MelSam's Blog

Hey Mel, I enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for the update on WMDC on Vista. That really clears things up!

Speaking of WMDC, I generally like the design, but one gripe I had with the 5308 version was that it simply takes a heck of a lot of space. As a future feature request, maybe it would be cool to create a sidebar gadget which is more compact and shows the sync status as well as some useful UI.

Thanks for the great work you and your team are doing! WM rocks!

WMDC for Vista RC1

Thanks to Mel who sits right next to Lydia, the Program Manager for the Windows Mobile Device Center...

With production Vista and WMDC, will it be possible when using the device emulator to cradle the emulator as you can at the moment with ActiveSync 4.x?
And will everything play nicely with VS 2005?

Hope so, it'd be a terrible shame otherwise.

Mel Sampat del equipo de Windows Mobile explica las razones por las que Windows Mobile Device Center...

Thank you for clarifying things, because there seems to be a lot of confusion about this.

I now have to say that for a RC, this is really unacceptable. Not that you control this, but considering people are not able to use ActiveSync and have no means of working with contacts much less else (without Exchange pass-through)... I find this to be a major piece that is missing. As a developer it also is a major pain. The common RC nomenclature should mean this feature is available in some way... OR there should be a work around. Moreover, there should at least be something stated in the release notes so the many public users are AWARE they will not be able to sync their Win Mobile devices such as the Q or whatever else.

Feel free to pass on this feedback to the team.

Ben

I am hoping that this is released sooner rather than later - I can't wait to install RC1 on my main PC, but need activesync functionality for my Windows Mobile development!

The inability to sync Outlook with my phone makes Vista RC1 unusable for me, and considerably lessens the utility of my smartphone. I  need to keep my diary and contacts aligned.

Why can't the workround that worked in Beta2 continue? HAving the world go backwards from Beta2 to RC1 is very sad

PingBack from http://www.pocketpcaddict.com/forums/front-page-content/16547-microsoft-vista-enhanced-sync-options.html#post42158

I Cry... this is completely frustrating, and again for me, I need to fall back on xp, which is something that I have allready  begun to loath...  I need my Vistaness. (read sexy ui)

Can you even give us a clue as to whether this is days or weeks or months away?

MelSam,
I too really appreciate the updates. I love what your company has provided for the Techies such as myself and I gotta say "Keep up the good work" We are holding our breath for the new release and look forward to the amazing things that you are going to send our way. Keep us posted.

I have only 1 major issue. I can't test Windows Vista RC1 until I get the active sync component. Any ETA?

Thanks for the updates- I've got RC1 on my notebook to demo to clients and do application compatability testing on-site.  I sync my phone to my notebook, and stupidly wiped my phone after installing Vista thinking RC1 was a feature complete build with only bugs remaining.  I'm in a world of hurt w/o some sort of sync...

Could you please tell me how could a WindowsCE5.0 device(under developement) to link to Vista by USB? Someone in Microsoft suggested us to use Network Media Device, we tried this, but it seems NMD only supports network linkage, do we have any other choice?  

I remember back in the day when I was using XP (about 3 weeks ago) and completely loathing the update process. Getting interupted from my work to restart my computer, just to get some security updates. My how things have changed. I randomly check for the update for Sync Center every 45 minutes or so (yea i'm desperate) and I got an update for my synaptics touch pad, and it was like opening a present. I am actually excited when the little icon pops up and tell me I have an update, cause you never know when it's going to be the one you need.

September 13, 2006

To Mel,

Currently, I am participating in VISTA x64 Testing.
While I have managed to re-build a PC to support
the new Operating System and circumnavigate the
annoyances of UAC & the need for Verifiable Digitally
Signed Drivers, it is dissapointing in the extreme to
see the lack release of a critical feature of WMDC
without providing an alternative to ActiveSync 4.x
Compatibility.

Are you aware of any third-party applications that
accomplish the same goals of Contact, Email, and
Task Synchronization?  Thanks.

William J. Ruberte
Senior Software Engineer
e: wruberte@msn.com

Thanks for letting us know. That is the one thing that I am missing with Vista right now.

I found out why I can't sync my PocketPC with Outlook in Windows Vista RC1. For all of you inquiring minds that want to know why and when, here is the link. For all those that don't give a...

Work-Around for the desperate...
Until MS decides to support the Pocket PC platform here's a work around for transferring contacts:

In Outlook go to your contacts folder, select all contacts, click "Actions" and "Forward as vCard" from the menu bar- this will export all of your contacts to VCF's which your PPC can read and embed them in an email- now send that email to yourself.  Open the received email and select all of the VCF's attached to the message and drag them to a folder called 'Contacts' to your desktop.  Attach your Pocket PC to your computer and transfer the 'Contacts' folder to the root of your Pocket PC.  Once copied, on the Pocket PC if you have a fairly small number of contacts you can tap each one at a time and import it into the PPC address book.  Otherwise if you have a ton of contacts (like I do), just leave them in the folder and import the contact as you need it.  Inefficient and ugly I know guys, sorry... but it does work if your desperate.  I can't believe MS doesn't support sync by a release candidate... scary.  Does not bode well for Vista...

Anyone ever heard of syncing over GPRS? With unlimited GPRS today, it is possible to have it all contacts, emails & tasks sync via GPRS... files can easily be copied onto the SD Card so no probs there... have been living on this workaround for sometime now... over the air sync is fine if you are not a globetrotter... :)

Hello Mel,

You seem to be taking all the flack here - well done that man! Take it on the chin.

As you can see we are all a little frustrated and while we know we are working with Beta's of course we are all using RC1 on our primary machines - how can we go back to XP now?

On the positve side, we are all your future customers...

I am officially beta tester of Vista, and has access to all the Connect downloads, but I'm not seeing where to get in contact with Lydia to get the WMDC and test it.... is there any special mail to do it, will it do it automatically?

The WMDC is the only thing that I'm missing now to go from XP to Vista. On Beta 2 it looked impressing compared to ActiveSync but did not worked with my iPaq Windows Mobile 2003.

I've heard on some forums that WMDC will only support Windows Mobile 5 devices. I hope this not to be true as it will upset lots of WM 2003 users.

Thanks for the update Mel, by the way Toby Jordan - a good idea is to use the built in Microsoft Backup tool that vista offers, (start - maintanence - back up and restore center)  store that back up on an external hard drive or a few DVD's, then reinstall XP. When you are ready to switch back to vista, reinstall a fresh copy of RC1 and then restore your backup image from the external hard drive or DVD's. I did this with 5308 just to test out the back up feature and it seemed to work great. Good Luck.

Wishes for PPC in Vista

1 - Sync via Wireless
2 - Support Windows Mobile 2003
3 - Remote software for MCE

From a 5 years Windows Mobile user...

Hi, I was facing the same issue as you guys till today. I was using vista beta2 and wmdc was working fine. Then I upgraded to RC1 and it stopped working. wmdc would launch, setup the partnership and then freeze. Here's what I did and wmdc is working for me now.

I uninstalled the existing version of wmdc through control panel. Then from C:\Windows\WindowsMobile launched WMDBase. This application connected to Microsoft's website and downloaded the necessary updates. Voila... wmdc is running again. I just synchronized my T-Mobile MDA with Windows Mobile 5.0.

