How can you retrieve or erase a password on a PalmOne Lifedrive PDA?

SOURCE: Lost all contacts, memos, tasks, after LifeDrive Update 1.0

Well, I still don't know what happened, but things seem to be fixed. Just in case anyone else runs into this problem, here's what happened: Initial problem (recap): - on first HotSync after setting Quick Install to install the LifeDrive Update 1.0, the log showed the following error messages: Handheld Tasks application database version not supported. Handheld Notes application database version not supported. (Update 1.0 was installed successfully.) - after HotSync, all contacts, calendar data, tasks, and memos (i.e. all data synchronized with Outlook) were gone from the LifeDrive - subsequent HotSyncs produced the same error messages and did not restore data. Next day: - fresh HotSync synchonized other data, but not Outook data, HOWEVER - no error messages appeared this time (don't know what changed - neither PC nor handheld had been rebooted in the mean time) - used HotSync setup in Palm Desktop to set Desktop to overwrite Handheld for all Outlook data - it worked. Outlook data restored on Handheld. I don't understand what happened, but at least it was easier than doing a hard reset and then restoring everything.

SOURCE: PalmOne LifeDrive OS Installation

palm os is a flash rom built into the device, the only way your going to be able to do this (which will risk the device itself and i highly recommend NOT doing) is if you can get your hands on a flash tool to flash the ROM with your version of pocket pc os. i have never seen it done, but there are rumors that a palm treo 670 has windows mobile 2003SE on it. i just wouldnt recommend doing it because you could and probably will make your device useless and therefore will have to replace it. anyway, i strongly recommend that you not to do this unless you are really good with computers.

SOURCE: My Lifedrive won't boot up

do not waste your money on a new battery - i have been down the same road i even replaced the hard drive and some of the internal board connector ribbons in the hope that i could avoid having to spend out on repair- the life drive is inherently de funked you are not alone many users if not all have or will have the same issue- i would suggest giving up on it and finding a suitable replacement maybe the  TX- unless you love it that much and money is no object.
oh and do nt waste your time looking to palm for answers i have also been there and nothing they suggested worked.

SOURCE: Error 1316 - installation failure

Have you uninstalled the previous version of Palm Desktop?

Do you have more than 1 profile on your computer? Sometimes multiple profiles can make things difficult is software is installed logged in as one and then you try to install/uninstall as another profile.

Are you installing Palm desktop from a disk?

Try this file from palms site -

http://www.palm.com/us/support/downloads/windesk414e.html

Also, take a look at this-

http://www.palm.com/cgi-bin/cso_kbURL.cgi?ID=17525

SOURCE: My Lifedrive won't boot up

Seems the LifeDrive Micro Drive is the killer on these Palms. Mine did the same thing and after extensive online research I found that the micro drive can be replaced with a Compact Flash card which is much more reliable. Apparently there are only certain CF cards that work with the LifeDrive though. I have found at least one retailer that sells a compatible CF preloaded with the Lifedrive software. The route I took for repair was to send it out to a guy that advertises his service on eBay. You send in the LifeDrive, he diagnoses it for $5, and can install the CF card with software for $89 (he waives the $5 if you have him fix it). I am looking forward to getting mine back in permanent working order! Here is the link:
http://myworld.ebay.com/itsnothere/