How do you get activesync to recognize the device after a hard reset?

Plug it back in. If your PPC is set to the same name (ie. Pocket_PC) AS will ask you to delete a prior existing profile. What I would do is before connecting, delete the prior existing profile on your PC in AS (File->Delete partnership). If you want to keep the info stored on your PC in the sync docs directory, answer "no" when AS asks to delete the sync folder.

After you delete the profile and reconnect your device, AS will ask you a question on the direction of contact, calender direction. If your PC is up-to-date then select the PC to PPC direction.

HTH!

it seems to do the trick... thanks. i wish there was an easier way like with palm desktop... when it sees a device that it doesn't know... it asks if you'd like to sync with an existing profile or create a new one, when you sync with an existing, it automatically restores your data onto the device (if you choose).