Thank you for the great tip, I have had my Axim for some time. But had not used Active Sync until yesterday. I saw today that Sync was starting up every five minutes even after closing it down all the way. I followed your instructions to the letter, and will email back if it works as it should. :approve:
Well, it's been about a half hour since I applied the fix, I was able to AS with the PC with no issues after, and it has not turned itself back on yet after closing it down.
0820 the next morning, still OK.
24 hours later and still OK, I guess I am good.
Last edited by valvestem; 02-27-07 at 07:26 PM.
Reason: Update Status
[Note: This 'fix' is already known to many, but for those that are unaware, and those that don't understand why the Activesync fix will help, please read on - I have re-written in layman's terms. Those who actually use Exchange Servers for syncing their Axim should check posts #9 and #12 below before doing anything.]
Got a brand spanking new Axim x51(v)? Are YOU experiencing these problems?
Axim Will not power on after standby?
White Screen Of Death (WSOD)
Losing CF or SD cards?
Battery losing charge while on standby?
Axim overheating when left in standby mode?
If Leaving WiFi on when putting into standby, it's light starts flashing for no reason?
Feeling like you've just wasted your hard earned cash on a bad buy? Upset by people in this very forum telling you to send it back, take legal action, burn it, demand a refund etc? Fear not my fellow Axim user, for they are the uneducated... Let's start at the beginning:
These problems appear to be caused by Activesync, a program that runs in the background of Windows Mobile on your Axim - The good news is they CAN be solved in most cases!
There is strong reasoning to suggest that the cause of these problems is that little program we all know and love called Activesync. Read on fellow forumite, as fixing these problems should be a case of simply changing a few settings in Activesync's options menu!
Some Background:
Activesync on your Axim
Activesync is a program installed on your Axim by default as part of the Windows Mobile Operating System. It's primary function as far as I'm aware is for syncing data with your PC and providing a means to install software and transfer files. You cannot get rid of it from your Axim (as far as I know), nor would you really want to. Unfortunately for all the good things Activesync should do, it is a bit of a badly designed program.
Activesync on your PC, and Synchronising data
In order to connect and synchronise data between your Axim and a PC you also have to install a version of Activesync on your PC (included on the Axim CD). When you plug your Axim into it's USB Dock both versions of Activesync talk to each other and your information is synchronised automatically. Every change you make on your PC relating to your calendar, emails or shared files while the Axim is docked will trigger a new sync and vice versa. The Axim and PC will also sync every 5 minutes while docked no matter what. As far as I know this currently cannot be stopped without the aid of a third party program called Activesync Toggle, or some deft 'end tasking' in the Windows PC's Task Manager.
So, why do I keep getting the problems listed above?
This is due to Activesync launching itself on your Axim when it is not docked with your PC. You may ask why Activesync isn't intelligent enough to see that your Axim is not docked...
For an unknown reason Microsoft thought it would be a great idea to make Activesync load itself automatically and attempt to sync even when your Axim is not docked. Even if you manually close it, or go into Start > Memory > Running Programs > Stop on your Axim, it will simply re-launch itself 5 minutes later. It will then attempt to connect to your PC Activesync connection every 5 minutes by default, again even though your Axim is not docked. It does this no matter what you do. You could be in the middle of a critical Axim gaming moment on a processor intensive 3D game where all your memory counts, and suddenly everything becomes choppy and bang, you crash and burn... Activesync is eating your memory. Or your Axim could be on standby and Activesync will load and bring your Axim out of standby... How annoying! And what is worse, by default there is no option to stop it behaving in this odd manner.
Activesync - Microsoft's crazy logic
Nothing is more important to Activesync than synchronising your data... The only thing that ever goes through Activesync's tiny little program loop are the words "Must Sync, Must Sync, Must Sync". In Commodore 64 Basic (which it may well be written in) it's source code would look like this:
10 Print "Must Sync"
20 goto 10
Ok, now that we know Activesync is trying to sync constantly, why is this causing so many power-related problems? The answer is nobody knows for sure. We can only surmise that Activesync launching itself while your Axim is on standby is causing some kind of software error that means it will not switch on from standby. If it's in this state and you plug it into it's PC docking station you will most likely also see a WSOD (White Screen Of Death). Activesync switching your Axim on while unattended may also be the cause of WiFi suddenly coming to life, battery discharging itself overnight and finding your Axim very hot when picking up to use.
The all important Solution
This 'server trick' was discovered by another Aximsite forum member known as Invid a little while ago. This information is courtesy of him originally, and copied many times throughout the Aximsite forum, but I am re-writing in easy to follow laymans terms to hopefully make this a sticky, and stop the multiple posting regarding the same old problems. Here we go!
1. Turn on your Axim
2. Go to Start > Programs > Activesync. This will open the Activesync program.
3. Tap Menu at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. This will bring up the Options Menu. Notice the option Schedule... is greyed out? This is the all-critical option we need to get access to. But as it's disabled we can't change Activesync's default synchronisation schedule.
Ok, so how do we enable the Schedule option? Easy!!! Fool Activesync into thinking there is an Exchange Server to sync with:
1. From Activesync's Menu tap on Add Server Source.
2. In the following screens you can enter any old garbage. It does not matter, but just in case your unsure, just type the following in the indicated boxes:
Server Address: fake Tap Next
User name: fake
Password: fake
Domain: fake
(Ticking save password or going into the Advanced menu makes no difference, so no need to bother). Tap Next
Untick all of the 'Data you want to synchronise' options Tap Finish
3. Ok, we're done creating the server. You should now see in Activesync's main screen your normal Activesync connection(s), and a new connection called Exchange Server.
4. Go back into the Menu, and lo and behold the Schedule option is now enabled! Go ahead and tap it!
5. You will see that both options in the Schedule screen are set to Every 5 Minutes (A01 Rom), or Every 10 Minutes (A06 Rom). This simply will not do! ( * Advanced users - please see my note below * )
6. Using the drop downs, change both the Peak times and Off-peak times boxes to Manually.
7. Press the OK button at the top right of the screen.
Congratulations! Activesync is now gagged from opening on it's own and ruining your life! Your work is not done just yet though - time to clean up and get rid of the now unwanted fake Exchange Server.
1. Go back into Activesync's Menu, then Tap Options.
2. Highlight Exchange Server, then tap Delete. A warning message will appear about removing files etc, but as you have no files associated with the fake Exchange Server, it's nothing to worry about - just tap Ok.
3. The list will now only show your remaining PC Sync connection(s). Obviously do not delete these!
So there you go, your Axim will now be happy to lead a normal and fulfilling life serving your organisational needs.
You may now put your Axim on Standby safe in the knowledge it will turn back on when you need it to. You can be sure that your CF and SD cards are no longer going to go walkabout. You can be safe in the knowledge that your battery should no longer lose it's charge. Etc etc.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you.
* Advanced users: The fact that the default Sync times have been changed by Dell on each of the new ROMs indicates they know Activesync is the cause of the problems... *
Additional info added 16/05/2006, thanks to Terryvi for this: After you sync your Axim with a PC and have removed it from the dock, you must manually close ActiveSync on your Axim or it will remain running and defeat the purpose of the fake exchange server hack (n.b. if you are not using a 3rd party program that will close apps permanently e.g. Magic Button or Wisbar, you will need to go to Start > Settings > System > Memory > Running Programs and Stop it manually). This could be why some people have had no luck with the hack.
