Database Users

Cingular 8125 Cannot Install or Remove Apps Anymore

I have a new (four days old) Cingular 8125, and it got a bit antsy on me today.
After working flawlessly for three days, I was installing some applications on a new 1 GB mini SD card, soft resetting after each installation, when it returned after a soft reset and suddenly had no phone network. No "E" indicator, and an exclamation point next to the signal strength indicator. Uh-oh, thought I, before I broke down and cried! OK - not really, but I definitely wasn't happy about this!
When I checked the network settings, it said No Network under the GPRS setting. I called Cingular, spoke with a data rep, and performed a hard reset. (Had to use the "Clear Storage" app - holding the keys and soft reset wouldn't work). As soon as it returned from the hard reset, the Cingular software the rep had pushed out to me installed and phone service was restored. Which is a good thing!
But now I can no longer sync the device via Activesync 4.1. Nor can I install any applications; when I try, I get a dialog saying that the installation was unsuccessful. Windows installer or CAB installation, makes no difference. I can't successfully install anything on the device. I had scrubbed the mini SD card, except for a few folders filled with icons for use mostly in Pocket Informant and PocketBreeze. I figured that it couldn't hurt to leave them there. I also can no longer delete files or folders from the device. It's similar to not having Administrator rights on a Windows XP machine. As if everything is read-only, but I cannot change it.
I copied Smartkey over to the mini SD card via Explorer in Activesync, but whenever I reset the device I get a dialog saying that Smartkey cannot run, unknown developer, etc. I can't close the dialog right away, but it does disappear after about 30 seconds. If I open File Explorer and tap on the smartkey.exe file it does start and work normally - until the next time I soft reset.
Activesync will connect with the device but will not sync. Throws the attached error message. So I can explore the device but not sync. I tried deleting the partnership, performing a "repair installation" of AS 4.1 - no change.
As for the applications I had installed prior to all of this, they all seem to be benign - with two possible exceptions.
In Main Memory:
Pocket Informant
PocketBreeze
ContactBreeze
iLauncher
On the mini SD:
Resco File Explorer 2005
PDAMill's Gamebox Solitaire, Gems, and Classic
Dinarsoft's HandySwitcher and HandyMenu
Phatnotes 4.7
ListPro 4
Tweaks2k2
Resco Sudoku
Resco Keyboard Pro
All versions that claim to support WM5. All applications seemed to be working fine, with the exception of Resco Sudoku and Resco Keyboard Pro. The only change I had made with Tweaks2k2 was showing the time and date in the taskbar. Resco Sudoku locked the device up, with just a black background and 13 large colored orbs on the screen. I uninstalled it immediately. Resco Keyboard kept giving error messages when I tried to select it as the SIP. I had just uninstalled Resco Keyboard and performed a soft reset when it returned from that reset it had no phone network. Note that all of these applications had been working fine up until this point in time, except Resco Sudoku and the Resco Keyboard Pro. Hmm... Needless to say, I suspect that the Resco apps have a problem with WM5. But I owuld think that a hard reset should have cleared up anything those apps had done. Maybe not, though.
Anyway, that's when I called Cingular. Does anyone have any idea at all as to what could be causing all of this? Or better yet, what could fix this? Please!!
I'm very familiar and comfortable in WM2003/SE, but I'm completely new to WM5, so I'm not even sure where to look for troubleshooting.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
EDIT: Really sorry the thumbnail is so small - I didn't think that it would be, Click on it to read it. Thanks again.
EDIT: Error should read: 0x8000ffff Sorry about that.

I think the fact that you cannot delete files/folders on the device is key. If you cannot modify folders, then the installer can't either, so software installations will fail. Does this also apply to files and folders on your card? I'm guessing that it does not, and that your supposition (key folders and perhaps registry keys are RO now) is correct. Unfortunately, you can't modify folder permissions using activesync explorer and you can't install an application that can either. Catch-22.
Have you tried a hard reset subsequent to your discussion with the Cingular rep? Perhaps this will re-create an installation with the standard settings.

