Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I am posting this, because I finally got it to work for me. I have seen numerous posts on this, but with no solution.

Since Windows Mobile 6.1 people have had problems getting their email, contacts, and calendar to sync correctly OTA (over the air). I was able to get my email to sync, but not my contacts and calendar.

There seems to be a change with Active Sync in the new WM 6.1. Some say it is more secure and that it needs to download the certificate directly from the server. I have also seen a post that says it maybe an ISA issue. Either way, there is a way to make it work.

Solution:

1. Setup Active sync on your device to sync with your OWA (Outlook Web Access Server) or whatever frontend server you use for exchange.

2. Once this is setup, sync your device directly to your computer via a USB cable.
* If this is a work email account, you may need to do this on your
work computer that is connected to your domain.
* If you or your employer uses a web proxy server you will need to set
this up on your device. Start - Settings - Connections - Connections - Advanced - Select Networks - My Work Network
(Edit this) - Proxy Settings (Check both boxes) - Select Advanced
Select HTTP Webproxy:80 - Enter in your domain username and
password - OK - OK - Ok - OK

3. Without making any changes to any of the settings you should now be able to sync OTA.

This is what worked for me. This may not work for you, but if you need this capability it is worth a try!

I would like to thank Keith at the following link. He was working on this just as hard as I was and we both came up with a way to make it happen until the solution is resolved by Microsoft.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

It the cert, easier way is to get a cert from your exchange server, thats what i did and it works flawlessly.. I just have my cert in my internal storage for anytime i put a new rom on..

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

This actually did not work for me and a lot of other people also... I used to do this on WM 6.0 and it was very nice. When I attempted this after upgrading to 6.1 on my Mogul, this did not work. Microsoft is focusing on the issue is related to Exchange 2007, but I had the issue on Exchange 2003 also. I just thought I would post what worked for me.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Precisely... You just need to install the certificate into the phone before trying to sync. Should work just fine as long as your company has OWA properly setup with a third party SSL certificate (won't work if they don't) and with the proper rules programmed into their corporate firewall to allow Active Sync traffic.

I for one do not have our exchange server published onto the web and I access it through VPN. So that setup in a WM6.1 phone is a little bit more tedious as you have to setup a work VPN AND an exception rule under connection settings/advanced to the internal address that I use to reach my exchange server through my internal LAN. That way whenever Active Sync tries to sync WM will detect that I'm trying to use that address and activates the vpn automatically for the duration of the sync. The only drawback that it takes a while for the first few active sync timeouts to actually come into effect because it starts sending packets to request data while the VPN is connecting. During this time the phone won't reach the exchange server and will wait for these packets to timeout before trying again. When they timeout active sync proceeds normally, this usually takes about 4 minutes. I haven't looked into lowering this timeout but I think that could be a good project for tonight.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

On my attempt, I installed the root certificate of my OWA server and it did not work. I also attempted to install the backend certificate as well and that did not work. I had to direct connect to get the sync OTA to work. After I did this I looked in my certificates and nothing had changed. I am not sure what the isssue is exactly.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

That maybe why it worked for you by just installing the certificate. I do not use a VPN and I sync OTA using GPRS.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

when you setup the exchange server on your phone how did you input the owa address and the domain name?

if your owa address is mail.company.com/owa you only use mail.company.com without the /owa. Also if your organization's domain name is comany.local you only use company without the .local. This was a source for some confusion to me when I started setting up phones with Exchange 2003 and 2007.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Hehehe I offered my example as a totally different configuration setup, my setup does not require a certificate because I'm using PPTP VPN. But OTA PUSH Sync with Exchange 2003 and 2007 does require to have a third party certificate setup on your IIS server for your OWA site and the site must obviously be published to the internet. And that certificate is the one that you need to install into your phone.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

You can just use mail.company.com as your OWA address. When you go into menu in Active Sync on your device, you can configure your server. Enter in your OWA address and hit next, you will then have the ability to enter in your user credintials and domain name.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I've followed Ricky Spears' advice, and I still cannot get two Touch Pro's (my users') to sync either via USB or OTA with our Exchange server (2003, sp2, on WS2003R2). My lone WM6.0 user works fine, so I know Exchange Active Sync works.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

From my experience, it seems to be a certificate issue. Even if you load the certificate manually, the issue is still there. Do you use a proxy server? Have you tried to access the Internet while hooked via USB? Was this successful?