It will take less than 5mins on a cable connection.

I can now sleep in peace!

HI Parimal Dandekar
I have RC1 and i upgraded from XP so in my windows\windowsMobile\ folder there is only one exe file called
wmdSync.exe, and it does not even run.
I guess I had to have WMDC installed before
but thank you for info

Any help please, I tried uninstalling like the above note, but do not have wmdbase in my C:\Windows\WindowsMobile folder or in any sub folders.

Here I thought it was statuesque; you cannot run an upgrade to a Microsoft OS without something going haywire.   So I did the fresh install, and still could not get Windows Mobile Device Center working. Thanks for letting me know.

For all of you that think you have a chance with the unistall process. If you notice Parimal Dandekar "Upgraded" from vista beta 2 to RC1. Beta 2 had a working version of WMDC so the necesary files were already in place. I (like many others in this blog) did a fresh install, so the files needed to delete are not there. I guess we still have to wait, or reinstall beta 2, make sure that the Sync Center is working, Upgrade to RC1, delete the files, do the update, and then maybe we can get some sleep. Any takers? I dont have the time to do all that but I would be curious to see if it works.

I have always upgraded all my MS OS thus far...right from win95 that I can recollect and never had a problem (may be once in a while i did have problems but nothing major!).
I was recently having issues with my server resolving dns since my ISP adelphia got taken over by roadrunner/timewarner. I will try and get my server up and running and host this folder in a .zip format. Once I have it up do try downloading  and running the wmdbase.msi file and see if it helps.
Hope it works for you!

Any chance of MS just letting ActiveSync work until WMDC or just supplying us with the files from Beta 2?

I agree with the first comment. I think a sidebar widget would be very helpful and keep WMDC tucked away but still easliy accessable.

PingBack from http://insoftwarehouse.com/blogs/brokenwings/archives/189

i guess i need to wait then. is there somehow a way to keep informed about the release of wmdc for rc1 ? or is it just a manner of clicking "windows update" each day (with the ppc connected) ?

Well, because I have time to spare and nothing essential on my Vista machine, I'm gonna install Beta 2 and try the upgrade workaround. I will post back on whether I have success later. Wish me luck!
Matt

Good luck Matt, keep us posted.

Damn, no luck. I couldn't upgrade Beta 2 to RC1 - it said my BIOS was too old (Toshiba M200), but it's the latest BIOS.
I did save the WindowsMobile folder from Beta 2, but when i pasted it into RC1, all that worked was the program which offered the options of browsing the filesystem, setting up sync with Media Player - no actual activesync stuffs.
I guess I will have to wait the several weeks for the proper RC1 WMDC to come out.

Mel...

I'm patient, and I'm waiting, but I have just one question which I hope you can answer.

Will the WMDC application when released for Windows Vista RC1 be able to syncronize with a Windows Mobile 2003 SE device?

Thanks for your help... Tom Gordon

Have fresh installed vista rc1  and with my mda vario connected I went to the uptate center; no updates available....

When is the alternative/upgrade for act sync available, so I can synchronise and test my contacts, mail and agenda?

Aad Wols

Why not release the preliminary beta of WMDC for RC1 to the public right now? So we can all test it! (as we are also in the public beta test program).

Hervidero

Because the preliminary beta of WMDC has been tested for the last 6 months or so, and they are working on a major issue right now. If you would have read what Mel said you would have realized that.

hi,
thanks for the info as i have been browsing the net to get the required plugin for sync ing my device with vista.
well its very important ,as the whole phone book , si getting disordered.
so ill keep on checking through the update.

IMHO, the release of RC1 without full WMDC functionality is a deal breaker for me. The fact that it doesn't support WM 2003 is not a deal breaker, however. If you think about how much time and effort go into a new OS, and with Crossbow on the horizon, WM 2003 is to Vista as Windows ME is to XP. Go buy a new phone. :)
For those of us who have ugraded along the way, however, and are dedicated to riding the bleeding edge of MS Tech, give us some tape and gauze! To omit this feature from the release candidate is like buying a car without a steering wheel. Unfortunately the vice grips won't work getting my apps reloaded to my WM 5.0 device!

my brand new mobile 5 phone has just stop responding to the pen.. everything works if you use the buttons but no pen... i don’t want to take it in to get a new phone since if i do that i won’t be able to get all my contacts back onto the phone...

i so wish there had been a warning about not being able to sync to pocket pcs in the download of rc1.. i would never have switch from beta 2 if i knew that.. now I’m stuck waiting for the update..

isn’t there a way we can use the internal version since we are all aware that this is beta software and therefore will accept any bugs... really bugs are far better than no functionality at all...

I really wish that they would release something at this point.  I'm really settling in to Vista and would hate to have to roll back.  At this point, I do my syncing at home from my XP machine, but really need to be able to do it from my desktop at work.

Can we beg Lydia or send her some cookies to maybe help out with the testing of WMDC?

I got it to sync!

I booted into Visa and connected my Axim.  After inputting my password I made both hands into fists and closed my eyes.  I then fully extended my forefingers and touched the tips of them to my temples.

I concentrated carefully  and thoroughly and within moments was watching the device sync happily with Vista RC1.

Maybe you can achieve the same results if you follow the steps above.  Let me know!

:-P

WMDC (Windows Mobile Device Centre), is the new software in Vista that replaces ActiveSync and you cannot

Any progress on the WMDC bugs?
Hope it works out anytime soon, seeing WMDC had A LOT of potential compared to ActiveSync.

Will the WMDC support Windows Mobile 2003 devices when it is released to the public?

http://shellrevealed.com/blogs/externalnews/archive/2006/09/19/Windows-Mobile-Device-Center-and-Vista-RC1.aspx

apparently it's arrived!

hallo!

when will the wmdc updated for rc1? i really need it for wm software development - need to check vista compatibility

kind regards, max ehret
developer of MAC.Attack!

Just Curious, Am I the only one that checks this page like 5 times a day for updates? Just waiting for that all important update.

))-: youre not ... its one of the most important feature for me...

Yep, sadly, I also check this page way too frequently and, I must admit, quite a few times more than you'd admitted to.  :-)

Me too.

Well, to be honest.... Vista RC1 is a heck of a magnificient update and as much as I long to sync my Qtek with Outlook I can gladly wait a few days... All we really sync are appointments and tasks. Now we got a splendid excuse for missing our appointments and forgetting what to do....

Yup I am very impressed with Vista since installing RC1 the other day, although I seem to be a step behind everyone I cannot even get Vista to recognise the device using the base driver. When I place the Ipaq in the cradle, Vista beeps to say a new device is detected but nothing happens from there on in.

This worries me that when the update arrives there will be no way of me getting it if Vista can't acknowledge the device, any help is appreciated......

Don't want to go back to XP now :)

Actually, what is sad is that this blog (which Mel admits is not even associated with the WMDC team) appears to be the best (and possibly only) source of information on the RC1 version of WMDC. And that is mostly by virtue of the location of his office!

Thank you Mel for letting us hijack your blog.

True that! Mel, Your the man for keeping us updated and devoting your time to us wayward productivity fiends.