Sleuth255 said:
I think the fact that you cannot delete files/folders on the device is key. If you cannot modify folders, then the installer can't either, so software installations will fail. Does this also apply to files and folders on your card? I'm guessing that it does not, and that your supposition (key folders and perhaps registry keys are RO now) is correct. Unfortunately, you can't modify folder permissions using activesync explorer and you can't install an application that can either. Catch-22.
Have you tried a hard reset subsequent to your discussion with the Cingular rep? Perhaps this will re-create an installation with the standard settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I haven't hard reset again yet - I wanted to wait and see what responses I get.
I did, however, find one of the Activesync logs though, and all sync attempts since the last one that worked have the following two error messages:
"TraceToFile -> ERROR in CChangeTracker::GetMaxCounterInProfileCleanupTable : hr = 0x800ffff - ctapi.cpp(3695)
TraceTraceToFile -> ERROR in CRAPIDevicePrivate:HandlePackets : hr 0x800ffff - RAPIDevicPriv.cpp(443)
And then some whcih are very similar, but with the numbers in parenthesis changing.
Look familiar to anyone?
Thanks.

OK, I just found a Microsoft KB article (Q243349) that seems to indicate that an 0x08000ffff error is Microsoft SQL Database-related.
??? Baffling.
Actually I do have an MSSQL Server on my PC - one of the programs that I run installed it and requires it. Maybe if I disable it?
EDIT: Error should read: 0x8000ffff Sorry about that.

I just noticed that wherever the errors start throughout the log, the only two applications mentioned - other than Activesync, of course - are Resco Explorer and Ilium's eWallet, which is really odd. I never installed eWallt on this device, though it has been giving me fits on my AximX50v ever since they introduced SyncPro about a year or so ago.

My 8125 is up and running again.
I performed a hard reset and this time I downloaded and installed AS 4.1 on my notebook and tried synching with that. My notebook does not have an SQL server installed, and it's a "virgin" AS install - neither Resco Explorer 2005 nor eWallet Pro has ever been installed on that PC.
I can't say for sure, and I'm still investigating, but I believe, based on the Microsoft KB article that I referenced above, that the SQL server on my desktop PC, and possibly eWallet Pro and/or Resco Explorer 2005, is the cause of my recent grief.
The MSKB article specifically targets the SQL database - same version as mine - as a known cause along with certain databases, and since both eWallet and Resco Explorer 2005 are mentioned throughtout the WCESComm.log, always in the first four or five lines of the error messages contained in the log, I suspect that eWallet's DB may have somehow triggered the mayhem, as their SyncPro has caused endless losses of my eWallet data since Ilium introduced it. It's possible that Resco Explorer 2005 just happened to be the application I had just installed before the device went belly up for a bit there. Actually, Resco Keyboard Pro was installed right after that, but since RE 2005 is mentioned in every error log item, and since Resco has a special page on their site mentioning how "...an issue with the way that Windows Mobile 5 handles installing software that may result in a failed installations...". I've written Juro about the issue, to give him a heads up just in case.
So all is well for now. Hopefully I will be able to continue synching my other PPCs (five), all with WM2003/SE, on the desktop, as the SQL thing is only supposed to affect the WM5 OS.
If anyone else runs into a similar situation, please send me a PM or post here. I'd be glad to share whatever I discover on this, and I would also be interested in seeing how other devices were affected, common issues, etc.

Excel Saving problem

I've searched but cannot find any info about this.
I recently upgraded to a 8125 (WM5)from a iPAQ 2215 (Pocket PC 4.20). Now when editing most (not all) of my Excel files I get a "unsupported content" when I try to save it. It give me the option of saving as another name, discard or cancel.
It doesn't matter what I edit, whether it is text or a number. The files do not have any macros, just simple equations.
My desktop is running WinXP with Office 2003.
Thanks in advance.

Excel file save error
Sledutah said:
I've searched but cannot find any info about this.
I recently upgraded to a 8125 (WM5)from a iPAQ 2215 (Pocket PC 4.20). Now when editing most (not all) of my Excel files I get a "unsupported content" when I try to save it. It give me the option of saving as another name, discard or cancel.
It doesn't matter what I edit, whether it is text or a number. The files do not have any macros, just simple equations.
My desktop is running WinXP with Office 2003.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get something similar: "An error occurred saving 'filename'", and then the file closes with no modifications.
I have to do a File Save As... and give the file a new, slightly different name if I want to save new data. This doesn't happen with every file I use, but it has happened with files imported via ActiveSync as well as with files I have created on the 8125 itself

Hmmm, I never had any problems! Can one of you post one if this mysterious files? But take off your personal information and critical data first from that file! Would be interesting to see if it happens on mine too ...

When I get the error, I can save it as another name with no problem. It is a hassle, because I edit the files on the desktop PC and the 8125. I have not done any upgrades to the 8125, it is the way I got it from Cingular, except for a few programs that I installed which are the same ones I had on my older iPAQ.
I uploaded one of the files that I have the problem with. I cleared all the data and left the equations. I checked it after I did this and it still will not save without making me change the filename.