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Hi Everyone -

Up until a few minutes ago, I had exactly the same problem. I have a theory as to what caused my issue, but hopefully it will help you too.

First things first. I run a Winmo6.1 dev, a Toshiba Portege g900 with a cooked rom with the update (from 6.0). It's on Tmobile, and syncs to my Exchange 2003 SBS server OTA. I have a self-signed cert on the SBS server. Up until a couple of days ago, I was using my company's Exchange server (2k7), when I decided to switch to my own.

Initially, I tried to reconfigure the server source in ActiveSync on the phone, and redirect it. It wouldn't allow me to update the username or the domain. I connected it to ActiveSync on my laptop (4.5 under XPsp3), and deleted all the connection settings, and built them up again.

It was working for email and contacts, but not for tasks or calendar appointments. In fact, the calendar was behaving very strangely. To help me figure out exactly what the eff was happening, these are the symptoms I had:
- Appt made on phone appears on phone and desktop (DT) and OWA.
- Appt deleted on phone does not delete on server/OWA or DT, deletes on phone.
- Appt made on desktop appears on phone and DT and OWA.
- Existing appointment (from before phone was pointed to Exch svr) on DT will NOT appear, even if details change.
- Appt made on DT and MOVED by phone will move on both sides.
- Appt made on phone and moved by phone will move on both sides.
- Appt made on DT but deleted on phone will not disappear from DT. WILL disappear from phone. Remains on Exchange (OWA)

Fubar, imho. My initial thought was that it was actually an issue server-side, on my server, since my previous server had been working fine (although it was Exch2k7, and I'm on Exch2k3). I didn't think it was a self-signed cert problem, since I've always resolved that by just copying the .cer cert file to the device and running it from the device File Explorer. That copies it into the trusted store, and you're good to go. I walked through the steps here (http://blogs.technet.com/mjmurphy/ar...07/418902.aspx) which I have done for some clients to solve problems with their WinMo 5x and 6x devices and OMA. It's worked every time. I have a feeling this step was actually superfluous, since it made no difference to my problem, and on an SBS box the equivalent had already been done a long time back during setup. I'm just listing it here in the interests of disclosure of everything I did with this issue... :)

So realizing that although I had deleted and recreated the server source, and the phone /said/ it wiped everything out (including deleting my exchange contacts, my email, and calendar appointments, when I changed servers), my hunch was there was still an issue from that. After this, and with no difference in the symptoms, I ran a hard reset on my phone. I configured my internet connection on the phone (no proxy, just straight GPRS to the tmobile server), copied the cert to my phone (through a guest partnership in ActiveSync, I've not set up a complete one, nor will I after this), and configured the server source on the device.

In such a word: BAM. worked like a charm. It's syncing everything - calendar, email, tasks, contacts. I can do what I need to with an appointment, change contact info around, and the tasks are working. So, the end result (for me) was a hard reset, no AS profile to your computer, make sure the cert is installed on the phone (I'd do this anyway, even if it is 3rd party), and config the source.

Good luck to ya, and thanks for the tips. This was one of two very helpful threads I've found. The other was http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/e...-3d167e3b1bc8/ if it's of any use. I'll keep watching this thread, and if I can be of any more help, feel free to give a shout. Cheers.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I all of a sudden started having this problem with my touch pro.

I've been using the same ROM for about 45 days and one day last week it just stopped syncing with my companies exchange server. It keeps prompting me for my password and will not sync anything.

Odd thing is, one of my coworkers has a touch pro and his stopped working the exact same time mine did. Two other coworkers devices are working fine; 1 is a mogul/wm6.1 and the other is a 700wx/wm5.

I have tried running the up-to-date owa certificate with no luck. Have also verified all settings and they are correct. Have tried several hard and soft resets and have re-setup activesync at least 20 times in an attempt to get it to connect.

Any ideas?

