Evvy

Hi,

I received my Axim yesterday and on the whole am very pleased with it. My only problem is that when I click on Explore in ActiveSync on my desktop, I get the following message:

Failed to Start Remote Services
Critical communications services have failed to start. To correct this error, exit all applications and restart Windows.
If problem persists, please reinstall Microsoft ActiveSync by running Setup from the installation disk(s).

I have tried all of this but still no joy!

I can copy files over to 'My PDA, My Documents' using my desktop windows explorer but I can't explore the Axim!! This means that I can't copy files directly over to my CF card (unless someone knows another way?)

If it helps to know, my desktop is running Windows 98 and is a PIII 700mhz.

Any help greatfully appreciated!!!

cageyjames

You can't see the "My Mobile Device" inside Windows Explorer? You might want to upgrade to ActiveSync 3.6. Check out this thread.

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...&threadid=3246

JakeRich

Evvy, You didn't say whether you are using USB or Serial connections.

If it's USB, open up the Systems folder and look at Device Manager while the Axim is in the cradle or on the cable. You should see under the USB devices an entry for "Dell Axim USB Sync." If that is not there, you haven't installed the USB drivers from Dell. To do that, remove the Ax from the cradle or cable and put the Dell CDROM in the drive. Now Use System and Add Hardware and point to the wceusbsh.inf file in the root directory of the CDROM. Let the install run. You'll have to reboot, I think. Now, after installing, put the Ax in the cradle and it should be connected.

If that doesn't work, you may need to update your Win98 to the latest updates. Early intallations of Win98 don't work with USB very well. Good Luck with it.

bigdave240

The real truth is that all of those suggestions are valid but mostly do not help. this is a widespread problem that has one workaround that I am familiar with. If you cannot get the explorer working and need to transfer a file to your pda, put it in the file that was created on your desktop by checking the box to sync 'Files'. It should have the name of your pda on it. Once it is synced to your pda, move it to where you want it on the pda using the file manager on the pda. Then take it out of the file on your desktop. Microsoft needs to fix ActiveSync badly!
Dave

cageyjames

You don't happen to have ZoneAlarm do you? I've seen this error with people who have ZoneAlarm.

JakeRich

Quote:

Originally posted by bigdave240 The real truth is that all of those suggestions are valid but mostly do not help. this is a widespread problem that has one workaround that I am familiar with. If you cannot get the explorer working and need to transfer a file to your pda, put it in the file that was created on your desktop by checking the box to sync 'Files'. It should have the name of your pda on it. Once it is synced to your pda, move it to where you want it on the pda using the file manager on the pda. Then take it out of the file on your desktop. Microsoft needs to fix ActiveSync badly! Dave

Bigdave, I think that is what Evvy is doing when Evvy said "I can copy files over to 'My PDA, My Documents...'" That's the folder that is synced if the Ax is named "My PDA." At least, that's the way I took it from the message. The error message Evvy is getting is from a failure to start the communications link to the Ax. Activesync uses part of TCP/IP to do that, which is why cageyjames suggested checking the firewall. In addition to ZoneAlarm, the WinXP firewall can interfere with Activesync if set too tight as well. The error can also come up if the USB drivers are not properly set, which is why I suggested doing what I did.

The better way to transfer files to the Ax, once you get the connection going, is to simply use Explorer on the PC. To do that, put the Ax in the cradle or connect to the cable, then open Activesync and open Explore in Activesync. Now go back to the desktop and open File Explorer there. The Mobile Device icon will now let you open any directory on the Ax. You can now cut/paste, drag/drop or Move/Copy to folder any file from the Desktop to the Ax just is if it were another folder on the PC. That's the quickest and easiest way to move files and avoids syncing altogether. That my opinion, anyway :) .

bigdave240

You are right! I am having ActiveSync problems and once I got going I forgot that Evvy said that. But the fact still remains that AS is a piece of junk that desperately needs to be fixed. Right now I am having the problem that AS connects for about 3 seconds then disconnects but AS still shows it connecting. Last week I was getting the error on sync message. The week before that , etc, etc, etc. This is on a machine that was working perfectly and no changes were made. It just suddenly stopped working. I can still sync on my pc at work so it is not to bad but definately annoying.
Dave

JakeRich

If I had one suggestion for Microsoft it would be "FIX ACTIVESYNC!" They have a killer product, but compared to Palm's HotSync, or even the sync for my cell phone, A/S is terrible. It should be one-button simple to setup and sync.

And I'll never understand why they piggybacked on TCP/IP for communications with the PocketPC. The only thing I can think is that they never expected anybody to connect a PPC to a TCP/IP networked machine that might have a VPN on it, or a firewall, or ... or ...

But then, this is from the company where Bill Gates stuck us with the ridiculous 640K memory limitation because, in his words, "Nobody needs that much memory." :crooked:

Ah, there, I feel better now...

Evvy

All

Many thanks for your tips - I will try them out tonight and let you know how I get on (I'm at work now!)

I am running Zone Alarm, so I'll try turning that off and see if it makes any difference.

I have a PC at work that is running Windows 2000 and that syncs absolutely fine, so maybe it is a Win98 problem?

I can't use the Win98 explorer on my desktop PC to transfer files, as it is when you click on the PDA icon, that I get me error!

I can sync ok with Avantgo and transfer files over to the PDA using the MyPDA_My Docs folder so it is not the end of the world, but I would like to be able to transfer bigger files, say 100mb straight to the CF card!

Anyway thanks again, and I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers!!

cageyjames

ZoneAlarm askeds if you want to allow ActiveSync to act as "server". Say yes (and check the box to remember this).

You may need to reinstall ActiveSync to get ZoneAlarm to ask the question again as well as remove some Registry Settings that ZoneAlarm puts in.

Evvy

PROBLEM SOLVED!!

It was indeed Zone Alarm causing all of the problems - many thanks for all your help!

Cheers!

cageyjames

ZoneAlarm is ALWAYS the problem. ;)

NMkiD

It sure is it interfers with everything and I'm not even sure it does it any good, when it started to screw up ActiveSync is when I decided to trash it! :D

Sandi

I use ZoneAlarm and WinXP firewall w/ no problems w/ ActiveSync. Just tell ZoneAlarm 'yes' act as a server and no big deal. I really like ZoneAlarm and it does help a lot. I've run tests on 2 different sites and they both show my pc as 'completely stealthed or blocked ports'.

I've downloaded lots of stuff for my Ax and the only problem I've had is w/ my cable modem connection...then I have to power cycle my modem to re-establish 'net connection.