Timmy5685's dashboard

Thanks Fisher for refering that site url.

Seems fine to me.

--
Raqueeb Hassan
Bangladesh

SPECIFIC CASE FIX FOR IPOD/IPHONE AND OUTLOOK SYNC PROBLEM

Okay ...
A bit of history...
I got an Ipod touch with the Macbook I got my son for college. I had Outlook 2003 installed on my Dell Laptop. I got the 7.7 version of Itunes.
Music, photos, etc synced ...BUT NOT the Outlook Contacts or Calendar.
I updated the Ipod software to the latest 2.x version.

This is when I started to go nuts because I want to get a new Iphone 3G and I can't get one if I can't sync.

I currently have a Treo 650 and use Palm Desktop. Also, Eudora for email.

I went through the usual bs, as has everyone here. Nothing worked. I updated Outlook2003 with service pack 3. Nothing. I tried to downgrade Itunes to 7.5 and 7.6 and that really screwed up my syste, ... thank goodness for backups.

Then I uninstalled everything Apple and reinstalled ITunes. (probably not necessary since it screws up playlists, etc)

And I uninstalled Outlook 2003 and put in a trial version of MS Office 2007.
(But probably could have stuck with 2003.)

Nothing.

I spent useless time on the phone with Apple and Microsoft, as they blamed each other.

But I'm obsessive so I kept combing the message boards.

Today I read that someone else who'd used Eudora figured out that Eudora (by Qualcomm) REPLACES THE Mapi.dll and Mapi32.dll files in the Windows/System32 folder with its own (and the old files are renamed mapi.000 and mapi32.000 etc. He discovered this when trying to solve an unrelated problem: he wanted to export his Outlook 2007 contacts to a .csv file and Outlook kept giving him an error message. (I was trying to do that, too.)

So ... I went to http://www.dll-files.com/ (there are other similar sites) and got the MS versions of mapi.dll and mapi32.dll, took out the Qualcomm versions (hold your cursor over the file to see who made it, or click on properties, version), put them in a temp folder, and replaced them with grade-A ms versions.

Lo and behold, I was able to export my outlook contacts to a .csv file.

Then I thought ... hmm ... maybe this is the problem with Outlook and Itunes ... maybe the bad .dll file prevent the syncing... (I should add that I could sync the Ipod with Windows Address Book ...)

So I tried it.

I'm still in awe. It worked. The contacts synced to the Ipod (and I imagine they would to the the IPhone.)

Then I tried it with the calendar, after I had used a utility to copy my Palm Desktop calendar to outlook (or you could export to a .csv and import, etc.)

That worked too!

Now ... I don't know yet if I can add to the Ipod contacts or calendar and have it sync back. I'll have to test it.

I DO know that I got the stuff over to the Ipod by clicking the box in iTunes, on the INFO tab, that forces Outlook and Calendar to replace what's on the IPod.

ALSO: and this is very important... if you do all this and then run Eudora again to check mail IT WILL ONCE AGAIN REPLACE THE MAPI AND MAPI32.DLL'S and the syncing will not work. So you'll have to re-copy the MS versions of those .dlls back to WINDOWS/SYSTEM32.

I've spent days and valuable hours reading many message boards about this problem, and I'm sure there are many iterations, and this fix may only work for Eudora users, or for anyone using programs that replace the .dlls.

You may have once used Eudora and moved on, but left their .dlls behind.

Clearly, Outlook uses these .dlls to map out the file for syncing, and if they're not standard MS, they don't work.

Finally, if you're migrating from Palm, etc to the IPhone and plan to do everything in Outlook from Contacts to Calendar to Email, you won't have to worry about constantly replacing the .dlls.

Hope it works for you -- and continues to work for me.
--- ps:
Re Eurdora Mapi files:
I found that you can just go into OPTIONS on Eudora, go to Mapi
in the list, and tell Eudora to never use its Mapi servers. Now it doesn't
automatically replace the mapi.dll and mapi32.dll files.

And I've experimented with adding a contact on the IPod to see if it would sync to Outlook ... it did. And vice versa.

So far, so good. I may uninstall Outlook 2007 and try this with 2003 next.

I found this article that might be able to help you. I'm still looking for the right way to make the conversion, but at least I have a direction.

See this site and look past the initial "MSG" thought.

http://www.floridalawfirm.com/msg.html

Good luck!

