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If you own a smartphone, particularly a Windows Mobile or Palm OS device, chances are you are eventually going to run into a problem that even a soft reset ( which is analogous to rebooting a PC) can't handle. That's when its time to pull out the big gun, the hard reset.

In many difficult cases, a hard reset is the only way to get your smartphone up and running properly again. It is a last resort, however; because it’ll delete all applications and data on your smartphone and restore it to its default factory settings.

This makes backing up your device regularly very important. That way, when the time comes for a hard reset, and it will eventually, even though you will have to re-install all your software, at least your data will be safe.

On the bright side, knowing how to wipe your smartphone clean is also important for when it's time to get another one—whether you give your current device away, sell it, or trade it in. You don't want other people having access to your personal information, right?

The process by which you perform a hard reset varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and smartphone to smartphone. Become familiar with how to do it for your smartphone by looking in its user manual, for it may or may not be on hand when you need to implement a hard reset.

As an example, we’ll go over the process for all of Palm’s Windows Mobile Treo models: the Treo 700w, Treo 700wx, and Treo 750. They illustrate two different ways to hard reset smartphones. And these were built by the same vendor, run one the same OS, and are in the same family of device.

We’ll start with the newest model, the Treo 750.

First perform a soft reset, if that's even possible. To do this: open the Treo's miniSD card slot cover (located on the side) and use your stylus to gently push the recessed Reset button in.

Once that's done, and after the Treo reboots, you'll need to press the Reset button again. But this time hold down the End Call button (see red button below) simultaneously. The display will turn black.


Treo 750 Reset Button - Lower Left-Hand Corner

Don't release the End Call button until you see the Erase All Data screen.

When that appears press the Treo 750’s five-way navigator up to select YES.


The Treo 750's End Call Button

Once the smartphones come on again, it'll be in the same state as when you bought it from the store. All your software and data will be gone.

The process for performing a hard reset is very different for Palm's other Windows Mobile Treo models, the 700w and 700wx.

Perform a soft reset by removing the battery for about a second, before reinserting it.

Keep the battery door open.

Hold Power/End and remove the battery again for second, then put it back. All while holding the Power/End button.

When you see "Erase all data" release Power/End. Press Up to confirm the hard reset.