FlashBuilder III does not, however, actually delete the Expense application from the PalmOS. This enables me to restore my Palm III's flash to factory defaults, if I should ever want to do so. Based on the documentation for the flash chip used in the Palm III, I suspect that 3Com protected the sectors where PalmOS is stored. There might be an opportunity for some enterprising programmers here!

How does it work?
After installing FlashBuilder III on your PC, start it by clicking on the FlashBuilder III shortcut that has been added to your desktop. Click on the Next button to continue, as shown in Figure A.

FIGURE A


Click on the Next button to continue. Roll over picture for a larger image.

The first time you run FlashBuilder III, you will need to run the Wizard to install TRGFlash.PRC onto your Palm III. You will need to do this step only once. As shown in Figure B, Click Next to run the Wizard and install TRGFlash, click Skip Wizard to bypass.

FIGURE B


Click Next to run the Wizard and install TRGFLASH. Roll over picture for a larger image.

If you have HotSync in your system tray, FlashBuilder III will ask you whether you would like it to close HotSync. Click Yes to close HotSync, as shown in Figure C, and continue.

FIGURE C


Click Yes to close HotSync. Roll over picture for a larger image.

If your Palm III is not already in the cradle, put it in the cradle and start TRGFlash, as shown in Figure D.

FIGURE D

Put your Palm III in its cradle and start TRGFlash.

Click Test to proceed, as shown in Figure E.

FIGURE E


Click Test to proceed. Roll over picture for a larger image.

When you see the "Test Passed" message, click Next.

The next screen will display the current contents of your Palm III's flash, as shown in Figure F. If this is the first time you've burned your flash, you will see only the PalmOS 3.0 items, like Address Book, Date Book, and so on.

FIGURE F


This screen displays the contents of your Palm III's flash. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Highlight the built-ins you don't want to see on your Palm III, then click Delete, as shown in Figure G.

FIGURE G


Highlight the built-ins you don't want to see, then click Delete. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Find the files you'd like to add to your Flash and highlight them, then click Add, as shown in Figure H. I put the files I want to flash in a directory called "Rom" for simplicity.

FIGURE H


Add your chosen files to your Flash. Roll over picture for a larger image.

FlashBuilder III will then add the icons for the files you want to add to flash. Click Next to continue, as shown in Figure I.

FIGURE I


Click Next to continue. Roll over picture for a larger image.

You are now at the point where your flash will be updated. Click Upload to reburn your flash, as shown in Figure J. Be patient--as the screen says, this will take a few minutes. With 89% of flash full, this process took about 3 minutes and 43 seconds on my Palm III.

FIGURE J


Click Upload to reburn your Flash. Roll over picture for a larger image.

When you see the "Upload Complete!" message, click Next, as shown in Figure K.

FIGURE K


When you see the "Upload Complete" message, Click Next. Roll over picture for a larger image.

You are now done burning your flash. FlashBuilder III will soft-reset your Palm III. If this doesn't happen, reset your Palm III yourself. If, by some chance, your Palm III doesn't boot properly, click the Recovery Mode button, as shown in Figure L.