Database Users

O2 XDA Orbit and new ROMs

Im interested in upgrading my Orbit ROM as its a little slow. Having scoured through these forums Ive seen some reports of successful Artemis upgrading, and some unsuccessful Orbit reports. I just want to ask:
1) Firstly before thinking of flashing, can I backup my PPC (kinda like ghosting/imaging on a PC) incase something goes drastically wrong.
2) Has anyone got definate proof of an Orbit being flashed with a good ROM (with GPS / WiFi / most apps working)
3) If so, where would one obtain this ROM
4) (probably a question worth a hounding) Where might I find step by step instrustions on how to: a) backup my PPC fully for safety net
b) flash my ROM. including links to needed software
5) After flashing ROM, I take it no info (contacts, messages, programs,etc.) are stored on the PPC and will need to be painstakingly put back on ??
Many thanks, and my apologies if this has been asked a thousand times> I have sifted the forums but cnt seem to find definitive answers.
One last thing, I just got my Orbit few weeks ago and is my first PPC and being quite techy-minded, would like to learn more about the whole process so if anyone knows of any good guides/info with explainations of acronyms and what have ye,t'would be much appreciated.

First thing you could do is put a question mark after what is a question cause my heart just cant take the excitement.
O2 XDA Orbit and new ROMs?
Secondly this is such a hot topic there are lots of threads and the reason you can not find a definitive answer is because at the moment there is none.
so answers to your question
1 At the moment there is no way to make a backup of the ROM.
2 There are people who this has worked for but do you want to be in the percentage that has a bricked Orbit...... just wait for the new O2 ROM (ETA unknown)
3 There is a PDAMobiz rom that can install on a CID Locked phone floating around but I would not recommend it to you cause its more trouble then it is worth.
4 When its ready.... arvind09 says that they are going to have something really soon.... Look, nothing is going to make it so you dont have to check the forum everyday. Welcome to the club enjoy your stay (at least it is not the club with a bricked Orbit).
5 Use Activesync and Outlook to store your contacts and everything will be automated.
Check the Wiki for information about the whole PDA scene.
P.S. PDAs can be fun but please dont rush into upgrading your ROM on this baby unless you have CIDUnlocked it from (imei-check.co.uk) or unless you have £47 to get it repaired after you have bricked it.
BTW Welcome to the wonderful world of XDAs

Head on over to www.xda-orbit.com
This site is dedicated to your new toy

yeah what he said

bdangol said:
PDAs can be fun but please dont rush into upgrading your ROM on this baby unless you have CIDUnlocked it from (imei-check.co.uk) or unless you have £47 to get it repaired after you have bricked it.
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Click to collapse
Jeff

jamin100 said:
Head on over to www.xda-orbit.com
This site is dedicated to your new toy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already registered, though cant seem to findanything there about working ROMs

that is cause like i said there is not one.
hold on mate just hold on.
BTW over clock your Orbit that you can do.
Use Omapclock
just search for it
that will speed it up

yeah already got that sorted. Just hopin O2 get it into gear n release a FREE WM6 upgrade. I read somewhere that HTC are releasing a FREE upgrade, justhope O2 dnt all business conscious n try to charge for any mods they make lol. Thanks for the quick responses anyhow chum

I have fixed *all* my problems with the O2 Orbit just by installing Battery Status 1.04
Now I am not normally the kind of person who will just go and install some random free software from a site that barely even mentions the software, but this is great.
Before installing, I had these problems:
1. Quite often my phone would completely lock up when I got an incoming call, but the ringer would keep ringing and I'd have to take the battery out. This was rather embarassing after I'd previously told my friends about all the things the phone could do.
2. GPS took forever to get a fix - maybe up to 10 minutes. I would often arrive at my destination before the phone knew where I was. This was despite regularly updating QuickGPS
3. The phone would randomly lock up and/or stall for no apparent reason, and then catch up with itself after a couple of minutes and run all the things I'd launched because I pressed all the buttons while it was locked up.
4. I tried playing an mp3 once. It took about 45 seconds of stuttering and bad playback as if I was streaming a HD video on a 9600 baud modem. When it finally started playing smoothly, nothing else would work.
I had tried uninstalling the o2 software, and I run spb mobile shell and pocket plus but I'd tried removing them too but it was useless. What was really annoying was that I switched to an 18 month contract on o2 for this, but the phone ran more slowly and with more bugs than my old SPV m500!
This one little utility has fixed it all. Now I can use GPS while playing mp3 files and surfing the internet over wifi all at the same time as being on activesync. It's great. It's almost as though the phone is supposed to use the xscale function but o2 have disabled it...
Anyway, download the software from the link - no need to upgrade ROMs or anything. Just make sure you take a backup of your phone before you install it
Now to find a way to get it to default to letter recogniser after a soft reset. I'm sure I saw a post about this somewhere!
Mit