My issue is that my work calendar syncs.. but every time I click the mail tab, it acts like it is going to go into the mail, and then it backs out to the main iphone screen... it is like that with my gmail also.. further complicating matters is that i can not seem to delete my gmail account on the iphone... why is this?

any advice on how i can get the mail working. i don't understand why the calendar would sync, but the email wont work.. because it is the same with the gmail also, i wonder if it's not a problem with the syncing (it must be if the calendar syncs, yes?)

anyhow, any advice would be awesome. also, i have the original 16G iphone with the new software update.

I bought an Iphone 3G yesterday and got it working almost fine with Outlook 2003. It syncs Calendar and contacts almost fine. The only strange thing is that is won't sync contacts from the standard Outlook 2003 Contact folders, but only from extra contacts folders I created myself in Outlook...?..

Rolf

PST files are always getting corrupted, so you need to use the SCANPST.EXE. Go to the help in Outlook and it will guide you. Small errors jam up everything!

I saw an Apple iPhone 3G ad tonight specifically pushing it for the "Work" environment. I am pissed, because I moved over from my Blackberry to this toy!! My calendar does not sync with Outlook calendar, and have had to use Google's calendar on the web, which is a band aid and not a real solution since it does not allow editing the entries properly on the iPhone.

I am an attorney. I will seriously consider whether there is a legal remedy here somewhere. They cannot--or at least should not--get out there and say this thing is suitable for a serious work application and then NOT check something as simple as compatibility with Microsoft Outlook Calendar? No Way!!! I am mad...I want a solution NOW...or I am taking this toy back to the store. I have spent over 20 hours of my precious time trying to find some acceptable way to fix this, but there is not even a proper 3rd party solution out there to buy!!!

I had problem to sync my contact on outlook with Iphone, i try all the recommend solution without any success. Finally i found this alternative way. www.funambol.com. It work perfect for contact, but calender and task is still need to wait i guess. Anyway, i hope this help some of the ppl here.
Itune sucks!!!

First Apple suck for not having a fix yet. They probably blame Microsoft. Or is Apple the future Microsoft 10 years from now!! Who has the time to work out a solution of which there appear to me many...
Well I have the perfect solution. We all want to get off MS products right. We'll I'm migrating to the cloud (Google's cloud). Download the Google app that auto syncs with Outlook 2003/2007 - IT DOES WORK perfectly. Then simply download the Google App (only one in ITunes) to your iPhone and use that as your calendar when away from your desk. When you are at your desk use Outlook or Google Calendar via browser. Google Calendar has great features.

Thanks! I finally have my calendar back on my iphone :) *grin* What a great forum. Thanks for all the help.

After testing my recommendations over and over I would like to add one more caveat: I'm not sure whether "compacting" or "compression" causes the stir-up. My Outlook.pst folder is NOT compressed. Check this by going to your Outlook.pst folder, right click, go to properties, click advanced and make sure the "compress to save disk space" is UNchecked.
I also got rid of the second "empty calendar" on my iPod touch, by deleting the calendar subfolder (which also might be called "home") under calendar in outlook. Close outlook. Open iTunes, reset sync history. Go to Info and now you should only see one calendar under the calendar sync. Go to advanced and check Replace Information Calendars. Now the sync should get your Outlook Calendar on your iPod-touch or iPhone. – keysmike, on July 25, 2008 22:35

After testing my recommendations over and over I would like to add one more caveat: I'm not sure whether "compacting" or "compression" causes the stir-up. My Outlook.pst folder is NOT compressed. Check this by going to your Outlook.pst folder, right click, go to properties, click advanced and make sure the "compress to save disk space" is UNchecked.
I also got rid of the second "empty calendar" on my iPod touch, by deleting the calendar subfolder (which also might be called "home") under calendar in outlook. Close outlook. Open iTunes, reset sync history. Go to Info and now you should only see one calendar under the calendar sync. Go to advanced and check Replace Information Calendars. Now the sync should get your Outlook Calendar on your iPod-touch or iPhone. – keysmike, on July 25, 2008 22:35

Ina, if your Outlook.pst file is in the right location, move it to another directory. Open Outlook, which will prompt you for a file it cannot locate. I assume you can override this error and crate a dummy file by making a new entry in the empty calendar. Close Outlook and move the original file back overwriting the dummy pst you just created. No guarantee on this one, but it is safe, as long as you keep the original Outlook.pst file. – keysmike, on July 25, 2008 19:16

I would really like to try to understand exactly what you did. First of all, I have Outlook 2003, so that may be the reason I don't fully understand your 'cure'. But let me see if I can explain. I totally understand up to a point. I fount the "outlook.pst" file right where you said it would be, but then I am hazy. Do I move the file? Copy it to another location? Then you say to rebuild your outlook calendar. I opened Outlook and it didn't prompt for anything (why should it? I didn't really delete any files). So there really were no changes. Could you further explain it to me? Thanks I really appreciate the time you took for the explanation. – ina, on July 24, 2008 23:46

I believe that I found the cure:
It is all about the *pst file in Outlook
i-tunes 7.7.0.43
ipod 2.0
outlook 2002
Windows XP

I don't know why contacts sync without problem and calendar does not.
This is how I successfully cured the glitch.

