Challenge Question - Axim X3 won't sync to any computer

pistagn · 09-24-04, 08:56 PM

I have an Axim X3 which worked fine for six months. One day, active sync stopped working.

*Issue*

-When I place the PDA in its cradle, the USB connection chime occurs and the PDA says it is connected.
-The Activesync software on the PC states that it is "connecting" for appxoximately 1.5 - 2 minutes
-After that, the USB unplugged chime goes off and Activesync status is "not connected"
-After a few minutes, the USB connected chime goes off again, and the cycle repeats.

I have installed Activesync 3.7.1 (build 4034). I've hard reset the PDA, and reinstalled AS multiple times.

I've tried the cradle and the travel cable - same result.

Finally, I tried on a different computer with no change.

I would think it is a hardware issue with my PDA, except that when I plug in the PDA during the install process, Windows recognizes that the USB device is a Dell Axim, making me think that the device must be capable of sending data.

Any help would be appreciated.

09-24-04, 09:02 PM

Do you have a software firewall on your PC?

Also, in the AS connection settings on your PC, try unchecking the "Allow serial" and "Allow network" boxes.

pistagn · 09-25-04, 01:53 AM

I disabled the firewall and unchecked the "Allow serial" and "Allow network" boxes on the AS setting on my PC.

No change.

Any other thoughts?

FallN · 09-25-04, 04:13 AM

Back up your data. Hard Reset your Axim. Delete all Partnerships- make sure that "Partnerships" is greyed out. Do NOT reinstall any programs or your backup data. Just use a "clean", fresh Axim to try and troubleshoot. Sync via a Guest Partnership and see if you can sync data.

If the connection still drops then you might have a USB problem. Try to use other USB devices in that port and see what happens.

Best of luck. :approve:

pistagn · 09-25-04, 09:14 AM

I have hard reset multiple times and am using a clean Axim. I've also de-installed and re-installed AS (build 4034) a few times.

When I place the Axim in it's cradle, the PC recognizes that an an Axim has been plugged in, tries to connect (says Connecting...) The Axim says its connected.

I never get the option of trying to establish a partnership, because the PC never actually connects.

After a 1.5 - 2 minutes the connection drops out.

Other USB devices work fine.

Since this issue has occurred on two different computers, it seems that it must be PDA. The issue doesn't seem like a hardware issue, but maybe it is?!?

09-25-04, 09:36 AM

Comb the contents of the wcesmgr.log and wcescomm.log files and see if you can find anything that looks suspicious. The wcesmgr.log logs every step of the sync process, and the wcescomm.log file logs communication attempts. You could email your log to me, and I could compare it to my logs and see if I can see what's going on.

pistagn · 09-25-04, 10:08 AM

These files are not in my Activesync directory, or anywhere else on my computer for that matter. There is a wcesetup.log that appears to be fine - last lines are as follows:

Setup Complete
Communications started
FINISHED

heathermh · 10-04-04, 12:22 PM

I've had similar problems. I'm running an IBM T40 laptop - I was able to sync via IR, but kept losing connections on the cradle. Here's what worked for me:

* Make sure the cradle or cable is plugged directly into the computer - no USB hubs or docking stations, etc.
* AS version 3.7.1 build 3244 (the one that came with my X3 if I remember correctly).

It's been working pretty reliably like this for awhile. Once in awhile I have to reboot the laptop and/or the X3 to get it to sync if I remove the X3 from the cradle multiple times.

flybri · 10-10-04, 11:48 PM

i've had problems before connecting my Axim X5... after trying everything you had, minus the connecting to other computers, i tried again, but i connected the cable to a different usb port on my computer.

it worked!

calzada · 11-09-04, 02:46 PM

I have the same problem with my axim X3. It worked perfectly for months. About two weeks ago the problem started. After placing the ppc in the craddle, the uthentication process starts. THe ppc finaly has the following message

Connect To
`USB Default
Status: User Authenticated
Cancel Hide Status

When working properly this messag automatically dissapears and the software is able to connect and to sync.

The only way to make sure that the ppc syncs properly is to do a soft reset before placing the ppc in the craddle.

I am waiting to hear from Dell if there is something to do to fix this problem.

What do you all think?

Wondercookie · 11-10-04, 05:46 PM

I had the same thing happen to mine - this was after installing a word processor program (which never did fully uninstall). Nothing would synch at all, drove me batpoop. I uninstalled AS and then reinstalled and it worked fine after that.