You are all missing the good stuff -- check it out. It works with Vista RC1 as someone has been able to do it.

http://desigeek.com/weblog/amit/archive/2006/09/19/Syncing-your-mobile-with-Vista-RC1-with-WMDC.aspx

Wow, this makes me happy in my pants.

It installs the WMDC but i cant sync with outlook 2007. I've WM2003 device. :-(

It was only a matter of time. In my experience there is alwayse a back door.

"You are all missing the good stuff -- check it out. It works with Vista RC1 as someone has been able to do it.

http://desigeek.com/weblog/amit/archive/2006/09/19/Syncing-your-mobile-with-Vista-RC1-with-WMDC.aspx "

I think I'll keep my fingers to my temples.

Works great....does anybody know how to pair a WM5 device through bluetooth.  I can't seem to get my Comm Ports right???  I would really appreciate somebody's help.  Thanks!!!

although i'm reasonably impressed with vista so far, this is not really an acceptable RC1

RC builds are supposed to be just that. a release candidate.

that means 100% feature complete

if it is NOT feature complete, it is not a release candidate, unless they really ARE saying "we think this incomplete software is a candidate for release"

i can handle lots of my hardware not working because drivers arent ready, i can handle a buggy build, THATS what RC's are supposed to be about, but would you let someone test drive a car and tell them once they'd started moving "of course, the brakes wil be fitted on the final version"

if it's not RC, then it's beta and should be marketed as such

and i'm NOT going to fudge it because for all I know that will stop the final windows update coming through. I presume vista will count it as aready installed?

Thanks Robert and SKassam, using your links I can finally sync my PDA with Vista.  :)

Did the registry hack, installed the update, naturally no support for my Windows Mobile 2003 phone.  Meanwhile Vista build 5728 is out... I'm advising clients to wait til SP1 for Vista, there's just no way this product is going to be ready with one month til RTM and we don't even have a feature complete setup to start testing.

You know it really bugs me when people (Josh West for instance) don't read previous posts properly. Vista is not intended to have WMDC included in it. Vista will have a base driver only supporting sync of music and browsing of the device. WMDC will be available (as it is at the moment for Beta 2 and will be for RC1) as a windows update optional extra for those Vista users with a windows mobile. Why bundle software that in reality only a small number of Windows users actually use! So Vista IS feature complete, and the builds coming out from Microsoft are getting steadily more reliable and robust. RTM is well on schedule.

Just when does anyone think WMDC for Windows Vista RC1 will be available?

Needed please.

I think Daniel Muffin's post highlights one of the pervasive attitudes that are preventing Vista from being a great product- the concept that the lack of Pocket PC support effects a "small number of Windows users"- even though this comments section is full of nothing but people desperate to sync their PDA's.  True, in the last few months WMDC was seperated out of Vista, and that's acceptable to me as long as it's actually available to download as an add-on (in a beta or RC state- which ever arbitrary name were giving it today).  I think people who aren't mobile users constantly checking and syncing appointments and contacts don't understand that this is tantamount to not shipping keyboard support, not publicly making keyboard support available as a download, and when you hack it, only half the letters work.

Josh, I fully understand the need for WMDC I am myself a Windows Mobile user and reply on syncing my contacts/appointments. My point was that as WMDC is a separate product and it's lack of availability at this point in time does not mean Windows Vista is not feature complete. It is an add-on not a core element of Vista. I'm sure the guys on the WMDC team are working hard to make sure that the product will be ready for Vista users when it ships just as the teams working on other Microsoft programs and those from other manufacturers will be.

Daniel,  the point is that the lack of this feature is not documented anywhere. Until this post was made, no one had a clue why it was not working. The Vista website has screenshots of what should happen - but with RC1 - a supposed release candidate, nothing happened.

Keep in mind, there are no work arounds. You cannot use ActiveSync.... so you are dead in the water, with no documented work-around or even notice until they release it "sometime soon."

Your assertion of it being a rarely used feature is also quite absurd. I can think of many features that are nearly useless. How about Paint? How about Journal for non-Tablet users? How about Media Center for PCs that are not media center enabled but have Ultra? How about WordPad and the various games?

Bottom line - if this is to be taken seriously as a release candidate - plumbing such as the WMDC (branded as being built of Vista by Vista's own pages) need to be available, have a workaround or a notice.

No one is asserting they are not working hard, that has nothing to do with it. A release candidate implies being nearly release ready.

Ben

Use RegEdit to add a key called "WHOS" (without the quotes) under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft, connect your Windows Mobile 5.0 device and start Windows Update from the Control Panel. A 7MB update will then be available that enables WMDC in RC1.

My experience with the update was that the task bar disappeared while the update was being applied. I logged off and back on, started WMDC and it worked fine.

I humbly submit that while this will work for those of us who are desparate to use WMDC features now while testing RC1 it is counter to what the WMDC team is trying to do. If you can I recommend waiting until the WMDC team "officially" releases the update.

Thanks a lot for keeping us filled in Mel - much appreciated!

Is it safe to assume that if you go with the above hack, the official release (due approx 2nd Oct) will be automatically detected by Windows Update and installed on top?

Nice to meet you.
I say Kanon_Ayu using Windows Mobile machine habitually. Because a smartphone of W-ZERO3 was released in Japan, Windows Mobile airplane swells.
Because even Vista is able to have seemed to perform synchronization with Windows Mobile airplane, I expected it, but I return it to XP SP2 now and use it because WMDC of RC1 use seemed not to be still completed at a point in time when oneself upgraded it.
A question has how old
* Will it be for Vista RC1 use of WMDC not to be completed under the present conditions?
* When you are completed, will you be in condition to be able to already use a Japanese edition?
* I use NTT DoCoMo SigmarionIII(CE.net 4.1) together with iPAQ rx3715 Japanese edition of 2,003 Windows Mobile SE airplane, but does WMDC support CE.net 4.x or synchronization with Outlook with CE 5 now?
Do work; thank you. I develop it without overdoing it, and please do its best. Then I leave.

Postscript： I'm sorry. Because a part becoming "an airplane" is a mistake of an automatic translation, I am happy if I have you ignore it. I'm sorry…

While I am anxious to begin testing my PPC with Vista, I think the fact that WMDC is missing from RC1 is no "deal breaker" as others have said.  I assure you there are many other options that are new to Vista that you can spend your time on until the WMDC is released.   I am using Vista as my primary workstation but have retained a VM of my old XP so I can still sync with that.  Most of the time I do not need that because I am syncing over my T-Mobile connection.

Vista 5728 installed.  Much much faster on my hardware.  I like it a lot however since I've got 915 graphics, my game (Myst 4) doesn't work YET. (holding out on hope for WDDM drivers for this technically DWM capable chipset.)  Hmm.  Maybe I shouldn't imply that one had anything to do with the other... Sorry.

Anyhow, I've read elsewhere that this build may not "Windows Update" like 5600.  I hope WMDC is not the exception here when the time comes.  

Anyhow, fingers fixed firmly to my temples.

How will it work for other mobile devices, say a standard Nokia phone? Can they get the same behaviour through the Device Center, or is this only for Windows Mobile devices?

BR

Niels

Does anyone here have (and would be willing to share) the wmupdate.msi file that is talked about here http://desigeek.com/weblog/amit/archive/2006/09/19/Syncing-your-mobile-with-Vista-RC1-with-WMDC.aspx?

