Free Computer Consultant ………. Daily Insights

I have mentioned before how I hate Microsoft ActiveSync. In this post I want to tell you how to turn off Microsoft ActiveSync, since there is no “exit” option and it runs as soon as you boot your computer.

(See also Why Do I Hate ActiveSync, Let Me Count The Ways”)

The problem is, many times you will need to install or uninstall software that has it’s bloody little hooks iinto Microsoft Outlook or some other MS Office application.

In order for that install to work properly, the other application may tell you to exit all Microsoft applications. “But I have, darn it!” is your polite response. Well, not quite, because ActiveSync is still running (did you notice you get pop-ups when new email messages arrive but you haven’t opened Outlook yet since you rebooted last?).

What you have to do is invoke Task Manager one of these ways:

• Simultaneously press CTRL-SHIFT-ESC
• Right click the taskbar and select Task Manager
• Simultaneously press CTRL-ALT-DEL and select Task Manager (only works if Windows User Fast Switching is turned off)

Then click on the “Processes” tab, Click the “Image Name” column heading to alphabetize the list, then, in turn, select “WCESMgr.exe” and click the “End Process” button and acknowledge the warning followed by selecting “wcescomm.exe” and click “End Process” button and acknowledge that warning.

Note: the ActiveSync green icon in the system tray may still be visible, but if you hold your mouse over it it will go away.

Now! Microsoft ActiveSync is turned off.

Re-starting ActiveSync is much easier. Microsoft has cluttered your Start Menu with a shortcut to turn it on.. They must have determined that you would eventually figure out how to turn the thing off without their help.

If you would like to create a batch file to kill activesync conveniently:

• Right click on an empty spot on your desktop and select “New”, then “Text Document”
• You will need to rename the file “Kill ActiveSync.bat” or something similar, but it must have the “.bat” extension. (First, you may need to enable seeing file extensions. Open Windows Explorer, go to the Tools menu and select Folder Options. Click on the View tab and make sure  “Hide extensions for known file types is unchecked.)
• Right click this new document and select “Edit”
• Create these two lines in the file, then exit and save.
  • TaskKill /IM wcescomm.exe /F
  • TaskKill /IM WCESMgr.exe /F

Now any time you want to kill ActiveSync you can just double click your new batch file. ActiveSync can be restarted by rebooting or finding the program icon that Microsoft created in the Start Menu for it. You will probably have to unplug then re-plug in your device.

Microsoft is on version 4.5 of ActiveSync, necessary for any phone/pda with Windows Mobile on it. After all of these years it still sucks. Granted, Palm’s sync is just as bad – it either works or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t there is no knowing how much time you will waste getting it to work.

My Verizon XV6700 phone all of a sudden showed “no service”. I could still get on the internet, though. So 2 hours later after tech support, clearing storage (and losing hours of configuration work that you cannot save) and uploading a newer firmware and OS build, it’s working again.

ActiveSync had been working off and on for months before this (the phone is less than 1 year old, my PC is a clean install of XP Pro just a few months ago).

Now after all of this I think the phone is working again, setup, configured, programs installed, hours wasted.

Then I realize I have only a fraction of my contacts on it. Turns out it is not synchronizing any contact with Notes included. That’s handy – NOT!

Google it and you will find out this is a widespread problem; with no fix. I uninstalled/reinstalled ActiveSync, did some registry & file cleanup after it, still didn’t work.

Finally, I set it to sync off of my Exchange Server directly instead of the PC. Now it works. Not everyone has that option.

Get with it Microsoft. ActiveSync is so widely used; totally proprietary – can’t do without it. Yet so many people have so many unanswered problems with it and so very little help available.

Is the iPhone this bad too?

It was about 5 years ago that I finally ended the misery of my worn out, broken hinged, Windows based PDA with a shot from a .45 auto.

My unit folded over like a laptop and had a pretty decent sized keyboard. Shortly after I bought my first laptop and I decided I wasn’t going to have both. But so many times I would like to access information but don’t want to take the time to fire up the laptop, open Outlook and wait for Outlook to figure out I don’t have a network connection so it will let me navigate to the data I want.

So I bought a Verizon XV6700 with Windows Mobile 5.0. The Verizon network isn’t everywhere, despite the incessant “can you hear me now” commercials. But where it works, it’s cool.

This little device can not only make a phone call, but allow you quick access to Outlook contacts, email and tasks. Simply plug it into your PC via USB cable and it both synchronizes the data and charges the battery.

There is built in WiFi capability and even IPSec and PPTP VPN connectivity. There are a host of applications written for these devices; how about GPS using a bluetooth GPS antenna? Or using the built in Remote Desktop (it’s a small screen, but it works).

One of my favorites is software that allows me to view my Axis IP Network Cameras when away. I’m a reseller of hardware and software for one of the pioneer firms in DVR and Network Recording Systems for the security and surveillance market. This is incredibly hot!

When you aren’t on the Verizon EVDO network getting downloads approaching 700k, you can connect and even view cameras or do whatever at about 56k modem speeds. Slower, but it still works. In fact, one location where I would be doing good to make a phone call from I was able to plug in to my laptop and use the phone as a modem with speeds of about 46k.

Speaking of which, according to Verizon, this phone is incapable of acting as a modem, so they won’t sell you that service for an additional $15/month. That’s ok, because it works anyway. Just Google it and you will find pages of detailed instructions with photos. Follow the instructions and you’re in business. Only catch is that you can’t use the device as a phone at the same time. Heard of Skype?

I’m sure I’ve barely scratched the surface of this XV6700’s capabilities. The new phones coming out are using Windows Mobile 6.0, but who knows, maybe the 5.0 is more stable. This phone does a lot more than what I know how to do now, maybe by the time I catch up to it I can trade for a Windows Mobile 6.0 phone.

Connectivity is what it’s all about. If you want to be connected, look into a device like the XV6700 and a data network like Verizon’s EVDO. I think you will be impressed.

P.S. – It even plays mp3’s and movies like you might expect; just load them onto the optional miniSD card and take them with you.