If an ActiveSync Replacement appears tell me

[fuxmolder]

Hi Everyone,
I have an Axim X51v with the latest bios and ActiveSync release updates. Titanium hard case, CF and SD cards, and hundreds of dollars worth of office and engineering and video and audio software. All for naught though. I have been fighting with ActiveSync since last June or so. One day it works, the next it doesn't. One day it connects the next it doesn't. I can sync, go to work, not use the 51v all day (or the computer at home) and then when I get home ActiveSync "Can not connect". Maybe the next day it does, maybe it doesn't. I've tried every troubleshooting method anyone has suggested. I've sent the troubleshooting data to MS more times than I can remember. I've rebooted. I've uninstalled and reinstalled. I've soft reset. I've hard reset. On and on till I can't even remember all I've tried. But enough is enough! Finally I went out last week and bought a Palm T|X. I don't like it as much as the 51v. It's less powerful and versatile. But it syncs reliably and I can use it at work knowing I won't be losing data. I'm keeping the 51v as an entertainment device / MP3 and Video player for its gorgeous screen and resolution. IF ANYONE EVER STUMBLES ACROSS SOFTWARE THAT REPLACES ACTIVESYNC PLEASE POST IT OR EMAIL ME! If only I could reliably sync with the ease and transparancy of HotSync I could use the 51v for everything.
Thanks,
Fux

[Mahstah]

There is no replacement for AS for MS OSs, but that doesn't mean that you can't get your X51v to sync consistently.

A large majority of users have AS work all the time and if you're interested in spending a little time troubleshooting you could have it working as well. You could first narrow down the problem by attempting a sync on another computer to determine whether the problem exists on the Axim or on the computer. Chances are, it's the computer.

What version or ActiveSync do you use? What desktop OS do you use? If XP SP1 or higher, you do have a firewall even if you don't know about it. ActiveSync has many log files for troubleshooting in your %profilename%\Local Settings\Temp. You should also check out some of the many AS troubleshooting websites, I posted links to them here.

[bdiscount]

I installed a firewall and then every morn. i had to reboot to sync.

[fuxmolder]

Mahstah,Thank You for your advice, it is appreciated. (This is only a summary and excludes many details) I sync (or synced or try to sync) on a laptop and on a desktop using ActiveSync 4.2. Both computers run under XP Pro SP2. I use Zone Alarm Securituy Suite and its firewall is set up to allow syncing with my Axim. I had trouble initially but was successfully syncing on both computers for several months. I often Synced several times a day on both! Then one morning at home on my laptop I got that eternally spinning green disk and a message that I couldn't connect. I went through the troubleshooting routine to no avail and sent the info to MS. Later that day in work I connected and synced fine with the desktop at work. The next morning at home I tried again and synced fine. Things were again OK for a while but soon neither would connect. I ran through some troubleshooting routines, reinstalled ActiveSync 4.2, sent more data to MS, rebooted pc and 51v, booted up with the 51v connected. I have been to most of the troubleshooting sites you mention. I don't represent myself as an expert, but I've been using and troubleshooting pc's since about 1990. I've kept things running fairly well. I've used Palm Vx, T3 and T5's continuously since about 2001 and never had a problem until I went with Windows Mobile. With a Palm I have always and now just install and run. Everything just works! Everytiing just syncs! I must have, estimating conservatively, between 24 and 40 hours total between last June and now troubleshooting ActiveSync. I consider the necessity of investing so much time and effort in troubleshooting a basic utility that lets Windows talk to Windows to be absurd. I am out of patience and am unwilling to invest anymore time. The 51v does make a nice little portable Audio/Video player, and I have no reason to sync it.

[Mahstah]

MS has pages for most popular firewall app configs including Zone Alarm. Have you followed the instructions at their site?

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobi...sync/zone.mspx

Is it only your home PC that has trouble with syncing?