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

My next step would be to sync it via USB. Keep the OTA settings and sync via USB on your LAN. What I mean by this is to sync via active sync on your computer located on your work LAN (Domain). If that works then you should be able to sync OTA. I am telling you this step with the idea that you are no longer being prompted for your password. If you have been prompted to change your password for your domain, then you must change it in your server connection setting on your phone. Let us know, I am curious about this. I have not seen someone be able to one day sync with WM 6.1 and the next not be able to. WM 6.1 has had issues with syncing OTA, but typically either it syncs or it does'nt.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

It syncs fine with my company issued laptop (contacts, notes, favorites, etc), but will not sync with the exchange via USB or OTA, just keeps prompting me for the passwoard and giving me the 0x85010002 error code. Usually when this has happened in the past I could resolve it by grabbing the new certificate.

Something else that I noted is that Windows live (messenger, hotmail) will not run because it says that my certificate is invalid and that I need to update my date and time settings. I have played with all the date and time sync settings as well as verify that the date and time are correct and still no dice.

Considering the problem with windows live, I'm convinced this is not an issue on exchange server side and is any issue with my phone (very odd that my coworker's touch pro has the same issue - stock rom). I'm wondering if sprint pushed something through OTA that messed up something with date and time reporting.

Any other ideas?

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Um... I have a Sprint Touch Pro and I am syncing just fine. It seems that this is not just an exchange issue. It is now time to contact Sprint, Haha... I know you don't want to hear that, but I think that there is an issue with your system time and the dates dated on your certificates.

I would also point out to them that you have already done a hard reset and the issue still remains. They might have a cab file to reinstall the root certificates (this will not help with the exchange issue currently, but you will know what to do from this point if things are up and running).

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I have the same exact issues.

keeps prompting me for a password, and when i cancel, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

I had our exchange expert give me his intake, and he says it's just the exchange server publishing more than one web listener and it just needs to be merged into one big web listener.

Any further development on a work around for this yet?

It's unlikely our exchange guys will change anything on the server for "non blackberry devices", so i'm hoping maybe there is an Auto-Retry cab that can be installed to automatically try to re-sync after a failure, maybe?

I'm really clueless on the exchange and brand new to the HTC world, so i'm hoping i'm not sounding like an idiot with that comment.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Break this down for us dummies.

What is a certificate? Where/How do you get it and install it to your device? Could you provide a sequential, step-by-step of how to add an Exchange email account where error 85010004 is encountered? Don't worry, I searched.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Did you search just here or Google too?

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...-de0448d348fe/

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/924216

http://forums.windowsitpro.com/web/f...ed=ArticleLink

http://forums.pocketpcfaq.com/viewtopic.php?t=20572

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Those sites are touching on the problem of being unable to sync at all.

My sync is working fine, but about 10 times a day it prompts me for a user ID and password again. I press cancel, it says "Sync issues". I press Sync again, and it works.

The reason this is a major problem is because at night it will sometimes do the password prompt (When my password is saved), and since i'm not awake to hit cancel, i will not receive emails all night.

We have confirmed that ISA is only publishing using one web listener, so we (me and another guy at work have the same exact issue) are at a stand still regarding this again.

We have searched high and low for a soultion, and this site is the closest thing we have come to a fix.

Hell, if i could even get some kind of cab file to auto put my password in and press okay that would even make me happy. I just can't afford to be missing emails at night (I'm a sys admin and need to be able to get emergency emails that trigger alarms for me to wake up).

Thanks!

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I had several issues with exchange sync errors with my company. I finally figured it out myself using this information. If this has been covered, my apologies but I wanted to get this out anyway. Essentially just installing the root certificate wasn't enough for me. I ended up installing certificates to the intermediate level as well and finally starting connecting properly. It has worked flawlessly for months now. Here is the article on how to get certificates and install them. the key is to grab all the certificates meaning grab not just the root level cert but the ones above it as well (you will see this after reading the article). they will install to the intermediate level. good luck.

this allowed me to install two more certificates to the intermediate level rather than just the root level.
http://www.confusedamused.com/notebook/installing-windows-mobile-60-root-certificates/

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I am trying this. I did only have that one bottom level certificate (Like i said, my sync works fine, but the stupid thing keeps prompting me for a password several times throughout the day).

I exported the top, and middle level ceritificates as well.

Man i would love for this to resolve the issue. I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I too am a EXTREMELY frustrated Sprint HTC Touch Pro user whose IT department one help because I use the Pro instead of a BB. I really!!! dont want the BB so I hope somebody call help. Please!!!!

