KnowledgeBase

Windows Mobile Device Center No Longer Working in Windows 10

There seems to be two things that have happened with the new Creator update for Windows 10. The first issue has to do with the local services account. It seems some permissions have been removed that the Windows Mobile Device Center needs to function. This is a two part fix. The first is that the Windows Mobile Device Center needs to be updated with either a domain or local administrator account to run the service. This can be performed through the log on tab in the service properties. The second is listed below with a nice introduction as to what was broke:

The creators update has a new feature, related to svchost.exe: the services will not share by default the same svchost.exe, even they are assigned to be run within of the same group with -k option.

Rapimgr and Wcescomm (Windows Mobile-based device connectivity and Windows Mobile-2003-based device connectivity) are such services: they are defined to be started in the same shared svchost.exe (-k WindowsMobile). RapiMgr creates a kernel semaphore AS_ACCEPTANCE_SEMA, because it starts first. WcesComm tries to do this too, but fails: the semaphore has been already created and should be only opened. This will fail: not enough permissions (remember: two different svchost.exe, different SID, etc). So, wcescomm is just stopped.

The fix is simple: add SvcHostSplitDisable to the both services RapiMgr and WcesComm:

REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RapiMgr /v SvcHostSplitDisable /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WcesComm /v SvcHostSplitDisable /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Both services should have the same Local Service Account. You have to reboot after this change.

 

Note: This fix requires updating of your Registry. We recommend having your IT group implement these changes for you.

How to Setup Windows Mobile Device Center/ActiveSync

Windows Vista/Windows 7 – Windows Mobile Device Center Setup

  1. Figure 1 – Windows 7 installing (WMDC)

    If your computer uses the Windows 7 operating systems, the required software Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC). If your computer runs an earlier version of Windows such as Windows XP, you will need to install Windows Activesync. Plug your PDA into your PC and Windows 7 PC will automatically begin installing the drivers and (WMDC) software. (figure 1)

  2. If this screen appears, click the Add desktop Icon, and then click Don’t Register.
  3. Click on Set up your device.
  4. Uncheck all boxes, except for Files. Click on Next.
  5. Give your device a descriptive name. Then click next. You will be shown a progress page during the time it takes for the partnership to be established.
  6. When you see this screen, the partnership is established.

Transferring data from PDA to PC using
Windows Vista/Windows 7 – Windows Mobile Device Center

  1. Connect the PDA to the PC using the Sync cable. Open Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) by clicking on the desktop icon. Wait for the WMDC screen to show that the PDA is connected. Click on File Management, and then on Browse the contents of
    your device.
  2. Click on the icon representing the virtual drive of the PDA.
  3. Click on the corresponding Software folder to access the files needed.