HTC Desire series

[ajgandon]

Hi - I have just upgraded to an HTC Desire which seems excellent other than I cannot get it to Sync properly with contacts and calendar in Outlook. From a few web searches this seems a regular issue, though not so much on this forum.
I started by using the sync software preloaded on microSD card - ver 2 - 028 I think. Actually, this worked fine, seemed to bring over contacts and calendar ok, but then I tried it again and it started to duplicate some contacts the sync started failing.
Then I uninstalled and downloaded version 3 from HTC website. This connected fine with phone and allowed me to transfer music and playlists from iTunes (a nice feature) but would not sync contacts or calendar. No error message, just a brief time when you think it might have synced - but no result.
I have gone back to version 2 but continue to get sync failure unless I reset my phone and start from scratch when it seems to work fine first time and then progressivley gets worse and fails.
I think I have followed all advice, virus software off, firewall down, USB debugger on, tried all USB ports, reset phone, uninstalled/reinstalled software etc - has taken several days but no progress.
HTC helpdesk couldnt help - hadnt heard of the issue???? Suggested I upgrade Outlook from free trial at MS. Tried this - no improvement.
I have read about syncing via Googlemail. I cant see how this helps me - I need to use Outlook and dont want to continually export contacts and calendar to googlemail just to sync my phone.
I am not expecting a magic answer - but thought I would give the forum a go before I send the phone back tomorrow to VF before my 7 days runs out.
Appreciate any help anyone can give.
Thanks

[Sukhi]

Hi Alex66

Welcome to the eForum! Hope you stick around .

We've not heard of this particular issue, if anyone else is or has experienced this please let us know and we can feed this back to HTC.

Sukhi
eForum Team

[londonshark]

I have an HTC Desire as well, and did not have any problem syncing Outlook with the phone with HTC Sync. However, I ended up not not using the HTC Sync feature, because I prefer to sync my Outlook contacts and calendar to my Google accounts, and then have my phone sync with the Google account. Google has a free Oulook Calendar sync product that works very well, but I use CompanionLink for Google, because I also wanted to sync my contacts. It works very well for me. It does cost around $35, but you can try for free for 14 days, and see if you are happy.

[ajgandon]

Hi Londonshark - Great advice. I downloaded trial version of Companionlink and that has worked very easily and quickly. Although I would expect HTC's own software to work properly at least this is a good hassle free alternative and much cheaper than the new version of Outlook I was considering buying!
I will give it a good lookover over the weekend to check it is working properly and all going where it should - but looks good so far.
Hopefully I can still use HTC sync version 3 to synchronise my music and playlists without causing conflicts.

Thanks for your help - might now be able to actually start using my Desire!

[theswissmonkey]

Hi - I have just upgraded to an HTC Desire which seems excellent other than I cannot get it to Sync properly with contacts and calendar in Outlook. From a few web searches this seems a regular issue, though not so much on this forum.
I started by using the sync software preloaded on microSD card - ver 2 - 028 I think. Actually, this worked fine, seemed to bring over contacts and calendar ok, but then I tried it again and it started to duplicate some contacts the sync started failing.
Then I uninstalled and downloaded version 3 from HTC website. This connected fine with phone and allowed me to transfer music and playlists from iTunes (a nice feature) but would not sync contacts or calendar. No error message, just a brief time when you think it might have synced - but no result.
...
Appreciate any help anyone can give.
Thanks

Hi,

Can't give any recommendations for Outlook syncing, but I've also experienced very odd issues with HTC Sync in general. It seems to crash on me every time I attempt to sync music - either it stalls and gives an error message, or literally disappears! - the program just crashes and closes down completely. I reckon there must be some serious bugs in it somewhere

I'd recommend Double-Twist for syncing music - iTunes playlists are also supported.

Sorry, I can't give any recommendations for Outlook syncing - I'd try completely uninstalling/reinstalling HTC Sync and try syncing it again - keep it as simple as possible so you can try and identify where the process is going wrong.