WMDC (Windows Mobile Device Centre), is the new software in Vista that replaces ActiveSync and you cannot

Although the work around works(and I used it just to allow for the transfer of my emails and contacts back to my machine) it is not for the weak at heart, this release is not in any way meant to represent a finished product, and should not reflect the finished product i am sure.  This releas is fickle and can cause problems with beta versions of office i.e. worked well with office 2003 but not so well with 2007, so really use it at own risk, and remember if you cant wait you cant get mad if it doesnt work well for you. good luck and again you should only use it if you are really able to trouble shoot!!!

Regardless of what anybody has posted on this blog...I have not had any problems with the work around for WMDC.  I did a clean install of Vista, Office '07 with Tech Refresh and then programmed the work around...no problems at all.  Then again, maybe I'm just lucky

Vincent,
Please send me your contact info (via my blog - www.desigeek.com) and I'll try and send you the MSI; but I would recommend using the Windows Update way to go if possible. I have not tried to use the MSI separately and I don't know if it works or how much things it will break.

And of course - this is not publicly released due to good reason - and it is not that MS does not want to release it. :)

There is a 'work around', it's how the internal testers get the product.

have a look at http://www.nakedcleaner.com/index.php/2006/09/25/windows-mobile-device-center/

And turn it on for yourself, if it breaks anything, or decides to take over the world, then I did not tell you how to do it ;)

PingBack from http://blogs.msexchange.org/zinman/2006/09/26/syncing-your-mobile-with-windows-vista-rc1/

The first post (below) is about the handwriting in Vista. If you use Tablet this is worth the download

PingBack from http://thebestbrew.wordpress.com/2006/09/27/screams-tears-hair-rends-garments/

See on Windows Vista Team Blog :

"A lot of folks have been pinging us with questions regarding release of the Windows Mobile Device Center.  Today I’d like to personally give you the heads-up that next week you will get your chance to download the new WMDC Beta and sync your mobile devices up with newer builds of Windows Vista."

Read more : http://blogs.technet.com/windowsvista/default.aspx

After cleaning my house, I needed to go through the painstaking process of getting my dev environment...

Hi Bertrand B. could you please tell us when this week are we going to be able to download the new WMDC Beta?

Regards

Sept 7th- "Lydia's team is working as hard as possible to resolve those issues and release WMDC publicly to Vista RC1 testers very soon."

It's my own fault for testing a release candidate, I realize that- but if I had known "soon" meant "a month or more" I definately would have rolled back to XP which supports the Pocket PC Platform, instead of suffering through, thinking it'd be out nearly any day.

I'm not upset at anyone in particular- Ignore me, I'm just venting- it's just really frustrating.

Don't feel bad, Josh... I think there are quite a significant number of people that feel the same way.  Just search Google/WLS for "vista rc1 wmdc" to see what I mean...

What's the deal??? Where is the update??? Last Thursday ya'll said it would be released the following week.... are ya'll gana make us wait till friday? Please, Please give us some sync love.

Hey, wondering how and when we'll be able to download WMDC.  Will it show up in Windows Update or is there something else that we'll need to do?  I'm really struggling here without being able to synch.  Cheers, Daniel

Usually it takes a hot woman to string me along with false hopes for a month...

MelSam, Windows Mobile Device Center is not released on the October 5th. But next week you will get your chance to download the new WMDC Beta and sync your mobile devices up with newer builds of Windows Vista. In addition, you are going to get a free lunch, a bottle of Champagne, and a tax shelter.

Alain- hilarious post!

Vista- Clear. Confident. Connected... to what??? Not my phone, that's for sure.  Five years in production, were down to 3 weeks (approx) to RTM and we still can't do what my Palm Pilot did 10 years ago.  Evidentally this is stuff you just hack and throw together at the last minute without any public testing.

Clear, confident and disconnected, that is.  With each passing day, my iPAQ 5555 (PPC 2003) gets further and further out of sync with Outlook.  And because of domain policy pointing my updates to our internal WSUS server, the WHOS registry hack does me no good.

Please Microsoft, just hook us up with a beta.  I have a backup and am willing to take my chances!

Danke!

You have to understand this is a trivial issue effecting a very small number of users.  There's really no reason to do anything about it or even give a credible release date.

-right-

Maybe this is part of an evil conspiracy to make us all go buy our own Exchange servers.  I suspect **if** they release it this week it will be at 11:59:59 PM Saturday night.  As always with MS- committed to the 'letter' not the 'spirit'.

Josh...maybe, just maybe, it'll be a long enough delay for people to start putting their Pocket PCs and Windows Mobile devices on eBay in favor of buying a Palm OS.  <gasp> I didn't just say that. ;)

I will be up at 23:59:59.999999 on Saturday night...gotta see what Sunday's woot on woot.com is going to be anyway.  :)

RC2 is out:

http://blogs.technet.com/windowsvista/archive/2006/10/06/Windows-Vista-RC2-is-now-available-to-technical-beta-testers_2100_.aspx

Does not appear MS plans to support Pocket PC in Vista.

Also- a special *F-You* to MS for stringing the PPC / Vista testing community out for a month with vague and constantly slipping WMDC release dates.  I wish you would have respected us enough a month ago to say, "Hey, it's going to be quite a while" instead of "soon" every other week.  We could have skipped testing and just stayed with XP for another 1/2 decade.

Today, Friday, October 6th, Microsoft is excited to announce the availability of Windows Vista RC2 and you are encouraged to download and install Windows Vista RC2. This will be the last build made available prior to RTM. However, WMDC is in fact separate from Vista, developed by a different group in a different organization within Microsoft. It will naturally be wrapped up in time for Vista RTM. It is just around the corner from WMDC and RTM and shipping these great products to the world. Around Christmas, we will update this post with links when the files are available for download.

Alright so WMDC is put off til Christmas now?  Alain- do you have a link to where you got this information?  I understood this was supposed to be released to business in November- evidently businesses do not use Pocket PC.

OK, this is bull. In the article posted above they said they it would be available this week. If it won't be avialabe til christmas then I'll do the reg hack. I've been holding off though because they specificaly said last Thursday that we would be able to download it the following week which is now. So what is it? Should we hold our breath and hope it gets released this week or just do the reg hack? My phone is not use to being denied the sync love, it's going through withdraws...

FYI- the registry hack only works with WM5, not WM2003.  I'm close to just buying a new phone so I can sync, but I really hate to piss $400-$500 on a new MS product that I don't know will be supported in Vista at this point.

Release Candidate 2 (Build 5744) of the new operating system is being made available by Microsoft to its usual crop of technical testers and developers, as well as to some of the enthusiast consumers who are testing the earlier, RC1 version. However, WMDC is in fact separate from Vista. Microsoft did not change its timing for the software's final release, but did indicate that it could still miss its goals. "As we stated from the beginnning of Windows Vista development, the quality of the product will always be our first priority," That said, Microsoft continues to target Windows Vista availability for volume license customers in November 2006 and general availability in January 2007, although the final delivery will be based on quality. The software maker had hoped to have Vista on store shelves and in new PCs in time for this year's holiday season, but said in March that it would miss that date. The software maker is encouraging developers and others to provide feedback on any issues that remain unresolved in the latest test builds. -- in other words, if it finds serious issues with the operating system, it would delay its planned launch.

