When connecting to ActiveSync 3.7.1 via Pocket PC 2003 emulator in Visual.NET 2003 this is how I got the connection to work, step by step. The error I was getting after following the instructions looked just like this:



Step 1. fresh reboot, then start Visual Studio .NET
Step 2. start activesync program. This should add an icon to the systray that is a grayed out circle like this:
Step 3. In Visual Studio IDE goto TOOLS and then choose “connect to device”:



Step 4. choose “pocket pc 2003 emulation” from the devices dropdown box:



Step 5. Wait for the emulator to load fully to the startup screen, it might need to load a driver (it did for me the first time I tried it). Then goto step 6.
Step 6. In the Visual Studio IDE choose TOOLS and then “connect emulator using Activesync”



Step 7. The ActiveSync connector window will come up, choose Pocket PC 2003 and press “connect” to connect
Step 8. The green ActiveSync connected will light up and the message “Succeeded” will appear in the activesync emulator connect window.



You can close that by pressing the cancel or red X and now you are connected. If you click on the green activesync circle in your systray you should see the following:



Troubleshooting:
- if this doesn’t work, then you might try this solution: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/
default.asp?url=/library/en-us/guide_ppc/html/
ppc_ppc_using_virtual_switch_with_activesync__zzrb.asp
- Sometimes an error will occur that says: “Critical communications services have failed to start. Restart the device and then reconnect.” If you say ok, and skip past this the device should still say connected, although in our tests one other developer was getting disconnected on this message.

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