My connection to the server was working great. My email was being pushed through and as soon as I changed something on the phone it would quickly show up in Outlook. Now, out of know where, it says my certificate is not valid.

This is the second time this stopped working on me. Last time I did a hard reset. There has to be answer.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Actually the ONLY certificate you need to install to the phone is the one that trusts the provider of the root certificate. No need to install the root certificate itself on your phone prior to configuring active sync with your exchange server.

For example, if you buy your certificate from Network Solutions the only cert that the phone needs is the .cer issued by: "UTN-USERFirst-Hardware". After that just setup active sync on your phone normally and it will request your domain's root certificate from the exchange certificate and advise that the server is going to apply security policies on your phone and presto! If you think about if from an administrative perspective this makes total sense as this certificate adds the trust zone for your third party certificate provider wich will be valid for a very long time (mine is valid until 2019). That way when you update your certificate anually on your IIS server there is no need to send new certificates to the phones, they will automatically acquire the new certificate from the server once it's available, as long as you renewed the certificate with the same third party provider.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Just ask your IT department (nicely) to send you the above mentioned certificate so that you may have it available to install in your phone. Also ask them if they have renewed the certificate with a different provider, if so they will need to provide you a new trust certificate like mentioned above.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Thanks guys. After viewing these threads I solved my Exchange sync issues with Mobile 6.1. I hope this can help other non tech people like myself!

• I have the HTC Touch-In ital problem-Time would lock twice a day requiring a soft reset, NO Syn issues with Exchange and Mobile 6.0 (Server format was companyx.company.local at the time).
• Sprint suggested the ROM upgrade available on www.sprint.com/download as my solution to the time locks.
• I upgraded within 10 minutes to the new version below, Dated: 7/21/2008
  Software Version: 3.03.651.4
  Radio Version: 3.42.30
• After the USB syn to my outlook, I had all contacts, calendar, task back on my phone.
• Once I unpluged the USB my "over the air" sync issue began, I had sync errors, certificate issues, you name it, support error 8-something. Sprint "recommended" to contact my admin and make sure they had the most updated server pack and that it was a security upgrade that they did to the 6.1. I knew that was a huge issue for me since my IT was not going to do anything for me immediately. There advance techs indicated no work around.
• After reviewing several threads with no solutions, PPCGeeks provided me a solution that worked!
• SOLUTION: I connected via USB to the activesync (this step might not be necessary), and changed my exchange address format from companyx.company.local to mail.company.com, then input username and pass... IT WORKED. I did nothing else but change the format of the server address. No time lock issues or syn issues! No thanks to SPRINT. Thanks PPCGeeks.

Hope that helps someone else!

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Looks like installing those certs does not work.

I'm beginning to believe the problem i have with the login is server level. My co worker got the login prompt the same time i did yesterday. As before, i hit cancel 1 or two times, and it still works.

So fustrating. Anyone have a soultion for something i could put on the phone to fix the login prompt from coming up multiple times a day?

Thanks

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I know. it sucks!! funny how windows mobile phones have sync issues with MS Exchange yet the blackberry server works fine](*,) My company was completely unwilling to help me with this issue. I get the "We dont support Windows Mobile devices" line so I had to fix it myself. Your password issue is interesting. I know that with my company they prompt us to change our login password every quarter and when this happens, there is a password message that pops up if I try to connect via web (outlook web access). Do you have the same situation with your company requiring a password change? this may be contributing to the problem.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

The multiple password issue is on the server level. You're IT team does not have the Active Sync IIS website setup correctly for this. And from what you are saying they use Blackberry Enterprise Server so they wouldn't have a need to have that IIS configuration setup correctly so you're pretty much SOL if your IT team doesn't help you out. :silent:

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Is there a specific setup we should have, or something i can provide to them to make the changes that you know of?

They may make the changes if i keep bugging them enough about it, but i'd have to give them the soultion.

Thanks!

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

In your case my next step would be to connect your phone via a USB cable directly to a computer on your companies domain. Active sync will need to be installed on your computer. Keep all of your settings the way that they are and your phone just obtain a valid certificate. If that sync is successful, then try a OTA sync and see what happens.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Thank you. However, my situation seems a little different. Although, like everybody else my IT dept won't help and I cant understand why MS can't talk to MS. Oh well. My issue.

