Cannot Explore Device from Desktop PC (PPC4.20.1081, Oct 2003)

My "desktop" system is a 2006 laptop (http://www.uniwill.com/products/mobi...0.php?HL=3&M=3 Uniwill 223ei0), Pentium M760 (2.00GHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, Windows XP Pro Multilingual (US-installed).

My current Windows PDA (my 2nd one) is an http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...product=425744 HP iPaq h2215 bought Oct 2003: Microsoft® Pocket PC 4.20.1081 (Build 13100), 2GB card in SD slot, 16GB in CF slot. It has no WiFi, so I used to connect it to my "desktop PC" (actually my laptop) through USB, and sync it through ActiveSync 3.8.0 Build 5004 (I tried various newer versions and invariably had to revert to 3.8).

When, on the desktop, I go in ActiveSync and click the "Explore" button, it normally opens (on the Desktop) a Windows Explorer window, showing the inside of the Mobile Device, which lets me drag files between Desktop and Mobile.

That "Explore" function (and the web surfing from the PDA using Pocket IE and the connection through the Desktop) stopped working a few years ago, I don't remember after what. I gave up curing them, and used my PDA only offline and only synced Contacts (though ActiveSync) and AvantGo (directly from AvantGo since MS rendered syncing AG through ActiveSync nearly useless); the few other transfers, I did them by carrying one of the 2 memory cards from Desktop to Mobile and back.

Unfortunately AvantGo ceased operations on 30 June 2009. Which caused me to stop using the PDA for a few days. Which in turn caused the battery to run out of juice, and the PDA lost all its contents (Apparently the battery, excellent in first years, has now lost some of its quality over years. And the "Backup battery" is of no use: it is so small that it dies much too quickly).

Sure I can resume all my transfers through CF card, but I would like to restore the "Explore" function, and perhaps also the Internet Explorer. Anyone can help this? TIA,

Versailles, Sat 01 Aug 2009 15:25:50 +0200

Hi Michel,

Are you saying that clicking "Explore" doesn't open the Explorer window? If
yes, see if this helps - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836152

About pass through settings have you tried checking the settings under File
> Connection settings? Additionally check for #24 on
http://www.pocketpcfaq.com/faqs/acti...shoot-as4x.htm

--
Regards,
Raj Pillai
Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices
http://www.pocketpcfaq.com/raj



"Michel Merlin" <> wrote in message
news:...
My "desktop" system is a 2006 laptop
(http://www.uniwill.com/products/mobi...0.php?HL=3&M=3 Uniwill
223ei0), Pentium M760 (2.00GHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, Windows XP Pro
Multilingual (US-installed).

My current Windows PDA (my 2nd one) is an
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...product=425744
HP iPaq h2215 bought Oct 2003: Microsoft® Pocket PC 4.20.1081 (Build 13100),
2GB card in SD slot, 16GB in CF slot. It has no WiFi, so I used to connect
it to my "desktop PC" (actually my laptop) through USB, and sync it through
ActiveSync 3.8.0 Build 5004 (I tried various newer versions and invariably
had to revert to 3.8).

When, on the desktop, I go in ActiveSync and click the "Explore" button, it
normally opens (on the Desktop) a Windows Explorer window, showing the
inside of the Mobile Device, which lets me drag files between Desktop and
Mobile.

That "Explore" function (and the web surfing from the PDA using Pocket IE
and the connection through the Desktop) stopped working a few years ago, I
don't remember after what. I gave up curing them, and used my PDA only
offline and only synced Contacts (though ActiveSync) and AvantGo (directly
from AvantGo since MS rendered syncing AG through ActiveSync nearly
useless); the few other transfers, I did them by carrying one of the 2
memory cards from Desktop to Mobile and back.

Unfortunately AvantGo ceased operations on 30 June 2009. Which caused me to
stop using the PDA for a few days. Which in turn caused the battery to run
out of juice, and the PDA lost all its contents (Apparently the battery,
excellent in first years, has now lost some of its quality over years. And
the "Backup battery" is of no use: it is so small that it dies much too
quickly).