Does Activesync 4.5 need this also, or has it fixed up the problem?
got my x51v a couple of weeks ago
shipped w/ ROM A12
it doesn't seem to have this problem so far
"stand by" for 4, 5 days (barely used tho)
however
car charger is a must when running tomtom :/
This is not just a problem with Axims. I have a new Treo 700wx (running WM5)sitting in its own dock right next to my "old" Axim X5 (running PPC 2003 in its shiny silver dock; both connected via USB.) I found if the Treo was plugged in, it would "wake up" every 5 minutes and sync. I do not have this problem on the X5! The FST on the Treo did not work. I tried registry hacks, unloading AS (via ActiveSync Toggle), everything. The only thing, software-wise, that works is to disable the USB connection in AS 4.5 (on the Windows PC desktop.) That absolutely works. The other thing that works is to go into Network Connections (also on the PC) and diable the network connection to the WM5 device (Treo, in my case.) That last trick, and the fact that this doesn't happen on the PPC2003 (X5) device, has got me thinking that the problem might be with WM5's creation of a true network connection in Windows. WM5 sets up the device in Windows with a real IP address, a real network interface, protocols, etc...it looks just like another network card (Ethernet, WiFi, etc) to Windows! Hmmm. Something to ponder. In the meantime, disabling/reenabling USB connection inside AS is what I'm doing.
-ddw
Any web browser that will let you see youtube/google videos IE sucks or maybe I haven't set it up right. Have had my axim for a while upgraded to ao12 sucked back at ao6. clues help link me in the right direction
This has been a very informative thread! I did read through all pages before posting, so if I missed this somewhere please forgive me...
I have been dealing with Dell for the past couple of days about the not-powering-on issue. First they offered me a Dell credit, and I balked (since I couldn't even get another one for the same amount). Then they started giving me the runaround about how a battery wasn't covered and yadda yadda, but end result is that I am currently waiting on a replacement (sans battery) to show up to test with. I found this post and this definitely sounds like it is the issue!
My question after all that is this: are any of you experiencing the power issues users who have never connected the Axim to your PC at all? Mine was barely used (and is more of a reference point for my contacts, etc.) so I never noticed battery drain or white screen issues before this problem. Also, how are you getting the Axim on to do this fix when it won't turn on? (I have the 51v also - don't remember the other specs atm.)
This has been a very informative thread! I did read through all pages before posting, so if I missed this somewhere please forgive me...
I have been dealing with Dell for the past couple of days about the not-powering-on issue. First they offered me a Dell credit, and I balked (since I couldn't even get another one for the same amount). Then they started giving me the runaround about how a battery wasn't covered and yadda yadda, but end result is that I am currently waiting on a replacement (sans battery) to show up to test with. I found this post and this definitely sounds like it is the issue!
My question after all that is this: are any of you experiencing the power issues users who have never connected the Axim to your PC at all? Mine was barely used (and is more of a reference point for my contacts, etc.) so I never noticed battery drain or white screen issues before this problem. Also, how are you getting the Axim on to do this fix when it won't turn on? (I have the 51v also - don't remember the other specs atm.)
Thanks in advance!
i just had the issue where the axim will not turn on after going into standby... compeltely didnt think to come to the site to see if anyone else has had it.
to get my axim back on, i took out the battery for a few seconds, threw it back, and it worked fine
the issue did come up after syncing, however i had synced before many times, and never had an issue. But this time, i may have left it on the dock much longer than ever before, not sure if that would have made a difference
When i get home, i'm going to go through this thread in detail, and get the fix applied.
I was just walking down the hall, and thought "Gee, my pocket is getting hot!". I pulled out the Axim and it was indeed hot; backlight off, calendar showing, but hung. A while earlier, I had popped out the SD card, popped it back in, which seems to turn on the Axim. I turned it off -- or so I thought. Apparently, this turned off the backlight and hung the unit. Not sure this has anything to do with the ActiveStink issue, though; could be an entirely new flavor of defectivity...
There are SOME that feel that A12 fixes the need to use the fake server trick...
I've also experienced simular problems as described in this thread:
1. LARGE Battery drain
#1 The fake server tweek/hack seems to help, but there are other programs as well that will cause the Axim to wake up and drain the battery:
- I ALWAYS turn OFF WiFi/Bluetooth before putting my Axim into STANDBY
There may be a webpage, application and/or the wireless driver itself wanting to talk to your access point will wake the Axim up and drain the battery.
