Posted by rivieram
Important: See new information about updating your USB ports at the end of this post.
After several days of experimentation and reading in the forums, I have figured out the definitive way to get XP to recognize your T68i with a USB cable (DCU-10). Here it is:
Correct Software Version
To use any of the fun software for the T68i (Outlook synchronization, Image Editor, etc.), you need to have Mobile Phone Monitor running and you need Release 5. To get it:
1. Go to Communications Suite Download Page.
Correctly Installing The Software
1. For a clean install, use Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs to remove any previous version of the "Ericsson Communications Suite" or "XTNDConnect PC" that might be on your system. These are listed as two separate entries, so look for both.
2. During installation, you will be asked, "Create a shortcut to the Dial-Up Wizard on your desktop?" It is important that you say "Yes" because you'll need this shortcut later. If you've already installed Release 5 and don't have the shortcut, make a shortcut to this program:
"C:(backslash)Program Files(backslash)Ericsson(backslash)Communications Suite(backslash)phonesettings.exe" /Dun_wizard
Install The Cable First
Before running the software, setup the cable by itself. Plug the cable in without the phone connected and wait for XP to recognize it as a new USB device.
Tell Monitor Where To Find The Phone
To get Mobile Phone Monitor to start automatically when you connect the phone, you must first set it up to search the correct port. Here's how:
1. Click the Start menu. Then right-click on My Computer.
2. Click the Hardware tab, then click the Device Manager button.
3. Click the "plus" sign (+) next to Ports. Look for your USB cable to be listed there.
4. Next to the cable, in parenthesis, you'll see a COM port number like this: (COM 4). Write down your number.
5. Click Device Manager.
6. Click the Start menu again. This time click Control Panel.
7. On the left side, click "Switch to Classic View".
8. Double-click on Phone Monitor Options to open it.
9. Click the COM Ports tab. You'll see a list of COM ports, including the one you found in step 4 We'll call this your COM port. Using the buttons on this tab, make sure that your COM port is Enabled and Reserved. Then use the button to "turn off" all other COM ports, making them Disabled and Not Reserved. (Note: In this context, "Disabled" means "don't look for a phone here." It doesn't affect your use of the COM ports for other things.) Following the example in step 4, I would "turn on" COM 4 and "turn off" all other ports.
10. Click the Setup tab. Click the option labeled "Show icon only when phone is connected." You'll need this to tell when XP can "see" your phone.
11. Click Apply, then Ok to close Mobile Phone Monitor.
Everyday Instructions: Connnecting And Using The Phone
As another reader pointed out, Dial-Up Wizard seems to be the only program that can reliably find your phone and maintain a connection. With it open, you can use any other programs that communicate with your T68i. Here's how to get a reliable connection every time:
1. Turn on your phone and leave it at the standby screen (desktop background showing).
2. Start the Dial-Up Wizard but Don't do anything with it. Just let it start and leave it alone.
3. Press the "NO" button on your phone to help wake-up Mobile Phone Monitor.
3. Look for the Mobile Phone Monitor icon to appear in the notification area (next to the clock). This is confusing because there are two icons that look like mobile phones. Monitor is the one on the left. (Pause your mouse over both icons to see the difference; XTNDConnect PC's icon is on all the time but Monitor's is only on when the phone is connected.)
If the Dial-Up Wizard comes up with a dialog box that asks you to "choose which phone" but, in the list of phones, says "None," you need to close Dial-Up Wizard, press "NO" on the phone, and start Dial-Up Wizard again.
If the Monitor icon is showing up, you're ready to use any T68i cable application (Outlook sync, Image Editor, My Pictures, etc.). Don't close Dial-Up Wizard until you are done using the phone with the PC. If you accidentally close it, start again at step 1 of this section. If the Monitor icon goes away but the Wizard is still running, press the "NO" key on your phone to wake-up Monitor. (Be sure to check in the "hidden icon" area under the arrow button. If you haven't used the phone connection in several minutes, XP hides the icon.)
