i recently bought a ipaq 3630 on ebay and it did not come with any software. i plugged in the usb sync-charge cable but activesync will not detect it. is there some kind of driver i nedd to install?

You need to download and install active sync 3.7. You can get it from the following link: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/default.mspx There is a link on the page to download active sync. Do not have your ipaq connected during the install until it is asked for. Cheers

We had a similar problem, it will sync here and not sync there. The version of active sync on the above page listed is not the newer version (or at least it wasn't yesterday when I had to download 3.7 as the tech suggested to fix the problem.) PocketPC.com has the 3.7 version of active sync. (to the right of the page in top downloads is a link) The companion CD we got has MS outlook 2000 and MS active sync 3.5 and Add-on software applications and pocket enhancements (?) and a printable reference guide. After updating to 3.7 didn't work we went into control panel>system>device manager and removed the "universal serial bus controller" from the property list. Then rebooted with the cable still connected to the iPAQ. Upon reboot it found hardware and installed it. Now there is the "universal serial bus controller" AND "Windows CE USB device" categories. We also did a soft reset by putting the pointer stick in a hole on the left side of the iPAQ about 1/4 up from the bottom. I hope some of this helps, it didn't us he said the next thing was a hard reset which will wipe out the data. When it all came to that I said not just yet and in frustration wrenched the cable connector on the iPAQ (not to gently) and the dang thing connected. I really don't remember needing or installing any drivers. We installed Avantgo, but I am not sure if that would help connection between the 2 devices.

I have had similar trouble since i got a new laptop without a serial port, rendering the original serial cradle i got with my 3630 obsolete. I've tried a usb cradle, a serial to usb converter and 3 different USB sync-n-charge cables. The best I can manage is a short-lived connection using activesync 3.7.1 if i plug and hold tightly on the connector - I suspected that the connector may be faulty but then it still works fine with my old pc in the serial cradle and with my gps receiver. HP have not repsonded to my emails asking them for advice and there appear to be many wooly references to USB connectivity problems (i.e. each activesync update reports "better" USB connectivity than the last) on the web so i suspect a compatibility problem that no one is prepared to admit to. I'm seriously considering a newer model (as trying cables, cradles & adaptors is getting expensive), but if i find a solution i'll be sure to post here!!! Good luck!