Getting Started: Installing Essential Evidence Plus

Download Entire Essential Evidence Plus Product Manual (PDF)

Instructions for Alternate Installation Methods

If you experience difficulties installing Essential Evidence Plus, consult our Frequently Asked Questions, where you are likely to find an answer. If you cannot solve your problem with the assistance of our FAQ pages, please contact us.

Installing Essential Evidence Plus for Palm OS (Mac OS X)

These instructions assume that you are following the manual installation procedure using a desktop computer running Mac OS X. If you have a PC running Microsoft Windows, please refer to Installing Essential Evidence Plus for Palm OS. If you have had trouble with the standard Windows installation, see Installing Essential Evidence Plus for Palm OS (Manual Method).

Please note that this proceedure has been tested with the Palm Desktop software for Mac OS, and may not work properly if you use other software to sync your Palm OS device to your Mac. In particular, we have had reports that this proceedure does not work properly with The Missing Sync software.

1. Download the Essential Evidence Plus for Palm OS installation file

See Getting Started: Downloading Essential Evidence Plus. When selecting your download, look for the Essential Evidence Plus for Palm OS (ZIP) installation file in the Alternate Downloads section. The file that you download should be a ZIP archive file, and have the extension .zip.

2. Make sure Palm Desktop is up to date

Many common installation problems are due to problems in older version of the Palm Desktop software. Please ensure that you have installed the latest version of Palm Desktop. Refer to your device vendor for assistance.

3. Connect your device to your PC

Make sure that your Palm OS device is properly connected to your PC and that you can successfully perform a HotSync operation. Ensure that your expansion memory is fully inserted into the device (unless you are installing to a device with special expansion memory built in).

4. Extract the Essential Evidence Plus files from the ZIP

Locate the Essential Evidence Plus for Palm ZIP file that you downloaded to your Mac OS computer. This file may be located on your Desktop. Double-click the file to expand it with Stuffit. This will create a new folder in the same location as the ZIP file, with a similar name. This new folder should contain one file named InfoRetriever.prc and one folder named PALM_VDF.

5. Install the Essential Evidence Plus PRC file

  • Open the Palm Desktop Program. (If you need to locate Palm Desktop with the Finder program, it is usually located on your Hard Drive under Applications -> Palm -> Palm Desktop.)
  • From Palm Desktop, select HotSync -> Install Handheld Files... from the Menu.
  • Be sure that the correct User is selected from the dropdown menu.
  • Using the Finder program, locate the folder that was created when you expanded the InfoREssential Evidence Plusallation file. Drag the file named Essential Evidence Plus.prc into the Install Handheld Files... window.
  • The destination of the file should be "Handheld".
  • Perform a HotSync operation with your Palm handheld. This HotSync operation should not take much longer than your typical HotSync.

6. Initialize Essential Evidence Plus on your device

Before you can install the Essential Evidence Plus data files to your device, the Essential Evidence Plus program must be initialized.

On your device, tap the Home icon (or press the Home button) to show the main programs list, and locate the IR Essential Evidence Plus icon. If you do not see the icon, select "All" from the dropdown at the top right corner of the screen, and scroll the programs list until you locate the IR icon. Tap the Essential Evidence Plus icon.

Essential Evidence Plus may report an error. This is OK. Tap the HOME icon/button to return to the programs list.

Essential Evidence Plus is now initialized. If you removed your Palm device from its cradle, put it back in the cradle now.

7. Install the Essential Evidence Plus data (.vdf) files

  • Make sure that the Install Handheld Files... window is still open and that the correct User is still selected.
  • Using Finder, locate again the folder that was created when you expanded the Essential Evidence Plus installation file. Open the PALM_VDF folder, which should contain a number of files with the extension .vdf.
  • Select all of the .vdf files at once, and drag them into the Install Handheld Files... window.
  • The destination of the file should be "Secure Digital (SD) Card", or another expansion memory card.
  • Perform another HotSync operation with your Palm handheld.

This second HotSync will take much longer than the first. The time varies widely depending on the device, usually between 5 and 60 minutes.

If you experience errors during the HotSync operation, or if the Essential Evidence Plus program does not appear to function properly, an additional HotSync operation may be required.

8. Register Essential Evidence Plus

All new installations of Essential Evidence Plus run in Demo Mode, and will stop functioning after 30 days unless a registration code is provided. Be sure to register your copy of Essential Evidence Plus so that the program will function for the full duration of your subscription.