Alright so I can take from that that the build quality is so poor at this point that they can't begin public testing and the release date is most likely to slip again.

Guess it's a fine fall weekend of rolling back to XP.  I've run/tested every version of Windows since 3.0 on my i286... this is the first I've actually had to roll backwards on this late into development.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  To quote my late grandfather, "You are a gentleman and a scholar."

Best regards,

Matt

Got it, installed it and...

My notes and tasks synced, but not calendar or contacts.  WMDC seems to crash if I look at it wrong.  It connects/disconnects constantly.  And my personal favorite, it's using ALL of my RAM (1GB) and god only knows how much of my swap file because my hard disk hasn't stopped turning in the last 30 minutes, which coincidentally is about how long it now takes to shut down the computer.

Sorry guys, I'm crying uncle and rolling back to XP.  MAYBE it'll work better with RC2, but optimism is what got me into this mess...

Ok, I deleted the partnership, restarted the computer and reset the PPC- this time I got a clean sync.  Yes, really.

I take back 1/2 the mean nasty stuff I said... I'll take back the other 1/2 if it keeps working.

Windows Mobile Device Center (Beta 3) is here for Pubic Download for Windows Vista RC1 and higher. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devicecenter.mspx

You had more trouble than I did.  Only once did it hang up during a sync, and that was when I saved a sync setting while a sync was already running.  However, uncrading and recradling the device resolved it.  I didn't have to kill any processes or reboot anything.

The most significant issue I found was changing an item on my calendar on the PDA--it didn't always sync back.  For example, I put in an apointment for going to the outdoor store Cabela's...I made a mistake and put it in as "Cabelas" -- it showed up in Outlook 2007 and I saw my typo.  I corrected it to "Cabela's" but it didn't sync up.  Uh-oh, I thought.  I couldn't get it to take.  I reopened and resaved, but it still didn't take.  Hmm...

I uncradled and recradled the device and it took.

Final assessment:  It's a beta.  There are bound to be bugs, but hey, it does work and I'm just a very happy camper to have all my stuff synced up again.  My biggest complaint is that it's slower than ActiveSync, but again, I really shouldn't complain too much.  They promised us last week that they'd hook us up this week, and even though it was late in the week, Microsoft came through in the bottom of the 9th.

Given my first run with the new WMDC, I'm pretty happy.  On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd probably give it a 7.5 or an 8.  Put a little bit more speed in there and it's definitely a solid 8, if not a 9.  But for a beta, I'd say a 7.5 or 8 is pretty darn good.

Day 2- Sync is still working good, Thank You!

Meanwhile... downloaded RC2, probably install tomorrow and I'll report back here then.

Anyone had any luck getting this to work on RC2 yet?  I'd installed RC2 and the WMDC update but it's not working for me...

Downloaded the WMDC update for Rc1 and it isn't working.  All that happens when I connect my device is it opens a Windows Explorer window showing the device.  Any ideas how I can get WMDC to work?  Please send them to:

eakins@xtra.co.nz

Cheers,

Daniel

No go on RC2 for me either. It loads the software just fine, but when I open WMDC the only option there is adjust the Connection settings.

same here,I'm using Vista RC1 (5600) and I have tried back and forth installing and uninstalling WMDC beta 3 and update from registry trick, but still no go..please help,..(my device M600 WM5). Anymore patch I have to install?

dennygun@yahoo.com

Regards,

Dgun

Downloaded WMDC just now, ran it up it worked fine and sychronised first time - seems fine to me!

I running Build 5728 on x64 and a x86 machine.

Installed WMDC on the x64 machine, no problems. Went to install on the x86 machine... Problems (yes I am using the x86 release!)

If I download and run it then it just ends in the installer half way with no error message.

If I run it from source then I get this message 'A network error occurred while attempting to read from file...'

Anyone have any ideas? Can I get the x86 version from somewhere else?

Roger,

What build of Vista are you using with the WMDC update?  I am using RC2 and it isn't working for me (nothing happens at all after the install and the Control Panel entry for WMDC does nothing when I click on it).

I'd performed a clean install of Vista RC2 and removed the partnership from my WM 5.0 device before docking it with the new RC2 installation for the first time.

My hope is that someone has had some luck getting this release of the WMDC to work with Vista RC (emphasis on "hope").  :-)

Thanks!

John

This is excellent information. Thanks. I will try and find this WMDC. It was included in Vista Beta 2 though!!!!!!!!! Bizarre, why would they remove it; it was working extremely well!!!

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devicecenter.mspx

Spotted this URL in the middle of the comments, so bringing it back for others :)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devicecenter.mspx

I am using a clean install of Vista RC1 Build 5600 and downloaded the WMDC Beta 3 from the URL quoted in this blog and as I posted it worked fine hope you can work out what's your problem. In response to Maurice Castelijn - once you have managed to install it you will see its quite different (much better) than the Vista Beta 2 implementation.

it worked great after I delete the partnership on my TyTN and did a reset. even got it to sync via bluetooth, although every now and then it takes a couple of tries to get it to sync via bluetooth. Thanks guys.

WMDC with RC2 (5744) working great! I installed RC2 as a clean install, plugged in the device and let Windows install the base driver, then ran the WMDC installer and hey presto it sync'd, working like a dream!

Hi, can anyone tell me how to delete a partnership on a WM 2003 device?

Thank you

Daniel, I'll give that a try tonight. Thanks!

I think I had performed things in the wrong order.  Here is what I did:

1. Installed Vista RC2 (clean).

2. Installed Office 2007 B2 and then the B2TR.

3. Installed the WMDC Beta 3 release.

4. Plugged in my WM 5 device.

What I experience are the basic sync options (to synchronize with Windows Media Player, for example) but none of the advanced WMDC functionality.  My theory is that plugging in my WM 5 device for the first time triggered a basic WMDC install that overwrote my WMDC B3 installation.

AlainAlainAlain,

Thanks for the link!  I had both my Treo 700w and Toshiba e755 docked and connected to my computer before I ran the install and had no problems.  It partnered with my Treo 700w and I was able to sync and install programs on it.  My Toshiba e755 required a  soft reset before I could partner with it but after doing that everthing worked great with that device.  I'm so happy now!

Thanks so much for all of this info.  I had a terrible time finding anything on WMDC until I found your blog.  Sorry that you've had to deal with so much crap from people when a.)this is in no way your fault, and b.)the operating system in question isn't due to be finalized for nearly two months. Again, thanks.

Edgar, it's been a while since I had a 2003 device but it should be the same. Go to active sync on the WM Device and you should see the partner ship (probably Windows PC). Now click Options and go to where it show s the folders you are syncing and the settings for them, from her you can select the Windows PC (or whatever yours is called) partnership and select delete.

Why not support older devices which sync perfectly with activesync I have a device that meets all my needs with xp and active sync to run vista I now have to purchase a new device????

Make active sync work or add in support for older pocket pc devices!!

The lack of 2003SE support in RC2 is making me really unpopular with the wife (whose laptop was the only one in the house that was Vista-capable).  Now that her Calendar and Contacts are stale, I'm looking bad.

