Bug & Conflict w/ Palm Destop 6 & Windows Media Player

Question

I am a long time Palm user but my T2 was not getting much use considering I was already carrying Two cell phones. But I was excited to get an upgrade to a Centro for one of my phones. Now I am dealing with the differences between PalmDesktop4 (PD4) and PD6 on Windows XP SP3.
I found what appears to be a critical bug in the installation of PD6 in that it has some very undesirable interactions with Windows Media Player (WMP) 10 & 11. Let me preface by saying that I am not using WMP or PocketTunes for any syncing or transferring any media to my Centro. My Centro is only used for calendar, contacts, calculators, and Docs2Go.
I have installed PD6 and the PD6 user data to a removable drive for personal privacy on a work computer. The error is that when ever the drive is not mounted and wmplayer.exe is started, Windows searches for the Palm Access Installation package on my removable drive and attempts to start a installation of PD6. Of course it does not find the .msi and the only thing that happens is my computer locks up till I close WMP and then the ACCESS installer goes away. If the removable drive is mounted with the PD6 application directory and the PD6 user data, WMP loads quickly and appears to work fine.
Why is WMP trying to connect to applications or support files in the PD6 application directory?
I can only assume that the new PD6 media tab now is hooked into some windows media services. PD6 must be registered as a client/helper app to windows media and WMP is trying to load or locate the registered resources.
The big problem with this is that my user data path gets over written with PD6 installation defaults in the Windows Registry and I have to manually reset all the PalmDesktop registry data to point PD6 at my really user path on the V: drive.
This should not be installed this way. The association between the two applications appears to be an error in the ACCESS installation package for PD6.
I used Palm.com “Chat” support four or five time for some very basic support in getting my new Centro setup. The Palm.com “Chat” support was great. For this issue they were absolutely useless. One support person affirmed that I should be able to use the removable drive, the next just had me do reinstalls for PD6 (that I had already done) and then told me I would have to use the defaults for C:\Program Files and D:\Documents and Settings\username... They recommended that I use the Palm.com phone support number.
I did this and it had to be one of the worse support calls I have made in a while (case number 1-51474282949). Why is it impossible to get any computer software or hardware company to support the desktop software they putout? I got the same tech support baby talk about “reinstalling the application”, “use the default installation path”, “its not our application” and “you will have to contact Microsoft for support on your operating system”. Ahhhhh!
I was not even able to speak with a “Level 2” tech support person. I demanded that I be connected to a technical person a not just fed the same FAQ crap that I could find on the website. The “Level 2” person would not take my call but just passed the message to the “Level 1” Person that I would have to contact Microsoft.
So I am posting this message here to the Palm fourm in hope that the software engineering team will see this and be able to either patch their software or give me the .reg key to break the association between WMP and PD6. Below I have posted a long list of my Chat support that explains the issues in further technical details, and also details the lack of detailed skilled support available at Palm.com.
Help? Direction?
I have my palm application directory installed to V:\PalmDesktop6App and the user data files installed to V:\jcollyer-files\PalmDataV6_001 This is a removable drive that I install on my work computer. I remove this drive and take it home with me. Doing this allows me the ability to keep my palm data secure but I can still use my computer at work to manage my palm data.
If the V:\ drive is not mounted when I run palm desktop, Palm desktop messes up the "Path" regestry key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\Pilot Desktop\Core]
"DesktopPath"="V:\\PalmDesktop6App\\"
"HotSyncPath"="V:\\PalmDesktop6App\\Hotsync.exe"
"Path"="V:\\jcollyer-files\\PalmDataV6_001"
"UserConduitFolder"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\jcollyer\\Application Data\\HotSync\\Conduits"
"PIMVersion"="6.1.0"
"DesktopExe"="Palm.exe"
@=""
"Desktop Language"="ENG"
"INSTALLDIR"="V:\\PalmDesktop6App\\"
"VM_Username"="John Collyer"
When the key gets messed up it defaults to the standard palm desktop path:
"C:\Documents and Settings\jcollyer\My Documents\Palm OS Desktop"
I found this out because every time Windows Media player starts it tries to start Palm Desktop or the Palm Desktop install/remove program. I get a pop up window and progress bar that says “Palm Desktop by Access”. The only way to get rid of this pop up window is to shut down windows media player. So if my V: drive is not mounted just starting windows media player corrupts the user “Path” registry settings. It just so happens our work voicemail uses media player on the computer.
