I not that long ago upgraded to Activesync 4.1 as per ususal to keep on top of things but as per usual again I am lready starting to have nightmares. I've really never heard a good thing about active sync and if there was a better syncing prog out there that woulod support my Ipaq 3970 than I would use it if not buy it.

Anyhow on with the problem. When I try to sync my Ipaq 3970 with my desktop PC the sync will start but 5 secs or so later I will get the following error:

Runtime Error!

Program: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Active Sync\WCESMgr.exe

Abnormal program termination

Now when I click OK to continue I get the following error box that pops up

The instruction at "0x7c168f1d" referenced memory at 0x0000001c". The memory could not be "read".

Click on OK to terminate the program.

Now I did have an SD card in my 3970 and did remove it but still no difference plus also I dont think a SD or CF card will cause this sort of problem.

Also tried the following:

1. Did a soft reset of the Ipaq - No luck
2. Uninstalled and reinstalled Active sync - No luck
3. Soft reset - No luck
4. Deleted partnership and start again - No luck

So what do I say I'm completely loss here

Help would be greatly appreciated.

This is not an activesync error, its a Windows error. You may have a problem with the memory on your desktop/laptop. I did a google search on the exact text of your error message and got lots of results referencing many different programs. Most responses seem to indicate a memory problem on the desktop/laptop.

If I were you, I would uninstall ActiveSync 4.1 and install ActiveSync 3.8 and see if I could synch. Since you don't have Windows Mobile 5.0 installed on your PDA, there really are very few benefits of using A/S 4.1. I have installed 4.1 on my other computer (not the one I synch to regulaly) to see what I was missing and I can't really see anything all that great about it anyway. Since I like to synch via WIFI (which is no longer possible with A/S 4.1), I won't be using A/S 4.1 until/unless I get a windows mobile 5.0 device. Quoting from the README file that comes with 4.1:

To successfully uninstall ActiveSync 4.1 and reinstall a previous version of ActiveSync on your desktop PC, perform the following procedure.
1. Uninstall ActiveSync 4.1.
2. Open File Explorer, navigate to the System32 directory in your Windows directory, and then manually delete the dynamic-link library Rapi.dll.
3. Reinstall the previous version of ActiveSync.

     

What I did was uninstall AS 4.1 and re-installed 3.8 etc, rebboted the PC and etc. Now after the installation of AS 3.8 things have not worked our better infact worse in a way.

Here's the prob. The installation part of AS 3.8 all went well, when I connected my Ipaq to the cable etc it came up with a message found new hardware etc HP Ipaq etc which was fine, my Ipaq 3970 had been detected. I click next etc to start the syncing process etc. I get the connection sounds etc (this is the sound you get when both items have been connected and the grey active sync icon turns to green).

Now the problem here is I dont get the main active sync window that pops up and informs me on what is being sync and also for me to config my options. The AS icon just stays green in the taskbar. When I try to open it I get nothing at all pops up.

The green ActiveSync circle is spinning and spinning? When you first connected to ActiveSync, did you following this sequence?:

Soft reset IPAQ
Open ActiveSync
Plug cradle into computer USB port (make sure you are connecting directly to the USB port on your computer - don't use a USB hub for this)
Turn on IPAQ and insert into cradle.

Where you prompted to setup a partnership?

What kind of firewall are you using?

     

Yes Julie I did get and do all the above. Also the green circle did spin and spin and finally stops spinning, stays there. Also I did do a soft reset on my Ipaq and still no luck.

I dont even get the partnership window at all.

I am also using the USB ports on my desktop PC not a hub.

My firewall is Zone Alarm Pro 6.0 I've never had any issues with this previosuly even using this Firewall.

So you have never been prompted to create a partnership?

Could you check to make sure you don't have the Windows XP Firewall enabled? (On your PC, go to Control Panel and check the Windows Firewall icon)

In ActiveSynch, Select File > Connection Settings > Select the Get Connected button. Active Synch should prompt you to attach the USB cable, turn your PDA on and then insert PDA into cradle.

     

Sorry for the late reply.

To answer your Q's:

1. No not at this stage or with the probs I'm having atm. Yes in the past I
have had the partnerhip prompt and all worked well, well that was 6
months ago. But now with this problem.

2. I am not using Win XP but Win 2000 Pro with service pack 4 Sorry but I
just prefer 2000 Pro over XP

In ActiveSynch, Select File > Connection Settings > Select the Get Connected button. Active Synch should prompt you to attach the USB cable, turn your PDA on and then insert PDA into cradle.

Did all that as well and yet still no luck. When I connect it to the cardle/cable all I get is the connection sound, circle stays green in the task bar and thats it. I do not even get the create partnership screen. Even when I try to go and open MS AS 3.8 I get not luck.

