General "Fix all" for SP2 Blowback Active Sync, Sundry Connections

SP2 has issues with a host of driver, software, and firewall conflicts. It
is a hit or miss situation.

It may be a Firewall issue, and good help for Firewall issues can be found at:

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 842242
Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack
2

http://support.microsoft.com/default...=windowsxpsp2;

My Dell Axim USB Sync with MS ActiveSync 3.7.1 was flaking out too, as well
as an issue with my Sony Ericsson USB cradle and XTNDConnect PC sync
software, and a Remote Desktop Connection redirect printer that is networked
on my PC. The mode has generally been:

1) Completely uninstall software, drivers, and or connections related to
the process (preferably by an unistall program that may be in the program
group, else use Add / Remove Porgrams). [Write down notes about particular
connections or ALT+PrintScreen images into a MS Word document and print them
out!] You may also have to perform a command prompt "net use target
connection /delete" if that was part of your setup.
2) Restart the computer even though it may not require you to.
3) With devices disconnected, reinstall the software and then reconnect
devices when prompted to...or when the software installation is done. This
seems to reinitialize files and settings (and possibly hidden pointers or
keys that SP2 might have broke.)
4) Restart your computer again even the installation program does not
require you to.
5) Recreate any connections and use your notes in step one to guide you
through. You do not want to be left wondering if you set it back up the
right way. You may have to do a command prompt "net use target connection
\\server name\device share name /persistent:yes" if that was involved in
your connection setup.

This method had worked for my Sony Ericcson sync, and for reestablising
printer redirection via RDP to my networked printer at home; but my Dell Axim
USB Sync cradle was especially stubborn as the device kept on disappearing
and reappearing in Device Manager. In my case, it was not even a Firewall
issue but an unstable device recognition issue. So then I finally fixed it
by help found in this article:

http://ogasawalrus.com/mobileviews/m...aqs/ActiveSync

and especially following the link (towards the bottom) on that article that
leads to the MS KBase article: "How to Manually Remove ActiveSync 3.x"

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;263152

So my modified solution for repairing Active Sync after SP2 is:

1) Completely uninstall Actvie Sync software as per MS KBase 263152 and
DELETE any connections from Network Connections [Write down notes about
particular connections or ALT+PrintScreen images into a MS Word document and
print them out!] You may also have to perform a command prompt "net use
target connection /delete" if that was part of your setup.
2) Restart the computer even though it does not require you to as per the
KBase article.
3) Insert your MS Office XP CD when prompted to do so because you had just
made your system think that something is missing that is standard for an
office installation and choose OK. Allow Office components to install.
3) With devices DISCONNECTED, including the Sync cable, reinstall the
software as per the article using preferably the latest 3.7.1 download.
4) Perform a soft reset of your PocketPC / Palm, etc. [Usually a single tap
with your stylus on the reset plug on the front or back.]
5) Reconnect devices when the software installation is done, or when it may
prompt you to do so. In effect, this seems to reinitialize files and
settings (and possibly hidden pointers or keys that SP2 might have broke.)
4) Restart your computer again even the installation program does not
require you to.
5) Recreate any specialized connections in Network Connections and use your
notes in step one to guide you through. You do not want to be left wondering
if you set it back up the right way. You may have to do a command prompt
"net use target connection \\server name\device share name
/persistent:yes" if that was involved in your connection setup.

I hope that will fix you as it seems to be a sure fire success, and I hope
it is universal across MS 2000, XP, and 2003 Office suites as I had not
opportunity to duplicate across platforms like that (I do not have all that
software and hardware to play with at ease.)

-Ralph

On the last step, when it comes to re-establishing connections, it is better
to run the "net use" command first, and then configure that port / share in
Windows so that you can do a test right away. It seems that, if you
configure a port that does not have a network (net use) connection, there
will be an error and any subsequent attempts to connect the port might not be
recognized by a device configuration until a reboot.

"Ralph Howarth" wrote:

SP2 has issues with a host of driver, software, and firewall conflicts. It
is a hit or miss situation.

It may be a Firewall issue, and good help for Firewall issues can be found at:

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 842242
Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack
2

http://support.microsoft.com/default...=windowsxpsp2;

My Dell Axim USB Sync with MS ActiveSync 3.7.1 was flaking out too, as well
as an issue with my Sony Ericsson USB cradle and XTNDConnect PC sync
software, and a Remote Desktop Connection redirect printer that is networked
on my PC. The mode has generally been:

1) Completely uninstall software, drivers, and or connections related to
the process (preferably by an unistall program that may be in the program
group, else use Add / Remove Porgrams). [Write down notes about particular
connections or ALT+PrintScreen images into a MS Word document and print them
out!] You may also have to perform a command prompt "net use target
connection /delete" if that was part of your setup.
2) Restart the computer even though it may not require you to.
3) With devices disconnected, reinstall the software and then reconnect
devices when prompted to...or when the software installation is done. This
seems to reinitialize files and settings (and possibly hidden pointers or
keys that SP2 might have broke.)
4) Restart your computer again even the installation program does not
require you to.
5) Recreate any connections and use your notes in step one to guide you
through. You do not want to be left wondering if you set it back up the
right way. You may have to do a command prompt "net use target connection
\\server name\device share name /persistent:yes" if that was involved in
your connection setup.

