ActiveSync 3.8 keeps switching back to server sync

Hi,

I'm using ActiveSync 3.8.0 build 5004. I'm connecting it to an HP 4155 via
USB cable.

Everything was working fine as long as I was logged on to the local
workstation as a user with administrator rights. Finally I heeded the
Microsoft warnings and switched to a non-admin user (though one that has
Power User privileges on the local machine).

I do have a Small Business Server 2003 with Exchange, but since I never
could get server sync working (long story), I only sync to my local
workstation.

Now I have this problem: ActiveSync keeps reverting to server sync for
Calendar, Contacts, and Inbox. The server sync fails, which means I get _no_
Calendar, Contacts, or Inbox on the PDA.

So I went to Tools | Options on the workstation, unchecked Server sync, and
checked that it should get Contacts etc. from the local workstation. As soon
as I close that dialog, everything syncs beautifully and my PDA once again
has all my Contacts etc.

However, when I disconnect and reconnect the PDA, the first thing that
ActiveSync does is display a windows with a progress bar that says "Please
wait while connection settings are transferred to your mobile device." Once
that completes, the sync commences. Except that it's looking for the server
again, which fails, and wipes all my Contacts off my PDA.

I deleted the partnership and created a new one. During the setup wizard, it
asked me if I wanted to sync with a server AND workstation, or just the
workstation. I said just the workstation. There was a message about how
since the device was configured to sync with a server, I would have to
complete a sync before I could sync with the workstation. I said OK to that.
After completion, I got one good sync, but then after a
disconnect/reconnect, it reverted to forcing a server sync.

I'm seeing the same behavior on my MPx220 cell phone, by the way.

So...any idea how to make the sync settings "sticky" even when you're logged
on as a "normal" user (which, according to Microsoft, everyone should be)?
Is that even my problem, or is some little SBS applet re-configuring my
device every time I connect? Do I need to uninstall ActiveSync entirely as
an administrator and install it as a non-administrator? Is that even
possible?

Thanks very much for any advice.

Mark Berry

Well I just upgraded my MPx220 to the latest Motorola firmware. This
conveniently wiped out the partnership with the PC. After I re-established
the partnership, ActiveSync no longer tries to set it back to server sync.

Wait a minute, now it's working right on the PDA as well. The only other
things I did were log off the non-admin user, log on as an admin to do the
Motorola install, and run a GPUDATE /FORCE to retrieve an updated group
policy from the server (related to automated certificate renewal). Then I
logged back on as the non-admin user and all is well with the world.

Not knowing how you fixed a problem is almost worse than having the problem
in the first place! Any idea what was causing this?

Thanks,

Mark Berry