New Information: Making later changes to your USB ports
I installed some new USB devices and lost access to my phone... until I discovered these facts:
1. XP adds and removes COM ports as you add or move USB devices around. This is very dangerous for Phone Monitor 'cause you just set it up to look on one port only.
2. Phone Monitor won't work with a COM port number higher than 4... even though it will let you choose COM 5, 6, 7, etc.
The solution is three parts:
1. Don't move your USB cable once it is installed. Leave it in the same physical port in your computer. Moving the cable later will change the COM port. If you must move the cable or you add a hub (like I did), go back to the Tell Monitor Where To Find The Phone section of these instructions and start again there.
2. Don't try to use the cable on a COM port numbered higher than 4. The only way to tell this is to plug the cable into various physical USB ports on your computer and watch what happens in My Computer/Hardware/Device Manager/Ports (see Tell Monitor Where To Find The Phone in this post), checking to make sure the cable is assigned to a COM port of 4 or less.
This should save you the headache of losing access to your T68i (which of course, once you have, you can't live without!) as you add and move USB devices on your system.
With these directions I've successfully sync'd Outlook with the phone (this is way cool) and used many other T68i applications. Hope this helps. Good luck!
David
[ This Message was edited by: rivieram on 2002-11-22 06:01 ]
[ This Message was edited by: rivieram on 2002-11-22 06:03 ]
Posted by Bug One
Nice work. Thanks for spending the time to help others.
Posted by hyperken
/
nice job keep it up
/
Posted by Trace
Fantastic! However, the Sony site appears to be severely sick, and I can't get past step 1 - i.e. download the communication suite.
Does anyone know of an alternative site?? Or could someone put on on a FTP site for me? Or email it to me? I know it's 24 MB, but I really want to play
:(
Posted by jocer
Hello is this same for windows98se?
if not can I have a copy of instruction just like that
thanks
Posted by jocer
any alternative site?
Posted by Frieda
can't seem to be able to install the XTNDConnect PC program.. at first it said i had to run outlook, then i started outlook and tried again, but it keeps telling me i have to purchase and uninstalls.
anyone?
Posted by rivieram
Frida,
If you could be more clear with the message, I could try to help you. "i have to purchase and uninstalls." doesn't make any sense. Try to tell me exactly what the dialog box says that you are seeing.
David
Posted by T68iFan
Well done, Rivieram.
Posted by T68iFan
Well done, Rivieram.
Posted by Frieda
ok here we go. i'll try to be more clear.
when trying to install the Communications Suite package 1,1,5,1 which contains the MobilePhoneMonitor and the XTNDConnect PC, Windows XP gives me a warning: "Microsoft Outlook must be run prior to installing XTNDConnect PC". Well, i'm running Outlook so this warning doesn't really make sense.
the next thing i get is an install screen where i have to pick which version of XTNDConnect PC i want to install, the version you have to purchase online with more functions, or the regular version (no purchase required). if i go for the regular version, again i get that same warning: "Microsoft Outlook must be run prior to installing XTNDConnect PC". i can pick retry or cancel, and retry doesn't seem to work (same message pops up) so that leaves me with the cancel button. as soon as i press it i get another popup screen that says "purchase" and the whole thing uninstalls.
Posted by kroobie
I am now up and running thanks to Rivieram's excellent instructions - many thanks!
I did have the same problem as Frieda at first tho because you have to have Outlook installed to install the XTND stuff otherwise it aborts the installation.
I have always used Outlook Express up till now but I had to install Outlook to install the XTND stuff.
Fortunately I had a copy of Outlook - bit of a bummer for those who use Outlook Express and don't have Outlook.
Kat
[ This Message was edited by: kroobie on 2002-11-12 21:06 ]
Posted by Frieda
aw no.. that's it? hmm need to get myself a copy of outlook then.. hmpf!
Posted by rivieram
Thanks, Kroobie, for the follow-up.
I was going to say the same thing... Outlook (something that comes with MS Office) is a different program from Outlook Express (a freebie with Windows).