Dan(Sun Oct 19 2008 16:04:52 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time))>
1. Click on Start.
2. Click on Run.
3. Type "regedit" and click Ok.
4. Then Registry Editor window will open.
5. Double click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
6. Then click on +sign beside Software.
7. Now delete all the folders which start with Palm.
8. Also delete the folder called US robotics.
9. Now Double click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
10. Then click on +sign beside Software.
11. Now delete all the folders which start with Palm.
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chat id: 7f2a7664-50e8-40fb-8933-f82278d33b6d
Problem: Palm Deskto & Windows Media Player?
John_Collyer > I have my palm application directory installed to V:\PalmDesktop6App and the user data files installed to V:\jcollyer-files\PalmDataV6_001 This is a removable drive that I install on my work computer. I remove this drive and take it home with me. Doing this allows me the ability to keep my palm data secure but I can still use my computer at work to manage my palm data.
If the V:\ drive is not mounted when I run palm desktop, Palm desktop messes up the "Path" regestry key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\Pilot Desktop\Core]
"DesktopPath"="V:\\PalmDesktop6App\\"
"HotSyncPath"="V:\\PalmDesktop6App\\Hotsync.exe"
"Path"="V:\\jcollyer-files\\PalmDataV6_001"
"UserConduitFolder"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\jcollyer\\Application Data\\HotSync\\Conduits"
"PIMVersion"="6.1.0"
"DesktopExe"="Palm.exe"
@=""
"Desktop Language"="ENG"
"INSTALLDIR"="V:\\PalmDesktop6App\\"
"VM_Username"="John Collyer"
Dan > Hello John_Collyer, Thank you for contacting Palm Technical Support. My name is Dan. How may I help you?
John_Collyer > When the key gets messed up it defaults to the standard palm desktop path:
"C:\Documents and Settings\jcollyer\My Documents\Palm OS Desktop"
I found this out because every time Windows Media player starts it tries to start Palm Desktop or the Palm Desktop install/remove program. I get a pop up window and progress bar that says “Palm Desktop by Access”. The only way to get rid of this pop up window is to shut down windows media player. So if my V: drive is not mounted just starting windows media player corrupts the user “Path” registry settings. It just so happens our work voicemail uses media player on the computer. I am using window media player 11.
What the heck is going on? How can I stop Windows Media Player from triggering the palm desktop application? Better yet why does it even try?
It does this when I simply open windows media player, even without a file. Just opening the Windows Media player application by it’s self causes this behavior.
Dan > Please let me go through the information you have provided.
John_Collyer > Ok standing by...
Dan > I understand that you have issue with the Palm Desktop and windows Media player getting messed up .
Dan > Sure I will guide with the issue .
Dan > May I know since when you are facing the issue ?
Dan > Please let me know the Operating System you are using. Is it Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista or MAC?
John_Collyer > I had this problem from the first install about two weeks. I use PalmDesktop 4 with my T2 for years on a removable drive never had an issue. PD6 only allows me to set the user path during installation. So I have been having issues with the reg keys getting messed up for a while. I though just creating a .reg file to fix the problems was going to be simple till I found windows media player was trying to autostart palm software???
John_Collyer > Windows XP SP3
John_Collyer > I am a new owner of the Palm Centro not using the T2 with PD6
Dan > Thank you for information .
Dan > I got the issue .
Dan > There are more than one version of the Palm software in the computer .
John_Collyer > No only PD6 now
Dan > That's reason the Drivers in the Registry are messing up and causing the issue .
Dan > Okay .
Dan > Do you have any data in the Palm Desktop ?
John_Collyer > Yes, when the V: drive is mounted everything works great, perfect. Windows Media player even load without a hitch. I would even deal with the .reg fix work around I made to over write the registry. I still don't understand why the application tries to load when it is installed on the V: drive if the v: drive is not present. It has to be the install/uninstall .msi file that runs the Add/Remove programs feature in widows control panel. Why does any of this change the user path?
Dan > I will explain you .
Dan > The reason for change of the path is with the corrupted applications and computer settings .
John_Collyer > Sorry, Why would the .msi file run if Windows Media is started?
Dan > .MSI file is the supporting file for Windows Media player .
Dan > That's reason for executing of .msi file during the windows media player .
Dan > To fix the issue we must perform clean uninstall and reinstall so that you will not have any further issue .
Dan > Let me know if you are comfortable with the clean uninstall and reinstall if the Palm software .
John_Collyer > I've uninstalled PD6 and reinstalled it like 12 times. If the V: drive is missing it really messes up the PD6 software. To keep me from doing this by launching PD6 from the C: drive I installed it to V:. No .exe no launchy. It works fine. What is hooking into windows media player. A .msi is a Microsoft install package, not a media file. We can do a clean install but why would running windows media player start the palm install/uninstall .msi file? I have not heard why?
John_Collyer > All my installs have worked fine. Unless there is a deeper cleaning process you can help me with other than running the remove program, is it worth trying AGAIN?
Dan > Did you perform clean uninstall and reinstall >
John_Collyer > Clean = remove program, reinstall, and sync to a new user folder? Then Yes. Other options?
Dan > No we need top perform few other steps .
John_Collyer > Ok shall I "Remove Program"?
Dan > No please wait .
Dan > First please let me know if you have any data in the Palm Desktop in the computer .
John_Collyer > Yes, but it is also going to be kept in the phone correct? It will survive if we create a new user folder right?
Dan > Yes .
Dan > Please let me know the user name given during the Sync .
John_Collyer > Well then I think it is safe, I have recently hotsynced so the data should be a match?
John_Collyer > John Collyer
Dan > Cool .
Dan > Thank you for information .
Dan > In the computer open My documents -->Palm OS Desktop-->locate folder called CoolyJ .
Dan > In the computer open My documents -->Palm OS Desktop-->locate folder called CoolyJ .
John_Collyer > No user folder there.... It's on the V: drive V:\jcollyer-files\PalmDataV6_001\CollyeJ Yes?
Dan > Please wait .
Dan > Please right click on the Palm Desktop and then click on Properties .
John_Collyer > the .exe in V:\PalmDesktop6App or the shortcut in start menu?
John_Collyer > start menu= V:\PalmDesktop6App\Palm.exe
Dan > You will have the Palm Desktop icon on the computer desktop .
Dan > Okay .
Dan > Thank you for information .
Dan > Please take the back of the Palm Desktop data in the computer .
John_Collyer > Destop target = V:\PalmDesktop6App\Palm.exe tpp
John_Collyer > ??? Please take the back of the Palm Desktop data in the computer
Dan > I mean to tell you that we must save all data of the Palm Desktop in different location .
Dan > I will assist you .
Dan > In the computer open V:drive-->locate Palm folder .
Dan > Open Palm folder and check if you have folder called CoolyJ .
John_Collyer > V:\jcollyer-files\PalmDataV6_001\CollyeJ
John_Collyer > No CoolyJ
Dan > Okay .
Dan > In the computer open Vrive-->Collerfiles-->Copy Palm folder and paste on the computer desktop .
John_Collyer > done
Dan > Okay .
Dan > Do not delete the Pal folder that was copied to computer desktop .
John_Collyer > ok
Dan > First go to Start-->Control Panel-->Add/Remove Programs. There Palm or PalmOne or Palm Desktop will be listed. Click Remove against it.
Let me know once you are done with unistallation process.
John_Collyer > starting
John_Collyer > done, next
Dan > Now in the computer open V:drive-->Collerfiles-->Rename Palm folder to Palmold .
John_Collyer > already there
Dan > Okay .
Dan > Now we need to perform Registry Clean up .
Dan > Please perform the steps provided .
Dan > 1. Click on Start.
2. Click on Run.
3. Type "regedit" and click Ok.
4. Then Registry Editor window will open.
5. Double click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
6. Then click on +sign beside Software.
7. Now delete all the folders which start with Palm.
8. Also delete the folder called US robotics.
9. Now Double click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
10. Then click on +sign beside Software.
11. Now delete all the folders which start with Palm.
John_Collyer > still working
Dan > Please take your time .
Dan > I will be with you .
John_Collyer > done
Dan > Cool .
Dan > You are pretty fast .
Dan > Now clean uninstall of the Palm software is done .
John_Collyer > I was already deep in the registry look at this all thats how I found the "Path"
John_Collyer > Now we reinstall? Can I still use the V: drive for application files and user data?
Dan > Yes .
Dan > You can use V:drive .
Dan > After you install the Palm software perform Sync and make sure that Sync is success .
Dan > And you will not have sny issue with the Windows media player messing up .
John_Collyer > Ok I will start the PD6 install now
Dan > Please go a head .
