Performing a Hard Reset on a Handheld PCCESD|200043Applies To
ContentsThis article describes the concepts behind Hard Resetting a Handheld PC.
FAQWhat is a Hard Reset?Windows CE provides three levels of cycle state. The first is a Standby. In which the device enters a low-power state preserving all data. The result of performing a Hard Reset is not as total as formatting a main stream PC. Windows CE devices are low footprint ROM based devices. A Hard Reset cannot clear the information from the ROM chip and so the Operating System and files that make up the inbuilt applications, (such as Pocket Office, Internet Explorer and Solitaire) are completely safe. When Hard Resetting you do not have to worry about your device not turning back on. With most Handheld PC devices the only way to damage the ROM chip is to physically break it. With some newer devices - such as the NEC MobilePro 900 - the ROM chip is writeable. Why would I need to perform a Hard Reset?There are many reason why you would need to. The most common one is for trouble shooting serious system problems. As a Hard Reset restores the Handheld PC to its original shipping state the problem should be rectified by this action. Other reasons include:
Should I regularly Hard Reset my device?The answer to this question is entirely down to personal preference and how much information you have to restore to the device. Some users Hard Reset their device on a regular basis with aim to keeping the Handheld clutter & problem free. Others have never reset their Handheld PC and it remains problem free. Restoring information may just be a process of synchronising the Handheld PC with its Host System, it may involve reinstalling lots of programs or for some users it may even involve changes to the registry and core system, settings. All of which can be very time consuming. If you think you would benefit from schedule Hard Resets you should decide on the most effective way of restoring all your information and programs. HPC:Factor recommends performing the action every 8 - 12 months. Can I accidentally Hard Reset my Handheld PC?Yes. A Handheld PC can inadvertently be Hard Reset by excessive environmental conditions and by power state problems. Operating your Device beyond the environmental guide lines of the manufacturer then you risk triggering a Hard Reset or a complete system Failure. The most coming cause of accidental hard reset is forgetting to replace the Backup Coin Cell and allowing the main cells to discharge. If either or both of these conditions occur then you run a strong risk of losing your information. Finally a Hard Reset can be caused by a Power Surge either from the main battery cell or from the AC adapter. Should I restore from Backup after a Hard Reset?Ideally no. You may reintroduce a problem that was created before the backup was made. However this is the fastest way of restoring your system. If you Hard Reset to resolve a specific problem and you know that your backup was created before the problem arose. Then restoring from Backup is probably the best method. How long does a Hard Reset Take?This depends on your device and the circumstances under which the hard reset took place. Generally speaking the process of clearing the RAM chips takes between 2 and 10 minutes. How-to GuideThe process of performing a Hard Reset vary between different manufacturers and different devices. The following steps are generally universal steps you should take when Hard Resetting:
Powering your device back up:
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