ActiveSync 4.1 / Internet connection collapse

This is my sad story.

Facts:
1. Qtek 9100 (PDA / phone). Windows Mobile 5.
2. Dell Laptop Inspiron 9300. Windows XP, SP 2.
3. Belkin wireless router. Hardware firewall enabled.
4. Norton Internet Security / Antivirus. Firewall disabled.

I have used an HP Jornada to synchronize with various computers, including my new Dell laptop, for years. It came with ActiveSync 3.x and connects through a USB port. That has always worked without any problems.

I just bought my new Qtek 9100, which, as a device, I am already in love with. All my PDF features, together with a phone, and small enough to fit in my pocket: it's exactly what I'd been looking for. But there are connection problems which, unless I can find a solution, make the device useless for me.

First, I attempted to synch my new Qtek by just plugging it into a USB port. Not unexpected, nothing happened (but I thought I'd try, just to see).

So I installed ActiveSync 4.1 that came on the installation CD, and also upgraded to Outlook 2002 (which was also on the CD). No problems: installation successful, system works fine.

Next, I plugged in my Qtec to synchronize for the first time. Synchronization commenced immediately, no problem. *BUT*: as soon as I plugged in my Qtek, my internet connection on my laptop collapsed IRREVOCABLY. Nothing, but nothing enabled me to reconnect my laptop to the internet; this means, e-mail capability was lost as well. Even after unplugging the Qtek, the connection remained lost. Even rebooting did not bring it back up. The only remedy was a system restore, which reactived ActiveSync 3.x and Outlook 2000; this meant I was internet connected again on my laptop, but could no longer synchronize with my new device. I attempted installation and resynchronization several times, each time having been forced to system restore (which I am not fond of doing).

Belkin tech support suggested uploading a firmware upgrade for the router, which I did. Did not help.

Qtek technical support said they had never heard of this problem and had no solutions.

From the MicroSoft site, I downloaded an ActiveSync 4.1 upgrade, thinking that maybe there was a newer version of the installer (or the software) than what came on my CD. It seems to be the same version, however. Nevertheless, I installed ActiveSync 4.1 again, from the downloaded file. I did NOT upgrade to Outlook 2000. Then I attempted to synchronize again.

Once again, synchronization works fine, internet connection collapses. I rebooted. This time, I disabled my wireless network connection and disabled Norton Internet Security as well before plugging in to synchronize. Synchronization again works fine. I unplug my Qtek, close ActiveSync. I then restart the wireless connection and Norton. My laptop finds my router, but refuses to connect.

Currently, when I reboot after this, my internet connection is reestablished. So it means that, as of this moment, I can synchronize, but I would have to reboot the system after synchronizing in order to get back online. I would ALMOST be willing to do this, except that I also want to use my PDA to synchronize with Vindigo, and for that I'll have to be online while synchronizing in order for my Qtek to be able to download the info from the Vindigo site. And besides, I don't like the idea of turning off firewalls and virus protection each time I want to synchronize.

No tech support person has been able to help me with this, and I'm at the end of my skill set. If you can help me make this work, you would make me immensely happy, and I would think of you with a smile on my face.

Thank you all for reading this epic tale.

[Martin Laverty]

Have you tried it without norton?

You could use something like AVG which is a free virus guard.

Originally Posted by baba

This is my sad story.

Facts:
1. Qtek 9100 (PDA / phone). Windows Mobile 5.
2. Dell Laptop Inspiron 9300. Windows XP, SP 2.
3. Belkin wireless router. Hardware firewall enabled.
4. Norton Internet Security / Antivirus. Firewall disabled.

I have used an HP Jornada to synchronize with various computers, including my new Dell laptop, for years. It came with ActiveSync 3.x and connects through a USB port. That has always worked without any problems.

I just bought my new Qtek 9100, which, as a device, I am already in love with. All my PDF features, together with a phone, and small enough to fit in my pocket: it's exactly what I'd been looking for. But there are connection problems which, unless I can find a solution, make the device useless for me.

First, I attempted to synch my new Qtek by just plugging it into a USB port. Not unexpected, nothing happened (but I thought I'd try, just to see).

So I installed ActiveSync 4.1 that came on the installation CD, and also upgraded to Outlook 2002 (which was also on the CD). No problems: installation successful, system works fine.

Next, I plugged in my Qtec to synchronize for the first time. Synchronization commenced immediately, no problem. *BUT*: as soon as I plugged in my Qtek, my internet connection on my laptop collapsed IRREVOCABLY. Nothing, but nothing enabled me to reconnect my laptop to the internet; this means, e-mail capability was lost as well. Even after unplugging the Qtek, the connection remained lost. Even rebooting did not bring it back up. The only remedy was a system restore, which reactived ActiveSync 3.x and Outlook 2000; this meant I was internet connected again on my laptop, but could no longer synchronize with my new device. I attempted installation and resynchronization several times, each time having been forced to system restore (which I am not fond of doing).

Belkin tech support suggested uploading a firmware upgrade for the router, which I did. Did not help.

Qtek technical support said they had never heard of this problem and had no solutions.

From the MicroSoft site, I downloaded an ActiveSync 4.1 upgrade, thinking that maybe there was a newer version of the installer (or the software) than what came on my CD. It seems to be the same version, however. Nevertheless, I installed ActiveSync 4.1 again, from the downloaded file. I did NOT upgrade to Outlook 2000. Then I attempted to synchronize again.

Once again, synchronization works fine, internet connection collapses. I rebooted. This time, I disabled my wireless network connection and disabled Norton Internet Security as well before plugging in to synchronize. Synchronization again works fine. I unplug my Qtek, close ActiveSync. I then restart the wireless connection and Norton. My laptop finds my router, but refuses to connect.

Currently, when I reboot after this, my internet connection is reestablished. So it means that, as of this moment, I can synchronize, but I would have to reboot the system after synchronizing in order to get back online. I would ALMOST be willing to do this, except that I also want to use my PDA to synchronize with Vindigo, and for that I'll have to be online while synchronizing in order for my Qtek to be able to download the info from the Vindigo site. And besides, I don't like the idea of turning off firewalls and virus protection each time I want to synchronize.

No tech support person has been able to help me with this, and I'm at the end of my skill set. If you can help me make this work, you would make me immensely happy, and I would think of you with a smile on my face.

Thank you all for reading this epic tale.

My update from Outlook 2000 to 2002 caused no problems .

Mine began after I downloaded Activesync 4.1 from the MS site. Ditched it and went back to 3.7 and all was OK.

I've also seen problems with 4.1 mentioned on other forums.