My Palm m515 was previously syncing fine on my Latitude C400 laptop. Recently, my computer stopped recognizing the USB-connected Palm cradle when plugged in and out of different USB ports on my computer. Hotsync function stopped working. I received a Hotsync problem stating that the connection between the handheld and computer could not be established. I completely uninstalled Palm Desktop Software and received an error in ikernel.exe stating that there was an instruction at a referenced memory that could not be read and that ikernel.exe had to be shut down. I received the same message when reinstalling the Palm Desktop Software. My computer still fails to "see" the cradle when I plug it in and out of the USB ports. Any advice?

Gabe, I have exactly the same problem. My last succesful hotsync was 1-23-03. I contacted palm and followed their removal/reinstall instuctions. Didn't help. I'll keep looking and if I find anything, I reply here. Please do the same. Michael

Exactly the same problem here with my m515, with no sync since 27 January. Palm suggested removal of InstallShield, but after doing that and removing all Palm software, I still get the error on reinstalling, and the PC won't recognise the cradle at all. The USB ports are working with other hardware. When trying to use the Windows Add Hardware Wizard, I can select "Palm OS Handheld Devices" from the list, but when I click Next (which isn't greyed out), the dialog box just returns to the same list, but is quite happy if I select another type of device. Any advice gratefully received. Stephen

Gabe and Stephen, On a hunch I purchased an aftermarket HotSync cradle from my local CompUsa. I hooked it up, USB, and nothing. This cradle/charger also has a serial connector as well. I connected it to the com port and all is well. I am convinced something is corrupted in the USB settings, but removing and reinstalling has not help. I even edited the registry as laid out by Palm and still no good. If you're interested, the cradle/charger is made by i-concepts. The model # is 18147. CompUsa sku #2940557. The cost was $29.95. It does come with transformer and looks very similar to the original. Actually, who cares how it looks as long as it works! Hope this will help you. Michael

After a lot of heartache and hours of uninstalling and reinstalling drivers and manually editing the Registry, for me the solution eventually was to completely drain the battery (hold the "down" button while pushing the hard reset on the back, then leave until battery completely drained). Then put in cradle, allow to charge for a couple of minutes, then do another hard reset, and allow to charge. Suddenly the Palm/Cradle came back to life. Life is good again! Stephen

I've had the same trouble syncing my m515 since December 18th, and I tried everything you all tried. Today I followed Michael's advice and tried a serial sync. It worked. FYI - I bought the Palm Serial HotSync cable (item # P10804U), found it at Staples for $19.99. So I think the issue is the USB driver, and doesn't matter which brand you buy - just so long as it's serial. Thanks for the great advice! Abby

I have the m515 also and it does the same thing. I have dell laptops (c400, c640)in the office running WinXP w/SP1. One c400 does not allow sync through the USB no matter what. It says connection cannot established, and it also has the Ikernel error which is an install shield problem. It just does not work at all. The stock cradle works on my desktop and have not had any problems. I am going to install it on my C640 to see if it works. We are using palmdesktop 4.0.1. I get the Ikernel error on every machine that I have installed it on with windows XP pro, laptop and desktop. I just bypass the screen and it works fine so far on the desktops. On one desktop it was losing the hotsync ability now and then. We had to reinstall palm desktop to make it work again. After a few reinstalls because of failure to sync then it works then loses the ability again to sync. I then went to their website to download the same palm desktop 4.0.1 and reinstalled it over the old one and it worked again and is still working as far as I know. I did contact the guys at palm and they ran me through the same routine that you guys got (registry edits, uninstalls, installshield update) and it did not solve the problem. I did see somewhere that if you had USB and serial checked in the hotsync manager it wuld solve the problem. I tried that with that last install mentioned and it has kept it working. I don't know if this is a real fix yet. I have to wait to see if it messes up. it has been a week. The c400 dell just does not accept it and nobody seems to know why. I will try the install on another dell c400 and see if I can get it to work. I will post my findings for you. There is a patch at microsofts website to resolve an error in the installshield with SP1. But it relates to a interdvd problem, through the install shield, found this through install shields knowledge base. The patch is here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329623 Are the rest of you running any other TSR similar type software on your systems (firewalls, virus tools, utilities, etc.)? All or machines are running Mcafee Viruscan 61. We don't want buy a load of new cradles because if we were to spend the money we could buy a new different PDA or new software for something else. If anybody has they fix please let me know.