New to the whole scene, getting started

I have just aquired an xda ii from a friend and am very eager to get started but I have no clu eon what exactly I need to do.
First off I have read the FAQ's and what not and understand what everything seems to do.
However I beleive my xda is locked as when I try to put in my 3 sim card, it just says invalid sim or not recognized. Searching around the forums I have located the various unlocking tools but am not sure which one to go for. Also is there even any chance of it working with my 3 sim card?
Secondly, do I need to upgrade anything with it? Ideally what I want is to run tom tom navigation on it aswell as all the others features of the xda. (Im still searching around on how I check my version exactly >.<)
Thirdly, there appears to be a problem with the sound. Sometimes it beeps and such as normal, other times it dosent. Is there anywhere that can repair these sort of faults?
Thank you in advance for the time!
EDIT:
After playing around I found the information
ROM Version - 1.72.00WWE
ROM date - 03.15.04
Radio version 1.17.00
Protocol version 1337.28
ExtROM version 1.72.181
Is there anything I can upgrade it too? Or worth doing?

"However I beleive my xda is locked as when I try to put in my 3 sim card"
recall 3 blocking their very simcards to be able to work in no 3g phones
so it's likely that it's not your phone which is locked
you can upgrade it to wm5 if you like
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Windows_Mobile_5

Ah I see now, thank you.
I will just get another sim no problem.
I am interested in going up to wm5 but have a few more questions.
I see there are many different ROM versions, any particular one to go for? Will I still be able to use the camera & phone part? And also is there anyway to keep the ROM I have now and restore if anything nasty happens?

Hi there!
Izzy180 said:
Ah I see now, thank you.
I will just get another sim no problem.
I am interested in going up to wm5 but have a few more questions.
I see there are many different ROM versions, any particular one to go for? Will I still be able to use the camera & phone part? And also is there anyway to keep the ROM I have now and restore if anything nasty happens?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a himalaya just like yours, I've upgrade to a lot of ROMs here in the forum, and currently, I decided to go to helmi AKU3.5 SP2. But this ROM lacks of software you will be needing most. But as helmi said, you can install softwares as you like, and i bet this is really fast. You can also try C_Shekhar's Rom, it has softwares built on it. But helmi's ROM is faster. you can also adjust your 15mb storage to 30mb storage so you can install more software you like. Unlike WM2003, it uses RAMdisk for the installation of your softwares and it uses 128mb. At first you will be having hard time to understand the flow, but you of course you can learn from it.
Nweiz, what country are you from?

Okay so all I got to do is install this rom, and go searching for the software to pwoer the phone, camera, etc?
Is there anyway to backup / restore my current ROM and all the other parts I should need incase the worst happens?
I only just got this and I really dont want to break it because I have wanted one for ages

"phone, camera"
is a part of the rom

Brilliant! Looks like things should be alot easier than I thought.
Still playing around, I found my bootloader version is 1.03, does this matter much?
And I have found some backup tools by searching through the wiki pages, but they dont seem to work for my smart phone?

http://en.pdamobiz.com/en/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=62

Big help! Thanks!
Okay looks like im all set, back this up. Download the rom, install.
Hopefully all should go as planned.
Just one small little off topic thing, I noticed the problem with my sound is that when its in the cradle, all sounds work. However when it is out the cradle, sounds are intermittant. Software or hardware fault would anyone say?

Okay upgrade went without a problem and its now running fine.
However the only problem I noticed is that it does not detect the backup battery, im guessing this means the battery needs replacing?
I literally just noticed a problem with the charge socket too, looks like the pins on the right are slightly bent yet it still fits and charges.
Could this explain the sound issues? As when its in the cradle and on charge it works fine.

Izzy180 said:
However the only problem I noticed is that it does not detect the backup battery, im guessing this means the battery needs replacing?
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man, i think its bcoz wm5 is designed for not using the back up battery. Bcoz wm5 uses storage for installation of your application (default), and even if the battery drains, it will not hard reset. i guess.