Sure I can resume all my transfers through CF card, but I would like to
restore the "Explore" function, and perhaps also the Internet Explorer.
Anyone can help this? TIA,

Versailles, Sat 01 Aug 2009 15:25:50 +0200

Thx "Raj Pillai". Applying:

1) kb/836152, § "Resolution":
Created a file, named "Explore_Device.reg", with contents as told:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved]
"{49BF5420-FA7F-11cf-8011-00A0C90A8F78}"="Mobile Device"

Executed it, accepted, opened the Registry and verified the intended REG_SZ (fixed-length text string) is duly present, with the intended value, "Mobile Device".

Disconnected the PDA, soft-res it, closed ActiveSync on the Desktop, reconnected and restarted both.

In ActiveSync, clicking "Explore" still fails to open the device in Windows Explorer (just sends a short to the AS window, but nothing else).

Opening a separate Windows Explorer window, clicking "Mobile Device" still can't even select it, and of course does nothing else. Right-Clicking it offers "Explore" and "Open" but neither does anything.

2) In "Desktop > ActiveSync > File > Connection Settings", finding the wordings vague and ambiguous, I always was reluctant to change anything - and didn't change any today. What I have there is:

2a)) |_| (cleared) Allow serial cable or infrared connection to this COM port. (Drop-down list shows "COM3", all greyed). Status: COM port is not available

If I check that option, the drop-down list shows no other item than "COM3" (yet in "Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Device Manager" I have no more a "Port" entry as was standard in older Windows). I continue, AS tells me to reconnect the device, which I do; AS closes its windows, reopens, reconnects, but no avail, no change, no fix

2b)) |_| (cleared) Allow USB connection with this desktop computer. Status: Connected
2c)) |V| (checked) Allow network (Ethernet) and Remote Access Service (RAS) server connection with this desktop computer. Status: Network is available
2d)) |V| (checked) Show status icon in Taskbar

3) Herrera "ActiveSync 4.x Troubleshooting Guide - General", §24 says:

« If you are using ActiveSync 4.2 and have a problem with Desktop Pass-through it may be caused by a Layered Service Provider (LSP) that use the Windows TCP/IP stack. This has been known to occur with ISA Server. The registry file http://www.pocketpcfaq.com/faqs/activesync/LSPvalue.reg "LSPValue.reg" will reverse this setting. Microsoft and the Pocket PC OEM does not support users that edit the registry. »

Despite I run AS3.8 (not AS4.2) I did execute that Registry change (by hand, not by executing the REG file):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows CE Services]
"AllowLSP"=dword:00000000

But still no avail: same tries and (absence of) results as in §1 or §2a above.

Versailles, Sun 02 Aug 2009 17:10:20 +0200


----- Newsgroup ("news" links are clickable in OE) -----
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...tpc.activesync
----- Thread -----
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...73a01a52a5fd1a


----- Parent Message ("news" links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "Raj Pillai" <>
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/OhNvA%23...TNGP02.phx.gbl
Sent: Sat 01 Aug 2009 19:28:43 GMT

....
1) Are you saying that clicking "Explore" doesn't open the Explorer window? If yes, see if this helps - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836152
2) About pass through settings have you tried checking the settings under File > Connection settings?
3) Additionally check for #24 on http://www.pocketpcfaq.com/faqs/acti...shoot-as4x.htm
....


----- Parent Message ("news" links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "Michel Merlin" <>
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/Oh72XuqE...TNGP05.phx.gbl
Sent: Sat 01 Aug 2009 13:25:50 GMT
Subject: Cannot Explore Device from Desktop PC (PPC4.20.1081, Oct 2003)

....
When, on the desktop, I go in ActiveSync and click the "Explore" button, it normally opens (on the Desktop) a Windows Explorer window, showing the inside of the Mobile Device, which lets me drag files between Desktop and Mobile.

That "Explore" function (and the web surfing from the PDA using Pocket IE and the connection through the Desktop) stopped working...
....

Sorry, didn't re-read carefully enough before posting, here are 2 corrections:

....
In ActiveSync, clicking "Explore" still fails ... (just sends a short shaking to the AS window, but nothing else).
....

2) In "Desktop > ActiveSync ...", ...and didn't change any until today...

Thx again Raj for your reply. Will try if you have other ideas.

Versailles, Sun 02 Aug 2009 17:40:45 +0200