Ipaq 5550
Laptop Vaio TR5MP running XP Pro without & with SP2
ActiveSync 3.7.1

Syncing via USB was working up until a couple of days ago when I started getting “Synchronization Error” cropping up (with no further explanation). Since I wanted to download SP2 anyway to fix my BT problems, I waiting hoping it would fix the sync error too. It didn’t. (But it did fix my BT issue )

So, I can connect via USB or BT & AS starts “looking for changes” then says “Synchronization Error” on the laptop (AS still running on the ipaq but obviously doing nothing)

I’ve re-installed AS, changed the ipaq name, deleted the partnership, unchecked all outlook sync settings (in no particular order) and still no luck. It obviously isn’t an Outlook problem as it won’t sync even without any outlook folders selected. I downloaded AS from the website to check I had the latest version.

Now I’m stumped – what else can I try to fix this problem??? Anyone got any ideas?

Your best hope is probably to look through Chris De Herrera's ActiveSync Troubleshooting Guide. It's the most comprehensive set of AS issues available.

-Ike-

     

Thanks - I had already tried there. Unfortunately, since my error says nothing beyond "synchronization error" & doesn't seem to involve Outlook, it doesn't help much. All possibilities are gratefully received though!

I'm very curious as to what the solution is because I've run into a similar problem. I'm able to connect, I get the message that ActiveSync is looking for changes, the # of changes is given, I'm then given the options as to how to handle them (e.g. synchronize the PC with the handheld, update the handheld or do nothing), but after I chose to synchronize, nothing happens. Eventually, I get an error message saying synchronization could happen and I should take the handheld out of the cradle and try again. When I check Outlook, nothing is synchronized!

I've tried to find a solution, but have been stumped this point. Any solutions/suggestions woud be appreciated. Please note, I've tried using Chris De Herrera's ActiveSync Troubleshooting Guide, but unfortunately, still no luck finding a solution.

My setup is:
IPAQ 3955 w/ Pocket PC 2003
ActiveSync 3.7.1
Desktop is running Windows 98 with Outlook 2000 (according to Microsoft's specs, it should still work)

Thanks again for any assistance.

Bowman94

I had same luck with the same issue though slightly different symptoms.
I deleted the old partnership and tried connecting as guest. I found the guest connection was maintained ok so I created a new partnership but with a different name... And that worked.

hth.

I still haven't had any luck - so far I've hard reset my ipaq and tried to synchronise immediately afterwards i.e. without any of my information/software loaded. I still get the same error.

My next plan is to upgrade the ROM (which I've been lax on) but I need the cradle as you have to have non-BT connection and be on AC power, and I only have a USB power cable with me - so that'll have to wait until I get back from my trip to the UK in early November.

If that doesn't work, my final try will be to "hard reset" my laptop in case the issue is somewhere in there.

I hope no-one else has this issue 'cos its damn frustrating - but if you did, and fixed it, I'd appreciate knowing how!

I'm having the same problem synchronizing as the other folks on this thread. If anyone comes up with a solution, please let me know.

Ok, had the same problem the other day...


First Make a BACKUP!!!

(you are going to be deleting stuff so in case you make it worse, you can get back to where you are now.)

Once you have a backup, hard reset the Ipaq.

On your computer delete your partnership. If you are using windows 2000 or windows XP you will need to make sure there are no partnerships lurking about. These are found in C:\Documents and Settings\<YOUR USERNAME>\Application Data\Microsoft\ActiveSync\Profiles (you will have to make sure no system files or folders are hidden, you can set that thru TOOLS>FOLDER OPTIONS)

If there are any profiles in that directory you will need to delete them (if you are paranoid, move them to someplace safe)

Now your activesync should have no partnerships and your Ipaq should be clean from a hard reset. Try to sync, you will need to setup a new partnership, if you can sync all is good, if you can not, you will need to delete activesync and reinstall.

