activesync won't install on XP?

[daeslappy]

I am havin trouble installing activesync(either 3.5 or 3.6) on winxp. Everytime I run the installation, the file will unpack and dump me back into desktop. When I checked the process in window task manager, I see is_setup.exe is running but doing nothin. There are also mutiples of them after I try running the install again and again. Anybody please help?

[AnswerDude]

Reboot your computer and run the install again.

[dobbin]

I have the same problem and rebooting makes no difference.

[AnswerDude]

Do you have administrator privilege to install programs?

[dobbin]

Yeah, I have god rights to the box!

The process remains running using no resources. I killed the MSASYNC.exe process and the IS_SETUP ones. Then I hacked any active sync references out of the reg and deleted the directory under prog files, rebooted and re ran the install to no avail.

Next thing I tried downloading 3.5 and 3.1 but they all do the same!

Beginning to think it could be a problem with the installer... so I ran msasync /t:c:\path /c and ran IS_setup.exe from the directory - no joy!

Any thoughts, help, advice gratefully recieved!

Cheers:confused: :confused:

[GeorgeWF]

It's been about a month since the last post - I had the same thing happen today with my jornada. Any luck with a solution?

[Psydream]

I've having the same problem here on Windows XP.
I've tried to decompact the .exe then I see all the files of the installation.
If I try to lauch the isetup.exe there's the begining of the installation starting, but then it says that files are missing in a so-called "user/" sub-directory.
these are the contents of the few cab files ...I only I could unpack them ... perhpas we could try install that program by hand.
Jeez .. if only microsoft made thing not so much akward.

Will be glad to hear any help..

bye.

[drovar]

Hmmm.

It's not a universal problem. I installed ActiveSync 3.5 on XP home edition with no problems at all. Is there maybe a problem with XP Pro?

One option, and I've got no idea if this would work, is to run the ActiveSync installer in 98 compatibility mode. Right-click on the executable, select properties and then goto the Compatibility tab and try selecting Windows 98. Might help, might not.

[go2duke]

I have installed both 3.6 and the 3.5 version of activesync on Home and Pro versions of XP without major problems with the install. I did have some problems once, but a service (can't remember which one) wasn't running. The starting of that service fixed this error. You may have some bad copy of AS. Try to download a new one from MS.

G2D

[exscentric]

I have it on xp also - no problems.

You might try control panel/add remove programs and be sure it isn't in there - if it is uninstall, reboot and try again.

I know it is touchy on updates if you don't uninstall first on some systems.

[SteveH]

... but this worked!

I had the same problem.

I too was asked the admin acess question, boot/reboot, install/uninstall, etc.

What worked for me was completely clearing all TMP files from my hard drive.

Like I said, I have no idea WHY it worked ... but it did.

Steve

[newguy]

I had a heck of a time too, it's actually a defect in the Active Sync file extraction process. It puts everything in the same directory (no subs). I looked through the setup.inf file and figured out where everything went, then moved them all. It installed fine after that.. It happened both on the 3.1 and 3.6 versions (I have Win 95 and XP machines that I put it on).
Looking at it again, I think it might work if you right-click on the "setup.inf" file and pick 'install'. I guess I should have tried that first...

[suresharpe]

I have the same problem with Activesyn and XP. Did you get it to work for you and if so tell me how? I tried Steve solution without sucess.

[Sprinklerman]

I just set active sync up last week. I have had no problems. I do remember in the process of installing I was asked to set up on a paritcular OS. (95,98, NT etc...) I picked 95. I don't know if that is the difference or not, but I have no problems.

Try uninstall then reinstall with that configured.

My 2 cents.

[4-live]

lets see wat we have in common,

-XP pro
-wireless internet
-wireless home~network
-laptop or tablet pc

[g0c]

yeah, me too. laptop and ipaq ... maybe coz they are both mobile devices activesync wont install , maybe it thinks theres no need for that ... :D

[andywking]

Same problem as everyone else. I installed 3.5 on my laptop no problem. Same disc will not install it on a Windows XP desktop. Downloaded latest version from Microsoft, still no joy. It extracts all the files, but does not install the programme. It does not appear in any of the programme lists & is not there to be removed.
One thought. I (stupidly?) connected my device prior to installing Activesync - I know it says don't, but for reasons best known to myself, I did. Could this make any difference - & if so does anyone know how to correct it.
Thanks
Andy

[mydolly1]

Andy - that is exactly what I did - plugged in the unit then installed Activesync. Did you ever resolve the problem?

The quick instructions that I got with my PDA TOLD me to plug it in. Then when I got to the Activesync installer software it said unplug it. It never really tells you anywhere in the installation process exactly when to plug in - and what - just the unit or the unit with the PDA in the cradle?

I have had my PDA (Toshiba e750) for almost a month now and still have not gotten it Activesync to run. I actually have gotten it to LOAD so I can see it in the program files now, but I can't get the computer to recognized the unit for its maiden sync.

I am going to try loading in Windows 98 mode as someone here suggested. I will also try deleting all of my .tmp files and see if that helps.

