Comments on: The one thing I do not like about using the Treo 700w

By: Trey

Trey — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:51:35 +0000

Whew, man. I have been having problems with ActiveSync, and reading this blog post, I just cringed. It’s posts like this that my Mac fanatic friend just looooves to point out. This kind of user experience is exactly the thing Apple bases its entire market share upon. Ouch.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 08:48:36 +0000

I have same problem. Activesync 4.1 worked for 2-3 weeks (after some startup problems), now it fails consistently on both PCs. Not using Exchange sync. And, interesting, some of the items do sync, but in the end sync fails. I noted that it fails most in Notes (but I have no notes on Treo700w or on the PC). Also, I cannot unclick several of the items to sync, favorites, tasks, favorites so I cannot test if sync will fail if these are not synced. I find this to be the worst program MS has ever developed; no diagnostics, no detailed errors (the log doesn't help much), no recovery, etc. I've also had same problem with Activesync with 3-4 other PDAs in past years. NOTE: I just got the message to combine, delete or cancel sync, I've tried all, all will fail with the sync cannot continue message.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 19:10:29 +0000

To synchronize tasks with the exchange server you must first have a task on your treo then the option to synchronize tasks will be available

By: jk

jk — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 17:38:54 +0000

Thanks for the good information, Paul.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 16:48:12 +0000

I assume you went to Microsof tsupport? Your pocket PC and your PC keep detailed logs of what occurs during syncronisation, reading these can help troubleshoot specific information… this is how to enable verbose sync logging on your device (from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330461/en-us):

Verbose Logging
You can also turn up logging on the device to gather more information for troubleshooting purposes.

To enable logging on the device:
1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click ActiveSync.
2. Click Tools, click Options, click Server, and then click Advanced.
3. Minimize the keyboard.
4. Change the logging level to Verbose.
5. Close the Options dialog box.
The log is saved in text format in the WindowsActiveSync folder.

The log file is cleared at the beginning of each synchronization session. To retain the log file, copy or rename the log file before you start another synchronization session. To copy the log file:
1. Synchronize your PocketPC device with the server. If the synchronization fails, synchronize until the point of failure.
2. Disconnect your PocketPC device to prevent the log file from being overwritten if an automatic synchronization is scheduled.
3. In Windows Explorer, expand My Device, expand Windows, and then locate the log file that is in the ActiveSync folder.
4. Rename the log file.

By: jk

jk — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 15:34:04 +0000

The 9 hour initial sync time with the Server is accurate, I left it running when I went to bed and it finished shortly after I checked it. Most of that time before deciding to let it run overnight was in the “looking for changes” stage. Let me also elaborate- once that initial sync finished successfully subsequent syncs to the Server over EVDO only take a couple of minutes.

I am syncing a few of my email folders and sub-folders but not that many and limited to the last 2 weeks.

I agree I am heading for a hard reset but that was the point of my post. This should not be the solution for something that was working fine one day and then a few hours just developed problems. That’s the problem with ActiveSync. When it decides to “go bad” it goes all the way and solutions are limited.

By: EdH

EdH — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 14:41:59 +0000

Your tasks won’t sync until you put SP2 on Exchange 2003. As for the 9hr sync, there is something wrong with your server or active directory. I can do a full sync over GPRS in about 30 minutes, and that includes 600 contacts (well short of your 4,000), several hundred appointments, tasks, and nearly 500 emails, about 20% with attachments.

The sync takes about half the time if over WiFi or if I am docked and it is using the PC’s fast connection to the server.

By: M Freitas

M Freitas — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:51:44 +0000

Odd stuff…

At #1, Wi-Fi being stopped on the Windows Mobile device while using ActiveSync is a known “feature”, and this is for security reasons, since now ActiveSync uses an IP-based synchronisation instead of the older method. There’s a small application released last week – you can Google for it.

At jk… The 9 hour sync seems odd. ActiveSync doesn’t show the time elapsed, but only the last sync time. While in the cradle it actually syncs on a schedule, every few minutes. Perhaps you saw this “Last Sync Time” and thought it was a single one?

About the long time anyway… 4,000 contacts? It will take time to sync this. Sync on Windows Mobile is slower, since it now uses Flash memory instead of RAM. I have 1,000 contacts and my initial sync to Exchange was something around 10 minutes – not counting the time for email sync (I keep my Inbox under 50 items all the time anyway).

Have you hard reset (Clear Storage) the Treo before switching the sync between Outlook to Exchange? I recommend doing a clear synchronisation to Exchange, and if you have used the device before on another synchronisation accepting the “Replace all content” is not good enough, IMHO.

By: fil

fil — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:41:41 +0000

I could not help but comment, but that the Treo 650 Hotsync (PalmOS) is rock solid like always.

Bringing up the old Palm vs PPC debates…

By: Dennis Rice

Dennis Rice — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 12:36:41 +0000

Ouch — sounds like a pain. In setting up Windows Mobile devices in the past, I found that you have to choose which method to synch each “object” (mail, tasks, notes, etc.), and stick with it, or problems arose. If I just did calendar and mail wirelessly, I had less issues. Coulda been my ignorance though! :-)

Quick question JK, does Activesynch on the 700W allow you to synch ALL folders (not just inbox)? I assume so since it iw WM5.0, but thought I would check anyway. I have the Treo 650, and it is pretty reliable synching with Exchange (most of the time, I had issues while at CES), but will NOT allow sub folders or peer inbox folders to synch. Major shortcoming for me, so I am considering forking over the money for the 700W.

Watching your “pain” closely first though! :-)

By: Matt Smith

Matt Smith — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:25:18 +0000

9 hours for the initial sync with your Exchange Server?! That sound really odd, especially when you compare it to Ciccone's experience. I think he mentioned on the podcast that it was done for him in the time it took for him to ride the elevator from one floor to another. Very odd. I picked up the 700W on Tuesday based on hearing you guys talk about it on the show. I love it so far, especially since I know that I'm getting over on Verizon by using my unlimited data plan with my Sony Vaio laptop. I cancelled my pc card EVDO account, and I'm using PdaNet. Thanks for that suggestion!! The one thing that bugs me about the Treo is also ActiveSync. Whenever I connect the treo to my notebook, ActiveSync kills my WiFi connection. Reinstalling the app does no good. It's a very strange thing.

By: Activesync 4.1 Woes

Activesync 4.1 Woes — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 08:08:37 +0000

By: Zithromax and eye infections.

Zithromax and eye infections. — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 08:08:37 +0000