Windows Mobile Device Center

Julie · 09-14-07, 03:08 PM

If you have a Vista computer, you'll need to sync using Windows Mobile Device Center.

Download Windows Mobile Device Center here

Then read Chris' excellent Mobile Device Center article for a step-by-step guide about how to set the software up so you can sync.

*radimus* · 09-14-07, 04:08 PM

I've set it up on any number of machines, and it never failed to work, however, it does seem to have lost some of the granularity of controls...

That being said, I will be doing it on my home PC tonight. Just bought a 500gb SATA HD (for $109 @ CompUSA) and will be migrating my data to it so I can upgrade my primary HD (2x150gb SATA drives in Raid 0)

Julie · 09-14-07, 04:10 PM

Thanks, Radimus. Have you been able to sync via Bluetooth connection? If so, it would be really helpful to provide step-by-step instructions on how to do it. I've seen some questions about how to do it, and have not sene a good instruction guide yet. (I haven't upgraded to Vista yet).

*radimus* · 09-14-07, 04:49 PM

I've done it via Activesync before, but I'll try setting it up via MDC tonight

*radimus* · 09-25-07, 01:52 PM

OK, I did it and it worked fine first time. I suppose I'll write up a Vista FAQ, but it done the exact same way as before.

On the PC, open MDC:
Ensure the PPC already has a partnership
In Mobile Device Settings, click Connection Settings
make sure Allow Connection to one of the following: has BT selected

On the PC, Open BT device control panel:
create new incoming serial port
then allow discovery

on PPC, Open BT control panel
find new BT devices
find the PC, setup secure connection
In the partnership settings, select services, you should see ActiveSync, check it and Save.

That is it...

BTW, I found a tutorial to change the icon in the MDC main window.

not a hard thing to do.
find the ico file for the model you wish to have displayed.
rename it sync.ico
Put the sync.ico on the PPC windows folder
Go to the PC device manager and remove the mobile device (if it is already configured)
undock if curently docked
then dock... it should copy the ico from the PPC to the PC and display it in the screen

Link to details and lots of ico files: Vista - Windows Mobile Device Center - Picture - Icon Hack - PDAPhoneHome.com

Rustyworld · 09-27-07, 08:42 PM

I connected my HP 4705 to my new Vista computer & it worked fine for about 2 weeks. Now it has stopped recognizing my device at all. I have deleted the relationship & WMDC to start from scratch but it still does not work. I am at a loss. I have researched this & can find no answers. One person just re-installed Vista to correct it. Any ideas short of that? I have played with firewalls, etc without any luck.

Rusty Brown

*radimus* · 09-28-07, 12:37 AM

is the device still connected/showing up in device manager when connected? if so delete the device ad allow the system to re detect

Rustyworld · 09-28-07, 01:19 PM

The device origianally showed up but would not connect. I deleted the device from WMDC & removed the drivers & allowed everything to re-install, but it still does not connect. I get the sounds when I physically attach & remove the device, but WMDC does nothing. I really have NO clue what else to do.

craigj1 · 04-17-08, 11:07 PM

Re Radimus link #5:

"On the PC, Open BT device control panel:create new incoming serial port then allow discovery"

I found no "Bluetooth device control panel" on my Vista PC. A search for "Bluetooth" returned:

Bluetooth Information Exchange and
Bluetooth settings.

I tried both. Each wanted to install a BT driver. Both asked me to "plus in Bluetooth device and click OK. MY PPC does not "plug in", so I quit.

Where do I find this "Bluetooth device control panel?

Thx

Julie · 04-17-08, 11:39 PM

Is your computer bluetooth enabled? If it does not have a bluetooth radio in it then you'll need to purchase a bluetooth dongle that plugs into a USB port on your computer. The bluetooth dongle will come with a CD that includes the drivers you'd need to install on your computer. Once installed, then you should be able to access a bluetooth control panel on your computer.

unclevic · 08-13-08, 08:00 PM

I installed Windows Device Manager to my Vista laptop. I sync it with my Axim X5 with ppc 2003. The two syncs with no problem. Word files open fine but when I go to open an excel file, it will not open. The excel files in the Axim are .pxl. They will open fine but .pxl files will not open in the laptop. I also sync the Axim with a XP pc . The excel files there are .xls and they open fine. How can I get the excel files in the laptop to open??

Julie · 08-13-08, 09:12 PM

Windows Mobile Device Center does not convert pocket Excel or pocket Word files. And Word 2007 and Excel 2007 does not open pocket Word or pocket Excel files.

You need to abandon the pocket version of these files and save the files on the pocket pc as Word or Excel files (use the SAVE AS option).

Pocket PCs work with Word and Excel files just fine....the reason one might use the Pocket version is that these are smaller files. If space is an issue for you, be sure to save these files to a storage card and not to main memory on the pocket pc..

cmckean · 08-14-08, 10:19 AM

I switched from an XP machine to a Vista machine sync'ng to my Tilt. This has to be the slowest and most cumbersome process.

Where are the details on 'what' WMD is sync'ng? Are you done with email and on to tasks?

Anybody have any ideas?

unclevic · 08-17-08, 06:27 PM

Well I finally got my Excel files to open on my laptop

What I did was deleted all my .pxl files on my laptop. Downloaded my .xls files from my pc onto a jump drive and download these files into my laptop. The files remained .xls files and where able to open. Now when I sync the Axim X5 to the laptop or pc the files remain .xls and the Axim files remain .pxl. Thanks for all your help and no thanks to Microsoft.

NikYur · 09-27-08, 07:23 PM

To RustyWorld: So behaves now my Axim x51v. Earlier I had no problems with this, but now all of a sudden WMDC doesn't see the PDA put in its cradle. It beeps in some other way when Ax is connected. I did what you did, yet no luck. And one more thing: the ActiveSync on another PC synchronizes Ax okay.. And WMDC syncs okay another PDA, the Asus 639. Seems like something with the Axim, not with PC drivers?

Oh.. Right after I wrote this, I found that Microsoft Windows Mobile Remote Adapter in the list of devices connected is inactive. I swiched it on, and it works! Only it said it is on but still working incorrectly - don't know what it is about. So all is fine, maybe you have the same workaround.