Let's see that 2003SE-supporting WMDC beta right quick!

JohnS,

I believe that the WMDC Beta 3 does indeed support 2003SE devices.  Unfortunately, mine died a few months ago so I've since upgraded to a WM5 device and cannot test that it works with 2003SE.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devicecenter.mspx

Does anyone know why I'm having problems syncing my Motorola Q?  I plug it in and . . . . nothing.  I've installed WMDC and I can open it, but it doesn't detect my device.  I get the little boop boop (that's a technical term) when Iplug the phone in, but WMDC does not open.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

I also have a WM5 device that isn't synchronizing correctly.  It seems to the first time (although that's a hit-or-miss) and then just, for no apparent reason, stops.  Now, I plug in my device and Vista/WMDC doesn't even detect that it's connected.

If I reformat and then hard-reset my device and try it again, the same behavior occurs (sometimes, it won't detect the device at all after WMDC is installed while, other tries [after a format, reinstall], it will run once or twice and then stop working again.

I hate to critize but this seems to be just as bad as the "hackable" release of WMDC (Beta 2?).  Again, I'm sure that it's got to be working well for others but this is a huge mess for me.  After having waited more than a month from when we were told it was "soon to be released", I'm not at all impressed.  :-(

Nonetheless, thanks for at least making an attempt.  I know that things can only get better.  I just hope we have something that works way more reliably once Vista RTM's later this month...

I'm also having the same problem as John Luckett. Having thought everything was fine, after the first couple of syncs WMDC has decided to stop working properly and now tries to tell me that Outlook isn't installed if I create a new sync relationship on the PC. This really should be working pretty much perfectly as a Beta 3 release!

Interesting. I run WMDC on RC2 and everything works just grand.

I can sync Outlook, OK - it is a bit sluggish, and everything else I need.

Has anyone actually gotten a PPC2003 device to synchronize with Beta 3?  I keep getting a error about the sync host shutting down.

Marvin-

I have a Dell Axim X30 (PPC2003SE) which is synchronizing fine using WMDC Beta 3 on Vista RC2 Build 5744.  In fact, the Axim is syncing successfully with both Vista on a home system via WMDC, and with an XP Pro SP2 desktop at my office via ActiveSync.  Both systems are running Outlook 2003, with all patches and service packs.  

As noted by other posters, I let Vista install the base driver, then ran the WMDC installer with the Axim undocked.  Soft reset the Axim, docked it, deleted the former second partnership, and it connected right away.  I sync everything but email, as I use different email accounts (neither thru an Exchange server) at office and home.

Well, I have managed to get my Qtek nicely syncronized by WMDC to Outlook 2007 Beta under Vista RC2. I was happy. Then I downloaded Windowes Live OneCare and the firewall now stops my sync. I have to close down the firewall to be able to sync. Anyone knows how to get Live OneCare to behave??

Olle

Olle, you need to go to 'change OneCare settings' then select the firewall tab and go to 'Advanced settings'. Select the Ports and protocols tab and add the following entries

TCP Inbound 26675

TCP Inbound 5721

TCP Inbound 990

TCP Both (Inbound & Outbound) 5678 to 5679

TCP Inbound 999

Name them WMDC 1, WMDC 2 etc (or whatever you prefer)

Ensure all 5 options are ticked on the previous screen and click 'OK' this should make sure that you device can communicate with WMDC.

Daniel, you seems to be a scholar as well as a gentleman! It works beautifully now.

Dut,don´t you agree that there should be an easier way for two programs from the same manufacturer to communicate??

Anyone knows how to sync a Qtek to Windows Calender through WMDC and RC2?

(Not Outlook, I want an update of my life on my home computer)

This is more of a developer question, but is there any documentation anywhere on how to migrate ActiveSync service providers to WMDC?  I can see that the registry key locations have changed slightly, but there must be additional changes since my service provider is still causing the "Sync Host has stopped working" error dialog.

I agree with Olle completely on this one. All I can say in Microsoft's defence is that as WMDC isn't finalised maybe the ports have been changing or still will change before RTM so the necessary ports haven't been copied over the the OneCare team.

I'm having the same problem as Dave, above.  I'm running Vista RC1, and the installation ends right after I download and run it, with an error saying "A network error occurred while attempting to read from the file: E:\Users\_(username)_\Desktop\drvupdate-x86[1].msi"

The file name is drvupdate-x86.msi, not drvupdate-x86[1].msi, so I renamed it to the latter, then ran it, and the installation file opens up, gives the UAC message, then disappears, without installing WMDC.

I tried moving it to a different location, like the HDD root or another drive - no difference.

How can I fix this?  Besides DivX/Xvid video codecs and Skype not working properly, and the MCE interface being flaky/incomplete, the inability to sync my phone is the main reason I still have to boot into XP regularly.

I have windows vista rc1, i cant seem to find the rc2, but that is besides the point, with my windows mobile device software, i can sync, but i cant find were it is syncying my contacts to or my calender, anyhting liek that, please help, i need to know were it is all saved, thanks

I have the same question as Marvin, above: was anyone able to locate resources for migrating ActiveSync 4.x custom synchronization providers (plug-ins) to WMDC Beta 3?

Gary

Just for anyone interested, the solution to the problem I (and Dave) posted is to have your Pocket PC / Smartphone attached to the computer before you start the installation.  I did that accidentally today, and it worked :)

I just clean installed RC2 with office 2007 beta 2 + B2TR + WMDC beta 3. I also installed AVG 7.5 as well, they all work fine.

But when I plugged my Dopod Windows mobile 5.0 pocket PC phone with to my PC, the Vista seems try to install the device, and then give me blue screen and reboot. I tried several times with same result. What's the cause ?

Leo

Hi,

Anybody out there know when will be the WMDC RTM release date???

hey where can I Download:

Windows Mobile Device Center RC3 is available for the following versions of Microsoft Windows Vista RC1.

# Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (x86 and 64-bit)

# Microsoft Windows Vista Professional (x86 and 64-bit)

# Microsoft Windows Vista Premium (x86 and 64-bit)

# Microsoft Windows Vista Server (x86 and 64-bit)

# Microsoft Windows Vista Home (x86 and 64-bit)

found that on these page:

http://www.instantvista.com/windows-mobile-device-center.html

hope som help..

best regards

bengt

Hi bengt,

The articles stated that its WMDC RC3, but the download link is a WMDC Beta3 instead. I don't think there is any update from Microsoft yet. Hope to know when will be the release date for WMDC RTM though. By the way thanks for the information bengt.

Regards,

Ryan.

Great site. I found lots of useful information. There is one area that is missing for me. With windows XP, I was able to connect my PPC-6700 via USB to my laptop and have Internet using the EVDO data connection on the phone. I have installed RC1, and WMDC, and both work. I have tried seeting up the device similar to tthe way I did it on Windowx xp, and found that the USB driver is not supported. Does anyone have a solution?

Thanks

Does WMDC RTM? i using Vista RTM, when i click on WMDC in control panel, only the connection dialog box showed. The WMDC just doesnt show up.

