Database Users

WM5 - Activesync issues - surely it can't be just me?

I have had 3 XDA Execs and two XDA Mini S devices.
I have connected them to a Toshiba laptop running the latest firmware and Windows XP SP2.
I have connected them to a Dell desktop running the latest firmware and Windows 2000 SP4.
In every case, I experienced the following issue - Activesync is unreliable. It will sometimes connect and do a full sync, but more often will fail part way through connecting.
Usually, it will fail to notice that the device has connected at all.
A reboot will usually make the Activesync start to work, but usually the connection is broken before the sync can complete.
I have tried the following:
Disable Windows firewall (no change)
Ensure no other personal firewalls are present (there weren't).
Use ActiveSync 4.1 and 4.0 (no change).
It is now at the point where my current Mini S can't even stay connected long enough to install Microsoft Reader.
3 colleagues with Dell laptops and Minis / Exec devices have also experienced the exact same issue.
Am I really the only one to have expeienced this chronic unreliability issue?

MTU
There are some partially obscure references to the MTU size on the network interface that is created for the Windows Mobile device. Seemingly the default is a whopping 8000 but problems occur with anything over 5000 in practice.
I used DrTCP to identify and set my interfaces to 5000 and this improved stability somewhat but it is still a bit touch and go. Have been too busy to play with winding it down lower but I rather think this would help. I would certainly recommend that you give this a try.
Hope this helps!

Thanks, I'll give that a go. 8000? Usually a TCP/IP MTU is more like 1500... [FX: shakes head]

Usually a TCP/IP MTU is 1492

Hi. I've had problems also with activesync with my XDAII (running WM2005c) and my laptop. I've discovered the problems with synching comes when you're using Outlook 2003 and they usually go away when you use Outlook 2002 or earlier.
Hope that helps.

I am using Dopod838 TC version and Outlook2000 SR-1.
I also experienced some Activesync issue when reconnect to PC after the 1st sync-up(1st sync-up from reset always work). At reconnect and sync, my device go really really really slow, I have to do a reset to fix and sync again.
Upgrade to Activesync 4.1 and take care of the port does not help my case as I can sync once without any issues.
Recently i have installed an application call "Card Expert II" which allows me to switch between USB / Activesync mode. I notes CEII fail to switch to USB mode after disconnect from PC, but after sometimes it do. Then I realize probably something at the background of my PPC is still running which cause this issue.
I try to figure out what in between could help release the sync and at last I figure out if I check the SMS/Email on my today screen and close it again.... Card Expert can switch between USB/Sync mode again. I repeat the same trick and now it can sync without issue ....... Now I am 100% confidence my device will sync again after disconnect from PC.
Now whenever before I connect to PC, I would just click and close the SMS/Email on today screen... It's a bit annoying but this save me from reseting my device each time i try to re-sync up my device. Hope this help.

I have had the same problem with sync., the solution for me is to reboot my PC. So the problem must be there, and I have no clue how to solve it...

My solution is to sync once, then do every other sync via Bluetooth, avoiding the dodgy IP over USB implementation entirely.
Maybe ActiveSync 4.2 will fix it...

Activesync only sees me as guest

Activesync has been driving me nuts for the past 3 days.
I have been happily syncing my s100 with my desktop for several months, when all of a sudden it is only as Guest. What's most annoying, the help section of AS tells me that as soon as I plug in my device, the Connection Wizard will pop up. Merlin must be on holiday, because nothing turns up on my screen...
I have tried the following:
1. Uninstall - reinstall Activesync (acts the same way)
2. Restore a backup of the device (but Activesync will tell me it cannot complete the operation)
3. The "Get Connected" menu item - usb available, but no device found (then how can it see a "guest"?)
4. Looked helplessly or advice on MS's help topics, with a monumental headache as my only result.
I figure I must have toyed around with the connection settings on the S100 (although my growing suspicion is my brother has, as he intends to get a ppc as well and has been playing with mine to convince himself). I'm hoping the knowledge of the senior members here can help me out - I'd hate to do a hard reset and loose all my sms (about 700 inbox only).
Thanks for any help anybody can give!