This method had worked for my Sony Ericcson sync, and for reestablising
printer redirection via RDP to my networked printer at home; but my Dell Axim
USB Sync cradle was especially stubborn as the device kept on disappearing
and reappearing in Device Manager. In my case, it was not even a Firewall
issue but an unstable device recognition issue. So then I finally fixed it
by help found in this article:

http://ogasawalrus.com/mobileviews/m...aqs/ActiveSync

and especially following the link (towards the bottom) on that article that
leads to the MS KBase article: "How to Manually Remove ActiveSync 3.x"

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;263152

So my modified solution for repairing Active Sync after SP2 is:

1) Completely uninstall Actvie Sync software as per MS KBase 263152 and
DELETE any connections from Network Connections [Write down notes about
particular connections or ALT+PrintScreen images into a MS Word document and
print them out!] You may also have to perform a command prompt "net use
target connection /delete" if that was part of your setup.
2) Restart the computer even though it does not require you to as per the
KBase article.
3) Insert your MS Office XP CD when prompted to do so because you had just
made your system think that something is missing that is standard for an
office installation and choose OK. Allow Office components to install.
3) With devices DISCONNECTED, including the Sync cable, reinstall the
software as per the article using preferably the latest 3.7.1 download.
4) Perform a soft reset of your PocketPC / Palm, etc. [Usually a single tap
with your stylus on the reset plug on the front or back.]
5) Reconnect devices when the software installation is done, or when it may
prompt you to do so. In effect, this seems to reinitialize files and
settings (and possibly hidden pointers or keys that SP2 might have broke.)
4) Restart your computer again even the installation program does not
require you to.
5) Recreate any specialized connections in Network Connections and use your
notes in step one to guide you through. You do not want to be left wondering
if you set it back up the right way. You may have to do a command prompt
"net use target connection \\server name\device share name
/persistent:yes" if that was involved in your connection setup.

I hope that will fix you as it seems to be a sure fire success, and I hope
it is universal across MS 2000, XP, and 2003 Office suites as I had not
opportunity to duplicate across platforms like that (I do not have all that
software and hardware to play with at ease.)

-Ralph

On the last step, when it comes to re-establishing connections, it is
better to run the "net use" command first, and then configure that
port / share in Windows so that you can do a test right away. It
seems that, if you configure a port that does not have a network (net
use) connection, there will be an error and any subsequent attempts to
connect the port might not be recognized by a device configuration
until a reboot.

"Ralph Howarth" wrote in message ...
SP2 has issues with a host of driver, software, and firewall conflicts. It
is a hit or miss situation.

It may be a Firewall issue, and good help for Firewall issues can be found at:

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 842242
Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack
2

http://support.microsoft.com/default...=windowsxpsp2;

My Dell Axim USB Sync with MS ActiveSync 3.7.1 was flaking out too, as well
as an issue with my Sony Ericsson USB cradle and XTNDConnect PC sync
software, and a Remote Desktop Connection redirect printer that is networked
on my PC. The mode has generally been:

1) Completely uninstall software, drivers, and or connections related to
the process (preferably by an unistall program that may be in the program
group, else use Add / Remove Porgrams). [Write down notes about particular
connections or ALT+PrintScreen images into a MS Word document and print them
out!] You may also have to perform a command prompt "net use target
connection /delete" if that was part of your setup.
2) Restart the computer even though it may not require you to.
3) With devices disconnected, reinstall the software and then reconnect
devices when prompted to...or when the software installation is done. This
seems to reinitialize files and settings (and possibly hidden pointers or
keys that SP2 might have broke.)
4) Restart your computer again even the installation program does not
require you to.
5) Recreate any connections and use your notes in step one to guide you
through. You do not want to be left wondering if you set it back up the
right way. You may have to do a command prompt "net use target connection
\\server name\device share name /persistent:yes" if that was involved in
your connection setup.

This method had worked for my Sony Ericcson sync, and for reestablising
printer redirection via RDP to my networked printer at home; but my Dell Axim
USB Sync cradle was especially stubborn as the device kept on disappearing
and reappearing in Device Manager. In my case, it was not even a Firewall
issue but an unstable device recognition issue. So then I finally fixed it
by help found in this article:

http://ogasawalrus.com/mobileviews/m...aqs/ActiveSync

and especially following the link (towards the bottom) on that article that
leads to the MS KBase article: "How to Manually Remove ActiveSync 3.x"

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;263152

So my modified solution for repairing Active Sync after SP2 is:

1) Completely uninstall Actvie Sync software as per MS KBase 263152 and
DELETE any connections from Network Connections [Write down notes about
particular connections or ALT+PrintScreen images into a MS Word document and
print them out!] You may also have to perform a command prompt "net use
target connection /delete" if that was part of your setup.
2) Restart the computer even though it does not require you to as per the
KBase article.
3) Insert your MS Office XP CD when prompted to do so because you had just
made your system think that something is missing that is standard for an
office installation and choose OK. Allow Office components to install.
3) With devices DISCONNECTED, including the Sync cable, reinstall the
software as per the article using preferably the latest 3.7.1 download.
4) Perform a soft reset of your PocketPC / Palm, etc. [Usually a single tap
with your stylus on the reset plug on the front or back.]
5) Reconnect devices when the software installation is done, or when it may
prompt you to do so. In effect, this seems to reinitialize files and
settings (and possibly hidden pointers or keys that SP2 might have broke.)
4) Restart your computer again even the installation program does not
require you to.
5) Recreate any specialized connections in Network Connections and use your
notes in step one to guide you through. You do not want to be left wondering
if you set it back up the right way. You may have to do a command prompt
"net use target connection \\server name\device share name
/persistent:yes" if that was involved in your connection setup.

I hope that will fix you as it seems to be a sure fire success, and I hope
it is universal across MS 2000, XP, and 2003 Office suites as I had not
opportunity to duplicate across platforms like that (I do not have all that
software and hardware to play with at ease.)

-Ralph