This has really been bugging me recently. Once in a while the relationship with my Windows Mobile (a HTC TyTn) seems to break down between my work PC and the device and I’m left with a greyed out device in Sync Center which, even though the menu option is enabled and selectable, cannot be deleted. Without much help from searching the internet (everything seemed to suggest deleting system files which seemed a bit dodgy to me) I finally stumbled across the solution…
The screenshot below shows my device in Sync Center now happily activated and connected. Previously it was greyed out and called ‘Tytn’ – I added the month and year to the name to see how long it lasts this time! Every time I tried to delete it the menu option simply did nothing.
However, I just happened to selected ‘Network and Internet’ from the address bar and found my old friend the Windows Mobile Device Center – I selected that and the device was recognised and I could re-establish the partnership.
Seems soooo simple now that I’ve done it but it just seems to be one of those interfaces in Vista that seems to confuse rather than help – I was so preoccupied by the Sync Center interface not working and not allowing me to remove the device that I forgot about the interface I should have been looking at in the first place! (There’s a ‘mini rant’ in there somewhere!)
After wasting tons of time trying to delete the device in sync center and the rest of the Internet was no help, your advice to go through windows Mobile Device center worked perfect. Thanks a lot!
Comment by xv6800 user — July 6, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
I had the same problem and your advice opened my eyes
. Thanks
Comment by milan — June 5, 2009 @ 9:02 am
I’m lost with similar problem and you brought me some clue. Didn’t manage to find the Network and Internet option but manage to locate the Windows Mobile Device Center. I deleted the partnership from there and managed to reestablish new partnership after that. Tks.
Comment by Louis — July 7, 2009 @ 2:28 am
You are my hero! This worked perfectly. I was going bonkers.
Comment by Robert — October 3, 2009 @ 11:01 pm
I shared the pain you guys went through. I found that there is “Windows Mobile Device Center” (WMDC) program available in Control Panel. You will also find “Sync Center” (SC) program here. When you cannot connect to the device through SC, try launching WMDC and you should be able to make some headway. All the best.
Comment by PS — November 8, 2009 @ 10:18 am
I can’t believe it was so simple!!! THANK YOU!
I’m on Windows 7 ultimate 32bit and I could not find a solution. The WMDC probably was removed from my autostart when I cleaned my system (actually I don’t see why I should have it always running if I synchronize one a week), but then I did not know what was wrong because I thought Sync Center was THE syncronization software, but no… that would have been too simple!
Thanks again
Comment by Patroclo — June 13, 2011 @ 11:56 am