ActiveSync problem with work PC

gonk · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 01:57 PM

My wife recently replaced her old Axim x3 (passed along to me last year) with a new Axim X51 and has run straight into a problem that I'm hoping someone here might be able to help with. She is attempting to sync the X51 with her work computer, which is an IBM laptop running WinXP Pro. The laptop detects the X51 just fine, but ActiveSync cannot connect to the X51. We've tried all the usual solutions (hard reset on X51, removing and re-installing ActiveSync using both ActiveSync 3.8 and 4.1, even tried both the travel sync cable and the cradle), and after an hour with Dell tech support Sunday they decided there was a problem with the unit. The replacement arrived today and behaves exactly the same as the first unit. There is no firewall software on her PC that could interfere with ActiveSync. There is a firewall on the network, but her machine is registered with that firewall and there should be no attempt to go external to the secured portion of the network - therefore the firewall should not interfere. She's verified that with her tech support department today when she opened a ticket, and she was also told that they've had no other reports of Windows Mobile 5.1 devices exhibiting this sort of problem. The ActiveSync install seems to be fine, since my older Axim sync'ed up Sunday night as a guest without any fuss.

As you can see, we're stumped. Can anyone here offer suggestions as to what might be causing ?

Drifter · #2 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 03:37 PM

Welcome to aximusers.com

You need to make sure that all firewalls on the PC are switched off, also for first connection, any virus protection.

On the PC, also check to make sure that all zone alarms and programs such as Spybot are switched off. Finally, make sure you are connecting direct to the PC and not through a hub or docking station as these can give problems.

Mahstah · #3 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 08:46 PM

Hub/docking station circumvention as Drifter suggests are good ideas to test. Also, ensure that your wife's laptop has fully updated drivers from its manufacturer site; mobo chipset, USB, etc.

You may want to ensure that the problem not on the Axim side by attempting a sync on a computer not on her work's network.

TurksMeister · #4 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 10:20 PM

Hi there... did a google on this problem and came across this site...

I seem to have the same problem as The Gonk Meister, when I connect my Axim X51v to the computer, i get the tinkle sound it usually makes - showing recorgnition that the unit is connected, but for some reason it now gets stuck on the connecting screen, and I cant access anyof the features on my pc at all... ie

(The connecting icon whizzes round like it should - I just lack the techno wizardry to make the picture do that!)

I have done all the microsoft help stuff (well half of it, until I got a "page cannot be displayed" message)...but the problem persists.

The only thing that I did that stopped it from working, was tried to install the demo version of spb pocket plus (http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/prod...ocketplus/?en)... and some of the demo software from the cd (games and such)... after that it didnt work.

Mahstah · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 10:36 PM

Turks: It seems you have a different problem than gonk. Uninstall each software package that you installed between your Axim syncing and not syncing, retrying sync in between each uninstall. You should be able to identify the software that broke your sync ability if an installation disabled it as you suggest.

gonk · #6 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 11:48 PM

Thanks, everybody. I'll offer an update.

Mahstah's idea of trying to sync to a different PC is a good one. We proved the Axim was OK last night by syncing to our home PC, but we never tried it on another PC in her office - it's a good idea. Also, we did connect directly to a USB port on the laptop rather than through the docking station - we actually started out that way by pure luck because the two USB ports on the docking station were taken by the keyboard and mouse.

My wife talked to tech support some more later today and the support person discovered a problem hiding somewhere in her system - he couldn't ping her PC. It appears that when a different tech fixed a problem with her computer a month or so ago he somehow turned on a firewall somewhere that shouldn't be on. As we'd assumed all along, the network firewall should not get in the way of ActiveSync and the network firewall made a local firewall unnecessary. What we didn't realize (and I didn't find in my brief search) was that somebody appears to have turned on a local firewall anyway.

thesuperstitions · #7 (**permalink**) 01-11-2006, 06:16 AM

I had this same problem when I first got my x51v. To solve it, I fired up "msconfig" and turned off about half of the programs that load upon re-boot. Through process of elimination, and a lot of re-boots, I was able to find that the VPN driver that I need for my laptop when I'm off-site was the culprit. I just "un-checked" it in msconfig and the Axim now connects and syncs. When I'm off-site, I have to remember to turn on the VPN software though. Kind of a pain, but it works.

mbloof · #8 (**permalink**) 01-11-2006, 02:07 PM

1. Try DELETING/REMOVING the "relationship" her laptop has with the old handheld FIRST, before attaching and attempting to connect to the x51v.

2. Sounds silly, but use the AS 4.0 install that comes on the DELL CD.

I ended up removing my old PPC, deinstalling AS4.1 and then installing AS4.0 off the DELL cd and pointing AS to a different port than was used before with the old PPC (in my case I used BT) before I could get it to work.