Originally Posted by Andy Sjostrom

I spent my weekend with ActiveSync... and I realize that many of you can fill in with your favorite ActiveSync rant. My most recent issue is related to the dreaded "Connection Failed" message from Visual Studio .NET 2003 when trying to debug and deploy applications to devices. Instead of giving you my subjective feelings about the problem I will, for once, cut to the chase and tell you how I fixed the problem.

First, I google'd a little and spotted some replies which lead to a fairly new set of Windows CE Utilities, "Windows CE Utilities for Visual Studio .NET 2003 Add-on Pack 1.1", Microsoft. Most of the utilities are geared towards connectivity issues between devices and Visual Studio .NET 2003 through ActiveSync. I downloaded the utilies, studied the instructions and tried every hint -- but nothing worked. I found the following piece of information generally interesting: "Issue: After uninstalling ActiveSync version 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 or 3.71, deploying fails with the error message "There were deployment errors. Continue?� This typically happens when one version of ActiveSync is uninstalled and a newer version is installed. Solution: Uninstalling these versions of ActiveSync removes some registry settings that are required for deployment. You must restore these registry settings to enable deployment."

Anyway, I decided to go clean... This is what I did to get back on track:

1. Un-install Pocket PC 2003 and Smartphone 2003 SDKs
2. Un-install eMbedded Visual C++
3. Un-install Visual Studio .NET 2003 (including MSDN Library)
4. Un-install ActiveSync 3.7.1
5. Install ActiveSync 3.7.1
6. Install Visual Studio .NET 2003
7. Install Pocket PC 2003 SDK
8. Install Smartphone 2003 SDK
9. Run fixes from Windows CE Utilities

I still get deployment errors every time I try to push code to the device, but I work around that by just ignoring the errors, re-deploying and then the process works without any errors reported. This behavior is actually described in the Windows CE Utilies instructions, but the hints provided don't fix the problem. To me, it is just a minor issue. The real deal is that I can finally connect to my devices again!

Originally Posted by BlueRocket

I remember reading somplace on a Microsoft web page, or a readme included in one of the SDK's for SmartPhone or PPC about being extra carefull when upgrading ActiveSync after the SDK has been installed. If you are upgrading or have upgraded to AS 3.7 after VS.NET 2003 was installed that you have to run a repair on the VS.NET from the install CD's.

Now, this is a huge pain, because it is just like reinstalling, but that has to be better than everything you went through. :wink: Something to try next time, or if you got some free time.

Originally Posted by Arne Hess

LOL... :-) And I thought you guys are going to launch another site called "ActiveSync Thoughts"