I have been syncing my Ipaq to my laptop for two years using a cable and all of a sudden it only sync's once in awhile. If I have the PPC in its cradle and it's plugged into AC, it sync's 100% of the time. Does this sound like a PC or USB port problem or a problem with the PPC ?

Hi buzzzqwert. It may only be a cradle issue. Are you saying that when the cradle is not plugged into AC, only to the Laptop, that sometimes ActiveSync won't recognize the device, or is that ActiveSync recognizes the iPAQ but just will not sync files? - just asking to clarify.

When I use the same connection cable that I've been using between the laptop and the PPC, Activesync just stays "grayed out" on the PC screen. Once in awhile the wheel turns green and spins and the connection will work fine. 90% of the time after connecting the wire to the PPC, Activesync remains gray on the laptop.

Just noticed that if I really force the cable plug into the PPC and press the two together very firmly, the connection works and the power light that stopped working a few weeks ago, functions again. It's hard to tell if it's the cable or the female plug in the bottom of the PPC but this activity seems to eliminate the laptop and/or it's USB ports as being the problem.

A quick follow-up...I used the PPC cradle and plugged it into the USB port but did not plug into AC power. Each time I just lightly place the PPC into the cradle, it syncs perfectly. I guess that eliminates the female plug in the PPC and narrows it down to the 2 year old cable that I use. Time to buy a new cable.....I was sort of hoping it was the PPC so I'd have a reason to buy a new one.

Hi buzzqwert. Glad you got the issue resolved.

You know, you can get a new device, it will come with a new cable, that way you can get both.