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ActiveSync 3.x Troubleshooting Guide
USB Issues
By Chris De Herrera, Copyright 2001-2004
Version 1.38 Revised 8/26/2004
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Sections:
- If you install ActiveSync 3.6 on a new PC, you may not be able to sync and the system will ask you for USB drivers for your Pocket PC. I suggest installing ActiveSync 3.5 first and then installing ActiveSync 3.6 to resolve this issue.
- If you are having problems with USB connections get the driver from the OEM if it is available. Dell and Toshiba have a special USB driver that needs to be installed on the PC. The USB driver is included on the OEM cdrom provided or from their websites.
- If you are unable to connect with USB, try looking in the Device Manager for an unknown device. If there is one when the Pocket PC is plugged in, then delete the device. Then reboot and try to connect again. An unknown device will be installed if you plugged your Pocket PC in before installing ActiveSync.
- If you are unable to connect with USB, try plugging the Pocket PC into any other USB ports. Some PCs now have both USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports. Generally the Pocket PC works better with USB 1.1 ports.
- If you are unable to connect with USB, make sure that you have the latest rom bios installed on your PC. An example of this issue with recent bios include the Dell Dimension 8200 with bios version A07 dated 7-19-02 which would not work until it was upgrade to version A09.
- If you are having problems with USB connections, consider upgrading the Pocket PC's rom if it is available. I recommend only attempting the rom upgrade on a PC where the USB sync is stable for at least 15 minutes so you will need to find another PC to sync with.
- If you are having problems with staying connected via USB, make sure you install the latest BIOS updates for your motherboard. Also, install the latest updates for USB for your motherboard. See USB Man for updates. I also suggest plugging the Pocket PC directly into your PC instead of using a USB hub. Some users have reported that they can synchronize if they unplug all other USB devices.
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Some users have reported that the use of an externally powered USB hub has allowed them to synchronize. (This has been reported to work for the Dell Axim). Other users have reported some problems with using a USB hub. I suggest trying to connect both ways.
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Other users have reported that their synchronization problems with the Toshiba Pocket PCs are diminished after they installed a newer USB 2.0 card from Belkin with 4 USB ports.
- If you are using the Dell Advanced Port Replicator (APR), plug the Pocket PC's USB cable directly to the Dell laptop instead. You may see like "WCESMgr.exe - Application Error The instruction at 0x77235468 referenced memory at 0x00003000. The memory could not be read." if you attempt to sync using the APR.
- Apparently some USB 1.1 devices have too much jitter in their signals. By using a USB 2.0 hub, the signal is retimed. See http://www.shuttle.com/share/fae/hq/faq/sff/qa/nForce2_MCP-T_MCP_USB1.1_AppNote.pdf for details.
- If you have a Logitech Cordless TrackMan wheel model # T-RA18 plugged into your PC via USB you may find that the track ball freezes while you are synchronizing the Pocket PC. At this time there is no work around or fix.
- Does your PC hang when you sync? Do you have a USB Logitech Cordless Mouseman Wheel part # M-RL53 plugged in (drivers mw976enu and mw975wnu)? If so you have a hardware conflict with the mouse and the Pocket PC. I suggest considering another mouse instead.
- If your PC has USB 2.0 ports and is running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, and you turn on or off your Pocket PC or reboot your PC without disconnecting the Pocket PC it may not be detected. You must install updated USB drivers. See Microsoft KB Article 838989.
- Some users have reported that they have been successful in synchronizing if they press the soft reset button while the cable is plugged into the Pocket PC and the PC.
If your problem is not resolved here, try the Microsoft's Knowledge Base search on ActiveSync or Microsoft's Knowledge Base search on Mobile Information Server.
Other Articles on ActiveSync:
ActiveSync
Versions FAQ
ActiveSync 3.8 Review
ActiveSync 3.7 Review
ActiveSync 3.6 Review
ActiveSync 3.5 Review
ActiveSync 3.1 Review
ActiveSync 3.0 Review
ActiveSync - Identifying Unresolved
Items
ActiveSync - Multiple Partnerships
ActiveSync - Using Categories to
Sync
ActiveSync Configurations
ActiveSync
Future Directions
Configuring Norton Internet Security
and ActiveSync
Removing ActiveSync 3.X
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