Running Vista RTM & Office 2007 RTM- Microsoft still does not officially support the Pocket PC platform beyond a half-baked beta.  Also interesting- I picked up a new MS Zune music player only to find out it doesn't run on Vista.  Are you guys honestly even trying any more?

Yeah, so I've rebooted, reset, uninstalled/re-installed... WMDC DOES NOT WORK WITH VISTA RTM... YOU WILL LOSE YOUR DATA!  (and I even went and bought a new WM5 phone).

Hi Guys,

WMDC will not be included in Vista RTM, as earlier mentioned. WMDC will come as seperate from Vista. If you guys want to use WMDC i think you have to install WMDC beta 3 which is available to be download from microsoft website. Think twice before installing, as i read from other forum it is not really stable running in Vista RTM.

Ryan, do you know what fora I can go prowl to get confirmation that the last 10 hours of fighting with this thing have been in vain?

If everyone else is having trouble getting anything to work with the WMDC Beta 3, I'll just give up and wait.  My sync host crashes religiously with my HTC (Cingular) 2125.

Thanks,

Matthew Chaboud

I have tried over and over and over again, removing partnership(s), syncing only contacts and files (this seemed to work for some reason), but after the first sync (if WMDC can even be bothered to get this far), EVERY time I try to connect the device WMDC (or the device - who the hell knows) conveniently disconnects, leaving me high and dry for a basic sync operation.

Screw beta - this is BARELY alpha quality software.  What the hell - if they're not going to support ActiveSync to even get people started who are interested in using Vista (and I'm not even sure why they would want to do that given all the other problems that seem to exist with the OS and software compatibility), then they [Microsoft] should at least provide something that is marginally functional.

My sentiments - this "beta" is utter crap.

Hi Matthew,

I am kinda forgot which forum or website since i just browse through. Here are one site where few user complaining WMDC on Vista RTM http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2006/11/02/windows-mobile-device-center-overview.aspx .

Yep,

I have wasted WEEKS trying to get this piece of crap to work....

$600 Smartphone.

$2000 Tablet PC.

4 Hours downloading software.

100 hours getting it to work.

Windows Vista, nothing is possible...

Thanks, Ryan.  

I tried the firewall fix, re-installing, wiping and re-installing Vista, and many more, but nothing worked.

I've ordered a Bluetooth dongle to give a BT sync a try.  There may be a USB-related problem, but my phone works as a USB modem just fine.

Thanks for your help,

Matt

Welcome Matthew. Really hope that the WMDC RTM will solved all the current problem we are facing.

Ryan.

Well I hope that the RTM works, but I find it hard to believe that MS didn't release a MAJOR component, essential to 80-90% of mobile workers today with RC1.... I hope I'm not alone in this point of view.

Hey, guys, I got the 2125 working in Vista on my laptop after several hours of tinkering.

I have described the process on <a href="http://matthew.chaboud.com/">my old dormant web-site</a> to try and help out anyone else who has this device.

Basically, USB would fail after very little data transfer, and Bluetooth wouldn't connect at all.  If you set up the partnership with USB, though, Bluetooth works just fine.  I also stuck a modified version of the USB-Modem inf file up there that accounts for the usbser.sys error that comes up if you try to use the driver file that came with the phone.

At this point, everything works with WMDC Beta 3.  I have my contacts, calendar, todo list, and photos, and all it took was an $8 Bluetooth adapter.

i get a windows PC trying to syncwith my PDA but the PC i am connected to is windows PC 2. how do i get rid of the other one ?

please help, i have spent hours getting to this point

WMDC Beta 3 on Vista Enterprise RTM sucks.

How do you guys at Microsoft expect us to recommend Vista to our end users, if we have to say to our users.

"Uninstall Outlook / Install Outlook / Install WMDC Beta 3 and then pray that it works".

You were saying on the 17th September, MelSam:

"Either way, the final version that will be available when Vista RTMs within a couple months will support both WM5 and WM2003. Hope this helps. "

BULLHICKEY!

Hi there.

Vista MSDN + WMDC b3 + ASUS P525 (GSM/PDA) + Outlook 2007 = Everything is working excellent. I even got my PDA connected to my PC-internet using "USB: ActiveSync hi-speed mode", just right after applying the "AllowLSP=0" trick in both PC and PDA Registry.

The only one issue I have is the Vista Advanced Firewall that preventing the internet connection through WMDC to work. I have to turn off the firewall to make that connection available.

Firewall rules created by WMDC Setup itself seems not to be enough to permit this connection in block-mode.

ZbI. Sorry for my broken English.

OK, I have read conflicting information about this one and just want an answer.

I run Vista Ultimate RTM with WDMC beta 3 installed. I also have a O2 Atom running Windows Mobile 5. When I connect the O2 Atom to my PC i get Autoplay options and nothing else. I can browse the content of the O2 Atom and the Memorycard and also Sync Media files but nothing else. It is very frustrating as I have tried a dozen things I have read on the internet and still no success.

Can someone please confirm whether Vista Ultimate RTM with WMDC beta 3 will allow me to sync with my O2 Atom. Other sites like http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2006/11/02/windows-mobile-device-center-overview.aspx  state that it is not possible to sync with Vista Ultimate RTM with WDMC beta 3. I am now getting increasingly frustrated and confused !!!!

Is anyone able to clear this up for me.

Thanks

Jeff

we are 2 weeks away from the vista official release and there are still major problems with bluetooth syncing capabilities can we expect this to be fixed for release at the end of the month  or am i gonna leashed to my usb cable for a while after yet

btw in case you need to know i am using a treo 700 wx with a rocketfish bluetooth adapter

I just can not understand how this product was ever released.  I PAID MONEY for Vista Business.  can not get WMDC to even install.  I get the "network error" and the installer crashes like a dog. Cradle my Mobile 5 phone....nothing! So what do I do now?  Blow up my business machine, and go back to XP???  Sounds like MS has finally made a good case for Linux.

The main reason is that Microsoft has got too big and big headed. They can sell us any old crap and we will buy it. It is really sad.

I used Vista on a friend's PC who is a Beta tester. I used it for the 3 days I stayed over and I loved it. I would have bought it on release but without PPC sync Vista is not worth 10 cents to me. I would not even spit at it now!!! Microsoft is like Bush, do what we say or you're history. PERIOD.

This is just crazy, we are now past the official launch and one of the main features for any business user is the ability to synch with their computer.  People would be a lot more understanding if someone at least tried to address the issue and give some kind of an update once in a while, it wouldn't take much really.

Windows Mobile Device Center nor good old Activesync  works "seamlessly" in windows Vista Business after product release...  Still about the security, data and information protection issues esp. in the Enterprise space...  ????

Syncing with a Treo700w doesn't work on Vista Ultimate (frustration).  Ideas anyone?  I just hear a bonk - but no popup or hints.

Wow, what a piece of junk.  This is really no better than ActiveSync, and is in fact worse because of the confusion between Sync Center and WMDC.

Running Vista Business RTM with an i-mate PDA2K, and WMDC refuses to work consistently -- just wouldn't sync at all (even when I could access files, etc., WMDC would show disconnected) until restart (even log-off wouldn't do it).

