Just bought my Axim 51v. Installed Activesync and Outlook, got it to work but only for files not Outlook. Deleted and changed various profiles, but keep being told that I need to reinstall Outlook and enable Outlook as the default Mail client, or I won't be able to sync any Outlook data. That does sound like Microsoft trying to force you away from non-MS email clients, but I thought I'd heard that it is possible to sync with Outlook without using it for email?
As I said, syncing files etc works, Outlook installed with non-mail profile works, but all Outlook options are greyed out...

AS will only sync w/ Outlook. Problem is, all your contacts, tasks, calendar, & address book reside within your Outlook PST file.

Search for this error on MS's support site. If my memory is correct, it may have something to do with modifying and/or deleting registry key(s) on your PC.

Best Regards,

Wooch

Well that's fine, I want it to sync with Outlook but just not with Outlook as default mail client. Are there any alternatives to Activesync, either standalone or built into something like Pocketinformant or Agenda?

Actually, Messaging on your PDA can bypass Outlook as the mail client.

I've re-enabled and returned to Outlook Express as my default desktop email software and let my PDA access the account, too.

Create a New Account within Messaging (see the Help file) using the same email account information (name, password, POP, SMTP) as required in Outlook. You can also set up frequency that Messaging checks for mail. Then ensure that Messaging is using that as the default account for access and not Outlook.

Then go into Outlook and remove the affected email account (Tools > Email Accounts) - this will stop Outlook from making contact with that email provider. If you want to tidy things up a bit within Outlook itself, you can also remove any mention of email activity from 'Outlook Shortcuts' - in my case I simply dragged it off onto another bar - 'My Shortcuts' in my case.

Finally, open ActiveSync > Options > Sync Options and uncheck Inbox. Messaging on the PDA will simply use the pass-through within ActiveSync (Options > Rules > Pass Through) to go online rather than go looking to Outlook for its email.

This should do it. If you still want to access and view email on your desktop using another desktop email program, ensure it is set up as the default and that it too has the account info.

This does not affect in any way the syncing of other programs as supported in Outlook (tasks, calendar, address book) but simply disables it as the email client.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for that, looks like the perfect solution. Will print out the message and try it. My immediate solution was to install Outlook as default mail client but not actually use it for desktop email, and disable Inbox sync. But that means telling other programs like browsers etc not to use the default email client, and your solution seems neater.

Forgot to ask: do you get that infamous error message telling you to install Outlook as the default email client when syncing with non-mail Outlook?

My friend and I are trying to walk through your explanation, but the option for pass through is not listed. Is there any chance that you could post a step-by-step, how-to on doing the synch with outlook without using the darn email client? It would likely be greatly appreciated by many on this forum. TIA.

Open Outlook on the pc
Open the inbox
click tools tab
click preferences
click email options
put a check mark in each box BUT the top one
on replies....do not include
on forwarding....include
NO CHECK IN BOTTOM BOX
---------------------------
click mail setup tab
click email accounts
check the view or change box
this brings up another page showing the email accounts that you have set up....it should not be blank
highlight your account and click change
look very closely...this is where most errors occur...look at every word, every period
all 6 boxes need to be filled in
leave secure authentication unchecked
now click on "test account settings"
did it pass? if so...problem solved
if not, cick the "errors" tab and tell me what it says

there are several other settings but lets stop here and see if it now works...if not, we'll look further

One thing that I found in order to pinpoint the problem was to uncheck all sync options (in active sync window - tools, options). And then one by one add the calendar then sync. Add the contacts then sync, etc. There could be a conflict with one of the options. Mine was with favorites. I know how frustrating it is to not be able to sync, especially when in a hurry
remember to let me know!
ken