I had a severe problem installing the ActiveSync conduit on the PC. ActiveSync is the program that recognizes the Smartphone and synchronizes its contacts and emails with Outlook. Other programs also link into ActiveSync to handle synchronization, if they have a PC counterpart to their Smartphone program.
When I tried to install ActiveSync — when I put in the CDROM that came with my Cingular 8525 — it gave me the “Preparing to install” message. Then, it immediately stopped with a relatively-meaningless message “The wizard was interrupted before Microsoft ActiveSync 4.2 could be completely installed. Your system has not been modified. To complete the installation at another time, please run setup again.”
Thanks, Microsoft. I tried to install from CDROM. I went to www.microsoft.com and downloaded the ActiveSync program from there — and tried to install. I uninstalled my firewall, my antivirus, my antispyware — one at a time, rebooted, and tried to install, then took out the next one — still no joy.
Finally I searched Google with a couple variants on “activesync won’t install.” This should have been my first stop.
Although Microsoft’s ActiveSync 4.2 was quitting with a cryptic error message, the fix was simple. It even came installed in Windows XP. If only the error message had even mentioned this as a possibility.
All I had to do was to click on Start, Run. Then, I typed fixmapi and hit enter. Bam! It was done.
I started the CDROM again and ActiveSync installed without any problem.
Tech Tip
Mapi is the Mail Application Program Interface — the set of links for programs to use to link into the Windows mail routines. But, if you don’t use Outlook or Outlook Express (I use Eudora), sometimes you’ll end up with the wrong mapi.dll file installed. Normally, Eudora will insert its version into C:\Windows\System32 and then restore the original when Eudora ends. Of course, if it crashes…
Once ActiveSync was installed, I could proceed with setting up my new Smartphone.
and
Got a great comment from Jan via my comment form, before I converted the site to WordPress:
What a great tip to install activesync. Searching the internet I bumped into the most daring tips to tackle the problem, but this one was so simple. And it worked. Thank you very much for the tip. Did you tell Microsoft about this, because I couldn’t find it in their database. Thanks again Jan
Got another great comment from Mark via my comment form, before I converted the site to WordPress. Mark wrote:
Thanks very much for the great activesync ‘fixmapi’ tip… I was looking for ages before I found your site!
And, from Stuart in the UK:
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I just bought a Dell Axim Pocket PC from eBay and tried to install Microsoft’s ActiveSync. It wouldn’t, of course, but your fix fixed it!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
All best
Stuart of Blyth
Man, you saved my life! Thank you very much, a great tip!