Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

[Guest James S Clark]

I have been experiencing problems with XP SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5, in as much

as a windows mobile 5 or 6 device can no longer reliably connect & re-connect

via USB & use ActiveSync to synchronise. Both PC & mobile device often

require a complete restart or uninstalling and reinstalling everything before

functionality returns. After this it stops working again after the device

has been disconnected for the is first or second time and the whole process

has to be done again before a connection can be established.

 

According to the MS website, ActiveSync 4.5 is only compatible with XP SP2

and earlier - I thought this was just an out of date message so I called MS

UK tech support to get the low-down. They told me that, wait for it,

ActiveSync is indeed NOT compatible with XP SP3!!! Since it wasn't a piad

support call i couldn't take the issue further with MS on the phone.

 

I am keen to learn if anyone else has encountered this problem and whether

it's really true that installing XP SP3 will wreck windows mobile

synchronisation functionality. I find it hard to believe it's true, but it

did come from horses mouth so to speak.

 

--

Regards,

 

James S Clark

Software Developer & Technician

The Coleman Group (UK)

[Guest Kayman]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:57:01 -0700, James S Clark wrote:

> I have been experiencing problems with XP SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5, in as much

> as a windows mobile 5 or 6 device can no longer reliably connect & re-connect

> via USB & use ActiveSync to synchronise. Both PC & mobile device often

> require a complete restart or uninstalling and reinstalling everything before

> functionality returns. After this it stops working again after the device

> has been disconnected for the is first or second time and the whole process

> has to be done again before a connection can be established.

>

> According to the MS website, ActiveSync 4.5 is only compatible with XP SP2

> and earlier - I thought this was just an out of date message so I called MS

> UK tech support to get the low-down. They told me that, wait for it,

> ActiveSync is indeed NOT compatible with XP SP3!!! Since it wasn't a piad

> support call i couldn't take the issue further with MS on the phone.

>

> I am keen to learn if anyone else has encountered this problem and whether

> it's really true that installing XP SP3 will wreck windows mobile

> synchronisation functionality. I find it hard to believe it's true, but it

> did come from horses mouth so to speak.

 

Disable the things that might be responsible for it not working (firewalls,

virtual private networking, etc.) There's nothing inherent in SP3 that

prevents a USB device from existing, so there must be something about the

setup of your machine that is responsible. The most-likely is something

networking-related, as that's what the device looks like to the PC: a

network adapter. You might also go to Device Manager and delete the Windows

Mobile device from the list of known devices and try connecting it "for the

first time", again.

[unquote]

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.pocketpc.activesync&tid=2f67bada-2b89-4799-89fd-1dec721bb614&cat=en_US_45621a68-06ee-4984-9f5f-0e20528276a4&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=&p=1

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

>I have been experiencing problems with XP SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5, in as much

>as a windows mobile 5 or 6 device can no longer reliably connect & re-connect

>via USB & use ActiveSync to synchronise. Both PC & mobile device often

>require a complete restart or uninstalling and reinstalling everything before

>functionality returns. After this it stops working again after the device

>has been disconnected for the is first or second time and the whole process

>has to be done again before a connection can be established.

>

>According to the MS website, ActiveSync 4.5 is only compatible with XP SP2

>and earlier - I thought this was just an out of date message so I called MS

>UK tech support to get the low-down. They told me that, wait for it,

>ActiveSync is indeed NOT compatible with XP SP3!!! Since it wasn't a piad

>support call i couldn't take the issue further with MS on the phone.

>

>I am keen to learn if anyone else has encountered this problem and whether

>it's really true that installing XP SP3 will wreck windows mobile

>synchronisation functionality. I find it hard to believe it's true, but it

>did come from horses mouth so to speak.

 

From:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/help/synchronize/activesync45.mspx

 

Note: Microsoft ActiveSync works only with Windows XP SP2 or earlier.

If you have Windows Vista, your synchronization settings will be

managed through the Windows Mobile Device Center. Windows Mobile

Device Center is available through the Windows Mobile Device Center

page.

 

You may just need to wait until Active Sync gets updated to work with

SP3.

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest James S Clark]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

At last - someone admitting there is a problem with SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5!

 

Looks I will have to wait, which is a shame considering I was intending to

roll out windows mobile devices across our enterprise (for stocktaking in a

retail environment). Looks like it's back to the drawing board because I'm

not holding my breath for MS to fix the AS/SP3 problem :(

 

Thanks anyway though.

