Paul Wakeford

ActiveSync provides the means to get connected. this page takes you through the general installation of the product so that it sits on bothe the handheld device and the laptop/PC.

In can be a frustration as well as a blessing. On the earlier operating systems it was often hard work to get installed and recognising the PPCs it was suposed to - usually a USB port had to be software installed. The worst case was PPC with Windows 2002 and Windows 95. XP and Mobile 5 is far better and almost always works straight away.

If you are running Windows Vista, ActiveSync is effectively built in with the Windows Mobile Device Centre and as long as that is functioning correctly all should connect perfectly - if you have any problems you can try downloading the latest Mobile Device Centre from Microsoft. So, in these circumstances, your PC/Laptop should "discover" the Handheld device when ever it is connected and switched on.

If you are running XP (or Windows 2000) follow the instructions below to install ActiveSync for XP and Windows 2000. Note that it will run on earlier operating systems but the experience is not recommended.

Find or get the ActiveSync disk or download it from the web (ie from Microsoft Downloads or similar). Put the files on to your PC/Laptop (the Desktop is a good place to put temporary files). It often comes inside a zip file which, when opened will reveal the usual "Setup.exe" file. Double click this file and the installation procedure will begin. The example is for version 4 - earlier variants have much the same procedure.

Press Install to continue

This is the licence conditions acceptance screen. Press the radio button "I accept the terms in the License (sic) agreement" and then press the Next button

Enter you details and press Next.

This screen gives path options - Press Next to contine.

At last!, ready to install. Press Install.

ActiveSync Installed

The small round symbol provides a visual aid to viewing the connection process; if it is "rotating" then connection is under way. When it becomes "still" after the connection process then you are connected.

The ActiveSync control box will usually be displayed - unless you need some of its services - see below, it can be closed as, when loaded, it becomes an operating system process.

It is worth a look around the ActiveSync interface below. Particularly note (below)that you can delete and/or reinstall any of the known programs; useful for those occasions on older handheld devices where you have lost your installation through battery drain. The installation in this case is quicker/easier than first installation.

As said earlier, ActiveSync can be a frustration but it has got better over the years as we have left the old operating systems behind.

It can also be your friend as with this little option (right) and it is needed to install some programs.

I have had Timedex loaded on a mobile 5 machine for at least 2 if not 3 years or more and, despite several power drains (through forgetting to switch it off over the weekend usually, I have never had to re-install.

And if you use Vista - there is no ActiveSync anymore...