Cheers,

TSM

[Huwd]

Is the outlook sync corporate, via an exchange server or personal, via a PC?

[ajgandon]

Personal Outlook on my PC. It is an old version of Outlook - 2000, but has never caused me problems before - even Nokia sync could handle it.

I will take a look at Doubletwist for iTunes sync although I seem to be able to use HTC sync ver 3 for music sync succesfully - even if it can't handle my contacts and calendar.

Incidentally - because my Outlook and email are personal and not on an exchange server that is also causing problems with getting my POP3 email on the phone - Vodafone have got rid of their outgoing SMTP mail server send.vodafone.net which worked fine on my old phone and now you have to sign up for an account with vodfaones 360.COM service to get an outgoing mail server - far from seamless and still not working.

[bladeone]

I also have not been able to sync windows live mail/ calendar at all,

I have the latest HTC sync software, can sync photos, music, but contacts and calendar tabs are not lit up like the others which work.

[Huwd]

Personal Outlook on my PC. It is an old version of Outlook - 2000, but has never caused me problems before - even Nokia sync could handle it.

I will take a look at Doubletwist for iTunes sync although I seem to be able to use HTC sync ver 3 for music sync succesfully - even if it can't handle my contacts and calendar.

Incidentally - because my Outlook and email are personal and not on an exchange server that is also causing problems with getting my POP3 email on the phone - Vodafone have got rid of their outgoing SMTP mail server send.vodafone.net which worked fine on my old phone and now you have to sign up for an account with vodfaones 360.COM service to get an outgoing mail server - far from seamless and still not working.

Sorry then Alex, I can't give you any pointers - I'm synching to Exchange Servers only.

[bladeone]

Still no joy for me contacts/calendar tabs still not highlighted using windows 7

[tomlau56]

I thought I would check to see if this problem has ever been resolved as I am experiencing exactly the same issue as the original poster. 

Everytime I sync between my desire and Outlook I end up with duplicate contacts on my PC.  Calendar seems fine.  However, I also have the issue that sync regularly seems to choose not to work at all.  I "upgraded" from a Nokia and I have to say this is an area where HTC struggles by comparison.  The Nokia software (even OVI) worked brilliantly AND I could sync using bluetooth - which doesn't seem possible with the Desire.  Technology is supposed to move forwards not backwards!  

I've seen suggestions to solve the issue by syncing between Gmail and Outlook and then between Gmail and the Desire but to me that's a workaround not a resolution.  Enormous numbers of people use Outlook at home as the interface is more familiar than gmail so this really needs to be fixed somehow.

It's a new phone and I am on the latest version of everything.  My PC is W7 (upgraded from Vista) and I'm running Outlook 2003.  

I plan to uninstall and then reinstall everything but i've already done that once and i'm not hopeful.

P.S.  Love the phone (apart from battery life but that's liveable with).

[Undesire]

I am  a new user of a Desire C - my first so-called Smartphone. I too have tried to sync my contacts and calendar with Outlook and failed after several hours of trying. I cannot believe that Vodafone/HTC would market a state of the art phone which cannot perform this simple task, and the phone is going back on Monday if It cannot be sorted. The problem is well documented on other forums - pity t I did not read these before buying.

I don't see Gmail as a solution. I don't want or need it, and don't trust Google with my data.

The time wasted on all this is unbelievable. Now I have to spend hours on the phone to Vodafone getting them to take the phone back.

Deeply disappointed and disillusioned.

[Undesire · Accepted solution]

I would like to withdraw my previous post.

I had one last go at synchronising with Outlook, and this time it worked.

I uninstalled the HTC sync software, and then followed the website instructions precisely for the re-load.

It would appear to be very important to disable the anti virus program. Took me ages to discover how to do this.

All contacts, diaries and bookmarks loaded quickly and accurately, including all the notes associated with dates and people.

Why it never worked before is a mystery, so the only thing different this time was anti-virus.
My apologies to Vodafone and HTC

Relieved and delighted