 

--

Regards,

 

James S Clark

Software Developer & Technician

The Coleman Group (UK)

 

 

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >I have been experiencing problems with XP SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5, in as much

> >as a windows mobile 5 or 6 device can no longer reliably connect & re-connect

> >via USB & use ActiveSync to synchronise. Both PC & mobile device often

> >require a complete restart or uninstalling and reinstalling everything before

> >functionality returns. After this it stops working again after the device

> >has been disconnected for the is first or second time and the whole process

> >has to be done again before a connection can be established.

> >

> >According to the MS website, ActiveSync 4.5 is only compatible with XP SP2

> >and earlier - I thought this was just an out of date message so I called MS

> >UK tech support to get the low-down. They told me that, wait for it,

> >ActiveSync is indeed NOT compatible with XP SP3!!! Since it wasn't a piad

> >support call i couldn't take the issue further with MS on the phone.

> >

> >I am keen to learn if anyone else has encountered this problem and whether

> >it's really true that installing XP SP3 will wreck windows mobile

> >synchronisation functionality. I find it hard to believe it's true, but it

> >did come from horses mouth so to speak.

>

> From:

> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/help/synchronize/activesync45.mspx

>

> Note: Microsoft ActiveSync works only with Windows XP SP2 or earlier.

> If you have Windows Vista, your synchronization settings will be

> managed through the Windows Mobile Device Center. Windows Mobile

> Device Center is available through the Windows Mobile Device Center

> page.

>

> You may just need to wait until Active Sync gets updated to work with

> SP3.

>

> - Thee Chicago Wolf

>

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

>At last - someone admitting there is a problem with SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5!

>

>Looks I will have to wait, which is a shame considering I was intending to

>roll out windows mobile devices across our enterprise (for stocktaking in a

>retail environment). Looks like it's back to the drawing board because I'm

>not holding my breath for MS to fix the AS/SP3 problem :(

>

>Thanks anyway though.

 

I tried looking in the knowledge base but didn't see anything.

Anything in the event viewer that you might be able to share? One

other thing that slipped my mind, do you have the Intel Chipset

Software installed already, assuming you have an Intel based PC? It's

worth a shot:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=816&OSFullName=Windows*+XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go%21

 

Grab the INF Update Utility - Zip Format version, run it, see if it

helps any. Let me know.

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

See

http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3637769&SiteID=17

 

Does the behavior persist if you uninstall SP3?

 

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

 

If you fully adhere to the caveats in

http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2008/05/08/windows-xp-sp3-read-all-prerequisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

and then reinstall SP3, does the behavior persist?

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

 

James S Clark wrote:

> I have been experiencing problems with XP SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5, in as

> much

> as a windows mobile 5 or 6 device can no longer reliably connect &

> re-connect via USB & use ActiveSync to synchronise. Both PC & mobile

> device often require a complete restart or uninstalling and reinstalling

> everything before functionality returns. After this it stops working

> again

> after the device has been disconnected for the is first or second time and

> the whole process has to be done again before a connection can be

> established.

>

> According to the MS website, ActiveSync 4.5 is only compatible with XP SP2

> and earlier - I thought this was just an out of date message so I called

> MS

> UK tech support to get the low-down. They told me that, wait for it,

> ActiveSync is indeed NOT compatible with XP SP3!!! Since it wasn't a piad

> support call i couldn't take the issue further with MS on the phone.

>

> I am keen to learn if anyone else has encountered this problem and whether

> it's really true that installing XP SP3 will wreck windows mobile

> synchronisation functionality. I find it hard to believe it's true, but

> it

> did come from horses mouth so to speak.

[Guest James S Clark]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

This also occurs on a brand new PC (no extra software installed, just

windows) with XP Pro SP3 pre-installed from the OEM disk from which there is

no way to uninstall the service pack.

 

I am doing some more tests to try to pin down exactly what is happening

because I really need this to work.

 

--

Regards,

 

James S Clark

Software Developer & Technician

The Coleman Group (UK)

 

 

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> See

> http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3637769&SiteID=17

>

> Does the behavior persist if you uninstall SP3?

>

> How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer:

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

>

> If you fully adhere to the caveats in

> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2008/05/08/windows-xp-sp3-read-all-prerequisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

> and then reinstall SP3, does the behavior persist?

> --

> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

>

>

> James S Clark wrote:

> > I have been experiencing problems with XP SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5, in as

> > much

> > as a windows mobile 5 or 6 device can no longer reliably connect &

> > re-connect via USB & use ActiveSync to synchronise. Both PC & mobile

> > device often require a complete restart or uninstalling and reinstalling

> > everything before functionality returns. After this it stops working

> > again

> > after the device has been disconnected for the is first or second time and

> > the whole process has to be done again before a connection can be

> > established.

> >

> > According to the MS website, ActiveSync 4.5 is only compatible with XP SP2

> > and earlier - I thought this was just an out of date message so I called

> > MS

> > UK tech support to get the low-down. They told me that, wait for it,

> > ActiveSync is indeed NOT compatible with XP SP3!!! Since it wasn't a piad

> > support call i couldn't take the issue further with MS on the phone.

> >

> > I am keen to learn if anyone else has encountered this problem and whether

> > it's really true that installing XP SP3 will wreck windows mobile

> > synchronisation functionality. I find it hard to believe it's true, but

> > it

> > did come from horses mouth so to speak.

>

>

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

>This also occurs on a brand new PC (no extra software installed, just

>windows) with XP Pro SP3 pre-installed from the OEM disk from which there is

>no way to uninstall the service pack.

>

>I am doing some more tests to try to pin down exactly what is happening

>because I really need this to work.

 

James,

 

Did you catch my earlier post on the Intel Chipset Software

Installation utility?

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest James S Clark]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned that it's an AMD chipset. I don't suppose

there's an AMD equivalent is there?

 

--

Regards,

 

James S Clark

Software Developer & Technician

The Coleman Group (UK)

 

 

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >This also occurs on a brand new PC (no extra software installed, just

> >windows) with XP Pro SP3 pre-installed from the OEM disk from which there is

> >no way to uninstall the service pack.

> >

> >I am doing some more tests to try to pin down exactly what is happening

> >because I really need this to work.

>

> James,

>

> Did you catch my earlier post on the Intel Chipset Software

> Installation utility?

>

> - Thee Chicago Wolf

>

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

>Sorry, I should have mentioned that it's an AMD chipset. I don't suppose

>there's an AMD equivalent is there?

 

Possibly. What motherboard and / or model computer is this?

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest frodo@theshire.net]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

If you google for "xp sp3 and activesync" you'll see that you are not

alone. there is indeed an issue that MS has not yet fixed.

 

this issue is NOT mentioned at all in the "what to do before sp3" writeup

by MS; shame shame shame MS (again).

 

I'm glad you brought it up, as I had not heard about this and was about to

finaly update my GF's machine to sp3, but she's a big Mobile 6 user. You

saved me a scolding, thanks!

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

>If you google for "xp sp3 and activesync" you'll see that you are not

>alone. there is indeed an issue that MS has not yet fixed.

>

>this issue is NOT mentioned at all in the "what to do before sp3" writeup

>by MS; shame shame shame MS (again).

>

>I'm glad you brought it up, as I had not heard about this and was about to

>finaly update my GF's machine to sp3, but she's a big Mobile 6 user. You

>saved me a scolding, thanks!

 

Yes, this has been underreported but I have Googled a few pages where

folks say they are running on SP3 and able to use ActiveSync

successfully. Sadly, no more details other than the "it's working for

me" response. Hopefully more info as it comes.

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

And yet here you'll see that not everyone has seen this problem:

http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3637769&SiteID=17

--

~PA Bear

 

frodo@theshire.net wrote:

> If you google for "xp sp3 and activesync" you'll see that you are not

> alone. there is indeed an issue that MS has not yet fixed.

>

> this issue is NOT mentioned at all in the "what to do before sp3" writeup

> by MS; shame shame shame MS (again).

>

> I'm glad you brought it up, as I had not heard about this and was about to

> finaly update my GF's machine to sp3, but she's a big Mobile 6 user. You

> saved me a scolding, thanks!

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for

Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and

e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

 

• US:

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

 

• CA:

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-ca&prid=11273&gprid=522131

 

• UK:

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-gb&prid=11273&gprid=522131

 

• AU:

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-au&prid=11273&gprid=522131

 

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select

Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

James S Clark wrote:

> This also occurs on a brand new PC (no extra software installed, just

> windows) with XP Pro SP3 pre-installed from the OEM disk from which there

> is

> no way to uninstall the service pack.

>

> I am doing some more tests to try to pin down exactly what is happening

> because I really need this to work.

>

>

>> See

>> http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3637769&SiteID=17

>>

>> Does the behavior persist if you uninstall SP3?

>>

>> How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer:

>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

>>

>> If you fully adhere to the caveats in

>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2008/05/08/windows-xp-sp3-read-all-prerequisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

>> and then reinstall SP3, does the behavior persist?

>> --

>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

>>

>>

>> James S Clark wrote:

>>> I have been experiencing problems with XP SP3 and ActiveSync 4.5, in as

>>> much

>>> as a windows mobile 5 or 6 device can no longer reliably connect &

>>> re-connect via USB & use ActiveSync to synchronise. Both PC & mobile

>>> device often require a complete restart or uninstalling and reinstalling

>>> everything before functionality returns. After this it stops working

>>> again

>>> after the device has been disconnected for the is first or second time

>>> and

>>> the whole process has to be done again before a connection can be

>>> established.

>>>

>>> According to the MS website, ActiveSync 4.5 is only compatible with XP

>>> SP2

>>> and earlier - I thought this was just an out of date message so I called

>>> MS

>>> UK tech support to get the low-down. They told me that, wait for it,

>>> ActiveSync is indeed NOT compatible with XP SP3!!! Since it wasn't a

>>> piad

>>> support call i couldn't take the issue further with MS on the phone.

>>>

>>> I am keen to learn if anyone else has encountered this problem and

>>> whether

>>> it's really true that installing XP SP3 will wreck windows mobile

>>> synchronisation functionality. I find it hard to believe it's true, but

>>> it

>>> did come from horses mouth so to speak.

[Guest James S Clark]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

It's an ASUS T3 M2NC51PV with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+ CPU rated

at 2.61Ghz.

 

Obviuosly I've contacted our supplier - they've replicated the problem and

contacted ASUS but apparently ASUS say it's a software problem and won't

help. Great.

 

It's frustrating because plenty of people out there with a variety of

hardware have experienced this problem but there's also plenty who haven't so

it's very difficult to pin down even to a USB driver issue, a particular

motherboard chipset or windows environment etc. My tests continue.

 

--

Regards,

 

James S Clark

Software Developer & Technician

The Coleman Group (UK)

 

 

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >Sorry, I should have mentioned that it's an AMD chipset. I don't suppose

> >there's an AMD equivalent is there?

>

> Possibly. What motherboard and / or model computer is this?

>

> - Thee Chicago Wolf

>

[Guest Thee Chicago Wolf]

Re: Service Pack 3 and ActiveSync 4.5 incompatibility

 

>It's an ASUS T3 M2NC51PV with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+ CPU rated

>at 2.61Ghz.

>

>Obviuosly I've contacted our supplier - they've replicated the problem and

>contacted ASUS but apparently ASUS say it's a software problem and won't

>help. Great.

>

>It's frustrating because plenty of people out there with a variety of

>hardware have experienced this problem but there's also plenty who haven't so

>it's very difficult to pin down even to a USB driver issue, a particular

>motherboard chipset or windows environment etc. My tests continue.

 

Ok, this is a slightly older generation AMD system. I was hoping it

might have been one of those FX series chipsets made by AMD but not.

Well, if is in fact a USB driver issue, two post-SP3 USB updates were

released that, while not specific to this issue, might be worth trying

out for kicks and grins. But first, let's make sure the chipset

drivers are up to date. Are you running the V6.14.11.6218 drivers

already? If not, update them from the Asus web site here:

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?modelname=T3-M2NC51PV&SLanguage=en-us

 

If not already done, you might also update the BIOS to the current

version in case there is some USB issue related to the BIOS. That's

available here:

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?modelname=T3-M2NC51PV&SLanguage=en-us

 

Now, I mentioned two post-SP3 updates for USB. If you want to give

those a shot, you can get them at the following links. They are free.

At the top of the page, there's a link titled "View and request hotfix

downloads", click it, accept the agreement, and then fill in the form.

You'll be sent a link to the file along with a password to extract it.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945436

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949033

 

Let me know how it goes.

 

- Thee Chicago Wolf