ActiveSync 4.1/4.2 and WM 5.0 Cannot Sync w/USB Cable

First let me say that I have spent about 15 hours on this problem and have
tried every solution I could find on the net. The USB connection worked once
and then all of a sudden stopped syncing. I can sync via infrared, but file
transfer is dead slow. I have not yet done a hard-reset, thats my last
resort and many people on the internet with the same problems have said a
hard-reset did not solve the issue.

Some background, my system:
HP Ipaq RX1950 PDA w/ latest WM 5.0 ROM
Win XP Pro
Windows Firewall
Spybot Resident
AVG anti-virus

What happens:
The system recognizes the pda as a network adapter/local area
connection/Windows Mobile based Device and aquires an IP of

169.254.2.2/255.255.255.0..... ActiveSync green swirl spins continuously in
4.1 and timesout in 4.2. No sync either way.

What have I tried:
Adding Activesync processes to Windows Firewall exceptions.
Adding tcp and udp ports to Windows Firewall exceptions.
Adding AS processes to AVG exceptions and shutting down spybot resident.
Adding tcp and udp ports to Windows Firewall exceptions.
Installing AS 4.1 and 4.2 while Windows Firewall was off.
Carefully uninstalled previous AS versions before installing new version.
Two different USB cables.
Many soft resets and many, many combinations of other solutions on the net
and the above.

HP released an ActiveSync switch in April 06 that allows the user to change
the connection type of the PDA either as a RNDIS Sync Mode or USB Serial
Sync Mode. My guess is they were reacting to everyone out there with these
issues. I've tried connecting to AS using both modes. Both are recognized by
windows and they do show up in the Device Manager List. One under network
adapters and one under USB Mobile Devices, respectively. In the USB Serial
Sync Mode, the AS swirl never turns green and of course, no sync.

The computer seems to be seeing the PDA, but AS is not talking to the PDA.
Everyone seems to be blaming the Firewall, but unless there are some hidden
settings with Windows Firewall, I cannot see how this could be an issue if I
keep the thing off.I'm seriously thinking of returning back to 2003SE on a
new PDA or moving over to a Palm PDA unless Microsoft can fix this issue.
I'm tired of spending time on this, and I'm a geek! Imagine what non-geeks
are feeling right now.Any help would be nice.
Thanks,

On Fri, 26 May 2006 21:30:59 -0700, "David" <> wrote:

>First let me say that I have spent about 15 hours on this problem and have
>tried every solution I could find on the net. The USB connection worked once
>and then all of a sudden stopped syncing. I can sync via infrared, but file
>transfer is dead slow. I have not yet done a hard-reset, thats my last
>resort and many people on the internet with the same problems have said a
>hard-reset did not solve the issue.
>
>Some background, my system:
>HP Ipaq RX1950 PDA w/ latest WM 5.0 ROM
>Win XP Pro
>Windows Firewall
>Spybot Resident
>AVG anti-virus
>
>What happens:
>The system recognizes the pda as a network adapter/local area
>connection/Windows Mobile based Device and aquires an IP of
>
>169.254.2.2/255.255.255.0..... ActiveSync green swirl spins continuously in
>4.1 and timesout in 4.2. No sync either way.
>
>What have I tried:
>Adding Activesync processes to Windows Firewall exceptions.
>Adding tcp and udp ports to Windows Firewall exceptions.
>Adding AS processes to AVG exceptions and shutting down spybot resident.
>Adding tcp and udp ports to Windows Firewall exceptions.
>Installing AS 4.1 and 4.2 while Windows Firewall was off.
>Carefully uninstalled previous AS versions before installing new version.
>Two different USB cables.
>Many soft resets and many, many combinations of other solutions on the net
>and the above.

Are you running any VPN software? Are you plugging the USB cable
directly into the computer? Does the device show up in Device Manager
when connected, and if so have you tried deleting the device?

--
Rob Borek
Want *ONE ON ONE* support? http://www.pocketpcone2one.com
Please place all replies into the newsgroup so that others can benefit.

I've clocked in about 4-5 hours myself. Did you ever get it resolved? My
PPC 6700 syncs to exchange (wifi or EVDO, not sure, but magic it works) but
won't connect to my tablet pc using activesync. Disabled everything possible
and can transfer files to the pda from the pc like it is a drive, but
activesync just plain ignores it.

"David" wrote:

