Pda Alternate Installations?

dcar87 · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 18

[Duplicate message threads merged by administrator. AG]

Our IT Department has replaced our Networks & PCs and will soon eliminate PDA installation of Palm hotsync & other Activesync Devices due to security concerns. Fortunately we can still use USB devices (as long as they don't require software drivers/installation) which leads to my question.

Is there anyway to install PDA software onto a USB drive (from a home computer, for example) that can be executed such that you can still sync a PDA on the host computer without installing the software on the host computer. This is probably a wilda$$ idea but there will be 1000's of PDAs that can no longer be used, or future ones purchased.

Are there any other alternate ideas out there. Any help is appreciated.

goretsky · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:52 am Post subject:

Hello,

Why not just ask your IT department for a waiver? In an environment with thousands of PCs there surely must be a process in place for allowing employees with a business need for tools such as PDAs to utilize them. PDAs are fairly handy devices for collecting or working with information in the field (or in a warehouse or other non-office enviroments) and returning the information back to the office.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

tbernstein · Joined: May 16, 2003 Posts: 1508 Location: London

...or presumably they install software for you, so..........

nlinecomputers · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject:

Well that's an asinine policy. If the concern is security then why allow thumb drives. I can just see hundreds of documents heading out the door on people's key chains....

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

dcar87 · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 18

That's the govt for you, no waivers.

dcar87 · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 18

I posted this question in another forum but was hoping there might be more ideas in other areas.

Our Govt IT Department has replaced our Networks & PCs and will soon eliminate PDA installation of Palm hotsync & other Activesync Devices due to supposed security concerns. This has been ongoing for 2-3 years now. Initially you could use your old PDA (they modified hotsync software back during the Palm 515 era (nothing newer since then), I assume since Palm would not address the hotsync issues. With the latest tech refresh they are eliminating all PDAs. They will allow Blackberry's (except that these are limited to the most senior people which leaves the 99% of people who really use the PDA out).

There needs to be a way to sync PDAs....

Fortunately we can still use USB devices (as long as they don't require software drivers/installation) which leads to my question.

Is there anyway to install PDA software onto a USB drive (from a home computer, for example) that can be executed such that you can still sync a PDA on the host computer without installing the software on the host computer. This is probably a wilda$$ idea but there will be 1000's of PDAs that can no longer be used, or future ones purchased.

Are there any other alternate ideas out there. Any help is appreciated.

nlinecomputers · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:11 pm Post subject:

Now I understand why the policy is so assinine. :rolleyes: :laugh: Nothing worse then a government IT shop....

tiredmother · Joined: Aug 09, 2003 Posts: 1312

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5007

I had this problem while in the Army. Working closely with the IT department made it possible to overcome this (although security concerns may override it).

memesuze · Joined: Dec 09, 2002 Posts: 59

when we got new computers at work, we were told that we could not install hotsynching software or any other software used by PDAs on our new boxes. At that time I tried to find out if the hotsynch app for my Clie could be run from a thumb drive - was told either here or over at Scot's that it wouldn't work. And even if it could, I would be running afoul of our internal IT policy, simply by synching an "unsecure" device to my "secure" pc and network. Our shop does buy Palms for some folks, but they are definitely not one that has been brought out in the last century :biggrin:

don't know if this is any help to you - probably just a bit of my still being pissed off at being told not to use a device that helped me in my work.....

goretsky · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 1:14 am Post subject:

Hello,

This seems very strange. You were issued PDAs by your employer in order to run specific software or work from a certain area, correct? If the PDAs are being removed from service then there must either be a replacement device or method for you to work away from your workstation, I would think. Or, perhaps your job duties have changed so a PDA is no longer required?

I am not sure if this is an applicable solution, and you may want to check with your IT staff before testing it, but EPIM Ltd. offers a version of its EssentialPIM software which can be run from a USB solid-state flash disk.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

dcar87 · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 18

I don't understand the policy either. But they are definately getting rid of the capability by restricting what gets loaded onto the PC. I'm not the only one in this boat. I got rid of a Day Timer when the Palm's came out. I've had to resort to carrying that archaic clunky notebook again. There must be a way. Maybe Palm will take note of the market share being lost by govt workers who can no longer use their products.

dcar87 · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 18

Unless I misunderstood what I read, the EssentialPIM can run from a USB stick but in order to sync to a PDA the host PC need to have activesync installed. Unfortunately we cannot install any software or drivers. Thanks for the input this looked promising.

Highranger · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 109

:ph34r:
It may be that XP has the drivers in it's database, butI read on the pen drives I use and the drive itself needs no drivers. It does show up in my computer as another drive. The problem may come when you open the pendrive.. Also can you use a USB hard drive. Just like my pen drives and card reader, they show up as another drive on the list in my computers. BUT the best thing is to ask them to let you continue to you the PDA as it is a tool you use alot. If you go trying to bypass the system you can put your job in jepardy....
Best of luck.............................. :ph34r: