outlook backup with activesync - error

[burt.johnson]

i'm running outlook 2000 and activesync 3.7 with winxp as
my operating system, and when i try to synchronize my
pocket pc (compaq 3635), i have to have outlook open in
order to synchronize; otherwise, i get an error message. i
didn't use to have to have outlook open - activesync would
open outlook itself. ever since i installed the microsoft
backup program that backs up your .pst file, this has been
happening to me. is there any way to correct this?

thanks.