Periodically, Palm releases new versions of its operating system for handheld devices. These upgrades generally include fixes to bugs found in previous versions as well as new features (for example, version 3.3 of the operating system introduced support for hotsyncing the device using the IR port and version 3.5 included an enhanced agenda view). If you have an older device with an earlier version of the operating system, you will not be able to use the new functions.

Fortunately, for many devices using the Palm OS®, it is possible to upgrade the operating system on your device. In general, any device with flashable ROM can upgraded. This includes virtually all Palm OS® based devices, although some notable exceptions exist such as the m100 series and all Handspring models. If you are not sure if your device can be upgraded, contact the customer support department of the manufacturer.

Once you have determined that the operating system on your device can be upgraded, the process is quite simple.

Please Note: Upgrading the operating system of your device is difficult to reverse. Before you begin, make sure you read all instructions and warnings to understand the risks and that you hotsync your device.

Step 1: Determine which version of the OS you want to upgrade to

Historically, the answer to this question was most often "the most recent version." This was because Palm made updates of the operating system available at no charge. Beginning with version 3.5 however, Palm has started charging for upgrades (at the time of writing, the version 3.5 upgrade cost $14.95). All versions up to 3.5 still remain free, so it may be that you only want to upgrade to version 3.3 and save yourself a bit of money.

Step 2: Locate the OS Upgrade File

Once you have decided which version of the operating system you want to upgrade to, you need to find a copy of the new OS file. The Palm.com (http://www.palm.com) web site is a good place to start. You can enter terms like "OS Upgrade" in the search box and usually find what you need. The Palm web site also provides great information about all the things to consider before upgrading your operating system, so is the recommended location to find the file you need. You can also look on some of the popular software archive sites such as PalmGear (http://www.palmgear.com). Once you find the file you are looking for, download the file to your desktop.

Step 3: Install the OS Upgrade

After completing the file download, you can double-click on the file to begin the upgrade process. The instructions provided by Palm are quite detailed and will guide you through the entire process.