ActiveSync Broken after changing Email Client

[Guest Abecedarian]

It has taken me the past few hours to fix a rather serious bug, and thought I would share the incident and my solution to the problem.

For starters, here’s my basic information: HTC Typhoon (AT&T ROM), ActiveSync 4.0 (Beta). This may or may not be relevant for ActiveSync 3.8, but is independent of the version of Outlook normally used.

Out of frustration from an earlier escapade, I went into Internet Options / Programs and changed “E-Mail:” from “Outlook” to “Hotmail” (ie, “anything else”). In later experiments I discovered that the same issue arises for any change in client association, including those such as the sleek Thunderbird.

Discovering my disloyalty to Microsoft, ActiveSync immediately chose to declare war on me. When I tried to ActiveSync for Smartphone, it refused to synchronize much of my data. One might think that it was because it couldn’t discover the location or format of my stored emails, except for one small thing...

I have ActiveSync set to never sync my emails. The Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks association were all still linked to outlook in my Internet Settings. And it isn’t as though all of Outlook’s data is tied together; SmartphoneNotes synced perfectly. It was only these other three data sets that posed a problem.

I experimented around a bit. Changing it back so that Outlook was chosen as my primary calendar did no good. Neither did going into Outlook’s settings and checking the box giving it control over all of its’ desired functions. Restarting both my phone and computer did nothing. The error had recommended using the “Detect and Repair” choice under the Help menu for Outlook 2000 and other earlier versions. Niente. It didn’t matter with what preferences I fiddled, ActiveSync refused to ever again synchronize these functions.

But there was a solution. They key is to re-insert the Office/Outlook installation CD and choose the repair function (not the complete reinstall, although I imagine that would also work). It takes awhile, but solves the entire problem. Interestingly, the only thing it noticeably changes is setting Outlook as the default calendar in the Internet Settings/Program menu if it hadn’t been left that way in earlier fiddling escapades. All other data and settings are left untouched.

It could be that this was entirely related to having had ActiveSync 4.0 (feel free to experiment and report back regarding earlier versions). But my instinct is that similar incidents occur whenever the de facto use of Outlook is violated regardless of whether there is an actual necessity. Perhaps this is a product of ill intent, or merely a safety measure to prevent data corruption and error. But given the ease of SmartphoneNotes synchronization, I suspect the latter to not be the case.

Anyways, a brief summary:

1) Outlook well-behaved and okay with sharing.

2) ActiveSync is a bully that tolerates no alternatives to 100% Outlook.

3) Disabling one of Outlook’s abilities is enough to deny ActiveSync to them all, save SmartphoneNotes and any other data independent from Microsoft’s syncing firmware.

4) Use the repair function of the installation CD. A harmless and complete fix.

[Guest extravagant]

Active sync blows!!!!!!!!! 8) 8) 8)

[Guest extravagant]

Active sync blows!!!!!!!!!  8)  8)  8)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

no offense, of course

[Guest magical_trevor]

I've also noticed that my copy of Outlook takes an extreme dislike to pictures in emails if I use firefox as my default browser..

Stupid MS

/me realises both his PC and his phone have MS products on them.

damn.