I have a Gateway Desktop running Windows XP and a Toshiba Satellite laptop running Windows 2000. No luck on either one. The horror of having to call Microsoft just gives me shivers.

Diane

[andywking]

Hi Diane
I've not had any joy on this one - sorry not to be of more help
Andy

[bacchus_3]

ei guys, this might have been a very frustrating post isn't it?

but i'd like to try this one out i think might be related. try to close any programs (ICQ, ad-busters...blah blah blah...you know what i mean) before installing ActiveSync.

also try to check in task manager processes if WMUPDATE is running. if it is try to close the process (this is an automatic update of XP when connected to the web...if u want it back just reboot the PC).

install programs not properly running and having multiple instance is usually caused by conflict in background processes. sometimes WMUPDATE may be troublesome, as with my case in my PC (some of installations that i did, including ActiveSync had trouble running)

hope this helps.

[shibbs703]

Here is ONE answer that might work for you. I wrestled with this
problem for a whole day.....did everything I could think of....no luck.

I found a lot of information through this forum, so I decided to post my solution.....not even Microsoft would help me.....even if I paid for it. Activesync is in some grey area between Microsoft and the hardware vendors.

I was finally successful by doing the following:
1) re boot to be sure nothing is hung up (setup.exe
is_setup.exe)
2) run msasync.exe or load from CD...doesn't matter
3) after it hangs, reboot again. This keeps the contents of the TEMP directory intact.
4) open a Command Prompt and navigate to your TEMP directory...as has been described in earlier posts.
5) Run setup like this.....setup.exe /?.

Why does that work......I have no idea...I was just looking
for setup's command line options......did not expect this to
FINALLY start setup......but it did.

[forteanajones]

Hi guys,

Axim X50v arrived and encountered this exact same issue. I tried all of the above to no avail (setup.exe just hourglasses and hourglass goes away). Processes "setup.exe" and "is_setup.exe" linger in Task Manager. For all the troubleshooting I know, I seem to be out of options and am going to call Dell for the hell of it. Any other suggestions?

Edit: Oh and something on Dell's site concerned me (http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/en/chat?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs). Is it true that in order to get Activesync support from them, I would have to pay for software support even though I have the base plus extended warranties? Seems Activesync is kind of critical for getting the hardware to work. I guess I'll answer this when I manage to get to someone tomorrow. (Is there a third-party alternative to Activesync?)

[AnswerDude]

Here's another solution, it's the same method as above but with slight variation. You may have to try this method with your desktop is booted in Safe Mode with Networking;
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.pocketpc/msg/212097d1d91bbe33?q=solution+activesync&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rnum=1
Also take a look at #10 on this:
http://www.pocketpcfaq.com/faqs/activesync/installation.htm#Installation:

There is no alternative to Activesync for Windows desktop platform, other 3rd party sync programs need activesync to be installed.

[forteanajones]

Gah, Safe Mode did it. I should have known better. Thank you!

[Imtheweezel]

Ok, I thought about posting a reply so hopefully it will be helpful to someone! I tried all the solutions that you guys posted above without any luck. I have win xp pro on my laptop and I have an audiovox smt 5600. After playing with it for 6 hours I figured it out!
I noticed that the installer would try to start after I gave my computer the order to restart. It would of course abort because the computer was shutting down. This made me think that there was probably a process interfering with the installer.
After trying all the solutions above posted without any luck, I decided to try to figure out which was the process that was interfering. I pressed ctrl+alt+del and loaded the task manager. I then clicked on the processes tab and I started ending them one by one, only livint the setup.exe and the is_setup.exe. The first time the laptop rebooted without any luck, but the second time it worked. I wasn't exactly paying attention to which process did it, but the second time it worked. The installing wizard poped up and I got it to work. I must say though that microsoft is lacking when it comes to the sincyng software. Palm has it down to a T, much more user friendly and many more options.
Anyways, hope this work and good luck!

[awardblvr]

I had the same problem mentioned here. tried 3.5, tried 3.8 all to no avail... Starts install then just goes away.

The anaswer WAS in the disk cleanup trick. It worked for me. Cleaned all temporary files off and then... Viola'! 3.8 installed just fine.
:D
Thanks!!!

-AW

[petess]

No problems here. :cool:

[Ghimmy47]

Disable the network. Close all programs, especially antivirus and firewall applications. Run C:\windows\system32\fixmapi.exe

Install Activesync.

It should terminate normally and ask for a reboot.

I found this posted on Microsoft's forum.

[lokidog]

That's it. None of the other solutions worked.

[erikborgo]

Activesync won't install on XP. Activesync won't start up on XP (this line is for SEO purposes, important fix)

Activesync wouldn't start up, filename or path not found.

Activesync wouldn't install, same message. So...

1. Uninstalled Activesync.

2. Ran: C:\windows\system32\fixmapi.exe

3. Started Outlook

4. Microsoft Office demanded installation disk.

5. Activesync 4.5 installs correctly.

6. Reboot

7. Activesync, syncs!

Activesync has got to be the most buggy bit of vital software Microsoft has ever produced. Awful. Really angry.