There is a way, but it's a bit tricky and you have to know what you are doing.
You can root your Pre using WinSCP
First off find and install WinSCP with a google search.
Then, the preferred method is to install "OpenSSH SFPT Server" from Preware
Then follow the wiki to generate keys and place the keys into the correct directory
http://www.webos-internals.org/Applicat ... bOS_Method
And how to setup WinSCP with the keys:
http://www.webos-internals.org/Applicat ... ith_winSCP

Let me know if you need any help.

Will Jason's IPK Packager not work for this?

It will, once you copy the folder to your computer just open up the IPK Packager and browse for the folder you copied onto your computer and then just hit Make IPK and there ya go.

sorry for asking such a noob question but how do I locate the folder for the package? i connect my phone and select "usb" then navigate to the drive?

Ah, you can only see the folder if you root your Pre.
It is a hidden folder.

Here I'll give you step by step on how to root your Pre.

You can either do this using Terminus(found in Preware) or by using the Linux Command Line in WebOS Quick Install. Once you have that done type as follows in the command line.(I recommend using the Linux Command Line in WebOS Quich Install, so you can copy and paste.)



to create the private and public keys. After a short time (about a minute) accept the default filename by pressing Enter at the prompt. Enter a passphrase for your private key file. You will use this passphrase later, so remember it. After the key file is generated type:


to move the public key to become the /home/root/.ssh/authorized_keys file.

Now the secret key needs to be transferred to the PC you want to access linux on webOS from. First copy the secret key to the area accessible from drive mode. To do this, type:


Next you need to connect your device to the PC with the USB cable and tap drive mode. Once drive mode is active open the drive letter for the device on your PC (ex. "PALM PRE (E:)"). Copy the "id_rsa" file to your PC somewhere you will remember it's location (ex. to the desktop).

For these next steps you will need PuTTY and PuTTYgen found here http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html
And WinSCP http://winscp.net/eng/download.php

1. Now open WinSCP
2. Enter the IP address assigned to your webOS device (ex. 192.168.1.100) in the host name box. (This can be found easily by going into Preware and installing the app "What's My IP?")
3. Enter 22 for the port number.
4. Enter root in the user name box.

After that leave WinSCP open follow these steps.
1. Open PuTTYgen (startmenu>winSCP>key tools).
2. Select the conversions menu.
3. Select import key.
4. Choose the id_rsa file you copied to the PC from your device and click open.
5. Enter the passphrase you entered during key generation and click ok. You will see all sorts of information in the window at this point.
6. Click the save private key button.
7. Enter a name for it (no need to type the ppk extension) and save it somewhere you will remember it's location.

Now close PuTTYgen and go back to winSCP where we left off.
1. Click the "..." button for the private key file box.
2. Select the ppk file you made with PuTTYgen and click open.
3. Click the save button and enter a name and click ok. This will allow you to load the settings for future use.
4. You should now be seeing the stored sessions list with the session you just saved.
5. Select the session you saved and click the login button.
6. Enter the passphrase you created during key generation.

If everything is configured correctly you should see a window with a list of folders similar to explorer. You now have access to linux on your webOS device. You may now begin working with files on the device. You can do stuff like copy, delete, etc file like in windows. You can also edit files.
Hope this helped
Let me know if you have any problems.

Ahh... thanks for the step by step! That is a huge help!! I really appreciate it.

Oh and go into Preware before doing all this and install "OpenSSH SFPT Server"
Sorry, forgot to mention that tiny tidbit.

I saw your thread on Precentral. I was just going to direct you here myself, but I see someone else beat me to it.