If you do any real contact management, Outlook is definitely worth having. Very sophisticated.
As for the XTNDConnect PC free vs. paid issue, I would not recommend clicking "Paid" unless you actually plan to pay for and download the paid version. It can sync with other contact management programs (besides Outlook), so if you have one of those, that might be useful for you. The list of programs it syncs with is available on this page from the company's site.
Good luck,
David
Posted by rivieram
Jocer,
For Windows 98, most of the same instructions apply -- except the "daily instructions" at the end of my post. Once you have everything installed correctly, you should not have to do anything except plug-in the phone to the end of the USB cable. If that doesn't work, post here and let me know.
Does Windows 98 even support USB? '98 was a long time ago! Just FYI, that operating system is considered very unreliable. You'd be better off spending the $99 to upgrade to Windows XP.
David
Posted by rivieram
Note on Win XP Tablet PC Edition
I just upgraded my computer to the Tablet PC Edition (yes, I have a tablet!) and XTNDConnect PC now behaves strangely. It syncs correctly (although slow sync mode every time), but the program never completes on the PC end; it just runs forever.
I put in a tech support request to the company and will post what I find out here in the forum.
David
Posted by sbozkus
Hello All,
I'd appreciate ideas / help on below scenario;
I have following components: R520m - WinXP Pro - DRS-10 data cable
I've installed "Package 4" of Ericsson Communications Suite R4A (Build 2002).
When I try to run "Phone Settings" or "Phone Book & Text Message Manager"; my R520m beeps every few seconds and show "Optimized Charging" on it's display. But above software can not find R520m on the attached cable.
Here is what I've tried in different turns:
- On my mainboard BIOS COM ports were assigned to "Auto" setting. I put them to their "usual & known" settings (adress and IRQ).
- I uninstalled XTND Connect PC (being heard that it's problematic on Win XP)
- I put two above mentioned programs (which can not detect my attched R520m) on to "Win 2000 compatibility" mode (right click on their .exe and from "Properties" choose Win2000 compatibility). Then time between above mentioned "beeps" (while software tries to find the phone) increased, but still no result.
- I tried W98 compatibility mode. Then no beeps, but still no phone found.
No wait, I'll now make it harder for you to come up with a suggestion:
I used exactly same components (same GSM-same cable - same Communications Suite R4A) on my office notebook (which runs "real" Win 2000 pro) : Everything run perfectly !!
Now would anyone dare to come up with any idea (about how to have them work on Win XP Pro) ?
If there is any hero within the crowd, I'd highly appreciate.
Kind regards
Serdar
Posted by andyi
Hi Rivieram
"For Windows 98, most of the same instructions apply -- except the "daily instructions" at the end of my post. Once you have everything installed correctly, you should not have to do anything except plug-in the phone to the end of the USB cable. If that doesn't work, post here and let me know."
I am using 98 and have followed the advice in your excellent posts here, but cannot get XTNDConnect to work on my PC. The reason I believe is that my cable is always installed as COM5 (>4) and I can't seem to change it. Does anyone know how I could force the cable to be assigned to another COM port? I am using the MobileAction cable MA-8910p?
many thanks,
andy
Posted by Qed
For the solution to the "Outlook must be run prior to installing" problem read his thread:
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=8881&forum=17#post115368
Posted by MarcoCaires
Rivieram, is it work with Windows NT ??
Posted by Ayakouna
It does not work with my T68i.
The phone can't be recognized.
Can I uninstall phone monitor ? How to do that ? Do the SE communication pack contains phone monitor too ?
I first installed phone monitor driver, then the communication pack, followed the instructions about the port etc...
Nothing happens. No way to get my T68i to be recognized. Please help me !
Posted by ESTOR
The communication suite/pack includes MPM.
Make sure you have a USB data cable and not USB CHARGING cable. You need to install a driver for the USB data cable.
Posted by rivieram
I couldn't say if it runs on NT. Why in the world would you still be running NT? Go out and get yourself a copy of XP!
-- D