Active Sync issues - unchecking 'Advanced Network Functionality'

[Graham]

I purchased my X51v last November and since then I've continually had an Active Sync connection problem when using the standard USB cradle (haven't yet tried bluetooth). The problem was intermittent: sometimes I'd get the password box pop up and after entry everything would connect ok and othertimes the box would not appear; it would just then hang on 'connecting' until it timed out and the 'cannot connect' help box appeared.
I made the recommended changes to my MCaffee firewall settings and uninstalled and re-installed the latest versions of Active Sync.
The other day I read a post on another forum recommending unchecking 'Advanced Network Functionality' to overcome connection issues. Well it certaining worked for me as I'm no longer having any connection problems!!!!!!
Now to my questions:
a. I assume disabling 'Advanced Network Functionality' now gives some indication of the primary cause of the problem. Can someone advise what that was likely to be?
b. What will be the effect of the disablement be on my x51V? I use Hotmail and everything is downloading ok when I use wifi to connect.
c. Finally the only thing I haven't done is a hard reset as I wasn't exactly sure what was saved if backup was made to a CF/SD. I believe it may only be data and not installed programs. Is this correct?

Many thanks

[Mahstah]

a. Disabling 'Advanced Network Functionality' makes the AS connection behave as a standard Serial/USB connection instead of a virtual network adapter.

b. Everything should still work properly with the feature disabled.

c. Hard resetting will not affect your storage cards.