[missing-sync-pocketpc-talk] Endless contact sync loop

[David Ramsey]

A weird situation has developed when I try to sync my iPAQ 4700 to my 
Mac.

The first time through, iSync will display a single (seemingly random) 
contact record and announce there's a conflict between the version on 
my Mac and the version on the iPaq. The information displayed seems to 
differ in the number of spaces between fields.

I choose one or the other and re-sync. After _that_ finishes, I'm told 
there are 62 or 63 conflicts. I choose the check box to reconcile them 
all one way or the other and sync yet again.

Now I'm back to the one random record. And this cycle repeats endlessly.

I finally "resolved" things by removing the Pocket PC from iSync, 
re-adding it, and choosing the option to erase all information on the 
Pocket PC and replace it with information from my Mac.

The first sync after that noted 6 calendar conflicts, which seems odd 
considering that all the calendar info on the iPAQ was theoretically 
replaced, by subsequent syncs worked fine.

Two questions:

1. Any ideas what caused the original "eternal conflict" problem?

2. Is it normal for a sync operation to (slowly) read every single 
contact from the Pocket PC?