Fixing occasional problems with ActiveSync
ActiveSync™ version 3.1 is the latest version of Microsoft's synchronization software that links a desktop PC with a Windows Powered Pocket, Palm-size or Handheld PC. It ships with every Windows Powered mobile device that is sold.
In my previous tech support column, I discussed ways to troubleshoot problems connecting mobile devices powered by the Windows CE operating system (Pocket, Palm-size, and the various versions of the Handheld PC) to a desktop computer running ActiveSync. This, the second article of the series, will discuss specific synchronization problems which you may encounter occasionally when using your device.
Synchronization vs. data transfer
ActiveSync, which is installed on your desktop PC, is designed for data synchronization between mobile devices running the Microsoft® Windows® CE operating system and desktop PCs. The synchronization of data is different from the raw transfer of data. A data transfer sends chunk of data between two computers, but transferred data simply overwrites any existing data on the receiving device.
Data synchronization is a different, much more complex process. Updates to data on both the source and destination devices are based on changes or deletions since the last synchronization. During this synchronization process, only the changed or deleted objects are transferred. ActiveSync also handles conflict/resolution situations where changes have been made to both the desktop computer and the Windows CE-based device since the last synchronization.
ActiveSync is responsible for handling tasks such as maintaining a table that maps the data on the device and the desktop, detecting changes to data, transferring data, and resolving conflicts arising when changes were made on both the mobile device and the desktop.
Synchronization Service Providers
Third party developers as well as Microsoft develop ActiveSync SSPs
(Synchronization Service Providers). These SSPs, once installed, allow a
particular application to synchronize data between the mobile device running the Microsoft Windows CE operating system and the desktop PC running ActiveSync. You can find the list of the SSPs currently installed by opening ActiveSync on your desktop PC, going to the Tools menu and selecting Options (see Screen 1). The most common examples are the Microsoft Outlook SSPs for Calendar, Contacts, Inbox, Tasks and Notes. Note that some SSPs are only available on certain mobile devices. An example of this is the SSP for Access, which is only available for the H/PC Pro and the new Handheld PC 2000. Check with your device's documentation to see what it supports.
Screen 1: Third party developers as well as Microsoft
develop ActiveSync SSPs (Synchronization Service Providers), which allow
ActiveSync to synchronize data of a specific program between mobile
devices running the Microsoft Windows CE operating system and desktop
PCs. You can find the list of them in ActiveSync's Option menu.
The large majority of the synchronization problems encountered by users are the result of corrupt or otherwise damaged data being transferred between the mobile device and the desktop computer. Each new version of Microsoft's synchronization software (ActiveSync 3.1 at the time of this articles writing) has taken steps to improve the speed and reliability of synchronization, while at the same time improving the processor's ability to deal with corrupt or unsupported data types. However, there are still situations that require user intervention to resolve. It's those situations, where the user has to get involved, that this article will address.
Any time that you experience a synchronization error the first thing you need to do is determine the extent of the problem. Does the problem affect all of the Synchronization Service Providers (SSPs), or do some SSPs still synchronize correctly? Is there a descriptive error message indicating what the problem may be? These questions will help us determine how pervasive the problem really is.
Usually, you will find your problem matching one of these categories:
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