Help needed updating/repairing mda vario pleease

Hello all,
I am really sorry for being a noob, and i am also sorry if this is answered elsewhere but i have looked and havent got a clue what im doing. I have a T-Mobile MDA Vario and am having all sorts of problems with it. I was told that if I upgrade my rom it should sort it out plus i also like the though of having WM6.
I have looked round the forums and it looks like i have a G4 device(IPL 2.21.0001). My current rom version is 2.21.2.6 wwe, radio version 02.19.11.
It has never been altered by myself and i have had it since new so it is not unlockedin any way.
Also i am running Vista on my PC.
Hope thats all the info you need.. Hope to hear back from some kind person shortly.
many thanks...Tim

what is you SPL, thats the important info. go to bootloader by completely turning off you phone (taking out battery, and putting it back in after about 10 seconds), and holding the camera button while you turn it on. It will say your SPL.
you have to first CID unlock you phone, BEFORE you install any custom ROM. im not sure if things have changed now, but as far as I know, the only way to CID unlock a G4 device is to pay for it, I don't think anybody has found another way yet. I think its about 40 US dollars. I think its at http://www.imei-check.co.uk after that, you can install special G4 ROMS. It has to be G4 safe, if you use a G3 ROM, you will ruin your phone.
IM NOT SURE ABOUT ANY OF THIS, it's just what I think.

New Orange-version handset

I'm sorry to report, but Orange will now be shipping out devices with an Orange ROM. No Google Earth, changed quick-app icons and who knows what other modifications... I couldn't find any... Well, there's a GPS Settings thing, but it only shows about Assisted GPS which I'm sure I saw in the other ROM.
Still comes with an 8GB Transcend memory card and nothing extra in the box. If you're getting one in the next few weeks, make sure the barcode at the top says GHTN. If it says OHTN, it's the Orange ROM.

google earth??

Why do orange ruin perfectly good phones? They also did it to S60 Nokia's which is why ive avoided orange for the last 6 years.

Orange are alright but their ROM-faffing is just an exercise in self-importance that is not appreciated.

so mess with the rom and terrible web browsing limits

I'm happy to report that I just received my orange HD (ordered the other day when they came back in stock on the web shop) and it's not got a messed up ROM (box has the GHTN code as described above). As far as I can tell there is no orange branding anywhere at all. Makes me think that the current batch might be with stock ROMs ... get your order in quick ???

Orange recieved 5000 new phones a week monday ago. about 3 days ago they were available for delivery. mine was one of them and its only orange branding is the rear cover. and TBH this in not an issue as i like the logo on the cover. the rom is standard with all the trimings....

Once again
Google Earth????
If you buy from CarPhoneWarehouse you will get unbranded and unlocked.
Even on an Orange contract.
I've no idea how long this will last though.

Ah yes, forgot about the little orange logo on the rear cover. So it's "no orange branding anywhere at all ... except for the logo", though I was actually thinking about the software rather than the hardware when I wrote that.

Info update
Don't worry about the hadset being Orange Battered... sorry, i mean branded (lol) to much folks. If you haven't been snooping aroung the development side of the forum that much, let me bring you up to speed.
The Hard SPL is out. I just change my ROM (as you'll see on my signature) without any worry whatsoever.
The odd thing is, i never had an Orange ROM on mine. I had a standard one and i HAD to change it for one simple reason... something i advise all people to do as a matter of fact.
Why? Well during texting, stylus or hand input, the thing would freeze more that a very sick penguin. It was AWFUL
Have a peek at other ROM's that are about and if you need advice, ask about. I'm no expert but if you ask me, i'll try my best. It really was very very easy following Oli's Hard SPL thread.
Anyway, i've said my bit now. The rest as they say... is up to you!
TheShowStopper

There's a hotfix on the HTC support site to fix the freezing problem on all ROMs < 1.19.

If you don't want to go the Hard SPL route, surely you can flash the older Orange ROM? (That's what I've got and it not been Orangized.)

Update
Fred23 said:
If you don't want to go the Hard SPL route, surely you can flash the older Orange ROM? (That's what I've got and it not been Orangized.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm the following. As long as you have the Micorsoft Net Framework on your pc, yes, you can flash any HTC ROM to the HD. I have just done this. See the following post of mine.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3060541&postcount=124
TheShowStopper

why
hi I am a complete nooby to WM (switched from an iphone).
My Orange box has the OHTN on so I guess I have the Orange Rom (as no google maps).
To be honest I find the HD to be quite slow when opening programs and seems a bit buggy as it seems to stutter on some operations
Whats the benefits for me of changing this ROM??

