Knowledge Base

How to Connect a Handheld PC Using an Infrared Port

Article ID: 185840

Article Last Modified on 11/26/2003

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q185840

SUMMARY

This article describes how to connect a Handheld PC (H/PC) with a desktop computer using an infrared port.

MORE INFORMATION

To configure an infrared connection, follow these steps:

  1. Install the Infrared components from the Windows CE Services CD-ROM. To do so, follow these steps:

    1. On the desktop computer, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
    2. Double-click Infrared Device, click the Infrared device listed, click Remove, click OK, and then click OK.
    3. Insert the Windows CE Services CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive. If the Welcome To The Windows CE Services CD-ROM screen appears, click the Optional Components icon. If the Welcome To The Windows CE Services CD-ROM screen does not appear, double-click My Computer, double-click the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows CE Services CD-ROM, and then double-click the Optional Components folder.
    4. Double-click the Windows 95 Infrared Support Software folder, and then double-click the Setup.exe program.
    5. Click Next, click the manufacturer and model for your infrared device, and then click Next. If the manufacturer of your infrared device is not in the list, click Standard Infrared Devices and "Built-in Infrared port on laptop or desktop", and then click Next.
    6. Click the communications (COM) port that the infrared device is using, click Next, click Use Default Ports, click Next, and then click Finish.
    7. Restart the computer.
    8. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    9. Double-click Infrared, click the Enable Infrared Communication On check box to select it on the Options tab, and then click OK.
    NOTE: Do not configure the infrared port to use resources that are in use by another communications (COM) port. If you use an external infrared port, make sure that the COM port you plug it into is the same port you configure it to use.

    For information about how to troubleshoot infrared devices, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    184204 How to Troubleshoot Issues with Infrared Devices

  2. On the H/PC, tap Start, tap Settings, tap Control Panel, and then double-tap Communications.
  3. On the PC Connection tab, tap Change.
  4. In the Connect To Desktop Computer Using box, tap Infrared Port, tap OK, and then tap OK.
  5. Use the cable that comes with the H/PC to connect the H/PC with the desktop computer.
  6. On the desktop computer, click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Windows CE Services, and then click Mobile Devices.
  7. On the File menu, click Communications.
  8. Verify that the desktop computer's infrared port is configured to use the correct COM port.
  9. Disconnect the cable between the H/PC and the desktop computer.
  10. Restart the desktop computer.
  11. Place the H/PC's infrared port within connection range of the desktop computer's infrared port.
  12. On the H/PC, tap Start, tap Programs, tap Communication, and then tap ActiveSync.
NOTE: When you use an infrared connection, the H/PC does not automatically synchronize and the synchronization process must be started from the H/PC.

Additional query words: ir hand held connectivity

Keywords: kbhowto KB185840


Send feedback to Microsoft

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.