We have two Surface RT machines. Neither will connect to our 2003 Exchange Server with the Exchange ActiveSync setup (EAS) option in Mail. We have lots of other Smartphones and tablets connected. After many hours, Microsoft Surface Technical Support has not been able to resolve. Errors received: "Unable to connect. Ensure the information entered is correct" A brief error message in the upper right corner of the screen that says ******@myOUTSIDEdomain.com is unavailable Data Entered: Using: Mail Tile/add your mail accounts/view all in set.../Other Account/ Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) /show more details setup screen: Email address: ******@myOUTSIDEdomain.com Server address: webmail.myOUTSIDEdomain.com Domain: myINSIDEdomain Username: johnsmith Password: mypassword Please let me know if you see something wrong with the above data - it works for about 40 other mobile device.

I am worried that Microsoft has done this on purpose - made a Marketing Decision Windows 8 RT - Consumer targeted - (no domain connections allowed) Windows 8 PRO - Business/Prosumer target - all email systems allowed This doesn't seem like the strategy because *every* mobile device (iPad, iPhone, Droid, etc.) connects to domains. The Surface mail app has the same inputs as these other devices, i.e., server name, username, password, etc. The difference is that the other devices work, and the Surface does not...yet.

The whole idea of a "desktop" is a joke. I hope you do away with that in soon-to-come software upgrade. It's like having this beautiful house with a really ugly room. You can make the case the whole house is ruined.

I managed to make it work on Surface RT. You need to install the server security certificate - everywhere you can in Internet explorer security settings. But and this is a big but, it is still hopeless because 1. it only shows about 3 attachments for incoming mail I.e. if someone sends a mail with 5 PDFs, you only see 3 of them. 2 if someone sends you a mail with another email included as an attachment, there is no way of opening the attachment. So this makes the email useless, even if you can get the email to sync with exchange. For this reason, I returned my surface RT. The other reason was that if you go behind everything to the RT desktop the display is just too small for my eyes, but also my fingers! The desktop display resolution cannot be adjusted. I have gone for iPad instead. Sorry Microsoft, because I really wanted the surface, but it's no good for me.

SOLVED (my opinion only) - Microsoft foolishly designed RT not to work on Exchange Server. Two different Microsoft Support people have stated on this community (other threads) that the Surface RT will not connect to domains - Exchange Server is a domain system. Yesterday, I upgraded my Lenovo X220T tablet from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro. The Windows 8 Pro Email Tile has the identical GUI as the Surface RT Email Tile. I entered the same setup data as the Surface RT rejected and it worked just fine on the 8 Pro. My Experience: Windows 8 RT does not connect to Exchange Server 2003 (after days of IT department attempts to overcome) Windows 8 Pro does connect to Exchange Server (1st attempt) I am worried that Microsoft has done this on purpose - made a Marketing Decision Windows 8 RT - Consumer targeted - (no domain connections allowed) Windows 8 PRO - Business/Prosumer target - all email systems allowed Even though I love the exceptional hardware and Windows 8 RT, we are sadly returning our 2 Surface RT units. Email access is a requirement for any phone/tablet/computer.

NEED HELP - EXCHANGE ACTIVESYNC (EAS) will not connect to Exchange Server

Anonymous

We have two Surface RT machines. Neither will connect to our 2003 Exchange Server with the Exchange ActiveSync setup (EAS) option in Mail. We have lots of other Smartphones and tablets connected. After many hours, Microsoft Surface Technical Support has not been able to resolve.

Errors received:

"Unable to connect. Ensure the information entered is correct"
A brief error message in the upper right corner of the screen that says ******@myOUTSIDEdomain.com is unavailable

Data Entered:

Using: Mail Tile/add your mail accounts/view all in set.../Other Account/Exchange ActiveSync (EAS)/show more details setup screen:

Email address: ******@myOUTSIDEdomain.com
Server address: webmail.myOUTSIDEdomain.com
Domain: myINSIDEdomain
Username: johnsmith
Password: mypassword

Please let me know if you see something wrong with the above data - it works for about 40 other mobile device.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Wow, there is a lot of misinformation on this board..... Surface does connect to Exchange and has since day 1. The problem is that you are using self signed certificates, and surface does not accept self signed certificates unless you install them yourself. This is done for security, it had nothing to do with joining domains or anything like that, there is no bug. Exchange mail has worked on my surface since October 26th. Make sure you install the cert under

"Trusted Root Certification Authorities"

http://www.lonecpluspluscoder.com/2012/10/how-to-make-a-self-signed-ssl-certificate-work-with-windows-rts-mail-app-on-a-microsoft-surface-rt/

http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/adding-exchange-email-account-windows-rt

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68 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-11-02T17:51:56+00:00
I am worried that Microsoft has done this on purpose - made a Marketing Decision

Windows 8 RT - Consumer targeted - (no domain connections allowed)

Windows 8 PRO - Business/Prosumer target - all email systems allowed
This doesn't seem like the strategy because *every* mobile device (iPad, iPhone, Droid, etc.) connects to domains. The Surface mail app has the same inputs as these other devices, i.e., server name, username, password, etc. The difference is that the other devices work, and the Surface does not...yet.
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2012-11-02T17:49:34+00:00

The whole idea of a "desktop" is a joke. I hope you do away with that in soon-to-come software upgrade. It's like having this beautiful house with a really ugly room. You can make the case the whole house is ruined.
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2012-11-02T16:55:33+00:00

I managed to make it work on Surface RT. You need to install the server security certificate - everywhere you can in Internet explorer security settings.

But and this is a big but, it is still hopeless because 1. it only shows about 3 attachments for incoming mail I.e. if someone sends a mail with 5 PDFs, you only see 3 of them. 2 if someone sends you a mail with another email included as an attachment, there is no way of opening the attachment.

So this makes the email useless, even if you can get the email to sync with exchange. For this reason, I returned my surface RT.

The other reason was that if you go behind everything to the RT desktop the display is just too small for my eyes, but also my fingers! The desktop display resolution cannot be adjusted.

I have gone for iPad instead. Sorry Microsoft, because I really wanted the surface, but it's no good for me.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2012-11-02T16:18:04+00:00
SOLVED (my opinion only) - Microsoft foolishly designed RT not to work on Exchange Server.

Two different Microsoft Support people have stated on this community (other threads) that the Surface RT will not connect to domains - Exchange Server is a domain system.

Yesterday, I upgraded my Lenovo X220T tablet from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro. The Windows 8 Pro Email Tile has the identical GUI as the Surface RT Email Tile. I entered the same setup data as the Surface RT rejected and it worked just fine on the 8 Pro.

My Experience:
1. Windows 8 RT does not connect to Exchange Server 2003 (after days of IT department attempts to overcome)
2. Windows 8 Pro does connect to Exchange Server (1st attempt)
I am worried that Microsoft has done this on purpose - made a Marketing Decision
1. Windows 8 RT - Consumer targeted - (no domain connections allowed)
2. Windows 8 PRO - Business/Prosumer target - all email systems allowed
Even though I love the exceptional hardware and Windows 8 RT, we are sadly returning our 2 Surface RT units. Email access is a requirement for any phone/tablet/computer.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments