Sony Prepares Windows XP Fix For Older Cliés

Posted By: Ed Thursday, November 1, 2001 10:55:04 AM

Sony Japan has announced that they are preparing to fix the Windows XP compatibility issue that prevents older Clié models from performing a HotSync and using OpenMG Jukebox. Details are very sketchy at this point. It is not clear if this will simply be an upgrade to Sony's version of the Palm Desktop and OpenMG Jukebox or if any of the software on the handheld will have to be updated. No date for when this fix would available was given.

The N760C ships with OS 4.1, which is already compatible with Windows XP. Sony Japan made sure people would be aware that N710C's that have gone through their authorized upgrade program to OS 4.1 would also be Win XP compatible.

This announcement was only made in Japan. There has, as yet, been no equivalent U.S. or European announcement. Much of what Sony Japan does eventually makes its way to other countries but not everything.

Apparently, only Sony models have a problem with Windows XP. A statement on Palm's support area says, "Palm's testing shows Palm Desktop 4.0.1 to be compatible with pre-released versions of Windows XP Home edition. Users can easily install the latest release of Palm Desktop for Windows and synchronize their Palm-branded handheld to the Palm Desktop or to Microsoft Outlook running on Windows XP Home Edition. "

Thanks to Eugene for the tip and the translation. -Ed

Related Information:

Sony: Windows XP announcement (in Japanese)
Palm: Windows XP Compatibility
PIC: Sony Announces OS Upgrade Program
PIC: Palm OS 4.1 Bug Fixes List
PIC: Rumor: Palm OS 4.1 Coming Nov. 15

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Is this a little too late?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/1/2001 11:04:35 AM #

WinXP has been announced ages ago, and Sony has only *announced* that they are *about* to support WinXP??

RE: Is this a little too late?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/1/2001 11:12:45 AM #

That is true. But Japanese OS of Windows XP will only be launched on 11/16.

RE: Is this a little too late?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/1/2001 2:12:02 PM #

The problem with Sony is its USB switcher. Palm doesn't need it for its USB or Serial models, and thus their hotsync manager is compatible with XP

RE: Is this a little too late?

rldunn @ 11/1/2001 2:32:58 PM #

The only Clie models that used USB Switcher were the S300 and N710, both of which had OS 3.5, so this isn't the reason for the problem.

RE: Is this a little too late?

polymath @ 11/1/2001 10:23:08 PM #

USB switcher is not compatible with XP. Since only 300 and 710C uses OS3.5 and USB switcher, those devices are not compatible with XP.

Other devices with OS4 or higher should have no problem running in XP.

RE: Is this a little too late?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/4/2001 7:28:43 PM #

how about upgrading those devices to os 4?

RE: Is this a little too late?

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/7/2001 5:30:31 PM #

How about Sony send a 'free' serial cradle to fix the problem to their customers. If the problem exists with the USB cradle and the USB Switcher utility not working in the Windows XP environment, then why doesn't Sony attempt to make their customers happy and provide a simple serial cable. I'll bet that they will have them available for puchasing at a rather inflated price.

what about OS 4.0 in clie 610?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/1/2001 3:32:11 PM #

Is XP compatible with the 610?

RE: what about OS 4.0 in clie 610?

polymath @ 11/1/2001 10:25:47 PM #

If you are running Palm Desktop 4.01, then you shouldn't have any problem.

RE: what about OS 4.0 in clie 610?

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/29/2001 3:09:15 AM #

Just got a 610 and when I tried to hotsync in XP it blue screened and rebooted... Sony says no also. :)

RE: what about OS 4.0 in clie 610?

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/2/2002 11:58:47 PM #

If you go so sony's website undeer the support section for CLIE's there is a free download which they say should fix this.

M505 + Win XP not Compatible w/ USB

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/2/2001 7:45:46 AM #

I don't think that it is just the Sony that is incompatible. My M505 wouldn't Hot Sync with Windows XP Home Edition. I reinstalled the Palm Desktop just like they said and it still didn't work. I finally brought my serial cradle home from work and it synced right away. So it is a USB compatibility problem. Also, Handsprings' website states that it won't support XP until the end of the year. Another Palm gaffe that they working hard to cover up rather than fix.

Sony Clie

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/5/2001 11:41:23 AM #

I just have to say that Sony sucks. I wrote them an e-mail over a week ago, and still as of yet have recieved no word back from them. It is very disheartening to have this company lag so far behind it's competitors.

-Angry consumer

RE: Sony Clie

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/7/2001 12:01:06 PM #

Couldn't agree more! Just installed xp and tried to hot sync--when it didn't work I contacted microsoft and Sony. When Sony answered it was a form reply which was irrelevant and not an answer--I sent them back an email stating this was a ridiculous reply and got back essentially "have a nice day" and check our web site from time to time and note our documentation says nothing about supporting windows xp. I gather that unlike Palm, Sony just doesn't give a damn. I'm sorry I switched.

RE: Sony Clie

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/7/2001 5:23:20 PM #

Yea, I am sorry that I invested my money in the Sony name brand. The XP operating system has been available to the public for beta testing for several months. Sony should have been testing their products from the 1st day that XP was available. I have also written Sony asking when the solution would be available in which a I am still waiting for a response. The Sony representative that I spoke to on the phone couldn't help any besides what was available on the web site. Evidently, Sony would prefer that I complain about their lack of customer support and purchase from another manufacturer rather than actually correct the problem. Lastly, I would be willing to bet that Sony will begin suggesting that we purchase a serial cradle to fix the problem in an attempt to make more money from the existing problem.

Sony Clie S300 with Windows XP

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/27/2002 8:19:41 PM #

At first when I installed the the new cliepd401.exe software from sony, I had no success. However, after fooling with it for some time, this worked for my s300:

Open the Device Manager
Attempt to HotSync
Com4/Com5 pops up in Device manager with (!)
Double click on this - Click Update Driver.
Click "Install from list or specific location."
Select "Don't search. I will select the driver to install".
Click "Have DIsk."
Browse to c:\program files\sony handheld\usb_driver\Sop1kusb.inf & click OK
Accept all the jibberish about "not digitally signed".
Try to HotSync again...

RE: Sony Clie S300 with Windows XP

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/28/2002 2:27:35 AM #

You are the man!! You are goD!!
You solved all my problems with my Clie 710 and XP!!!
Thank you so much!!!

RE: Sony Clie S300 with Windows XP

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 7:24:45 PM #

thnks very much for your help.
i have clie 610c ,winXP pro.
so to slove the problem:
1- download PalmDesktop 4.0.1 from Sony site
2- uninstall the Old Palm Desktop [you're data will be still there]
3- install the new palm desktop
4- click on Control Panel, add new hardware
5- select to "select the device form a list" select palm Handheld, and click on Have desk
6- browse in C:\program files\sony handheld\usb-driver\Clhs009a.inf
click ok, and after installing it run the hotSync and have fun
it worked with me just as i wrote here.
for more info. please, visit my site http://www.totta.8m.net
thanks

RE: Sony Clie S300 with Windows XP

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/23/2002 2:32:05 PM #

Brilliant - hours of trying to get my PEG300 to work with no success.

This works.

RE: Sony Clie S300 with Windows XP

sid @ 4/30/2003 9:32:08 AM #

I still can't get it to work...When I click on update driver and specified the path, it says that the version I have is the same version that i am trying to install, so driver will not be updated. One more thing I notice....USB switcher program appears in the Windows add/remove program utility. When I tried to remove it, it says that it is missing uninst.isu so the USB switcher won't uninstall... Any idea how I can get this sucker to work?

Sony bites the big one

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/2/2002 11:25:02 PM #

Tell your friends, don't invest in Sony PDAs. The support is worthless. Your product becomes obsolete minutes after purchase. Software upgrades are a nightmare or unavailable. Accessories are the most overpriced on the market or, in most cases, unavailable. Sony PDAs are completely incompatable with any third party accessories (including the freakish and overpriced memory they borrowed from the digital camera line and repackaged to market to foolish PDA customers such as myself). I have never seeen a more mismanaged product in my life. The word of mouth is terrible and only getting worse. In the meantime, Sony seems completely indifferent. What a joke.

RE: Sony bites the big one

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/3/2002 12:01:06 AM #

I bought a CLIE 610 (remember them?) when it first came out. Sony is bad with tech support but what I have needed I found by trial and error or by user groups on the web. Reality is, when I bought a PDA sony made the best one (color PDA with bright high res screen) and still does IMHO.