Works fine on mine! Had no problems adding contents and saving it! Maybe you had the file open twice? This happens if you do not close Excel properly or if you open it by clicking on the file. Excel might have been already open with that file in the background and therefore you only would be able to save it under a different name since the file still would be in use.

Thanks for giving it a try. The problem is not that it's already open. If I do a soft reset, then open the file, modify it and then close I get the message.

Post your PDA specs.

I have had this problem when saving to the Memory card. When it does this I just save to main memory and copy over via Resco, not ideal...but it beats carrying a laptop.

kegobeer said:
Post your PDA specs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cingular 8215
WM5 OS 5.1.195
IPL 2/25
SPL 2/25
GSM 02.25.11
OS 2.25.11.1
I haven't updated anything, just installed a few programs, the same ones I used on my iPAQ.
Files are on the PDA, not SD card. I even tried removing the card, no change.

Has this always happened?

kegobeer said:
Has this always happened?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but I've only had it for about 3 weeks. The files are all the same that I've used with my iPAQ with no problems.

Yes it happens....
Check this, http://softmaker.com/english/ofp_en.htm
It has to be a very good reason to have this company in business selling substitutes for pexcel and pword. According to what they advertise that reason is that pexcel and pword are not 100% compatible with the desktop versions, so whenever an xls or doc file made in desktop is modified and saved under the same name in a PPC is very likely that some formats, functions etc. will be affected or lost, so M$ PPC awares (probably not in the best way) the user that the files made in the desktop are going to change and will lost some features, formatting, etc.

I was having the same problem on an iPaq hx4700 running Windows Mobile 5. Some Excel Mobile files would only save changes when I used save as and gave them another name. I found the following link while trying to resolve the issue:
http://forums.pocketpcfaq.com/viewtopic.php?t=17048
(g0lg0thaZA Feb 15, 2007 4:16 am)
I searched my device for Temp0FOO files and deleted them. After that I was able to make changes to spreadsheets and save them without changing the name.

Excel Mobile Save Fix!
XeonXeon said:
I was having the same problem on an iPaq hx4700 running Windows Mobile 5. Some Excel Mobile files would only save changes when I used save as and gave them another name. I found the following link while trying to resolve the issue:
http://forums.pocketpcfaq.com/viewtopic.php?t=17048
(g0lg0thaZA Feb 15, 2007 4:16 am)
I searched my device for Temp0FOO files and deleted them. After that I was able to make changes to spreadsheets and save them without changing the name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh-my-gosh! This fixed my problem!
I read that link, I searched for that file, found 2 of them, deleted them, and now I can modify an Excel file, hit the X close button, and the file gets saved just like it shoulda!
A big note of thanks and sigh of relief for this fix!

I have tried to search for the mentioned file Temp0FOO but couldn't find it on my Omnia anyone can help me please

Duplicate Programs

I downloaded the mobile office upgrade from the Microsoft website & installed it. I had some trouble with my card & downloaded it again. Now I have Office Mobile, Office Mobile (1) and Office Mobile (2) in my Programs menu. They all work when opened & when I remove Microsoft Office Mobile via the Remove Programs function, it removes the program but the icons are still there, just empty now (all 3 of them are empty). Any insight as to how to remove the duplicates? Soft resetting after removal of the program doesn't do it. I assume they are in the registry somewhere & if someone could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

mrbelvedere said:
I downloaded the mobile office upgrade from the Microsoft website & installed it. I had some trouble with my card & downloaded it again. Now I have Office Mobile, Office Mobile (1) and Office Mobile (2) in my Programs menu. They all work when opened & when I remove Microsoft Office Mobile via the Remove Programs function, it removes the program but the icons are still there, just empty now (all 3 of them are empty). Any insight as to how to remove the duplicates? Soft resetting after removal of the program doesn't do it. I assume they are in the registry somewhere & if someone could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think a hard reset will work. Make sure to save anything you dont wanna lose and then hold both soft keys and soft rest. While your still holding the keys a black prompt screen will come up. Hit the green call button to finsh the hard reset. That should do the trick.
Gimpy

Just go to "/windows/start menu" and delete them from there.

ivanmmj said:
Just go to "/windows/start menu" and delete them from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I figured it was something simple...guess I was just too close to see it.

good back up prog for 6800?

i dont have the email setup so it wont back up my contacts. anyone know or have a link to a backup program that will grab my contacts?

