Windows Mobile Device Center Beta 3 for Windows Vista Released

[Darius Wey]

<i>"The Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center Beta 3 enables you to set up new partnerships, synchronize content and manage music, pictures and video with any Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows Mobile 5.0 powered device. Windows Mobile Device Center Beta 3 is only supported on builds of Windows Vista™ RC1 or later."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060908-vista.jpg" /><br /><br />Whether you've installed <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/">Windows Vista</a> RC1 or RC2 (just released) for day-to-day activities or a mere poke around, you may be interested in the Windows Mobile Device Center Beta, which enables full sync support for Pocket PCs and Smartphones running Windows Mobile 2003 and Windows Mobile 5.0. As always, be aware of the risks associated with the use of beta software (and I'm sure you would be, given you're using a pre-release version of Windows Vista), so be sure to backup your device and computer prior to installation. There are two versions of WMDC available for download: <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c23c8e6a-a72d-4aef-9663-31ce2fefbada&DisplayLang=en">x86</a> and <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=05eebb5b-b5bf-472e-97fc-4c9c22225d28&DisplayLang=en">AMD64</a>. If you get around to installing it and syncing your device with Windows Vista, share your thoughts here. :)

[peterawest]

OK,

I've finished installing Vista RC2 and then I installed the update from Microsoft.

All is working great with my older iPAQ 1945.
:D

[kamikun]

Obvious concerns for us punters in the crowd: How backwardsly compatible is it? and Is WiFi sync available yet?

[Darius Wey]

Obvious concerns for us punters in the crowd: How backwardsly compatible is it?

As mentioned in the post, you can sync WM2003 and WM5 devices. If you have anything that runs Pocket PC 2002 or below, you're out of luck.

and Is WiFi sync available yet?

To my understanding, no.

[ppcinfo]

Does it sync with Outlook (appointments, contacts, tasks, etc)? I've been holding off installing Vista RC1 until I can sync my Windows Mobile 2003 OS device with Outlook on my Desktop (like ActiveSync).

ppcinfo

[Darius Wey]

Does it sync with Outlook (appointments, contacts, tasks, etc)? I've been holding off installing Vista RC1 until I can sync my Windows Mobile 2003 OS device with Outlook on my Desktop (like ActiveSync).

Yes, it does. This is the final piece of the Windows Mobile + Windows Vista sync puzzle that has been missing for the past couple of months. With WMDC, you'll have full Outlook and media sync functionality and file browsing support.

[Anthony Caruana]

&lt;snip> Is WiFi sync available yet?

I think WiFi syncing is gone, never to be seen again.

[peterg]

On the Microsoft site it doesn't say anything about Office 2007 Beta 2 or Beta 2 Technical Refresh.

Anyone running Microsoft ® Windows Mobile ® Device Center Beta 3 for Windows Vista with Office 2007?

[snarfo]

I'm running Office 2007 b2tr and everything is working fine with my Axim x50v (running WM5).

[rhernani]

Does anybody can synchronize between SPB Finance and Microsoft money using WMDC beta 3?

[xtrips]

Hello,

I am running Vista RC1 and WM5.
How do you install software to PPC with this configuration?
Any software I try asks for ActiveSync and fails.
Any idea?

[bvkeen]

Successfully installed RC2, and later, the MDC. Cannot get MDC to recognize my WM5-upgraded 4700. I deleted existing partnerships (with my XP work and previous XP home systems) and tried again ... still nothing. I think I may have screwed up by connecting the 4700 up prior to installing the MDC. Doing so caused Vista to search for drivers for the two new storage spaces it saw (the 4700's ROM and SD card). When I later installed MDC, it looked to me like Vista installed the appropriate drivers, but MDC is simply not recognizing my 4700. I can see a connection attempt, by looking at ActiveSync on the 4700, but can see no attempt being made by MDC to connect and to set up a "partnership" (or whatever it calls its connections to a PPC).

Thoughts? I'd hate to delete the driver setups that Vista has already done (not sure I could find them anyway), but I suppose it is possible that could be my only recourse. Would like to hear less drastic suggestions though.

Thank you.

[xtrips]

Hi,

I updated to RC2 but this has nothing to do with the solution.
I downloaded the WMDC ( http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devicecenter.mspx )
and now all is fine.

[bvkeen]

Successfully installed RC2, and later, the MDC. Cannot get MDC to recognize my WM5-upgraded 4700. I deleted existing partnerships (with my XP work and previous XP home systems) and tried again ... still nothing. I think I may have screwed up by connecting the 4700 up prior to installing the MDC. Doing so caused Vista to search for drivers for the two new storage spaces it saw (the 4700's ROM and SD card). When I later installed MDC, it looked to me like Vista installed the appropriate drivers, but MDC is simply not recognizing my 4700. I can see a connection attempt, by looking at ActiveSync on the 4700, but can see no attempt being made by MDC to connect and to set up a "partnership" (or whatever it calls its connections to a PPC).

Thoughts? I'd hate to delete the driver setups that Vista has already done (not sure I could find them anyway), but I suppose it is possible that could be my only recourse. Would like to hear less drastic suggestions though.

Thank you.
FINALLY found the problem and accomplished a sync (Outlook and files). Problem was that was also running OneCare beta 1.5. Googling showed that others were also not being able to sync with OneCare installed. So, after uninstalling OC, was able to sync just fine.