C'mon... Nodody has an idea?
Anybody?
Please?

what version of active sync
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/259954
Also copied from another forum
If yes, suggest you try registering the MSXML.DLL and MSXML3.DLL. To
register these dlls, do the following:
On your computer, click Start, Run and type:
regsvr32 msxml.dll
You should receive a message stating that the registratoin succeeded.
Repeat the step and register the other dll as well. Type -
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
Restart the computer and attempt to synchronize.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Did you delete all existing partnerships from Activesync ?

Sorry, forgot to mention the version: 3.8 (as suggested by microsoft)
Deleting parterships was the first thing I did, even before uninstalling/reinstalling it. Could the problem be the Jam?

getting Win XP Pro to recognize my device...

This is probably really remedial but I'm a Mac user so it's foreign to me. I had an Imate Jam working great with Active Sync 3.8 on Win XP Pro.
Now I have the MDA and have installed Active Sync 4.1 (even tried 4.2). When I plug in the MDA, Windows makes the 'donk' sound to advise something's been connected but it just shows a 'Generic RNDIS' device connected and the add hardware wizard says the device cannot start (yes it's turned on).
I don't see any drivers on the T-Mobile CD that came with the product....is there something else I have to do to install this thing so Active Sync recognizes it?
<edit> I've attached a picture of the hardware manager...
When I uninstall the driver and re-plug in the device, it's immediately recognized as a Windows Mobile-based device but then I get the error: "A problem occured during hardware installation. Your device may not work properly." This happens each time I try it, even after a restart.
thanks,
Tim

hi buddy
i've had that XPerience when i've connected my brand new prophet (o2 xda neo) to my pc via usb 2.0 hub. i was going nuts, because all older partnerships to devices i've established before i've bought the hub did work... if you do the same - change it! at least one time you should connect the ppc directly to an available usb connector on your pc until you have established a partnership. also i would recommend to install active sync 4.2 beta (use the search here to find the link), it fixes some connecting trouble... let us know if any of these tips helped at all or if you found your own solution...
cheers, lutz

Try disabling your firewalls these are the usual culprits to stop syncing. You can add activesync to the list of acceptable programs if you use something like zone alarm firewall etc.. I have the windows firewall disabled.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried connecting directly to the USB port -- no dice. I only have the Windows Firewall which was already showing ActiveSync as an allowed application but I turned it off and still nothing changes.
The device manager reports:
This device cannot start. (Code 10)
Click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooter for this device.
The troubleshooter basically instructs me to delete the device and try again, which I've done a dozen times, restarted both phone & computer. Still nothing.

Another trick that worked for me, if you have a network socket even if you dont have a network cable attached, enable network connections on your computer and try again. Whenever you change settings on your computer uninstall activesync and reinstall it. Hope that helps.

AS not connecting
For some reason, I had to repair/re-install AS. After re-booting, XP Pro/AS 4.2Beta recognized the Wizard again (Cing 8125) as all was well.
It's been stable the past few days, I think because I'm not trying to sync at work (I just cancel and use Guest).
Not a great answer, but good luck...
paul

Thanks, still no go. I do have an active Internet connection. I'm not so sure this has anything to do with ActiveSync as the computer doesn't even get to a successful install of the hardware....it always says a problem occured and the hardware may not work properly.

Succes...almost. I left the phone plugged in and restarted (after deleting the hardware profile) and when the PC rebooted it made that oh-so-sweet ActiveSync connected sound. Then AS quit and I was back to where I started in the post before....doh!
Just for kicks I plugged in my old Jam and it worked just fine, the hardward was recognized right away.
This leads me to believe something may be hosed on my MDA? Weird because it charges fine and everything else is great...it was a brand new unopened box from the local T-Mo retailer.
Hmmm...