why dont you sync it with outlook on your computer?

why dont you sync it with outlook on your computer?
http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/System-Utilities/Backup/NS-Contacts-Backup-Pocket-PC-20758.shtml

ca3sar said:
i dont have the email setup so it wont back up my contacts. anyone know or have a link to a backup program that will grab my contacts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SPB Backup works great. Just search SPB Software and you will find it. It has a free trial that runs out after a little while though. I think its 10 bucks to purchase a license. I just set the phone up the way i want it and just back it up. It copies everything all the way up to registry edits, or you can just have it copy certain info. ( i just keep reinstalling the trial program)

if you just want to backup PIM stuff (contacts, calendar, tasks, etc), look in the development section of this forum for PPCPimBackup. works great

nxtech3 said:
It copies everything all the way up to registry edits,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the probelm is it isn't capable of doing just registry "edits" actually. As far as I can tell it just backs up the whole registry. What's a good tool for just backing up selected registry entries? I know Phm will do, it, but it won't restore.
I ask because when upgrading roms you certainly don't want to overwrite the whole registry with the old one. It's probably dangerous enough to assume that just your old registry tweaks will still work... but probably not too dangerous to be worth trying.

I use PPCPimBackup2005-6. You can d/l it at www.freewarepocketpc.net.
Great program.

how about backing up stuff besides PIM?
I have outlook and am synching between it and my Titan, so that takes care of backing up the contacts, schedule, etc.
Now, how about all of the cool add-ons I've put in place? Any way to avoid having to manually reinstall it all if you were to wipe the Titan?

dagurasu said:
Well, the probelm is it isn't capable of doing just registry "edits" actually. As far as I can tell it just backs up the whole registry. What's a good tool for just backing up selected registry entries? I know Phm will do, it, but it won't restore.
I ask because when upgrading roms you certainly don't want to overwrite the whole registry with the old one. It's probably dangerous enough to assume that just your old registry tweaks will still work... but probably not too dangerous to be worth trying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just copy and paste the selected registry entries with total commander.

Thanks. I know how to edit registry entries, and someone once taught me that modern computer gizmos have this cool copy and paste feature that you mention.
Seriously though, it sure would be neat to be able to compile all one's registry edits in one place and just click to install them. Obviously this is doable as people (here) write cabs to do it. I don't know how, or how simple it is. If it were really simple probably most everyone would do it, and there wouldn't be so many posts asking for cabs for things.
I think I saw something about WinCE CabManager possibly being a good tool for this? Maybe I'll play with it, but if there' s a simpler more single purpose tool for this, that would probably be better.

for reg edits you can use resco registry to export all the keys and values you change, then consolidate them all into 1 .reg file, then just import it after a hard reset or upgrade

I see it can read phm reg files... except you have to add a line at the top with the Windows Registry Editor program name or it will refuse saying it doesn't recognize the file.. That's seems pretty petty.

I found a better reg import solution. Total Commander has rather hidden registry editing capability. The registry is found in \\\registry\ or by switching to 2 virtual window view. Copy and paste reg files to the registry root and that's it.
I had one reg file missing carriage return at the end and rather than complain it made an incorrect value.. so maybe a little weak on sanity checks, but easy to use, and free and has a text editor included.
Now I can dump all my reg tweaks in one big file and save lots of time installing the next rom that will trun my phone into a personal teleportation device... with EnableUpsideDownMaterialization=dword:00000001 by default.

MyFavs Disappeared after multiple hard resets...?

I did about 3 hard reset to the phone (for testing purposes), and all the sudden the myfavs program does not appear after I did the hard reset the 4th time, I did the hard reset about 2 more times and it did not restore the myfavs program (it suppose to back to its factory settings)
Now I keep getting "your myfaves contacts have been restored" text message every time time I turn on the phone (keeps pilling up with this same text message)which your suppose to only get once.
under the memory setting; storage & program seems to have the exactly same file size as when i had myfavs before.
What can I do? all I want is the default factory settings.. help me.

Hah! You survived longer than I did with it. I hard reset once just to clean my phone up before I started messing with anything (messing with the ROM, etc.) and the MyFaves app disappeared completely from the little tray bar at the bottom and the Today Screen.
Interestingly if you dig around with the file browser in the \windows\ directory I can see all the MyFav5 related applications, but nothing launches.
I'm tempted to try the RUU but to be honest the MyFaves program just ate a ton of memory and resulted in me calling people on accident when I had the Today Screen Plug-in active. So as long as the plan still gets accounted correctly (read as: I don't get charged for calling my 5 people),I don't really care.
I thought I'd let you know you aren't the only one out there with the exact same problem. I would like a solution but it isn't mission critical for me.