Then today I decided to upgrade from Beta 3 to release WMDC -- what a horrible decision.  Not only did it lose all partnership information, but without asking me anything, it created duplicates of 4,000 calender items and was trying to sync them back to the phone when I realized and disconnected it.  Now I have no good way (other than buying commercial 3rd party software) of removing all this junk WMDC dumped into Outlook.

Even ActiveSync wasn't this bad.  Vista + WMDC are several months and updates away from being even remotely ready for use in a business setting with Windows Mobile devices.

Windows Mobile Device Center appears to be completely useless.  I have a licensed copy of Vista Ultimate and a brand new Dell Axim running Windows Mobile 5.0.  I have WMDC installed (and the Axim was connected at time of install as instructed) but the program just keeps saying not connected.  I've disconnected and reconnected the Axim.  I've shut down and restarted... still NOTHING.  The only way I can get Vista to see the Axim is by establishing an IR connection but to transfer information back and forth via IR would take forever and completely defeats the purpose.  Microsoft's site gives no helpful information on troubleshooting.  Has anyone else experienced this and if so, have any suggestions?

Have you checked out your firewall. A common solution to solving this problem is to open the neccessay ports in your firewall to allow the device to communicate with WMDC. Have a look in the help file for WMDC, there is a handy list of all the ports that need to be open for WMDC to connect. If you have Windows Live OneCare v1.5 (RTM) there is a preset with a tick box in the firewall settings to allow WMDC through.

I do indeed have Windows Live OneCare.  I checked the settings in there and the radio button for allowing Windows Mobile Device Center is set for allow.  I also added all of the ports in the Windows firewall that the help file in the WMDC says to allow.  Still nothing.  When I connect the handheld I hear the Vista sound acknowledging that a USB device has been connected but there is still no activity in WMCD and it just says Not Connected.

i used to upgrade my WM on a periodical bases but after getting VISTA and using the WMDC i turned down cause while i'm upgrading my WM5 EXTROM the PC refuse to see the PPC when installed on the cardel even the light is not flashing nad i'm getting 101 windows error device is not connected my PPC now is dead and i contacted IMATE and Microsoft but no solutions any help

Du musst ein Fachmann sein - wirklich guter Aufstellungsort, den du hast!

pagine piuttosto informative, piacevoli =)

luogo grande:) nessun osservazioni!

Great site! Good luck to it's owner!

Hi Mel,

I have just got the RTM version of the WMDC for Windows Vista and couldn't sync my PDA2K (with Mobile 2003SE) over a Bluetooth link. Even though the two devices get paired, the ActiveSync option on the device sends an error stating that the Remote computer doesn't has the service available.

Is this a problem with the WMDC or with the version of the Activesyn on the device.

Thanks,

Ich erklare meinen Freunden uber diese Seite. Interessieren!

My new Dell Axim X51v doesn't sync outlook contacts, app's... Pc is E1705 vista. When will the new fix come? WMDC looks impressive but it I can't sync outlook I can't use it. HELP!

Has anyone had luck getting a rocketfish bluetooth keyboard to work on a treo 700 wx??  I am able t0 sync over bluetooth using a rocketfish bluetooth to usb adapter similar to Chris Mcgrath.

I can't find any information on syncing an embedded CE 4.x / CE 5.0 device to WMDC on Vista. We manufacture a handheld device based on CE 4.2 / CE 5.0 and it will not sync with WMDC on Vista. When we try we just get driver for this device not installed or failed.

Is there anyplace I can go for information on how we can fix our device or what needs to be done to allow our embedded CE 4.x / CE 5.0 device to connect to WMDC.

I am testing using a USB connection - again WMDC either says device driver loading failed or puts the device in the device manager as an unkown device or both.

Fire Lydia and whomever else is responsible for WMDC.  It is, without a doubt..one of the worst pieces of crap ever sent down to the public.  Crap doesn't even begin to describe this app.  

I spend on average of 2+ HOURS a DAY... just connecting, reconnecting, reinstalling, resyncing, etc. to this rag.

And... I've reinstalled WM 5... upgraded to WM6...downgraded to WM5, upgraded WMDC 6.1, downgraded...

I agree with the last poster (Mags)... this is a big show stopper for me. i've been missn with sync since day one with vista. many devices and many machines. i can't belive you all let this fall through the cracks this long. pissn.

Careful with WMDC

I used WMDC to sync my WM5 Atom a few days ago and then today I plugged it into my XP laptop. It changed the name of the connection AND overwrote all of changes on the Atom with what was on my laptop. This means I have lost any edits from the last few days ... mileage logs, timesheets, etc.

Even worse, it has changed the date of every file, so now I can't tell which has been edited.

At the moment I am very irate so I won't write any more.

I'm synching a mobile 6.0 smartphone with Outlook via WMDC.  No problems except I can't find a way to synch outlook notes.  Any ideas?

I am extremely frustrated with WMDC under Vista, and angry that Microsoft even released Vista with so many problems.  I installed Vista Ultimate and had no issues syncing my Dell Axim X51v, until AFTER I installed RC1 in early January.  Thanks, Microsoft, for NOT telling my RC1 would completely disable WMDC from syncing to my PDA.  I have lost that functionality.  So I uninstalled the RC1 service pack, supposedly to be returned back to my original Vista configuration, and WMDC still did not work.  I uninstalled WMDC and WMDC device driver updates, installed WMDC 6.1 from download, and still NO response to seeing my PDA.  Upon cradling, Vista gives it's ding-dong sound, but no sync or device connection occurs.  So very frustrating, unable to keep my PDA current.  And Microsoft keeps us in the dark about workarounds, fixes, expected release dates...

Why are you fixing stuff that isnt broke?

Bring back activesync... this crap center is just screwing up my productivity and the use of my pda with outlook.

Cant be arsed seriously to be waiting every time I connect to my laptop to set up another sync and have it sync my entire outlook with the damn thing.......

Good to see that there are still WMDC / Sync / Disconnection issues and that I am not the only one wasting precious time trying to run my business with this poop WMDC programme.  Works one day, not the next, then it does.  God it's a pain

I just spent the last 3 days trying to get WMDC to work on Vista Bus., just got a new PC with Vista home. Connect on problem. I have been dealing with restarts ever since I purchased Vista Business over a year ago!!!!! I have run Pocket PC 2003/Win ce/win ce 5 with active synch without issue. Vista Business has been a bomb since I got it. Time to upgrade to XP.

After spending 4 days of uninstalling and reinstalling WMDC, making changes to the registry, and many more I just gave up and did a system rollback to the last time my HTC synced with WMDC. It worked again....but 2 days later it fail yet again! I'm tired of dealing with this piece of WMDC crap. I'm am an Windows enthousiast and .NET developer but this is shameful. My 2 weeks old 650€ HTC HD is useless right now. Really, shameful. They really can't even get Windows working together with Windows Mobile ?????? Why do they release it? Why are there no patches or just anything ? Again, shameful...

I am trying to link (either by cable or BlueTooth) my new HTC Touch HD to my Toshiba laptop running Vista Ultimate and having no luck. I dont think its me I had my old HTC phone up and working ok! Have tried deleting and re-installing the updated drivers from Microsoft but somehow nothing seems to "see" WMDC, even my old phone wont now find WDMC :(

Has anyone found a way to resolve this C*** thats seems to have been going on for 2 years now, judging by these threads!