Installing Software Without Functioning ActiveSync

orkrust's picture
Submitted by orkrust on Tue, 18/04/2006 - 17:36. Software | Windows Mobile 5

It seems pretty obvious that ActiveSync (even 4.1) has a LOT of problems on different setups. Some people can't get it to work ever, others can only get it to work once, and others use a mac (so they're pretty much screwed.).

This article is about skirting the problems with ActiveSync to install sofware on your Wizard.

The first, and simplest is to just download the CAB file version of the app you want to the mobile device. I see 3 ways to do this.



  1. Use the Wizard to get the CAB file from the internet.
  2. Download the CAB file to a desktop/laptop machine and use Bluetooth to send it to the Wizard. (HOWTO for a Mac)
  3. Download the CAB file to a desktop/laptop machine, put it on an FTP server, and get it with Total Commander on the Wizard.

I personally use the 3rd method because it affords me a backup of all CABs i've installed in a central location without taking up room on the Wizard.

The second method is really only for use if you can't find the CAB file online. This method is more complex and requires a Windows PC for at least part of it. (It may require you to install ActiveSync first, but it does NOT require that ActiveSync talk to the Wizard. I don't know if it requires ActiveSync to be functional.)

  1. Download the installer from the internet on a PC.
  2. Run the installer.
  3. Windows will tell you that the software will be installed on your mobile device when you next sync it. (it might, but if you can't sync it, it will never install.)
  4. Locate the CAB file the installer created. Usually they are located in "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync" in a sub folder for each application. (the .NET compact framework does not, it installs the CAB to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\CompactFramework\v2.0\WindowsCE\wce500\armv4i" by default and you have to pick the RIGHT CAB file there - it's NETCFv2.wm.armv4i.cab)
  5. Treat this CAB file as you did in the first set of instructions except that step 1 isn't possible.

Once you have the CAB file on your Wizard, you can just double tap it and it will install.

Please let me know if you know of any other sofware like the .NET Compact Framework that installs in Weird locations on the PC.

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-orkrust (Cingular 8125 - See Profile)

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I use a fourth method to
k-rad's picture
Submitted by k-rad on Thu, 20/04/2006 - 10:05.

I use a fourth method to install apps on my wizard by copying the necessary files on the MMC using my laptop's built-in card reader.

I dont know any other complicated installation paths like .NET CF but I do know of some programs that install directly in c:\Program Files\ in a sub folder. Some of these include PocketRAR, Conduits Pocket Player, PPC Tablet, z2 Remote2PC, SOTI Pocket Controller-Professional, etc

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