I *HATE* ActiveSyc

[humayunl]

Every evening I go home, put my Imate in the cradle, my laptop is already on so ~usually~ they do the USB handshake, ActiveSync does its thing and then i synchronize manually.

However, every now and then (too frequently if you ask me) while "looking for changes" during the connection phase, for one or more of the items (calendar, tasks, files, contacts etc.) ActiveSync tells me that "The items in this category have never been synchronized with your computer, what do you want to do?" then it gives me the standard 3 options (pc > PPC, combine items on the PPC and PC or dont do anything".

Why on earth does this happen, how can i prevent it from happening and..... WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

:(

[Darius Wey]

It probably happens because you've altered the PIM data on both your Pocket PC and PC, so it's attempting a synchronisation when both parties have altered data. So you have to make the ultimate decision of combining items, or having the data on one device replace the other, or not synchronise altogether.

[Vidge]

Yeah - I've had the same problem syncing with my desktop and my laptop. Last time I synced with my laptop, I ended up with hundreds of duplicates :( when I used the combine feature. I guess the best answer (for me, at least) is to replace the data on the desktop with that on the handheld. Haven't tried it but I will this weekend

[Sven Johannsen]

It probably happens because you've altered the PIM data on both your Pocket PC and PC, so it's attempting a synchronisation when both parties have altered data. So you have to make the ultimate decision of combining items, or having the data on one device replace the other, or not synchronise altogether.

No that's not the issue. The sync function for PIM information is designed so that you can make changes on both the PPC and the PC. If you make a change on a single record in both places then you get a conflict and are prompted to determine which is the 'correct' one. A record is an appointment or a contact. Changing the phone number in a contact on the PPC and the address in that same record on the PC will result in a conflict. Changing the phone number on the PPC and the address of a different contact on the PC will not.

humayunl's problem is different. The partnership has somehow lost the understanding that the two items have been synced. It is like unchecking all the PIM applications in AS, breaking the link, and then rechecking them. I have seen that rarely, but I have seen it. Unfortunately not enough to notice an pattern or causality.

I'd suggest deleting the partnership and re-establishing it. Probably on both machines. Also is there some reason you want to sync manually?

[humayunl]

I rarely (make that never) modify information on my PC, and in this case I specifically remember that there could not have been a conflict due to any record changes on the PC.

So it does appear to be a partnership issue. And this is not the first time it has happened, its at least the 3rd time. The only pattern i have been able to establish is that when the ppc connects to the pc via activesync and it is "looking for changes", sometimes it takes longer than usual to look for changes and during that it gives up and says "not connectect" or "the usb device was not recignized" or "connection error", any one of these messges and as far as I know for no apparent reason (i could have synchronized successfully 5 minutes ago).

So when i get an error meesage like this and i disconnect the devices and reconnect, that is when i am likely to get this stupid "never been synchronized" error message.

I guess 'ill update the pc based on the pda cause thats where the latest information is.

thanks for all the help guys.

[uzetaab]

considering your last reply, it sounds like the problem lies in the equipment or software. You could start systematically testing each component from re-installing activesync & windows to replacing your USB ports & cables, but that seems rather extreme for a relatively small problem.

Personally I would put up with it, except that I would consider keeping a regular backup to a storage card for a while. There are several programs you can get for this. Just in case it is the begining of a much larger problem that could crash your whole system. That's unlikely though.

[Darius Wey]

No that's not the issue. The sync function for PIM information is designed so that you can make changes on both the PPC and the PC. If you make a change on a single record in both places then you get a conflict and are prompted to determine which is the 'correct' one. A record is an appointment or a contact. Changing the phone number in a contact on the PPC and the address in that same record on the PC will result in a conflict. Changing the phone number on the PPC and the address of a different contact on the PC will not.

humayunl's problem is different. The partnership has somehow lost the understanding that the two items have been synced. It is like unchecking all the PIM applications in AS, breaking the link, and then rechecking them. I have seen that rarely, but I have seen it. Unfortunately not enough to notice an pattern or causality.

Ah... I get it now. I was under the impression that the data had not yet been synchronised. So I thought that was where the conflicts were arising. But I think your suggestion of deleting the partnership would be a valid option to pursue at the moment. humayunl's problem is indeed a rare one.

[JvanEkris]

You could visit www.cewindows.net (http://www.cewindows.net/faqs.htm), a site from Chris de Harrera. He maintains an excellent FAQ on these matters.....

Jaap

[MrChevy]

...So when i get an error meesage like this and i disconnect the devices and reconnect, that is when i am likely to get this stupid "never been synchronized" error message.

I guess 'ill update the pc based on the pda cause thats where the latest information is.

thanks for all the help guys.

Once in a while that happens to me. I do a soft re-set on the PPC, sometimes have to re-boot the desktop too. Then they find each other and sync with no problem. You say your Desktop is on all the time, re-boot it once in a while, get the bugs out of it. (I really don't re-boot mine, I shut it clear off, wait 30 seconds and then re-start it. Speeds everything up).

Anytime I find something weird going on I find a soft re-set on the PPC usually gets everything back to working the way it was (correctly). Computers can! be strange. I have only been working with computers a short time (since 1983, we have 19 of them around the house here) and Palmtop and/or PPC's since 1991. Have seen some strange things happen in those years!

Ken

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

While it doesn't seem to be the case here, I also get the mass duplicates if I do a full restore back onto my device (and the restore file was created BEFORE my most recent AS sync).

That's one reason why I'll have my Sprite Backup software perform 2 different types of backups: one for the system (without PIM data or My Document files) and another just for PIM data. The latter is only needed if I somehow suffer a hard-reset and can't get to my desktop anytime soon.

Otherwise, if I need to do a system restore, I'll just delete the partnership in AS and recreate it again. From there, AS will take care of recopying all of my PIM data and data files back to my device.

[Sven Johannsen]

You say your Desktop is on all the time, re-boot it once in a while, get the bugs out of it. (I really don't re-boot mine, I shut it clear off, wait 30 seconds and then re-start it. Speeds everything up).

Great advice. I too leave my machines on, but my first step with AS connection problems is to shut down and restart the desktop and soft reset the PPC.

At work we are supposed to just log out of our machines, so that patches can be pushed. No and then (actually frequently) my usb port on the front of the machine goes dead. It doesn't even get the connect sound for a PPC or a flash drive, much less the AS connecting sound. Shut off and restart always takes care of this.