My LifeFlash (formerly known as LifeDrive)
[From Vincent C. Torralba, Jr] [If you undertake this, please do so at your own risk.]
Well, I finally did it: I replaced my LifeDrive's MicroDrive with a Sandisk 4GB Compact Flash... and what a difference it makes! The very first thing you'll notice is the much-shortened reset time, from 2-5mins down to 10-15 secs. Everything works faster, less lag (if not eliminated in most apps), and battery life is definitely longer.
*I got this last August 30, 2006! And it's in my LifeDrive about a day after! Whoohoo!
Here's how I did it:
Palm: LifeDrive MD Replacement Guide
How to disassemble the Palm LifeDrive
http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/LifeDrive_Disassembly (with some edits from me)
You will want to perform a hot-sync and backup the LifeDrive volume to your computer before attempting this. This will ensure that even if you need to buy a replacement LifeDrive if you ruin this LifeDrive, your data will be safe.
You'll need the followng:
* a T5 torx wrench
* a sharp knife
* a small flathead screwdriver [optional]
*I added a small pair of pliers for gently pulling up the speaker wire and battery plug; a brush for dusting out the insides of my LifeDrive; and the small pocket knife whose nail file I used for pushing in the case.
1. Turn off your LIfeDrive, and slide the power switch into the Locked position. This should prevent the unit from powering up as you fiddle with the case.
2. Pry off the two rubber feet off the bottom of the LifeDrive.
3. Remove the two long torx screws, remove the bottom shell.
4. The inner shell is held in place via 6 small tabs, two per left, right, bottom edge. Press inward on the edge of the case, and the tab should disengage from the socket. Use something thin, like a screwdriver or plastic card, to gently wedge open the inner shell. Work slowly, or you'll damage the shell.
5. Once the inner shell is removed, the inner plastic frame is held down with two short torx screws. Remove them, keep them separated from the two long torx screws.
6. The inner plastic frame contains a piezoelectric speaker, with two thin wires that plug into the motherboard. Before you can lift away the inner plastic frame, you'll need to unplug the speaker wires from the motherboard. Use your fingernails gently to pull the plug from the motherboard. The plastic frame can be lifted away.
7. The battery is plugged into the motherboard, and can be unplugged at this point. If the unit has been unplugged long enough, it'll go into a soft reset the next time it is powered up, I believe.
8. The microdrive is plugged into the CF interface. There's a warning sticker placed over the lower half of the microdrive and the CF interface. Carefully cut through the sticker between the CF plug and the microdrive using the very tip of the knife. Unplug the microdrive from the CF interface.
9. Reverse these steps to reassemble the unit.
DD for Windows
*This is how it looks like
[dd --list]
To get the compact flash's virtual address.
Win32 Available Volume Information
\\.\Volume{7108dfbc-9b87-11d9-a4eb-00110986b81c}\
link to \\?\Device\Harddisk2\DP(1)0-0+d
removeable media
Mounted on k:\
\\?\Device\Harddisk2\Partition0
link to \\?\Device\Harddisk2\DR18 <--- this is the LifeDrive
Removable media other than floppy. Block size = 512
[dd if=\\?\Device\Harddisk2\DR18 of=ldmd.img --progress]
To make an image of the compact flash to the file named ldmd.img
(if=input file; of=output file)
rawwrite dd for windows version 0.3.
Written by John Newbigin
This program is covered by the GPL. See copying.txt for details
4,095,737,856
7999488+0 records in
7999488+0 records out
[dd of=\\?\Device\Harddisk2\DR18 if=ldmd.img --progress]
To write the image from the file named ldmd.img to the compact flash
(if=input file; of=output file)
rawwrite dd for windows version 0.3.
Written by John Newbigin
This program is covered by the GPL. See copying.txt for details
4,095,737,856
7999488+0 records in
7999488+0 records out
So I was thinking, while the MD was being copied, I could check up on my LifeDrive's audio jack -- it was starting to feel loose whenever I plugged in my cassette adapter for the car. It turns out, there was only this small piece of hard, yellow foam holding it in place. So I took out my old Nokia replacement covers can and found this:
I trimmed the sides a bit and what do you know, it's a perfect fit in the gap! Now my audio jack is more stable, if not stopped in place.
And here are some more pics for you:
• USB CF Reader at work
• CF Mounted
• Almost there!
• It's aaalliiiivveee!
• My LifeFlash -- MUCH HAPPINESS OCCURS!
Well that's about it.
