Windows Mobile Device Center - Installation
By Chris De Herrera, Copyright 2006, 2008
 Version 1.00  Revised 10/6/2008

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Recently Microsoft sent Vista to manufacturing.  So I'm sure you want to know how to synchronize your Windows Mobile device with Vista.  Well Microsoft decided to migrate from ActiveSync to the new Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC).  This article is based on WMDC Beta 3 which only supports Vista RC1.  However I successfully installed WMDC on the RTM version of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition for x86.  I suggest that you first install Office or Outlook before installing WMDC!

Note: Windows Mobile Device Center is designed to work with Windows Vista.  You can install Windows Mobile Device Center on Windows Server 2008 if you install the Desktop Experience Feature prior to installing WMDC.  Also, all x64 versions of Vista and Windows Server 2008 require the Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 x64 driver.

When WMDC is released, it will be part of Windows Update.  However right now it is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devicecenter.mspx

Installation

When you choose to download WMDC, you will see the following message:

After you download WMDC you will see the following page:

When I click on the WMDC download to install it, Windows Vista looks up the publisher and allows you to install it.

Here's the next screen you will see as Setup prepares to install WMDC

Then WMDC installs the driver update to support Windows Mobile devices on Vista

Here's where the device driver software is installed for PocketPC and Smartphone:

This is what it looks like when it's complete.  You must click on Close to close the window.

You will then see the EULA:

Conclusion

The installation is complete.  When it is complete all windows are closed and no Windows Programs or Icons are displayed in the Programs or Control Panel.  The installation is completed when the first device is plugged in.

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