This is probably nothing to do with it, but have you any other software running that might grab the serial port? Like Hotsync for a Palm or PsiWin for a Psion 5?

The only problem I ever had with serial was because I hadn't closed down one of these background apps.

Geoff
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Got one of the first Mark 2 empegs...
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Geoff
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Mk1 Blue - was 4GB, now 16GB
Mk2 Red - was 12GB, now 60GB