourself

If the application is a single .prc file, or just a few .prc and .pdb files, you can install the software by sending email attachments.

1. On your desktop PC, compose an email to yourself.
2. Attach the .prc or .pdb file to the email.
3. Send the message.
4. On your Palm device, check your email. Open the message you sent.
5. In the message view, click the attachment icon to download and install the file. On-screen instructions will guide you through the process.

Use an SD/MMC expansion card

If your Palm device has an SD or miniSD slot, and you have a USB card reader for your Windows Vista PC, you can install the file through an expansion card.

1. Connect the SD/miniSD card reader to your desktop PC.
2. Copy the .prc and .pdb files to the expansion card.
3. Remove the card from the reader, and insert it into your Palm device.
4. Now you have two options:
   • If the application allows it, you can run the application from the expansion card, and keep the card in your device.
   • Copy the files to the internal memory on your Palm device, and remove the card from your device. Here's how.

Note: The general rule is that you need twice as much free memory on the device as the size of the application you are installing. For example if the application is 1MB you need at least 2MB free on your device.

Download it from the web

If you have a Wi-Fi enabled handheld within wireless coverage, or a smartphone with mobile data services, you can install applications directly from the web using the built-in browser.

From within a wireless coverage area, connect to the Internet by launching the web browser on your Palm device. If you know the URL of the Palm OS application or data file (.prc or .pdb), just enter that URL in the browser, and downloading will begin.

The file may be zipped (.zip or .sit). Many web browsers do not automatically decompress zip or sit files. If the file is not decompressed when you download it (you'll probably be asked if you want to save the file to an expansion card), there are easy ways to decompress the file:

• Third-party applications such as PalmHandZipper by HandWatch, Inc. can decompress files downloaded to your Palm device.
• If you have VersaMail 2.7 and above, you can save the compressed file to an expansion card, add it as an attachment in VersaMail, and use the decompression function in VersaMail to unzip it: learn how.

Don't know the URL of the file? You can use your Palm device to visit third-party software sites such as the Palm Software Connection, and browse until you find something to download.