SUMMARY
You can use Microsoft ActiveSync to synchronize data between your desktop computer and your mobile device (either your laptop or your Microsoft Pocket PC device). If you are a system administrator, you can use the Silent Mode Setup feature to rapidly deploy ActiveSync across a large organization. This step-by-step article describes how to use ActiveSync Silent Mode Setup to install ActiveSync.
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How to create the Silent.ini file
ActiveSync Silent Mode Setup uses the configuration settings that are included in the Silent.ini initialization file. You must create this file before you can run Silent Mode Setup. Silent.ini is a text file; therefore, you can use any text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad, to create this file. A Silent.ini file may contain the following settings:
; Settings for silent install
[ActiveSync]
InstallDir = %ProgramFilesDir%\Microsoft ActiveSync
UsePreviousPort = 1
CommPort =
ResetRasServerPorts = 1
DesktopIcon = 1
Reboot = 1
The format of the file is similar to Windows .ini files in the following ways:
- The file can include comments (on lines that start with a semicolon [;]).
- Sections in the file start with a name in brackets (the Silent.ini file includes the [ActiveSync] section only).
- Sections contain "Setting = Value" commands. These commands answer the questions that do not typically occur during Setup.
The following section describes the settings and the possible values that you can use in the Silent.ini file. You can omit values for any of these settings. If you do so, Silent Mode Setup uses the default values.
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Silent.ini file settings
InstallDir- Description: This setting determines the location in which Setup places the ActiveSync 3.1 files. You can enter a path to any folder. Setup creates the folder if it does not exist.
- Values: You can set the following values with this option:
- %ProgramFilesDir%\Path
- %SystemDrive%\Path
- Path
The "%SystemDrive%" entry is replaced by the drive letter of the Windows drive (typically, drive C). The "%ProgramFilesDir%" entry is replaced by the Program Files folders in the Windows drive (typically, C:\Program Files). - Default Value: %ProgramFilesDir%\ActiveSync
Note This setting is ignored if ActiveSync or Microsoft Windows CE Services is already installed on the user's computer. In this situation, the Silent.ini file uses the existing folder.
UsePreviousPort- Description: This setting determines whether Setup uses an existing COM port setting, if it exists. This setting is ignored if ActiveSync or Windows CE Services is not already installed on the user's system.
- Values: You can set the following values with this setting:
- 0: Setup uses an existing COM port setting.
- 1: Setup does not use an existing COM port setting.
- Default value: 1
CommPort- Description: This setting determines the COM port that ActiveSync checks for devices. If you do not set a value, an initial COM port is not set. ActiveSync either uses the previous version's port or searches for a port when you run ActiveSync for the first time.
- Values: You can use the following values with this setting:
- Default value: No value
Note
This option is ignored if UsePreviousPort is set to 1, if ActiveSync or Windows CE Services is already installed on the user's computer, and if you previously set a COM port.
ResetRasServerPorts- Description: This setting determines whether Setup resets the COM ports that are used by remote access.
- Values: You can set the following values with this setting:
- 0: Setup resets the COM ports that are used by remote access.
- 1: Setup does not reset the COM ports that are used by remote access.
- Default value: 1
Note This setting is ignored if you specify the CommPort setting or if a previous port is found.
DesktopIcon- Description: This setting determines whether Setup puts a shortcut to ActiveSync on the user's desktop.
- Values: You can set the following values with this setting:
- 0: Setup puts a shortcut to ActiveSync on the user's desktop.
- 1: Setup does not put a shortcut to ActiveSync on the user's desktop.
- Default value: 1
Reboot- Description: This setting determines whether Setup restarts the user's computer.
- Values: You can set the following values with this setting:
- 1: Setup restarts the user's computer (if you must restart the computer).
- 0: Setup does not restart the user's computer.
- Default value: 1
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How to run Silent Mode Setup
Silent Mode Setup is located in the Main folder on the ActiveSync compact disc (CD). This program is not the same Setup program that is located in the root folder of the CD. Use the
/s command-line option to specify Silent mode.
To run Silent Mode Setup, follow these steps in either a command window or in a batch file:
- In a command window, type the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the Silent Mode Setup program, the /s command-line option, and the name of the .ini file. For example, type one of the following commands:
- d:\main\setup.exe /s silent
- d:\main\setup.exe /s "silent.ini"
- d:\main\setup.exe /s "\\server\public\microsoft
activesync\silent.ini"
- Examine the log file to confirm that Setup was successful.
Log information is placed in the Wcesetup.log file. Setup creates this file in a temporary folder, and then copies it to the folder in which you installed ActiveSync. If Setup is unsuccessful, the log file is located in the %Tmp% folder, which is the folder that is specified in the TMP environment variable.
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Additional information about install source folder structure
In the case where you cannot point the Silent Mode Setup program to an install CD with a main folder, you can manually create an install folder structure by using one of the following methods:
- Obtain a copy of the Msasync.exe file. If you do not have a copy of this install file, you can download a copy of this file. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Then, follow these steps:
- Download the latest version of ActiveSync.
- Run the self-extracting Msasync.exe file. This starts the ActiveSync Setup program.
- When the Set Up Microsoft ActiveSync dialog box appears, do not continue with the Setup program, and leave the dialog box open.
- In Windows Explorer, open the hidden Temp\IXPXXX.TMP folder.
Note XXX is a number that starts with 000.
For example:- In Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows 2000: C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Temp\IXPXXX.TMP.
- In Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98: C:\Windows\Temp\IXPXXX.TMP.
This folder contains the folder structure that you must have to run Silent Mode Setup from.
- Copy this folder and the contents of this folder to a location that you choose. As soon as the folder and the files have been copied, cancel the pending ActiveSync setup.
This action will remove the IXPXXX.TMP folder and its contents.
- Use of of the following command-line options for the Msasync.exe self-extracting program to determine this install folder structure:
- /Q
This option means Quiet modes for package. This option runs the Setup Program as if you ran Msasync.exe with the default location set. - /T:FullPath
This option specifies a temporary working folder. This action extracts and copies the needed temporary install source files to a location that is specified by FullPath. Then, it starts the Setup program as if you ran Msasync.exe. - /C
This option only extracts files to the folder when the option is used with the /T switch. This action only copies the files that are in the install folder and does not copy the subfolders that are needed. - /C:Cmd
This option overrides the install command that is defined by the author.