My certificate was issued by GoDaddy. Once in OWA I can download to CER files. I put them on my memory card and install them through explorer. They both install successfully. Then when I go on my handheld to activesynch to install server info all goes well. I get a messgae about security, I press yes and it sync perfectly.

Then the problems start. If the phone is turned off, or the batter dies, and sometimes for no reason (every two days or so), it stops syncing and I get the error message that my certificate is not valid. The only thng I can do is go into Active Sync and delete the exchange server account and then reinstall.

ANY IDEAS at all would be greatly apprecaited.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

This is exactly what happened to me. I would get the same crap from them about not supporting Windows mobile but after numerous calls and eventualy calling one of our VP's, they decided to send me the security certificate that was the same root cert I got from OWA..... Same problem again. The only way I got it to work was to go back into OWA and get the 2 intermediate level certificates and add them as well, so three certs in total. Once I did this, I have not received a security error for months. I posted a link earlier in this thread discussing this but to be clear, you need to do a little more than just get the root certificate.

http://www.confusedamused.com/notebo...-certificates/

**look at step 3 and 4. go to certicate path. Mine has 3 different levels which I saved. Hopefully you will see additional certificates as well that can be downloaded and fix your problem. I know others have mentioned that this is not necesary. I am not disagreeing but it wouldn't hurt to try. I definitely worked for me and others in my office.

Afterwards I had 2 new intermediate certs and the correct root cert. Now anytime I flash a new rom I have them saved to internal storage and reinstall them before setting up active sync. If this doesn't work, and you are at your wits end...been there... you can always set up opera mobile or mini to get your work mail as a work around. probably end up saving battery in the end:smile:

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Thank you. I tried to follow those directions but my "Copy File" was grayed out. There is a web page for GoDaddy.com that I went too and there are two CER files that could be downloaded. I downloaded both.

Any idea how come it stops working and wont sync after the phone turns off or battery goes down.

I really want to make this work. By the way, when you mention the work around. do you mean to access OWA via the mobile browser. If so, that just wont work day to day. I need the push. Which works great when it works, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:-x

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

I understand, push email is one of the reasons to have a smartphone.. I feel your pain. I had the exact same thing occur. If I established active sync, it work, then if I reset the phone, the security error would come back everytime. Quick question, aren't you getting the certificates from your work Outlook web access? not sure why you would need to go to Godaddy site to get your specific certs. I get mine from accessing my company mail over the web. I get my certs from any pc. Just curious.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

ok this may be related or not...
but it seems as though during night i don't get push emails.
during the day everything works fine.

i did setup in schedule where both peak and offpeak have it set to "as item arrives"

any ideas why at night it doesn't push?

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

The thing is that there is no one clear solution for this. There are MANY variables, what form of authentication, version of Exchange and IIS, if Exchange is published to a public domain name on the internet (Outlook Web Access setup and configured from a public internet connection with SLL?), etc etc...

If you're IT team isn't prepped for Active Sync setup for PPC ActiveSync push it might take them a little while gathering all the right information, configuring and testing, hence its probably the reason they are brushing you off. The best thing you could do, if you have access to it, is to create an e-mail address be-it in G-Mail, Hotmail or something similar, and have all your e-mail forwarded to that e-mail with a Rule in your Outlook or something similar. That way you'll get e-mails in your outlook and to an external e-mail account you can setup on your phone but this is a messy approach as there won't be any "sync" actually happening and that external mailbox will require some micro-management on your part.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

There could possibly be a rule established by your IT team within Exchange to only allow push during a specific time of the day.

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

Please!!!!! Somebody Help.

My phone stopped syncing and now says that my certificate is invalid. In the past when this happen I could delete the exchange server in Active Sync and then reinstall the settings. I would get a message asking for approval and then it would work. Now I cant get the box that asks for approval. It just says that my certificate is not valid. I have now had a soft and hard resets. How come I get the question regarding security and now I cant get it.

Regarding the certificates I am really confused. I don't know what to do. I have found two ways to download certificates. One way there are to CER files which I keep on my memory card. If I go through OWA I see the export function but there is no way to downlaod to CER.

I DONT MEAN TO WINE BUT SOMEBODY PLEASEEEEEE HELP ME - I AM DROWNING

Re: Sync Windows Mobile 6.1 with Exchange Server
 

There are also rules to this on your device. I just thought I would add that.