Top Connection Issues with iPAQ Pocket PC, 
Plus Recommended Procedures
By Lilla Slater, Copyright 2000, All Rights Reserved
Revised 10/14/2000

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Introduction

Below is an *important* post I found in Compaq's iPAQ/Handhelds Support Forum. While this document is on the iPAQ, I recommend this article to all Pocket PC users' experiencing ActiveSync USB connection problems.

This document provides a starting point for iPAQ users experiencing problems.

Important: Put a big X through the instructions on the Compaq iPAQ CD's cardboard sleeve that accompanied your iPAQ, as the instructions are  wrong and cause problems. If you already followed these instructions, then follow the instructions in Procedure 3b to get a clean start.

New iPAQ's ship with a yellow page containing new installation instructions. If your iPAQ shipped without this page, as will be the case with early product iPAQ's, you might want to print (or save as a file) this document for your future reference.  This image is courtesy of Steve Perry, Microsoft MVP - Windows CE, who scanned and posted this to the microsoft.public.pocketpc.binaries newsgroup on 4 Oct 2000.

When installing/reinstalling ActiveSync, follow the instructions in Procedure 3a.

Lilla

Forum: http://forum.compaq.com/mb3/user/main.html
Topic: Handhelds Message #76397
Subject: RE: Connecting with iPAQ - USB
From: Compaq - troy j 10/05/00 12:35:44

Connection issues with the iPAQ Pocket PC

We've seen four major issues that affect connection and synchronizing the units. From the most common to the least common they are:

Issue #1: USB Connectivity is only for Windows 98 or Windows 2000. If you have Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 then you will need the serial cradle to connect and synchronize reliably. Additionally, we have heard from some customers that they have used a product called "USBRetail". It is from http://www.bluewatersystems.com/products_USB_Retail.html and some customers have had success with it connecting handheld drives under Windows NT with a USB connection. Please remember, that troubleshooting for this product should be directed to Blue Water's Technical Support.

Issue #2: Microsoft has released a new build of ActiveSync 3.1 that has several fixes to improve synchronization. The latest version as of the time of this writing is v3.1 build 9587. The latest release is available for download from PocketPC.com http://www.microsoft.com/pocketpc/downloads/ 

Issue #3: The iPAQ H3600 series USB cradle uses a UHCI (Universal Host Control Interface) USB. Some units use the less common OHCI (Open Host Control Interface.) We cannot guarantee that the iPAQ will work
flawlessly when connected to a machine using OHCI. Normally it will recognize that you connected a device to it but it just shows up as an "Unknown Device." This is the same issue seen with many USB devices. Although a UHCI USB controller is preferred, remember the iPAQ WILL synchronize with some OHCI equipped hosts. To resolve this, try the following:

If the controller shows a VIA chipset, then go to http://www.viatech.com/drivers/ and get the latest version of the USB Filter software (currently, v1.08).

Procedure 3a. Assuming you have not yet attached the unit to the USB port and have not installed ActiveSync, then follow these simple steps:

1. Turn on and configure the iPAQ with the appropriate user info, then place it in the cradle while still on, displaying the "Today" screen. Do not insert the USB cable into the host computer.
2. Install Outlook 2000 by inserting the ActiveSync CD, canceling the ActiveSync install process, and browsing to the X:\Extras\Outlook folder and launching setup (where X: is the user's CD-ROM drive designation). You will be prompted to reboot to complete installation. Please do so and then configure and run Outlook 2000.
3. Now launch the ActiveSync installation and proceed until you see the screen that says "Get Connected," at which point you should now plug the USB cable into the unit and the iPAQ will be properly detected and a partnership created.

Procedure 3b. If you have varied from this scenario in any way, please do the following:

1. Remove all USB devices from the main computer (an exception can be made if you're using a USB mouse)
2. Configure the iPAQ as describe in Step 1 of Procedure 3a, above.
3. Uninstall Microsoft ActiveSync 3.1 from the Add/Remove Software Control Panel.
4. Boot to Safe Mode and remove all "Unknown Devices" found in the "Other Devices" category of Device Manager as well as all devices found in the "USB" or "USB Devices" categories. NOTE: In Windows 2000 it is not necessary to go to safe mode. Simply select the "Show All Devices" option in Device Manager.
5. Reboot to allow redetection of the built-in USB devices.
6. Install and configure Outlook 2000 as described in Step 2 of  Procedure 3a above.
7. Install ActiveSync as described in Step 3 of Procedure 3a above.

If you're still having problems, make sure you have the latest version ActiveSync, that your USB ports are not disabled in BIOS and that the cradle works on another unit (to be sure you don't have a bad cradle). If so, try doing a soft reset on the iPAQ and then reboot the main computer, leaving the iPAQ in the cradle and the USB cable attached.

When troubleshooting connectivity issues, don't forget the soft reset. This has resolved a large number of connectivity issues that have been escalated here.

Issue #4: Microsoft has an issue where USB devices may not work in Windows 98 SE if you have an AMD CPU that is 350Mhz or higher and a VIA Technologies USB Controller. It is a timing issue and they have a complete write-up and a solution here at their site, see http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q240/0/75.ASP

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