I found a solution to your problem. I'll do some more testing later. For now:
Could you look in your \Windows\ directory of your phone and tell me what "My*" applications and files are listed there? (You might have to make the basic file explorer show all files by using Menu>Show All Files).

All the "My" files that are in windows directory (revised & no file missing or mistyped). The some files are repeated to I placed the filesize next to them.
My5_Land
My5_Land.swf.0409
My5_Port.swf.0409
My5app
My5Client
My5ControllerPanelPlugin
My5MsgCenter 138k
My5MsgCenter 30b
My5PimProvider
My5service
My5Today_MaskCircle
My5Today_MaskRing
MyFave
MyFaves 19.1k
MyFaves 29b
MyFaves_add
MyFaves_hourglass
MyFaves_PhCDefault
MyFaves_sihouette
MyFavesApp_3DMask
MyFavesApp_74x743DMask
MyFavesApp_ContactMask
MyFaves-plugin
MyFavTodayPlugin
Myinfo.96

Extreme184X said:
All the "My" files that are in windows directory (revised & no file missing or mistyped). The some files are repeated to I placed the filesize next to them.
My5_Land
My5_Land.swf.0409
My5_Port.swf.0409
My5app
My5Client
My5ControllerPanelPlugin
My5MsgCenter 138k
My5MsgCenter 30b
My5PimProvider
My5service
My5Today_MaskCircle
My5Today_MaskRing
MyFave
MyFaves 19.1k
MyFaves 29b
MyFaves_add
MyFaves_hourglass
MyFaves_PhCDefault
MyFaves_sihouette
MyFavesApp_3DMask
MyFavesApp_74x743DMask
MyFavesApp_ContactMask
MyFaves-plugin
MyFavTodayPlugin
Myinfo.96
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My5Service.exe is the key application. I wanted to make sure you had all the bits to the MyFaves program. The reason you see duplicate names with different file sizes is that the File Explorer program that you have on your hand held suppresses extensions of files for whatever idea.
Now then to fix your problem you are going to need to edit the registry of your device (I used total commander, the .CAB is in one of the Useful cab threads).
A key is missing from the registry after hard reset. WOO!!
Go to \\registry\\HKLM\init\ (using total commander's akward directory structure style)
You then have to add a new key, I used "Launch94" as I was noticing most of the T-Mo crapware was using the Launch9# series of keys
Then edit the key's data to be: My5Service.exe (Must be spelled correctly)
Basically what you did was add in a registry key that tells windows to load up the MyFaves service at boot so all the my faves apps will initialize properly. Putting My5Service.exe into the \windows\startup\ folder doesn't work (I tried it initially).
Soft reset and the phone will act wonky for a second as it is refreshing itself, don't panic. A box popped up saying "MyFaves display set to ON" and all was well at that point.
Then, since you want factory default I'd just remove Total Commander using the add/remove programs feature.

Good lookin out!!!
thanks alot, it did it and it worked.
I made an attemp to reformat the phone again, and myfavs appeared. Funny How I never managed to get that total commander for this phone. Lol im an experience user with registries (now gonna experiment with the register editor an tweak the phone to make phone faster and remove useless I don't need)
Thanks lot you have been helpful and gave fast support!!

Ah well no insult to your ability or experience was meant. I try to be as specific in my write ups as possible so others who might have the same problem can understand the solution, regardless of ability. Tends to make my life at work a lot easier when I do that so it's become a bit of a habit.
Glad it worked for ya and I'm actually surprised it survived another format. But hey all it says is there is some glitchy code in the re-install portion T-Mo has built.

Extreme184X said:
(now gonna experiment with the register editor an tweak the phone to make phone faster and remove useless I don't need)
Thanks lot you have been helpful and gave fast support!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the way, let me know what tweaks you try. I'd be interested in them myself.

Good seeing people help each other out. The speed tweaks are everywhere, but to remove things you have to recook and flash your phone. (Alternatively, you can flash one of the many available ROMs our cooks have already made or made a custom one based on my own through the link on my signature.)

i got a quick Question how about trying to add it to a already cooked rom is that possible ? bc i love the PDAVIET-ROM BUILD 20931.1.5.0.PV(uploaded) rom but the myfaves tab dont work

does anyone have the my faves.cab?