- Yahoo GO! is a cool program for Yahoo users, however it is set to "sync" with Yahoo "on demand" by default... and will wake the Axim up and drain the battery.
Changing the default settings to 'once a hour' in Yahoo Connections seems to help.
- If your Axim is waking up for WHATEVER reason, do you have it set to automaticly turn off??
If your like me, I HATE the automatic SLEEP on my WM devices. It always seems to kick in right before I remember that I have my Axim turned on and want to enter or look at something.
So when I'm using my Axim, I normally have AUTO POWER OFF on BATTERY turned off. CHANGING this to be ENABLED (30sec-2min seems to work) will ensure that if your Axim DOES turn on, it will automaticly turn back OFF eventually, saving the battery.
I also make sure that the BACKLIGHT is set for 30sec-1min....
- The kill all, fix all for MY Axim is to COMPLETELY POWER IT OFF when not in use. It won't wake back up for NOTHING other then the power button.
This ALWAYS works, however defeats the purpose of having a 'instant on' device.
#2 Does your Axim require the removal reinstall of the battery to wake up sometimes?
- From what I can tell, the primary cause of this is the use of the KEY LOCK on the top LEFT SIDE of the Axim.
If the Axim auto powers on/off while the keylock is ENGAGED, you may have to remove/reinstall the battery to get the Axim to power back up. It seems that the power cycle LOCKS the keylock in a state where it can't be cleared without the battery removal.
I ether A) make sure that nothing is going to wake my Axim up or B) Power my Axim off completely and don't use the keylock at all.
Using the techniques above, I've been able to leave my Axim in standby mode" on my night stand for +1 week, turning it on nightly, enabling wifi, checking my email and then disabling wifi and placing it back into standby with very little power drain.
__________________
[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=Blue] - Mark0 (The Technologist)
I've tried activesync trick and also replacing serial.dll -> elserial.dll + registry reference correction, but it didn't help: my CF card keeps disappearing after ~20 mins of work. What do I do?
Btw, this CF card worked recently without any problem on ASUS A620. Also I haven't met any problems with it when using with cardreader on my desktop.
I got my PDA in November of last year. Shortly after, I had a reminder set and my PDA got extremely HOT and the battery drained down like it couldn't get rid of it's charge fast enough. At that point, I decided to never set reminders again- no big deal.
Then I came across this thread yesterday and thought I'd try it. Got it set up correctly and verified that AS didn't come back on (after disabling AS via iLauncher when I disconnected it from my pc) with my PDA undocked and on battery power within 5 minutes as it had done before- so far, so good. Then I set an appointment with a reminder. I then purposely let the time pass for the reminder to alert me while my PDA was in standby. I turned it on about 2 hours after the reminder was set to remind me and then my x51v started to heat up and battery charge dropped like a rock. It never got hot in my pocket, but only did so after turning it on. AS was still off after being in standby for several hours, so that wasn't the problem, although I do like the fact I can turn it off now and have it remain off until docked again. I'm the type that likes to run my stuff lean and mean- the less things running in the background, the better.
Lesson learned? NEVER set a reminder again!! My watch does a better job of that anyway.
__________________
Kurt B To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and am experiencing the not turning on issue.
Me and my girlfriend have both an Axim X51v. I use it heavily since I bought it. She doesn't. After having been using it during the last week, today it didnīt want to turn on. We hadnīt done a hard reset, 'cause she has data logged and stored in Main Memory (I guess) and not in the SD card. She's worried about these data, and we try to solve the situation.
We can not apply the Exchange server trick because we are not able to turn the unit on to change any AS settings.
I followed the directions in my own PDA, to learn how we have to do in hers, but we still have to turn on the Axim. Any suggestion?
I have checked her PDA's batteries, craddle, SD card with my PDA, and tried her PDA in my craddle, with my batts, SD. Soft reset and no-batt turn ons have been also tried. No success.
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Thanks for the Tip!
Fake Server Trick
Web browser with wm5 on 51v