Garfoid said:
hi I am a complete nooby to WM (switched from an iphone).
My Orange box has the OHTN on so I guess I have the Orange Rom (as no google maps).
To be honest I find the HD to be quite slow when opening programs and seems a bit buggy as it seems to stutter on some operations
Whats the benefits for me of changing this ROM??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there!
Havent you just answered your own question?
The benifts of changing the rom would be google maps (although a simple download could also fix that)
Also a handset that isnt buggy and stutters!

I have the orange ROM
didn't realise orange had been sending them out with HTC ROMs!
bluetooth is faulty
programs open slowly
blimmin opera has orange's naff front page
am loath to flash a proper ROM unless the bluetooth fault is
hardware and then I'd have to cover my tracks before sending it back
any help would be appreciated
( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=476930 )
cheers
simon

Blackhorse said:
Hey there!
Havent you just answered your own question?
The benifts of changing the rom would be google maps (although a simple download could also fix that)
Also a handset that isnt buggy and stutters!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as being new to WM devices and not that knowledgeable what rom do i go for and if i install one will i lose everything i have installed on my phone so far?
i really like the HD but it just seems slow and stuttery compared to the iphone, hopefully a new ROM will fix this? right?

Garfoid said:
as being new to WM devices and not that knowledgeable what rom do i go for and if i install one will i lose everything i have installed on my phone so far?
i really like the HD but it just seems slow and stuttery compared to the iphone, hopefully a new ROM will fix this? right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to have a little patience, trying new roms out and tweaking - my handset is very fast now, it plays most video files I throw at it and gui operation i.e touch flo 3d and windows is about twice the speed of the stock rom...

CutePinkSox said:
You need to have a little patience, trying new roms out and tweaking - my handset is very fast now, it plays most video files I throw at it and gui operation i.e touch flo 3d and windows is about twice the speed of the stock rom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could you suggest one as i am completely in the dark to be honest
if i do try a few out will i loose everything every time i do this?
any advice is greatly appreciated thanks

CutePinkSox said:
You need to have a little patience, trying new roms out and tweaking - my handset is very fast now, it plays most video files I throw at it and gui operation i.e touch flo 3d and windows is about twice the speed of the stock rom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, What rom do you have flashed to yours and Is it possible to backup old rom just incase? Am not new to flashing actually, i just really need a fast device, maybe google map and some other little programs, pimbackup, etc.

a little advice

Hi first post noob here, never tweaked any of my phones so Im brand new to roms and generally anything to do with phones so bare with me if my questions sound daft, Im hopeing someone on here might have a little patience for me
I have spent the last couple of days reading through various posts and stickies and like some of the screen shots I have seen, now this is my first question if I am looking to upgrade the ROM which would be a good reliable starting point? I just want to put a little colour into the screen of the HD2 and have a quick stable phone, nothing flash just want to learn to do what you guys are doing little by little.

If you're asking what ROM to try - don't. No one here can tell you what to use as it's choice. Try different ones, but make sure you read THIS thoroughly before doing anything

thanks eddy, more reading me thinks before I start doing anything daft.
Just another thing though I have just got my HD2 from O2 online am I right in thinking it will be locked and I need to use something called gold card when Im ready to customize my unit?

Hey
Mine is 02 branded and I presumed it was locked, But apparently there not.
Either way it can be unlocked in seconds....
I also went with the official new rom for the phone. I think out of the box has a specific 02 rom with certain things disabled..
Graham

Ninhydrin said:
thanks eddy, more reading me thinks before I start doing anything daft.
Just another thing though I have just got my HD2 from O2 online am I right in thinking it will be locked and I need to use something called gold card when Im ready to customize my unit?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best thing is to try and put a non-o2 SIM into the phone and see if it takes it. If it does then you've got an unlocked phone so can download HTC updates from them directly as they come out. If it doesn't it's a SIM (and likely ROM) locked phone. You can still flash non-o2 ROMs but the SIM lock will always be there unless you get then code from o2 to unlock it.
Don't use the Gold Card method, it's old. Just follow the HSPL instructions in the thread I linked to and that will allow you to flash any ROM you want - stock or cooked.
There's no substitute to reading up - do lots of it, read the sticky threads and make sure you know what's what before jumping in. Probably best to look into stock ROMs first. Find out what ROM you're running at the moment and if your phone is unlocked go for the latest from HTCs website (assuming you don't already have the 1.66 ROM) (to find out what ROM you're using, go to settings on the slider>About phone>software information)