Windows Mobile Device Center: frustrating
I have now installed Windows Mobile Device Center on my Windows Vista laptop. How frustrating.
USB connection is very unreliable. My i-mate Jasjar connects, but neither the Palm Treo 750v or Palm Treo 700wx will connect, instead showing an error - and no message on why the error, no event log entry, nothing.
Next I tried ActiveSync over Bluetooth. Forget it. It took me three to six attempts on each Pocket PC to manage to pair the devices with my laptop. And I did not achieve ActiveSync over Bluetooth for any of my devices. Incredible because WMDC has an explicit option to allow sync over Bluetooth, actually removing the requirement for a COM port to be defined.
What a piece of software this one. Not good.
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Comment by John Obeto, on 2-Feb-2007 12:32
Hello Mauricio:
In my situation, WMDC would sync over Bluetooth to my Cingular 3125 (HTC StrTrk), but not to my T-Mobile Dash (HTC Excalibur), which has to be sync'd through a wired connection.
The same mobiles all sync through ActiveSync on XP!
Comment by lotech, on 3-Feb-2007 12:50
I'm also a big fan of the auto photo import setup with Vista from my phone - every time I sync ALL the photos on my phone get imported again (now have quadruple ups). And amazingly that end isn't even part of Windows Mobile Device Center but instead set by the still flawed Vista Autoplay settings.
It amazes/scares me the fact Microsoft can't get syncing right with 2 of their own operating platforms. I also get regular Outlook/WMDC 'can't find default profile' errors - even though theres only one profile and that it's called 'default profile' and that I hadn't changed a thing between syncs.....
Comment by GaryM, on 9-Feb-2007 09:53
I have this exact problem too, if you find a fix for it i'd appreciate a heads up, obviously i'll do likewise :)
Comment by dean in newyork, on 15-Feb-2007 14:53
everyone has this problem.
Comment by Terry, on 20-Mar-2007 04:59
It is the same for T mobile's Dash.
Comment by cableguy, on 15-May-2007 22:32
Ditto guys!!
I had Activesync working just fine over usb using my imate JAMin with Windows Mobile Device Center, then suddenly ..it ain't working no more!!
Could it be a problem with a windows update of late perhaps?
To make things worse i have just read Mauricio's blog about bluetooth syncing not working after I just ordered a bluetooth dongle for my laptop for that reason!!DOOOUUHH!
Come on Microsoft, you just made 3.9 billion for the 1st quarter!!.... get you software platforms to talk to each other!!!
Comment by tb, on 19-May-2007 03:43
i have spent all morning trying to get it to see my iMate Jamin phone and and i get nothing at all, its like i dont even have a phone, Vista really makes me mad some days
Comment by nostromos, on 7-Jun-2007 17:19
ets take a look on the problem:
1.-my ppc (qtek 2020, windows mobile 2003, windows bt stack)) connect with my pc (vista ultimate,widcomm 5 bt stack). that means no problem on both bt stacks
2.-no connection on wmdc via bt, even configuring it to accept bluetooth connections, but no problem via usb cradle. that means no problem with vista firewall.
so, lets think about: when i connect ppc bt, some services appears on pc bt: activesync, obex, voice gateway... But wmdc works over serial port. Resuming: wmdc needs SERIAL PORT. ppc offers ACTIVESYNC. More problems: activesync software allows to choice com port to connect bt to. wmdc not.
SOLUTIONS:
1.-as i ve read on the net: modify registry values , so we can tell wmdc which com port must be used to connect bt. this com port must be the same one assigned to activesync service when ppc is connected to pc bt stack. in my case: COM5. So, a bit of regedit, look for HKLM\software\microsoft\windows ce services\serial port, and change value, which is usually bluetooth, writting COM5 instead (or whatever com port you have assigned to your activesync service).
then save, close regedit and reboot pc. reconnect ppc and let bt stack add new bt devices so we can reconfigure bt ppc services in order to:
2.-this is my finding: once ppc found, go to select which services we want to use on bt, select activesync and click over configuration. in the new window, you can change the name of the service, that obviously is activesync and put a new name: Serial Port. click accept and finalize and voila!!!. open wmdc on pc, open activesync on ppc, click on connect using bluetooth and youll see how wonderfully wmdc connect with your ppc.
Comment by Sandokan, on 10-Jun-2007 12:51
WMDC is, without a doubt, a major step backwards from the very reliable ActiveSync. With all their development capacity, Microsoft have made a truely gigantic mess.
I have an iMate JAMin running PPC 5.0.
This has been working 100% with Windows XP SP2 running ActiveSync versions 4.1, 4.2 & 4.5.
