ActiveSync won't install

I've had my TP for all of 5 days. My biggest issue is trying to install ActiveSync. I am running an XP machine with SP3. It will stop the install at about 51% and all it tells me is that installation can't be completed. I'm wondering if one or both of these ideas might be an issue: 1) I do not use Outlook at home - Eudora is my e-mail app and I also have a Palm LifeDrive, so use the Palm Desktop app. Do I need to get Outlook up and running?; 2) my home (wireless) internet connection seems to be down (still working to get fixed) - does AS need to "hit" the internet as part of the install process?

I've already spent a fair amount of time cruising through the many posts and did not see a question like this one. I don't consider myself a tech n00b, so this has been frustrating for me. Setting up 4 e-mail accounts, including my work e-mail thru an Exchange Server, was a piece of cake compared to the AS installation attempts.

I really, really hope someone has an answer - or at least suggestions - for solving this. Thanks in advance!    

Thanks for your reply, tkima! I've tried installing from the disc that came with the TP and I've downloaded from the Microsoft site to a jump drive and tried installing that way.

My service provider is U.S. Cellular.

I will try those out as soon as possible and let you know what happens - thanks again! 

I'm wondering if Microsoft isn't trying to access the internet after all? Last time I downloaded from them, they tried to verify that I had a genuine MS OS version running, before they allowed to go further.

I don't know if it will help, but you might have better luck hooking up to a wifi spot somewhere.

other than "installation can not be completed" - does it give you an error code?

To eliminate the other sync software from being the culprit, go into your task manager and "end program" on all programs that have to do with the palm software.

Make sure your firewall / norton doesn't block anything either (turn off temporarily), as well as Windows Defender.

Other than that, I'm puzzled, why it wouldn't even install.

Just wanted to post an update...

I exited out ZoneAlarm, AVGFree, and Palm Sync, which were all in the System Tray. Then I brought up the Task Manager and killed any processes I recognized as Palm-related.

Without restarting, I popped the install disk in the drive, and held my breath. Don't know if it helped, but you know how it goes. The manual or handbook or whatever you want to call it installed right away as it had before. ActiveSync sped thru to 99% and then stopped. Then it did it again and I was thinking it wasn't going to work. Imagine my relief when I got the green checkmark!

I connected the phone to the computer et voila! Even got the 3rd-party software that was a large part of the reason I got the TouchPro installed and working great. Life is good...