Windows Mobile Device Centre | Cannot See Device
Whilst away at the SBSC Symposia my PDA on Windows Mobile 5 decided it wasn’t going to play nicely and kept resetting and/or hanging. The ROM update for the machine has been built to eliminate this problem so I downloaded it and then remembered I was on Vista.
Vista means no more ActiveSync.
ActiveSync is now the shiney new Windows Mobile Device Centre. The reason why I didn’t realise it was there was because it wouldn’t recognise my PDA when I connected it to my laptop via USB. If it wasn’t for something Vlad showed me I would have completely forgotten about it!
I plugged in my PDA to my laptop and nothing…. Windows MDC couldn’t see my device… hmm
After trying different combinations of what was basically ‘look, I’ve plugged my PDA in, Vista makes the ding dong noise but it’s telling me it can’t see it so what am I meant to do’ I finally found one site that would help me. You can now install Windows Mobile Device Centre in Vista by opening the Control Panel and selecting ‘Windows Mobile Device Center’ within the ‘uninstall or change a program’ function.
*Update*
I have finally fixed the problem.
Whilst Vista was acknowledging a USB connection from my PDA it still searched for a connection within WMDC.
Thanks to a little community assistance from Dave Houston I have now discovered that you will need to turn the Windows OneCare firewall off before attempting connection.
Whilst this does resolve the problem, I am not happy turning off the Firewall (this wouldn’t be practical for the clients either) so here’s the safer way to do it:
- Make sure your firewall is enabled - we want that green check mark where possible.
- Access ‘change OneCare settings’
- Click on the ‘Firewall’ tab
- Select ‘Firewall connection tool’
- Tick the ‘ActiveSync/Windows Mobile Device Center’ connection
Hey Presto! This should work for you should you need it. 
Thank you for that, you were the missing key to the equation, I configured the ports, added the programs to onecare firewall as necessary.
Frustration arose, BIG TIME.
Then your simple blog helped, I selected the option, still no luck.
So last to add was to unplug the network cable, and turn off the firewall, fingers crossed on the last resort…THEN BAM and I’m off my baby is working again and I’m happy!
Thanks Susanne!!
Using Orange SPV M700 - Windows Mobile device. I found the same. plug it in and ding, but no recognition of my phone by Mobile Device Centre.
I knew it was mostly set-up cos, I was only setting up a phone replacement after a broken screen (u know dem ones deh). The other phone, same model worked mostly fine.
ON THE PHONE: - In Settings/Connections/USBtoPC - I had to UNTICK ‘Enable Advanced Network functionality’
Then Vista / MDC etc started to respond, load drivers and recognise my device.
On PC: Conection settings in MDC obvioiusly: enable USB, whatever other connections u need, and also tick the last box - ‘allow data connections’ .
Seemed to work for me and fix my problem. Now it’s doing that BIG sync, putting my life back into the new little box. (where i am reminded that 64MB is not enough)
Thanks rob, had same problem with O2 xda stellar, now working! =)
Thanks Rob!
ON THE PHONE: - In Settings/Connections/USBtoPC - I had to UNTICK ‘Enable Advanced Network functionality’
Solved my problem as well…
For the search engines: Dopod D810 cannot connect with Activesync in Windows XP
Having similar problems with a XDA Stellar and XP on a 5 yr old PC with Active Sync
What seems to work is:
a) ON THE PHONE: - In Settings/Connections/USBtoPC - I had to UNTICK ‘Enable Advanced Network functionality’ as above
b) Disable both Windows and McAfee firewalls (disconnected internet)
But after playing with this it may be my USB connection is not great and I needed to firmly push the plug into the USB
Cheers
Chrs
Thank you, it work like a charm now…I was gettint really fustrated with all of this and trying to understand why my Windows Mobile wasnt working…
Thanks again
It’s really good to see that this post is assisting. Thanks to those who have commented and have also helped by posting their experiences.
Hi,
I hope somebody can help me with this problem with windows mobile centre and my orange m700 (but god I hate having these problems!). I have been running a windows smartphone and wm phones for about 5 years now and you wiould think you would now all the problems…but alas!
I have an orange spv m700, a new laptop and a new pc…both running vista home premium. I can sync with my lap top but for some reason I cant with my pc. It recognises the phone, syncs notes but wont sync anything else. I have tried everything I can but nothing seems to work…when I mean everything there does not seem to be much you can do except update to wmc 6.1, change connection settings and a few tweaks. Anybody got any ideas?
Thanks loads -
“a) ON THE PHONE: - In Settings/Connections/USBtoPC - I had to UNTICK ‘Enable Advanced Network functionality’ as above”
solved he problem on my SPV E650 too!
Thanks loads -
“a) ON THE PHONE: - In Settings/Connections/USBtoPC - I had to UNTICK ‘Enable Advanced Network functionality’ as above”
solved he problem on my HTC Apache too!
Hi, Thanks for the useful tip. I tried unticking the option in Settings/Connections/USBtoPC and it worked once but now when I connect my cable to laptop the phone goes into charging mode and I can’t do anything on the phone unless I disconnect the cable and my laptop too is not recognising the xda. All confused. Please help…
Regards
Amrik