> First let me say that I have spent about 15 hours on this problem and have
> tried every solution I could find on the net. The USB connection worked once
> and then all of a sudden stopped syncing. I can sync via infrared, but file
> transfer is dead slow. I have not yet done a hard-reset, thats my last
> resort and many people on the internet with the same problems have said a
> hard-reset did not solve the issue.
>
> Some background, my system:
> HP Ipaq RX1950 PDA w/ latest WM 5.0 ROM
> Win XP Pro
> Windows Firewall
> Spybot Resident
> AVG anti-virus
>
> What happens:
> The system recognizes the pda as a network adapter/local area
> connection/Windows Mobile based Device and aquires an IP of
>
> 169.254.2.2/255.255.255.0..... ActiveSync green swirl spins continuously in
> 4.1 and timesout in 4.2. No sync either way.
>
> What have I tried:
> Adding Activesync processes to Windows Firewall exceptions.
> Adding tcp and udp ports to Windows Firewall exceptions.
> Adding AS processes to AVG exceptions and shutting down spybot resident.
> Adding tcp and udp ports to Windows Firewall exceptions.
> Installing AS 4.1 and 4.2 while Windows Firewall was off.
> Carefully uninstalled previous AS versions before installing new version.
> Two different USB cables.
> Many soft resets and many, many combinations of other solutions on the net
> and the above.
>
> HP released an ActiveSync switch in April 06 that allows the user to change
> the connection type of the PDA either as a RNDIS Sync Mode or USB Serial
> Sync Mode. My guess is they were reacting to everyone out there with these
> issues. I've tried connecting to AS using both modes. Both are recognized by
> windows and they do show up in the Device Manager List. One under network
> adapters and one under USB Mobile Devices, respectively. In the USB Serial
> Sync Mode, the AS swirl never turns green and of course, no sync.
>
> The computer seems to be seeing the PDA, but AS is not talking to the PDA.
> Everyone seems to be blaming the Firewall, but unless there are some hidden
> settings with Windows Firewall, I cannot see how this could be an issue if I
> keep the thing off.I'm seriously thinking of returning back to 2003SE on a
> new PDA or moving over to a Palm PDA unless Microsoft can fix this issue.
> I'm tired of spending time on this, and I'm a geek! Imagine what non-geeks
> are feeling right now.Any help would be nice.
> Thanks,
>
>
>
>

No VPN.
Direct USB, no hubs.
Yes, it shows up in Device Manager list. And yes, I was sure to delete the
listing to force windows to look for the device.

My solution so far:
OK, I was waiting on a SD card I ordered, came in the mail today. I needed
an efficient way to backup my data before I hard reset. Infrared was too
slow.
A hard reset seems to have worked and allowed AS to see my PDA and it
connected right away. I say "seems" because it was syncing before in this
same "from the factory" state. But now I still have all those ports and
processes in the AS exceptions window and the firewall is on.
My next step is to reload all the software. I'll let you know if any of them
causes a problem.

PS: I read somewhere that a Windows Critical Update may have caused this
issue in the first place. A hard reset may be required.



"David" <> wrote in message
news:...
> First let me say that I have spent about 15 hours on this problem and have
> tried every solution I could find on the net. The USB connection worked
> once and then all of a sudden stopped syncing. I can sync via infrared,
> but file transfer is dead slow. I have not yet done a hard-reset, thats my
> last resort and many people on the internet with the same problems have
> said a hard-reset did not solve the issue.
>
> Some background, my system:
> HP Ipaq RX1950 PDA w/ latest WM 5.0 ROM
> Win XP Pro
> Windows Firewall
> Spybot Resident
> AVG anti-virus
>
> What happens:
> The system recognizes the pda as a network adapter/local area
> connection/Windows Mobile based Device and aquires an IP of
>
> 169.254.2.2/255.255.255.0..... ActiveSync green swirl spins continuously
> in 4.1 and timesout in 4.2. No sync either way.
>
> What have I tried:
> Adding Activesync processes to Windows Firewall exceptions.
> Adding tcp and udp ports to Windows Firewall exceptions.
> Adding AS processes to AVG exceptions and shutting down spybot resident.
> Adding tcp and udp ports to Windows Firewall exceptions.
> Installing AS 4.1 and 4.2 while Windows Firewall was off.
> Carefully uninstalled previous AS versions before installing new version.
> Two different USB cables.
> Many soft resets and many, many combinations of other solutions on the net
> and the above.
>
> HP released an ActiveSync switch in April 06 that allows the user to
> change the connection type of the PDA either as a RNDIS Sync Mode or USB
> Serial Sync Mode. My guess is they were reacting to everyone out there
> with these issues. I've tried connecting to AS using both modes. Both are
> recognized by windows and they do show up in the Device Manager List. One
> under network adapters and one under USB Mobile Devices, respectively. In
> the USB Serial Sync Mode, the AS swirl never turns green and of course, no
> sync.
>
> The computer seems to be seeing the PDA, but AS is not talking to the PDA.
> Everyone seems to be blaming the Firewall, but unless there are some
> hidden settings with Windows Firewall, I cannot see how this could be an
> issue if I keep the thing off.I'm seriously thinking of returning back to
> 2003SE on a new PDA or moving over to a Palm PDA unless Microsoft can fix
> this issue. I'm tired of spending time on this, and I'm a geek! Imagine
> what non-geeks are feeling right now.Any help would be nice.
> Thanks,
>
>
>

I don't know if you've already found this but there's an app out there called
USBKiller which you install on your WM device and it lets you choose between
Serial USB or NDIS ActiveSync mode. I tried everything in every post I could
find to do with registry, protocols, etc and none of them worked for me. This
did the trick.

I know it's not a fix, but I reckon there'll be flying cars and moon
settlements before we get a quick response from MS on a problem they have
clearly caused themselves.

http://www.smartphonefrance.info/actu.asp?ID=3492
(It's in French, by the way, but you don't need any instructions)