Now I am *trying* to get this working with Vista Business running WMDC 6.1. No chance. Have searched everywhere, have tried to use the ActiveSync 4.5 drivers, have even contacted iMate support whom sent me a patch to switch the RNDIS connections to USB/serial only.
So far, nothing has worked - the connection is established ok - but each time the Windows-Mobile based device driver fails to install/start. WMDC sits reporting "connecting" for a while, then reports its generic "error" without any further information.
Personally, I am very familiar with the MS platform and very capable of managing PPC, XP, Vista and Server 2003 to a high degree of detail. So I cannot imagine how much of an impossible task this would be for a non-technical user.
I am giving MS until August; then, if MS cannot deem to provide a working solution to connection PPC 5.0 devices to Vista, I shall be changing to a non PPC 5.0 mobile phone...
Yours,
A very disappointed MS user.
Comment by Enzo, on 10-Jul-2007 22:28
I´ve got an axim with WM2003, Vista 64 ultimate and Outlook 2007. They don´t work with WMDC 6.1. Even not, if my PDA is in the cradle while configuring. I have always the same problem: Axim is recognized, connects for 15 seconds and then connection will be broken...
Comment by Adam, on 12-Jul-2007 04:54
Atleast you get an error, that is something to work off of. When I plug my Treo 700w in nothing happens... at all! AARRRGGHHH
Comment by Anamika, on 19-Aug-2007 11:54
Hi:
I have Imate JAM. I recently bought a laptop with Vista (no choice!!). I bought Microsoft office, so have office 2007. I downloaded Windows mobile 6.1 and installed it. But, it does not allow me to select contact, calendar or anything for synchronization. The only thing it allows me to select for synchronization is files.
ANY help will be extremely appreciated.
thanks
Comment by djpaubes, on 25-Sep-2007 18:55
Man got my treo 700vx back after it was fixed and I have a new vista laptop............. :( Also I cant find the cd that came with my phone.
So has anyone nailed a work around for this bad boy.
Comment by djpaubes, on 25-Sep-2007 19:12
yep I downloaded and installed but doesnt recongnise the device at all via usb or bluetooth.... looks like I'm not the only person suffereing.
I do like my treo but I'm jeallous of the new titan. Also I saw a new HTC phone today.. think it was in austrailia running WM 6 looked really nice.
Comment by RLMEsq, on 11-Oct-2007 15:49
Nostromos actually has some very good advice, but there seems to be a language barrier. I found a tutorial that was very easy for me to follow -- and I claim no great expertise.
http://mobilitytoday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15245
I'd strongly suggest registering for the Mobility Today website, which will allow you to view the screenshots in the thread. It makes life a whole lot easier.
I was able to get my Dell Axim working with Vista Business and WMDC using the info above.
Good luck!
Comment by benelux, on 23-Mar-2008 19:48
This piece of software is piece of shit. It takes me one hour than I succesfuly run connection via BT with this program. But If I turn off my BT on my laptop, than is my configuration in the Microsoft Mobile Device center gone and I must configure it again. Very good work Microsoft :(
Comment by majed, on 31-Mar-2008 19:17
i have a jamin imate,i tried to use it on my laptop where i have windows vista but the stupid thing keeps giving me driver error it says that there is error code 18! and the driver is not installed ,i do have windows mobile center installed. can any one help me?
Comment by Ronny, on 21-Apr-2009 08:00
It worked for me to uncheck the un-used but yet configured additional mailboxes.
On the phone, point out to the ActiveSync program on your phone. While the phone is NOT connected, point out to Menu and Options. Remove any additional mailboxes by selecting the name (root folder) and select Remove.
After this I was able to synchronise!
Comment by Lauro, on 30-May-2009 08:11
Hi Ronny. Thanks a lot...
I did the same... I Remove the root of Exchange Server and it get working again!
Comment by carl, on 19-May-2010 13:28
I have it on my Vista laptop and it is still the piece of shit reported above. I am constantly uninstalling, reinstalling, repairing, only to have it not connect or give up a sync error instead of a sync. I am going to go to the iPhone next, I believe. You would think by now that MS for all their brains could give us a better product than this. It sucks.
Comment by martin, on 30-Jan-2012 10:14
I had the same:
I went to "programs" in Control Panel, and right-clicked on the windows-mobile-device-center. It asked: delete or repair... I chose repair and it works!! It works!!!
Yeeeehaaaaa
windows 7 / ipaq
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Comment by sbiddle, on 2-Feb-2007 06:19
Have you not been able to test this software at all before the release?