1. Go to iTunes and reset Sync History, close i-Tunes.
2. Check Time and Date in Outlook to confirm same settings with your I-pod touch or i-phone
3. Find your *.pst file that holds all of your exchange date
4. It should be called "Outlook.pst" and should reside in the folder C:\\Documents and Settings\USERNAME (whatever your name or the name of your organization)\Application

Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst.
5. If you can't locate this file, do a new calendar entry, close outlook and search for *.pst. The one file with the newest date is the file you want - wherever it might might reside. Save this file to

a directory, where you can find it again and copy it to the directory above.
6. Save to a secure place any *.pst file you found.
7. Don't worry all files are still there - to rebuild your Outlook Calendar
8. Open Outlook and if it prompts that it cannot find the file, direct it to your outlook.pst in the directory quoted above.
9. At this time you might also want to put the backup.pst in the same directory - and do a backup in outlook. Remember all the files are still save, wherever you put them
10. After you found that all your calendar entries are in tact - and outlook knows where to find them - you might want to add a "new test date - like "breakfast" two days down the road.
11. Open iTunes, connect your i-Phone, i-Pod touch and open the device.
12. Go to Info and uncheck any other sync than calendar (Photo, Contacts, mail accounts)
13. Scroll to advanced and check Replace information Calendars
14. Check "all Calendars" and do a "Sync"
15. Open your i-Phone / i-Pod toch an and go to calendars. You might end up with two calendars. One should be empty and one should ave all of your Outlook calendar entries. Check for the one, that you put in as a test. You don't have to keep Outlook open during the sync!
16. I'm still trying to figure out, how to delete / or close the empty calendar, but that should not be the major concern, as long as you have all your appointments transfered from Outlook.

Couple of hours spent, Apple still has not come up with an explanation or fix, though it worked for me. It is all in the *pst file!

I believe that I found the cure:
It is all about the *pst file in Outlook
i-tunes 7.7.0.43
ipod 2.0
outlook 2002
Windows XP

I don't know why contacts sync without problem and calendar does not.
This is how I successfully cured the glitch.

1. Go to iTunes and reset Sync History, close i-Tunes.
2. Check Time and Date in Outlook to confirm same settings with your I-pod touch or i-phone
3. Find your *.pst file that holds all of your exchange date
4. It should be called "Outlook.pst" and should reside in the folder C:\\Documents and Settings\USERNAME (whatever your name or the name of your organisation)\Application

Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst.
5. If you can't locate this file, do a new calendar entry, close outlook and search for *.pst. The one file with the newest date is the file you want - wherever it might might reside. Save this file to

a directory, where you can find it again and copy it to the directory above.
6. Save to a secure place any *.pst file you found.
7. Don't worry all files are still there - to rebuild your Outlook Calendar
8. Open Outlook and if it prompts that it cannot find the file, direct it to your outlook.pst in the directory quoted above.
9. At this time you might also want to put the backup.pst in the same directory - and do a backup in outlook. Remember all the files are still save, wherever you put them
10. After you found that all your calendar entries are in tact - and outlook knows where to find them - you might want to add a "new test date - like "breakfast" two days down the road.
11. Open iTunes, connect your i-Phone, i-Pod touch and open the device.
12. Go to Info and uncheck any other sync than calendar (Photo, Contacts, mail accounts)
13. Scroll to advanced and check Replace information Calendars
14. Check "all Calendars" and do a "Sync"
15. Open your i-Phone / i-Pod toch an and go to calendars. You might end up with two calendars. One should be empty and one should ave all of your Outlook calendar entries. Check for the

one, that you put in as a test. You don't have tyo keep Outlook open during the sync!
16. I'm still trying to figure out, how to delete / or close the empty calendar, but that should not be the major concern, as long as you have all your appointments transfered from Outlook.

Couple of hours spent, Apple still has not come up with an explanation or fix, though it worked for me. It is all in the *pst file!

this is exactly what I did. Now I have no calendar at all!!!! How can I get itunes to recognize my calendar again???? freaking out. – Timmy5685, on July 24, 2008 18:54