Database Info

Office Re-install - (ActiveSync Question!)

Hi
I have a complex situation, that probably has a very simple answer. I am probably being paranoid, but hopefully someone knowledgeable about ActiveSync will be able to quickly sort me out.
My laptop was recently repaired, (with a replacement motherboard fitted). When I got it back, Windows XP & Office XP of course both asked to be re-activated.
Windows succeeded, however Office asks me to insert the Office CD to be able to activate. When I do this the activation notification disappears, but Office is left in Reduced Functionality mode (eg I never get to the phone Microsoft to activate bit!)
Unfortunately, my phone is now 6 weeks out of date with Syncing (also due to the laptop being in repair!). I haven't run an ActiveSync since I got the laptop back as I have been worried about running an ActiveSync whilst Outlook is in reduced functionality mode. I was concerned it might lose data (as most Outlook features become read only!), so I have kept them out of sync (and getting more so daily) until I know the best way to proceed.
So, I need to either fix Office re-activating, (which doesn't seem possible) OR to find out how to get ActiveSync to work, with an Office re-install from scratch, without losing or duplicating any of my data. I just don't know enough about ActiveSync to know if it will just work without a problem, or if I need to do things in a certain order.
The current thinking is that I will have to manually remove Office XP (as the uninstall process also doesn't work!), before reinstalling it again, and re-activating the new copy.
So lots of possible paths to the solution, but I'm not sure which order to proceed in.
I ultimately want Office re-activated and fully working again and want the phone fully synced and no lost or duplicate data in either the phone or Outlook.
So some direct questions:
Can the phone Sync with Outlook in Reduced Functionality mode? (or might I lose data?). It seems that if they are synced before I uninstall Outlook, then everything becomes a lot simpler.
Failing that....
What will happen if I forceably remove Office by a manual uninstall. When I re-install Office and put in the my PST files, will ActiveSync cope OK, just pick up where it left off, and happily cope with the data currently being out of Sync? (might I get missing or duplicate data?)
What would be the suggested method to achieve my end result with minimum grief and hassle? And which order should I take these steps?
Thanks for reading this far.
Details:
Windows XP; Office XP Pro (the Product key is valid, I just can't get the software to get far enough to the actual activation screen);
Activesync 4.1; XDA Mini-S;
Mike

If you have a backup program for your phone just make a backup to your memory card. You will now always have a copy of where you are today. Set your active sync in your phone (activesync, menu, options, select your computer, settings) to 'keep the item on your device' and sync away. The worst that could happen is you may have to restore your phone to where it was today when you made the backup. Most likely all will go well and you'll sync up normally. My outlook information on my computer was accidentally erased and fully restored this way. Made my day!

I've always treated active-sync as my backup of the phone, and I am quickly realising why this a foolish approach to have taken!
Your advice seems to be spot on and is what I will do. However, as I don't currently have a backup program for my phone, which would you recommend? I guess it needs to be something that I can install without Active-Sync?
I suspect that a backup to the memory card is a better plan than running an activesync with a new computer (temporarily) as a means of backup - is that right?
Thanks for your help.
Mike

Try putting the office cd in while the PC is booting, so that when it asks, it's already there, which it may or may not detect?
Also, you could do set-up an account on http://live.mail2web.com to sync your contacts, calendar etc too, but you will lose any mail on there. Hopefully this isn't something you are desperate to keep though?

When I to do a "detect & repair" of Office, it actually says "source not available", but it doesn't give that info when I try to re-activate with the CD. However it doesn't give me an option to find the source. I've tried leaving the CD in when booting up, but sadly it made no difference. Certainly if I can just get Office to re-activate without any un-installing then there are no other problems, however that is looking increasingly unlikely. I do have one suggestion to follow there, which is to remove various registry entries before doing another "detect & repair", which might sort itself out.
Failing that I am on a backup PDA, then mannual removal route.
I will look into http://live.mail2web.com and see what it can offer me by way of a backup.
Thanks for your help.
Mike

Final update.
Thanks everyone for your help. I have finally got it all sorted. It turns
out I probably WAS being overly paranoid (but better that, than losing all my
data because I didn't think first!).
What I did:
1) I got a trial copy of SPB Backup for my Phone. (you get 5 runs of the
program before you have to buy - but I will be buying it anyway as I am very
impressed with it). The big advantage of this program is that it can be
installed directly on the storage card which some others can't. It could even
be downloaded as a CAB file (directly in Pocket Internet Explorer) and
executed on the device directly without needing an ActiveSync install. This
was the clincher for me, as I needed to take a backup before running
ActiveSync.
2) Took backups of the phone with SPB and of the PST files from Outlook.
3) Tried an ActiveSync with Outlook in reduced functionality mode. It worked
mostly fine. Came up with some "support code 1" errors for a handful of
contacts, but nothing major. So it appears that ActiveSync mostly works fine
with reduced functionality mode (hence I was probably being paranoid for not
trying this sooner!).
4) With the phone & Outlook now back up to date, there was less of an issue
as to what happened next. However I decided to see which bit of the various
instructions solved my problem. I did this by trying them bit by bit, and
testing with re-activation, re-install, detect & repair etc at every stage.
By process of elimination, I found out that removing the program files folder
made no difference, as did deleting the two Office reg key branches. The
crucial part was the Windows Installer Cleanup. So I restored all the reg and
program files back as they were before the tests, and ONLY ran the Windows
Installer Cleanup program.
5) I was then able to re-install Office over the top of itself, and I was
pleased to note that by keeping the files and reg keys all my settings were
retained.
6) Office happily Activated by the Internet. Hurray!
7) Connected to "Microsoft Update" to get SP3 and all subsequent updates &
patches for Office (re-installing over itself loses all the updates
previously installed)
8) Checked my email accounts, rules, etc and ActiveSync are still working
correctly. Which they are!
So, it seems that if I'd had the guts to go for it, I could have JUST done
the Windows Installer Cleanup trick keeping everything else intact ready to
sync. OR equally I could have just run ActiveSync to get the up to date and
them blown Office all away for a complete re-install. As it happens I am VERY
pleased with the route I took and the end outcome. It is far better than my
expectations of the hassles I would face. The hardest part was gathering all
the information to make me happy enough to proceed... oh and finding the
guts! The actual re-install was totally painless.
Anyway, I hope my findings of using JUST Windows Installer Cleanup, help
someone else who wants to try keeping their settings in the future.
I also hope my findings that ActiveSync mostly works in reduced
functionality mode, also helps others.
Anyway, so thank you to everyone who patiently shared their knowledge with
me. Without you all I would have gone into a flat-spin and struggled to get
my head round it all.
Thanks again

Syncing Prolbems Please Helpp!!!

ok so I have a cingular 8125 which i CID unlocked and SIM unlocked. I have the T-mobil 2.26 as a ROM base and was running black dimond 1.0 touch ROM with no syncing prolbems. This past weekend my phone froze and i wasnt able to reset it, so i re flashed my base rom. I then tried to Flash the new dimond 2.0 touch rom and it flashed fine, but when i went to sync it up all it did was say it was syncing. I let it run over night and it was in the same state (saying it was syncing) that i left it in. I tried flashing another custom rom but ended up with the same result. I tried deleting active sync 4.5 and re-installing, and even tried a beta version of 4.5 but nothing has worked. PLease any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advanced.

could be outlook...outlook sometimes acts finicky...
recommendation would be to save your pim information...it's usually in some sort of personal folder, and then reinstall outlook. Move your pim information back and resync.

I had this same problem, but i fixed it.
I had this same problem using Diamond 1.1, so i thought it was the rom, but....Then, I used Octavoi, and I had the same problem, so i figured it was Windows Vista's Device Center (replaces ActiveSync), but... Then I found out that it stilled synced fine on my XP laptop (ActivSync 4.5), so.... i woke up one night and suddenly decided to remove my USB hub that my phone was connected through, and then I directly connected my phone to my computer (which actually gives it a direct undivided power source, it seems). After this, it synced in 4 minutes, and i finally got all my contacts back. Could this possibly be your case as well? That's all i can offer.

nope im this isnt my prolbem. and i cant find that folder that you were talking about on out look either. i tried flashing a bunch of diff roms but all it does is say its syncing and then my comp sends nothing? any more ideas would be greatly appreciated. thanks

martystoked said:
nope im this isnt my prolbem. and i cant find that folder that you were talking about on out look either. i tried flashing a bunch of diff roms but all it does is say its syncing and then my comp sends nothing? any more ideas would be greatly appreciated. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
try to disconnect firewall or antivirus programs.

tried it. i acutally just tried syncing on another computer and it works. any thoughts on why it wont work for my comp, when it did before?? or how to transfer my contacts from one comp to another so i can at least get them on my phone??? thanks guys

martystoked said:
tried it. i acutally just tried syncing on another computer and it works. any thoughts on why it wont work for my comp, when it did before?? or how to transfer my contacts from one comp to another so i can at least get them on my phone??? thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use PIMBackup, it saves and restores that information and more (which you can choose from)... i think it's free, it came with my ROM (Octavaoi 4.5), so u might search for it.

i would uninstall some stuff with your phone unplugged and reboot it then reconnect it and make sure that the usb cord or jack is working

Betcha I had it worse...
I'm a total newb to this stuff. I'm totally blown away by the level you folks are discussing thing at.
I just replaced my Audiovox 6600 with a Cingular 8125 w/WM6. I had to upgrade to Activesync 4.5 and it was going exactly what you describe.
I SPENT OVER 8 HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH THE MICROSOFT "HELP" if you can call it that.
The rapimgr.exe file was getting caught in a loop and hogging all the CPU. The answer was in:
Settings --> Connections --> USB to PC -->: Uncheck the "Enable advanced network funcionality" box
BTW - after the marathon "help" session, I was the one that figured it out.

gwydionjhr said:
I'm a total newb to this stuff. I'm totally blown away by the level you folks are discussing thing at.
I just replaced my Audiovox 6600 with a Cingular 8125 w/WM6. I had to upgrade to Activesync 4.5 and it was going exactly what you describe.
I SPENT OVER 8 HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH THE MICROSOFT "HELP" if you can call it that.
The rapimgr.exe file was getting caught in a loop and hogging all the CPU. The answer was in:
Settings --> Connections --> USB to PC -->: Uncheck the "Enable advanced network funcionality" box
BTW - after the marathon "help" session, I was the one that figured it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok...props to you. First post and it's to help someone else with a well described solution. I hope this solves the person's problem and I'll have to remember to suggest this to folks having activesync issues... so much for "advanced network functionality" huh?

thanks alot... tried to fix this for 2 days. big props to you..

Activesync of Outlook stopped working

For no apparent reason, Activesync (4.5 5096) of Outlook on my TC (standard ROM see below) has stopped working. Outlook email/contacts/diary not getting synced.
After plugging USB in a message says 'Sync cannot be connected succesfully...try again... and run troubleshooting..'. But Activesync/Help/Troubleshooting/Reporting says there is nothing wrong! Indeed, I can still explore TC and card, sync other software (e.g. Media Player, TomTom Home, eWallet etc).
But I can't get in to the ActiveSync/Options menu to check out the relationship. Have soft reset TC, turned off PC firewalls etc, but nothing helps. Little puzzled because it all worked fine for the past 2 months and I wasn't even playing around when it decided not to work!
Any ideas please?
Thanks,
CI
Touch Cruise
ROM vers: 1.25.405.1 WWE
ROM date: 12/11/07
Radion vers: 1.58.21.23
Protocol vers: 25.65.30.04H

had the same problem some time ago. changed the cable and everything was fine.you could also try uninstalling and reinstalling activesync.

Jackster
Thanks. Cable was OK, but uninstall/reinstall of activesync worked. indeed speeded up activesync and fixed a lot of other minor secondary problems while it was at it would recommend it for all every now and then. strikes me that activesync is one of the those bolt-on bits of MS obeseware that needs regular maintenance?

USB Device not recognized
To mark the anniversary of me posting my original message, all of a suddden and for no apparent reason, Activesync has stopped working again. Bizarre
This time its a little different, I don't get anything except a pop message on PC saying 'USB device not recognized: One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it. For assistance click on this message'. Which of course I di and it didn't help!
So, I've tried
- un-installing/re-installing Activesync 4.5
- rebooting PC and TC umpteen times
- changed USB port/cable
- tick/untick Settings/Connections/USB-to-PC/Enable Advanced network functionality
- putting the kettle on
Nothing is working (Although the cup of tea was nice
Would really appreciate some help please
Thanks
CI

Help! Really desperate on this one. I have been trying to think why this should suddenly happen. Two things possible:
- During my last succesful sync I received and answered a call. Would this damage registers or something?
- I accidently pulled the mini-USB headphone cable a bit while listening toi music. But the sound is still perfectly OK, and I receive power charge via USB even though it won't connect/sync. And like I said, I've swapped cables/ports.
I've Googled this a lot and most people fix by fiddling with stuff I have already done and praying!
Please. Anyone got any ideas before I too start praying!
Thanks

1. No, it should not. Never heard it did.
2. AFAIK, not reason as long as it charges trough USB port.
Try to delete device from Active Sync while device is not connected. You might need to restart PC.
You'll have to set options again when device is recognised.
This is what I have to do often.
Also, check device name on device itself, it tends to change from time to time for no apparent reason (at least to me). If it changes, it causes following problems to me:
1. Active Sync troubles
2. BT connection to car audio stops working.
Hope some of this will help...
BTW... you have WM 6.0 on it? If so, don't upgrade to WM 6.1... IMHO, WM 6.0 is faster than 6.1 and has less problems with Active Sync...

Bodisson,
Thanks for suggestions. Alas, none work
It looks like I am going to have to hard reset and/or burn new ROM. For those of us who don't do this regularly, this can be a nerve racking experience. However, I was perhaps sweating too much about it for a couple of reasons:
- it seems very few people have anything good to say about WM6.1. Until now I have been pretty happy with WM6.0 and have had 14 months of virtually trouble-free use, so maybe I'll just stick with that. I'm not a power-user, so the vast array of cooked ROMs is rather bewildering. Unless one is rock solid and aimed at non-power end-users?
- I thought installing a new ROM without Activesync was impossible, but I see someone has worked a way to do it via the SDHC card. Well done XDA
So, unless anyone has some further ideas I will just hard reset to WM6.0 and hope for the best. I have this terrible feeling though that my mini-USB port is damaged and I'll get the same bubble of doom even after hard reset.
Thanks

Either do a hard reset back to factory (and hope you can re sync all your stuff with the PC),
OR
Re flash the rom to C Shekar's "b" rom. It really is very good, and transforms the phone. In fact, it is so good that I have finally stopped fiddling with my phone! (and I'm a born fiddler!)
It is very good, and works immediately, but you might need to spend time tweaking it - the must is to install the correct radio.
I've done quite a lot of rom upgrading, so am quite comfortable now with the process. If you want to do it and need a hand, let me know.

Have you tried to verify your firewall? Last time I had some Sync problems was just after updating my firewall that changed settings to default, blocking the Polaris-PC communication.

Have tried disabling all firewalls with no luck.
I've hit a brick wall on this one, but am fearful it will be hard to get device back to working order again if I do hard-reset and still can't sync
Suggestions very welcome
Thanks
New_Wizard said:
Have you tried to verify your firewall? Last time I had some Sync problems was just after updating my firewall that changed settings to default, blocking the Polaris-PC communication.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

OK, I feel for you on this one!
If you don't want to flash to a new rom (or, re flash to your old one), there is a solution but it involves removing and renaming your Outlook.pst file ... the procedure (which is on this site somewhere) seemed fraught with danger, to me, so i preferred to re flash when i had a similar problem.
Before re flashing, if you decide to, you backup your data using PIMBackup - only your contacts and maybe phone call list, not anything specific to the phone's operating system or software.
Re flash, then restore the data.
Then, Active Sync will see the phone as a completely new system.

ASK: MS Money for Pocket PC (2006) Sync Problems

I am having problems trying to get Microsoft Money for PocketPC 06 to install. By problems i mean, i click the exe to run it, and it just sits their in memory doing nothing. (this is on my pc). At first, i tried copying it over to the device itself and installing it, and it said it "wasnt a valid windows mobile program" or some such crap.
Anyone else ever have any problem with this? how do i get this installed?
(Link to the Money 2006 for Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs)

Have you tried connecting with ActiveSync (Device Center on Vista)?
There are installers which you run on the pc and start installing when the device is connected with ActiveSync.

heliosdev said:
Have you tried connecting with ActiveSync (Device Center on Vista)?
There are installers which you run on the pc and start installing when the device is connected with ActiveSync.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have. The Add/Remove programs area only shows programs which are currently installed on my device. Doesn't show any way for me to add new ones in.
Heres what i have
Mobile Device : HTC Touch Pro 2
Desktop: Win XP pro /Sp3
- ActiveSync 4.5.0
- Microsoft Money 2006

Hmm, just checked this PocketPC software for MS Money and the system requirements. Have a look there maybe you'll find something helpful? (I didn't)

ok i figured out that my computer just needed a reboot. Got it installed. Now their is another issue..
I goes to sync, syncs all my data, but then when it goes to the Money data, it brings up a Progress window and says "reading Device databases" and just sits their on that screen for ever. The Active Syinc sits with its sync Bar as 1/2 way. Ive let it run like this for a good 45 minuets before finally giving up on it. I'm going to let it run all night, see if that does anything.. But i dont think this is normal.
btw, i checked, my money database file is only 3.0 MB in size, so it really shouldn't take that long to transfer.
Any suggestions?

When i first synced money2005 (my file was 12mb, too much info on money lol) it took FOREVER to sync.......
I disconnected it, resynced and left it, it did eventually sync although i have no idea how long it took. I eventually removed money from my Polaris as internet banking is much better.
Good luck and let me know if it did sync.

timmymarsh said:
When i first synced money2005 (my file was 12mb, too much info on money lol) it took FOREVER to sync.......
I disconnected it, resynced and left it, it did eventually sync although i have no idea how long it took. I eventually removed money from my Polaris as internet banking is much better.
Good luck and let me know if it did sync.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you saying i just have to sit their and just let it sync for hours? Does it take that long every sync? or just the initial one?

yes it did take hours, but only for the initial sync. THe other syncs were obviosuly just updating the file. After it synced, money worked fine but obviously in a very basic way.

timmymarsh said:
yes it did take hours, but only for the initial sync. THe other syncs were obviosuly just updating the file. After it synced, money worked fine but obviously in a very basic way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just need it to allow me to enter in new transactions and keep a current balance. (pretty much act like my Transaction Register)

btw, exactly how long did it take? Mine ran all night and doesn't look like its moved at all. (does it matter if the device is asleep?)

I wish i could remember, it was about 2 years ago when i first got my Polaris, unfortunately i have had many glasses of wine since and is foggy
It shouldnt matter as long as active sync is still active, but all night is not right, esp for a 3mb file. Have you tried resyncing since?

timmymarsh said:
I wish i could remember, it was about 2 years ago when i first got my Polaris, unfortunately i have had many glasses of wine since and is foggy
It shouldnt matter as long as active sync is still active, but all night is not right, esp for a 3mb file. Have you tried resyncing since?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5 or 6 times. It always goes back to trying again and just sitting their.
Heres a screen shot of the screen that it just sits at.... and sits at...... and sits at....
And no, the progress bar doesn't move.

Tell you what, i hae the day off tomorrow, so i will install money 2005 (which i use) and time how long it takes to sync some of my info (about 3mb worth of my 12mb file) and let you know.

any more info? It still wont sync

Sorry mate,
Had a hard drive failure on my lappy, just about got things up and running but lost a lot of info. WIll try and see very soon and let you know.

Well,
Installed money2005, tried to sync one account, 2 weeks info (not much), left it for 3 hours, sync did not complete so unplugged.
Going to investigate more as it appears active sync on pc becomes unresponsive after half hour or so... this isnt going to be a quick fix im afraid.

didnt think it really would be a quick fix given all the problems ive had. But at least i know its not just me. lol
Thanks for all your doing to try to solve this.

no probs, my ocd brain wont let this go now, gotta find the solution lol

timmymarsh said:
no probs, my ocd brain wont let this go now, gotta find the solution lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I take it things arnt going too well haha. This sucks, their both microsoft products, you would think they would like each other..

lol i know, i have had it working in the past, so in between doing other things, im going to re-install money and only sync 1 account for 2 days worth of data, just to get it synced... then increase the file size to see what happens.... have a go with that first.

Deleting outlook settings without resetting. How?

Hoping you can help. I've become 'the phone guy' at my office (i'm already one of the 'desktop guy's'), and as such i have to help with our various Touch's, Diamond's, Touch Pro's, Touch Pro 2's, HD2's and even the occasional Treo (plus E71's, E72's and most of the Blackberry range).
Most of it i've figured out, having been around Winmo since the QTEK 9100, but there's one issue that has escaped me. Outlook/email/activesync, whatever you refer to it as on the device.
All our smartphone users (except the BB's) connect via an exchange connection. But i've found that if you hose up the setup (mis-spelling the server name, user name, domain, etc) without realising it and then try and connect, obviously you don't connect but when you find the error and correct it, the device still won't connect until you do a hard reset and set it up again.
In addition, our AD policy requires a password change every 60 days. Too often, even when the user knows how to update the password in WinMo Outlook, it gets hosed up, and we have to hard reset (again). 60 days is plenty of time for some users to have installed plenty of extra apps, so its always enjoyable to explain that we have to hard reset the phone....
Yes, normally i'd expect to 'right click' "*Outlook E-mail" and select 'Delete', but that's always greyed out.
So, how can you delete the outlook account settings without having to hard reset the phone?
Thanks.

Never mind, i found the answer.
Open Activesync on your smartphone and click Menu - Options. Selct your account and click Menu again and select Delete.

lol yip that was gonna be my advise to you lol, well done!