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New Windows Mobile Device Center Update Available

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My colleague Jane Ly, a Software Test Engineer on the Windows Mobile team working on the Windows Mobile Device Center, sent along an update on the status of WMDC (replacement to ActiveSync) in Windows Vista and also offers us a tip on a common issue when syncing with Outlook (all versions). Read on ...

"Many have noticed that a Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) update has been available since June 15. A newer Beta 2 update is now available and WMDC should prompt you to install it. Currently our Beta 2 updates are only supported on Beta 2 build 5384. You can also retrieve it through the Windows Update service. After the second update installs successfully, the version number listed in WMDC’s About dialog will be 6.0.5460. The latest WMDC contains several bug fixes and is available in Japanese and German.

With the Beta 2 update, you can create partnerships to synchronize your Outlook or Exchange data with your device. Currently, Windows Mobile 2003 devices can only sync with Exchange. Desktop Outlook sync is still not supported yet. For Windows Mobile 5.x devices, both Outlook and Exchange sync are supported. We are supporting Outlook XP, 2003 and 2007 for desktop sync. 

A cool new feature in WMDC is Picture/Video Import. Our application will search in the My Pictures and My Videos folder on your device for items to import. Only well-known picture and video formats will be detected. You will also be given the option of tagging your pictures with a name and date. 

Windows Mobile devices will also be integrated into Windows Vista’s Sync Center. Sync Center shows you a consolidated view of everything that is syncing with your PC. When you create a sync partnership with your PC using WMDC, you will also see sync status summary in Sync Center. 

I have noticed that many users are running into the problem where they are unable to sync Outlook data because of the message “Outlook is not configured” in the partnership wizard. This message means that WMDC is not detecting an Outlook profile to sync with. Usually this scenario will occur if the user has installed Outlook without creating a profile. However, there is a known bug where if you install WMDC before installing and configuring Outlook, WMDC will not detect the profile. This bug will apply for all versions of Outlook, not just Outlook 2007. The workaround is to reboot your machine and then recreate the partnership to include Outlook data. This workaround should work for most users.

Jane"

Thanks for the update, Jane!

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Welcome to This Week with Windows! That means everything from Windows XP to Windows Vista. Here are a
  • Anonymous
    July 09, 2006
    The update process do not seem to work. Windows update says it install the update but it still shows it in the optional update list.

    Please advise
  • Anonymous
    July 10, 2006
    Hi Jean-Michel.  This is Jane from the Windows Mobile team.  I'd like to help you with your problem.  I'm guessing that the update installed correctly but Windows Update does not realize it.  Perhaps the old processes were still running. Have you tried rebooting?  After the reboot, please verify that your build number does not match 6.0.5460.  If it does, the install did work.  Let me know how it goes!
  • Anonymous
    July 10, 2006
    Hello Jane,

    What file name should I check for the build number? If this is wmdc.exe its version is 6.0.5444.0.

    It seems the update won't install. Is there something I could try to make it work?

    thanks
  • Anonymous
    July 11, 2006
    Jean-Michel, what Vista build are you running?  Are you running public Beta2 build 5384 or another build.  For people running 5384, this should be the first update available through Windows Update.  It sounds like this is your second.
  • Anonymous
    July 11, 2006
    I am running Vista Ultimate Beta 2 x64 build 5384.

    A couple weeks ago the Windows Mobile Device Center installed and I have been using it ever since.

    Since the new release is online, the WMDC advertise it near its title bar. However I can't install it either from this link or from Windows Update.

  • Anonymous
    July 11, 2006
    The WMDC was installed on this computer around june 15th. I saw on this blog that the update was available on Windows Update and indeed it was. I was then able to synchronize Outlook with my WM5 device.

    Since you thought there shouldn't have been, I uninstalled it. Once this was done, Windows Update was finally able to complete the update. And now it seems to be working.

    Thanks
  • Anonymous
    July 25, 2006
    I just installed a fresh copy of Vista 5472 and Office 2007 (4017), plugged in my 8125 (WM5), up came the Windows Mobile Device Center.  If I click the 'Setup your device' link it tells me that the software update is not available on Microsoft update.  Any ideas?

    Also, is there another site / blog that would be more appropriate for this question?

    TIA
  • Anonymous
    July 26, 2006
    Hi tgindrup,

    The update is only supported for official Vista Beta 2 build 5384.  

    Jane
  • Anonymous
    July 27, 2006
    Tha's too bad since 5472 is much more stable than 5384.  I guess I'll just have to wait for the next update.  Any ideas when that'll be?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?
  • Anonymous
    July 27, 2006
    Prior to RTM, we are only releasing an update for the official Vista Beta 2 build.  Sorry!
  • Anonymous
    July 28, 2006
    OK, thanks for the update :(

    Is there a better place to watch for the announcement of the update (i.e. do you have a blog)?
  • Anonymous
    July 28, 2006
    All the information I have will be posted on this blog.
  • Anonymous
    August 19, 2006
    I've just installed the 5384 version and tried to connect my iPaq rx3715 to it but can't seems to find the mobile device center anywhere

    i tried to do the update and got the option of installing the Windows Mobile Device Center Beta v2. it just won't install. when it starts installing it first asks to search for a driver of an unkown device but don't know which device. the first time i connected my iPaq it also asked for the drivers and installed it als a HP Usb Sync.

    when the installation fails i get the error code 800706BE

    anybody an idee??
  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2006
    I have just installed Vista RC1. The WMDC doesn't sync the pocketpc anymore.

    How soon will this be made available? If ever?

    Thanks

    Jean-Michel
  • Anonymous
    September 12, 2006
    Hello,

    The only public Windows Mobile Device Center update currently available is for Vista Beta 2 build 5384.  Initially I stated that we would not be releasing anymore updates prior to RTM.  However, that is no longer the case.  We hope to release another update soon that will work on current Vista builds.  I don't have an ETA though.  When it's ready, I will post an announcement on this blog.

    Jean-Michel, you will need to wait for this update to sync with your pocketpc as your Vista build is newer than Beta 2.

    Thanks,
    Jane