I must on uninstalled and reinstalled AS about 5 times and yet again no luck. I dont think there is a prob with my Ipaq because I do get the connection sound when I connect to the cradle.

Also I have no luck in deleting the partnerships as I thought that might help.

Could the AS 3.8 prog be corrupted ? as I did download it from the MS site.

Could you disable your firewall temporarily?

Remove your cable from your PC. Open up ActiveSync. Select Tools > Options > Select the Schedule tab. Change the "when connecting to my PC, sync" box to MANUALLY. Select OK to exit the Options screen

Now go to File > Delete Partnership (if you can access this button).

Then go to File > Connection Settings > Select the Get Connected button. Active Synch should prompt you to attach the USB cable, turn your PDA on and then insert PDA into cradle.

Julie

     

Julie, sorry once again for the late reply been busy as usual on the dmoestic side of things.

Now re your post I am having more of a serious problem here. Now I cannot even open AS. I did unplug the cable from the PC as you suggested and also disabled my FW. Now when I unplugged the cable from the PC the AS icon on the task bar changed from the usual green to grey. When I double click it with my mouse it refuses to open up just stays there.

So I can't more on to your next steps until I can get this open.

I am starting to get very cheesed off about this. I've never had probs like this before.

Also thank god I've backed up my whole PDA onto a seperate SD card using Sprite Backup just incase I loose it all.

Albinoni

Sometimes I have trouble opening ActiveSync from the (what is it called??) tray when it is grey (signifying no active connection). Try opening it from your Programs - go to Start > All Programs > find it and open it.

There are still many things to try to get this to run. Patience will win the day!

Julie

     

Hi Julie, yes its called the taskbar tray this is where the digital clock is

I have been to Star, Progs etc and I do see the Active Sync logo there but no luck when I try to open it.

Now the Q here is when I got to Start, Progs and to Active Sync normally on the right of the Active Sync logo should be a small black arrow to expand and this will than allow me to run, uninstall etc etc. Can you pls check yours to see if you have this small black arrow. Alot of programs have it.

What I'm going to do is install AS on another PC of mine ( an old PII ) abd see id it plays silly buggers on that as well, than at least I can work it our what the problem is. I just hope my Ipaq 3970 is not damaged, which I doubt as I love this PDA of mine a real work horse.

Will keep you posted.

Thanks, I figured you'd know what I was talking about.

Sometimes when I try to select ActiveSync through Start>Programs, it doesn't open for me either - it's stubborn - but a couple of tries usually works, so try a few times - maybe it's really needing a double click??? My menu does not show an arrow either and this is because there are no other programs to run that are associated with ActiveSync, so clicking the menu item should open the file directly.

Always a good idea to rule out other possible causes....I doubt your 3970 is damaged - I just think ActiveSync is being difficult. Truthfully, my take on it is that you've never been able to create a partnership, but we can't confirm that for sure because as soon as you cradle your PDA it starts trying to sync and gets hung up with the green circle and you can't get any further. By setting A/S to sync manually, you will be able to cradle your PDA, check to see if any partnership exists (which I don't think exists) and perhaps force a partnership or at least generate an error that will provide some hints as to what the problem is.

I am starting to think you may need to hard reset your PDA before you'll be able to synch because there may be some residual parameters from the other version of ActiveSync on your PDA.

Will wait to see what you are able to do with the other computer.

Julie

     

I do apologise for this very late reply but I've just virtually given up on this so called MS $shit i.e active sync. Ever since I did my previous upgrade to V4.1 I've had nothing but nightmares, and now that I've gone a back a step to 3.8 my probs up till today has not been solved or fixed all because of a stupid F piece of software.

I thought perhaps the fault was with my PDA, did a soft reset how many times and still no change, also completely uninstalled and re-installed AS 3.8 I would say 5 times and still no change or fix, also I finally though that I would try my i-mate Smartphone 2 and still no change so what next ???

What heppens when I connect my PDA to my PC is that both will connect and the small green active sync circle in the taskbar will run for about 10 secs than stop, thats it. I cannot even open MS Active Sync yet again sync with my PDA, it just runs for 10 secs than stops and thats it.

So least to say I have virtually given up.

I rang MS and they want to charge me a service fee, sorry but no thanks. You bought a dodgy crap sync software you fix it up simple as that. If other companies like Nokia, Puma etc can bring out software that works and does the job why the hell can't MS. But let me rest assure I will not pay for tech support re this issue.

Finally I am running Win 2000 Pro SP4 and have always used this for my syncing in the past and never had any issues what so ever with it.

Also does anybody know the steps on how to fully uninstall Active sync ?

Albinoni: I had hoped you had gotten this worked out....oh well, here's the a link to detailed instruction on how to manually delete A/S 3.x:

http://www.pocketpcfaq.com/wce/activesync3.1remove.htm

Let me know how it goes...I have more tricks up my sleeve...

Julie