Since getting back to (almost) daily Palm support forms moderation duty, I’ve been reading a lot of posts from people asking how to sync their Palm OS PDA, Centro, or Treo with Windows Vista or Windows 7.
The answer largely depends on what version of Windows you have installed on your PC. If you are still running the insanely popular Windows XP, you can safely stay put with Palm Desktop 4.1.x or 4.2.
If you are running Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you really should be using Palm Desktop 6.2.2 by ACCESS. This version is compatible with Vista and unofficially compatible with Windows 7. (Neither Palm nor ACCESS have gone back and retested Palm Desktop 6.2.2 under Windows 7, but it does work.)
You can download Palm Desktop 6.2.2 from the Palm support website. Be sure to read the release notes fully before installing the software on your Windows PC. (By the way, Palm Desktop 6.2.2 does work with Windows XP.)
The tricky part comes in when you are running a 64-bit version of Windows XP, Windows Media Center, Windows Vista, or Windows 7. There are no 64-bit compatible USB HotSync drivers available, so you have to jump through some hoops to make your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or IR enabled Palm OS device sync with your 64-bit Windows PC.
The good folks over on the Palm Support Community forums have written up a good primer on how to make your old Palm OS handheld or handset work with Microsoft’s newest desktop operating systems.
For more details on how to setup your Palm TX, T5, LifeDrive, Zire, Treo, or Centro syncing with Windows 7 or Windows Vista, check out the Palm Support Community forums thread: Windows 7 and Vista HotSync Instructions. You’ll be glad you did.