Unable to load ActiveSync 3.8 after uninstalling ActiveSync 4.0 or 4.1

Applies To

• ActiveSync 3.0, 3.1, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.7.1, 3.8

Overview

After uninstalling ActiveSync 4.0 or 4.1, the installation of ActiveSync 3.8 was successful, however you are unable to launch the ActiveSync program.

More Info

The uninstallation routine for ActiveSync 4.x intentionally leaves behind a API file that is used by Microsoft Office. The presence of this API resource library causes the WCESMgr application process to automatically terminate upon execution.

How-to Guide

To restore your ActiveSync installation to version 3.8 from 4.x.

1. Close all applications
2. Close all running Microsoft Office processes
3. Uninstall all instances of Microsoft ActiveSync
4. Using Windows Explorer navigate to:
   %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Windows\System32
   -or-
   %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Winnt\System32
5. Locate and Delete the file:
   RAPI.dll
6. Reboot your computer

Once the computer has rebooted, log-in with administrative permissions and proceed to reinstall ActiveSync 3.8 as normal.