BNDIS Connector
Guys,
Not sure that this is the solution, but this is what happened to me too. The way that Active Sync 4.x talks to a WM5 device is as a network device, not a USB device as in WM2003/Active Sync 3.x.
So, what you need to do is make sure that your PPC, which when connected to the PC shows up in the Device manager as a BDNIS network adapter, is to ensure that the BNDIS connector has an IP Address.
The easiest way to do this, connect the PPC to the PC and here the ping sound.
Right click on the My Network Places icon and select Properties
In the Network Connections Window, select Views > Details.
Find the Network Adapter that has the Device Name of the BNDIS connector.
Right click on this Network Adapter
Ensure that Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is checked.
My guess is that it is not checked
If it is, check the properties for the Internet Protocol (TCP..) and ensure that DHCP is selected.
Hope this helps -

Re: BNDIS Connector
jkossowsky said:
Guys,
Not sure that this is the solution, but this is what happened to me too. The way that Active Sync 4.x talks to a WM5 device is as a network device, not a USB device as in WM2003/Active Sync 3.x.
So, what you need to do is make sure that your PPC, which when connected to the PC shows up in the Device manager as a BDNIS network adapter, is to ensure that the BNDIS connector has an IP Address.
The easiest way to do this, connect the PPC to the PC and here the ping sound.
Right click on the My Network Places icon and select Properties
In the Network Connections Window, select Views > Details.
Find the Network Adapter that has the Device Name of the BNDIS connector.
Right click on this Network Adapter
Ensure that Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is checked.
My guess is that it is not checked
If it is, check the properties for the Internet Protocol (TCP..) and ensure that DHCP is selected.
Hope this helps -
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This happened to me too. ActiveSync 4.1 worked perfectly until my WinXP Machine crashed and I had to reload.
When I reloaded, ActiveSync acting in the same manner.
I'll try this tonight and see if works for me. Hope so.

timskrastins said:
This is probably really remedial but I'm a Mac user so it's foreign to me. I had an Imate Jam working great with Active Sync 3.8 on Win XP Pro.
thanks,
Tim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can still use your mac & missing sync 2.5 alpha & for most things it will work fine, but functionality is limited & sync only via BT. - it does ical, Address Book & tasks & time sync. & you can also install programs & documents as well. for media I just copy the songs straight to my mini sd card via a card reader.
Some programs will only install via windows, but as I have an intel iMac I run windows as well & activesync so far works well for me, but I have to disable the contacts/tasks/calendar or I end up with dupicate entries etc.

jkossowsky - awesome info. The problem I'm having is that the device does not show up in the network adapters. When I plug it in, it tells me there was a problem with the device and it could not be started.

Device Recognized
You need to install Active Sync 4.x before plugging in your device.
So, to be really really safe, go to Device Manager, look at the Unrecognized Devices section, find your unrecognized device and right click on it and remove it.
Install Active Sync 4.x
(if you already installed it, uninstall it, reboot and reinstall it again)
Once it is installed, plug in your device and it should be recognized as a Network Adapter.
If Active Sync does not automatically find the device, follow the instructions from my post above.

Uninstall Activesync, reboot, Reinstall Activesync, Reboot, plug in device.
pray
if that fails, attached are the proper INF files, manually update them to this, and see if that helps.

Thanks for the info, I'll give this a try. The thing that really killed me is that my old iMate Jam connected fine during this whole ordeal.
I exchanged the Wizard for a new one and still had the same issue. I finally tried syncing it on a new laptop running Win XP Pro and was able to get it to connect.
I'll try the suggestions above on the previous machine to see if I can get it to recognize the phone. Atleast I know the phone is not defective now.

Darn, no dice on that manual driver install...I get 'the specified location does not contain information about your device'

timskrastins said:
Darn, no dice on that manual driver install...I get 'the specified location does not contain information about your device'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try this;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=51649&highlight=

Hmmmm....
You may want to have a look @ support.microsoft.com
There's an issue with 4.x ActiveSync [AS] and Windows Firewall. Even though AS is listed in the exceptions, it doesn't work properly......
See here.......... http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/help/activesync/default.mspx

I had this also - bugged me for weeks.
I found that the AS suite I downloaded from the MS site - regardless of version - would never find the Wizard. Only when I installed the version on the CD that came with the dvice would it connect - even though I think it was only AS 4.0.
Although I imagine you've aalready tried the CD version if you have one...