Once you have established that you can sync, go back delete the partnership, delete any profiles in the directory listed above, do a restore on your IPAQ and try re-establishing a partnership. If that doesn't work, you will probably have to do a rebuild on your Ipaq (start with a hard reset, then reinstall all the software) as one of the files or tables is most likely munged... (I have had limited success in deleting the files in \windows\activesync on the Ipaq, then re-establishing a partnership, but that does not always work...)

The suggestion that mikesus gave is a good one and I recommend doing that to see if it fixes things. In some cases I have found that if you uninstall AS and reinstall it the old AS profiles may still hang around. When reinstalling AS it just goes right back to the same profile directory.

Another suggestion would be to do a hard reset. Make sure that you have a good backup first. I have also seen in some cases that something can get messed up on the PPC that will interfere with AS communications. Doing a hard reset will help get rid of that.

Ted Whitely
whitelyt at ipaqhq DOT com

HP rx3715
Dell Axim X50v
HP 2215
Dell Axim X30

 

Thanks for all the suggestions - I am still fighting this thing.

To update: I just got back from a trip to the UK & US where I was able to pick up my cradle and thus decided to update my ROM version which was a bit behind That of course involves a hard reset, but anyway I had tried that previously.

Net result - my ipaq is now up to date but I still can't synchronise.

But back to the hard reset idea... I did a hard reset and BEFORE RESTORING I tried to synchronise. No dice. i.e. without reinstalling any of my software it still had an error. I am going to try this once more over the weekend now that the ROM is up to date but frankly I'm not hopeful. I think this suggests the error is on my laptop side. [Edit: in case it wasn't clear, I did also delete all partnerships from the laptop & checked the profiles directory was empty before hard resetting & trying to synchronise]

But, I also have a new (to me) PC at work which means that I now have a USB port (yeah the old one was o-l-d) so I'm also going to try & synchronise here - on the basis that if I don't get an error on my work PC the problem is 100% definitely with my laptop.

Anyway, just wanted to post an update so no-one thinks I'm ignoring the very good advice I'm getting here - and also in the hope that if I do finally resolve this issue it may help someone else.

I have now downloaded AS onto my work PC and hooked up my ipaq. Since we use Lotus Notes at work (and I use Outlook at home) I selected only 'files' to synchronise.

And it worked!!

So, from this I deduce that the issue at home relates to my laptop and not the ipaq, which is good news in that apparently my ipaq isn't a worthless piece of junk but bad news in that reformatting my laptop & starting from scratch wasn't top of want-to list for this weekend. Still, if that's what it takes....

It might be what it takes. I'm opposite. I can sync from home no problem, but my work computer will NOT see the ipaq. Rather, it sees it but won't AS won't see it. The computer sees the device, even after deleting the device it still won't recognize it through AS. Good luck, don't forget to update us.

Ouch, problems at work are actually worse I think because of the reduced amount you can play with the PC. Is it a firewall issue? I'm far from an expert but while fighting my AS problem I've read a helluva lot of other solutions & I think there are some ports you have to have the firewall allow so that AS works... but someone else could no doubt help more.

Next weekend is the planned reformat weekend & I'll be sure to update if it works!

I have read many of the suggestions about making my iPAC synchronize work, but I have some basic questions about getting started with the process:
First of all, I have never been able to figure out how to back up Outlook files. I've wanted to reinstall Windows, but was afraid that I'd loose all the Outlook info.

Secondly, I never received a User's Guide to my 1945 iPAC (I got it on Ebay) and therefore don't know how to "hard reset" the machine.

Once I know how to do these two things, I'll try some of the suggestions below (or above). Although, I'm not very computer savvey, and some of what is talked about is way over my head.

And do any of you know where I can get a User's Guide on-line?


David

The manuals for your PPC can be found here.

To make a backup of Outlook on your desktop you just want to make a copy of the outlook.pst file on your desktop. This is normally found in C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. In that folder you should find the outlook.pst file. This is all of your data in Outlook.

Ted Whitely
whitelyt at ipaqhq DOT com

HP rx3715
Dell Axim X50v
HP 2215
Dell Axim X30