For years and years I’ve had a smartphone and synched all my contacts and calendar with Outlook on the PC.

Today I swapped my old Orange SPV (Windows OS) for an Orange San Francisco Android phone and tried to hook it up to the PC.

Nothing. Nada. Zero.

I downloaded some drivers of unknown origin so I can at least see the SD card but as far as synchronising with Outlook (which would be vastly preferable, but not vital, to moving over to a new email and calendar app) and getting music onto it, I’m stuffed.

Somebody here must be able to help me find a good but free bit of software to do what I thought should be automatic.

Android is largely centred around having a Google account so I think the preferred method is to use the tool linked below to sync Outlook with your Google Calendar (assuming you have a Google account you automatically have a google calendar too), and then let your phone sync with Google Calendar.

http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=89955

EDIT: Just realised that only does Calendar, not 100% sure about contacts.

Well I don’t have a Google Calendar or a Google account but I don’t mind getting one. But is there a similar Google app for storing contact details? phone numbers, addresses, email addresses etc?

EDIT – Ahh – that’ll be Gmail then. Ho Hum another load of faffing about then.

Gmail has a very good contacts system as part of it.

I’ve just found this too, I’ve no experience of it, but it might be what you need.
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gappssync
EDIT: apparently that’s for paid Google Apps customers only

Thanks for finding that, it might save me a bit of hassle. Wish I could keep Outlook and sync straight to it tho.

How’s about synching music with iTunes? Anybody?

Why on earth would you keep using iTunes if you don’t have to 😯 😉

Mine’s an HTC and HTC Sync just syncs Outlook to my caledar with no fuss. I can’t imagine that the Orange one

Not sure on your phone, but when you connect to a PC with my HTC you can set the phone’s behaviour to give access to the SD card/charge battery only/data sync/probably something else – do you have the right one selected ( the info should pop up when you connect your phone ) ?