Dan > Thank you for all the cooperation and patience in the chat session .,
John_Collyer > working almost done
Dan > Awesome .
Dan > But after installation is complete we need to restart the computer .
Dan > We must restart the computer for necessary changes to take place .
John_Collyer > how do I get back to you in support?
Dan > I assure that you will not have any further issue ,
Dan > However if you do have any further issue .
Dan > Please login with the same user name and email address .
John_Collyer > Palm Support can find me after that?
Dan > Yes .
Dan > I will have Our chat session in Our Data Base .
John_Collyer > Ok then it is time for a restart?
Dan > So that once you re contact us we will check with the required information and pull the chat session already we have done with .
Dan > And proceed with the further steps .
Dan > Please go ahead .
John_Collyer > Till then, good bye...
Dan > Please let me know if I can be of any further help .
Dan > Analyst has closed chat and left the room
Did all this above. Still have Windows Media Player trying to launch the ACCESS .msi installer which creates these processes:
IDriver.exe (x5)
IdriverT.exe (x1)
MSIexec.exe (x3)
I have let windows media player and windows installer run a bit longer and I get a second window titled "windows installer" with the text:
The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable.
Click OK to try again, or enter and alternate path to a folder containing the installation package 'Palm Desktop by ACCESS.msi' in the box below.
[C:\DOCUME~1\jcollyer\LOCALS~1\Temp\_is4\]
this is the default text.
I browsed my way to C:\WINDOWS\Installer and found a new .msi for PD6 called C:\WINDOWS\Installer\45599.msi and renamed it to C:\WINDOWS\Installer\45599_PalmNeedsBetterSoftware​_msi
Still have the same issues from above. I thought if the .msi failed to be found then the error might just get passed over. So I do not know where IDriver.exe or other MS Installer applications is getting the values for 'Palm Desktop by ACCESS.msi'?
Again it is very odd that the ACCESS installer it trying to run when windows media player is launched (even with out any media, app only). Please do not tell me to do another "Clean Install" that is just BABY-TALK tech support at this point!!! I need to know why the PalmDesktop ACCESS installer is hooking into Windows Media Player. There is no doubt something odd is going on. As long as the V: drive where my Palm Desktop applications and user data is stored there is no problem. As soon as the V: drive is off line I have all these issues.
I noticed that PalmDesktop now has advanced media tools to "Make Video" in the media tab of Palm Desktop. This is where you can export a .mpg slide show of all you photos from your palm photos.
I would bet you a free year of Verizon's wireless data plan that the new Palm Desktop is registered as some type of client application to windows media service. When windows media player loads it tries to register all the clients and the Palm media client application is not available so some how MS Windows tries to start the PalmDesktop installer to fix the client media application.
Please note that I am not using Pocket Tunes at all, not trying to sync pTunes with Windows media or Rhapsody or any other media junk. Right now I want my palm to just be a extra smart contact and calendar manager, that’s all.
PALM NEEDS TO PATCH THIS. Palm Desktop should call Windows Media when it needs it, not have Palm Desktop registered as a client application to Windows Media by default!
PLEASE TELL ME THERE IS A SIMPLE FAQ FIX FOR ALL NONSENSE???
Post relates to: Centro (Verizon)

Answer 1

Thank you so much for replying.
Yes I have removed and reinstalled WMP.
I had good results with the PD6 application installed on the default path onto the C: drive with the one exception that if the application was launched by accident and the user data path was not available, the PD6 application would blow away my custom user path registry settings. Now that I know what they are I have made a .reg file to repair my registry to my desired user data paths.
Installing the application on the removable drive appeared to help prevent me from launching the application by accident and overwriting my registry with default user paths.
So which is the less of the two evils?
If the application directory is not available, windows media player still tries to launch the .msi for installing PD6.
If I install the application to the C: drive but the user data to the removable drive, launching the PD6 application without the user data drive will still corrupt my registry settings for a user data path.
Both these issues seem like a logical (if not easy) fix that should be done in the PD6 application and installation package. I mean really, cannot anyone tell me why windows media player is checking the PD6 application directory? Why in PD4 did we have an option control for setting the user data path from the PD4 application? Why is this option not in the PD6 application, just the installer?
I am given a choice during installation to move the user data to another non default location. Why else would this be provided if not to accommodate my kind of request to store the user data into an alternate location other than “My Document”. Certainly Palm is not trying to force the users on how to protect and store their personal data?
Post relates to: Centro (Verizon)