Active Sync problem with brand new MDA CompactII

Somebody please help me!! I today got my new MDA Compact II. Have started it up and loaded active sync.
Whenever I connect it to the computer ActiveSync only gets as far as "Retrieving Settings"
No other Syncing takes place, however I can see the device in "My Computer" on my laptop.
I cant be doing anything wrong, its not as if i'm a newbie and have never used Active Sync before.
Anyone else encountered this problem?
I'm getting really frustrated, can anyone shed some light on this before it gets launched out the window?

You can try a few thing
(1) Remove the partnership of your device. E.g. File -> Delete Mobile device. It reconnect your phone it should ask you to set up a new partnership
(2) Remove the partnership, uninstall your active sync, reboot your system and reinstall your active sync
btw, the mobile device on your My Computer is there after you installed the activesync, doesn't mean much.

I expect it is the same problem as i see 50-60 times a day at work
Firewalls!
Sygate corporate firewall will not work until you do the MTU size hack.
On other firewalls, (McAfee, Sygate personal, etc) they dont always shut down when you disable them, they actually just hiode from you.
Check the MS site and make sure you have DEFINITELY added all the processes and ports to your firewall.
on the off chance it is not a firewall,
As it is now a TCP/IP connection with WM5, just cos your wm2003 device works, doesn't mean you've done everything right.
Try turning off any pop up blockers etc and check you only have the standard three protocols (at most, you should get away with only TCP/IP) enabled on the network connection that activesync creates. any other strange protocols can cause problems in communication.

What version of ActiveSync are you using? You tested the 4.2 Preview?

Activesync with Two PCs, troubleshooting ideas needed

I've been successfully synchronizing with two PCs for the better part of a year. Last week, with no obvious change in software (but there were some XP updates), synchronization quit working correctly. The symptom is that when I go back to a PC I have already sync'd with, activesync doesn't recognize the existing partnership and insists that I delete one of my two partnerships. If I do this, say at home, it will sync fine, but then when I reach the office, activesync doesn't recognize the existing partnership there. I am not running exchange on either machine. I run zonealarm pro with the standard fix that has worked fine, and nothing on any machine changed except standard updates.
I'm using Activesync 4.1 because when I tried 4.2 when it first came out, it didn't sync properly, and running the stock t-mobile 2.6, but without most of the extended ROM items.
Any ideas would be appreciated. I have not yet tried the hard reset with a fresh install of activesync that some advise, but did change the
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ActiveSync\EnableNonLocalCrossPollination
to one, which doesn't seem to have fixed the problem.

Trying 4.5
I installed activesync 4.5, first by deleting both partnerships, then stopping and uninstalling activesync on both pcs and deleting the activesync file in program files, then installing 4.5 and syncing. Now both have partnerships, and I'll know in the morning if that cured the problem.

SidebySide Errors and Fix
I looked in the Event Viewer under administrative tools, and activesync was generating a list of about twelve "red X" errors, all of the form
Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC80.MFCLOC
called by something called SideBySide. A quick search turned up this fix:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923014/en-us
and the installing of the download under Resolution eliminated the errors. I don't yet know if this is connected to my activesync partnership problems.

Solution!
This seems to be a complete solution: renaming the device.
http://www.cellphonetalk.net/viewtopic-146185.html

Help!
None of these solutions has fixed the problem! Has anyone figured out a solution that doesn't involve a hard reset?

Another solution
This doesn't work for me because no mobile device shows up under network connections:
Sometimes the Windows device manager recognizes the Windows Mobile adapter but Activesync does not recognize the device. In that case, go to Start—>Control Panel—>Network Connections. Look for the Windows Mobile adapter. Right click on it and go to properties. Under “This connection uses the following items” make sure 1) TCP/IP, 2) Client for Microsoft Networks and 3) File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks are selected. If not, just select them and hit OK. Activesync should recognize the device.

Frustrated
Well, I couldn't get this to work. Finally I did the hard reset. The good news is that I was at 99% functionality in under an hour; the remaining was the odd tweak I didn't have in my list, most of which I did when I had a minute otherwise unoccupied.
The hard reset seems to have fixed the problem. But what a nuisance! And still no glimmer of an idea as to what causes it. If anyone has a theory, I'm curious.