**Is it a serial device?**

Have you verified that the hardware (serial port, cradle, connection) is functioning properly?

Are you running any hacks or overclockers on your Palm or desktop machine?

Make sure you have appropriate permissions for the serial port you're using. Try "chmod a+wr /dev/ttyS0", or something similar.

**Is it a USB device?**

Did you hit the [HotSync] button first?