Database Users

ROM upgrade help

I wanted to install one of the ROMs from www.yorch.net. But before doing so I have some questions:
1. If I choose to build ROM as an installer.exe, is installing it to my device as simple as running the .exe file? (of course with the device connected thru Activesync)
2. Is my present ROM (see specs below) supported?
3. If Murphy comes to visit and I screw up, will my phone be completely unusable or can I just reinstall old ROM, do hard reset and everything will be back to how it was?
My specs:
OS: Pocket PC ver 3.0.12039
ROM:3.20.06 ENG( 07/30/03) (O2 Asia I think since I bought it here in the Philippines)
Radio: 4.21.00.
Thanks

1 as far as i know yes havent don it to my own device yet though
2 a rom dont have to support a rom since it'll overwrite it
3 of cause merphy can also show his ugly face
but if all fails a sd flash reader writer can save many a tears
also if your phone is working ok then i would not mess with the
radio stack and beware because some roms include the radio stack
and if you try to update your radio stack to a US (900/1900) and you network is 900/1800 you could be in for a world of pain

ROM upgrade step by step
OK I'm really dying to give it a go but I'm just a overly cautious bloke. So I'm gonna outline what I interpreted (after reading lots of posts I think I'm getting it but not sure) to be the way do the upgrade. Please correct me if i'm wrong:
Equipment I have:
1. My notebook (Windows XP, Activesynch 3.7)
2. O2 XDAI
3. Cradle and USB connection.
Steps that I think I should take:
1. Place XDA on cradle and make sure it's connected with PC.
2. Backup?? (not so sure what to back up since contacts, calendar, notes are synched with outlook, docs are also synched, I have copies of cab and program files since I download them to PC before installing them to XDA.) If i'm missing something please slam a frying pan (this is a kitchen right?) on my head.
3. Go to www.yorch.net, check mark on all appropriate options, then (since I have to Unix box and dont know Unix at all) just go for the easy option of cooking the .exe install file.
4. Assuming, the .exe is downloaded to my PC. This time I just run it. I expect this to be just like installing PPC apps. If not, throw a tomato on my face
5. Assuming everything worked and Murphy's in the Arctic freezing his A**e off, then all I do now is hard reset.
6. I have a new ROM and I'm singing happy-happy-joy-joy.
To the wonderful people at xda-developers, am I in the right direction or am I as lost as Bill and Ted? If I'm lost, is there a step-by-step guide for non-unix programmers? (Sorry, there was a sticky but I thought it was for people with Unix boxes)
Once again, thanks for all your help and your patience.

2. Backup?? (not so sure what to back up since contacts, calendar, notes are synched with outlook, docs are also synched, I have copies of cab and program files since I download them to PC before installing them to XDA.) If i'm missing something please slam a frying pan (this is a kitchen right?) on my head.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i can think of one thing to backup and thats your current rom
so if you dont like the new rom you are getting you have the option to go back
of cause if the rom you have now is downloadble from a place you know like your isp then maybe it dont matter

Thanks for the reply. That's a good point. Question: When you back up old ROM, is it just the ROM that gets backed up or is it the whole content of the device, like how you do in PCs?
Also, since no one, besides you, has made any comments regarding the steps that I outlined, is it safe to say that they are the correct steps?
Thanks

When you backup your ROM, no stuff that you customised will be in the backup - the backed up ROM will be the same as when you received it from your retail shop, or if you upgraded, it will be the upgraded ROM without any of your stuff. Do a backup and store it on your hard disk.
DON'T use the .exe cooked ROM, use a .nb1 or .nbf, and use XDA Tools from this site to do the upgrade. It's very easy that way, and less dangerous. Don't upgrade your radio stack unless you know exactly what you're doing, or your phone supplier has made an update available just for you.
If you use a T-Mobile ROM above version 4.00.05 it blocks the XDA-Tools from updating the ROM. At that point you need to use XDARIT (from this site) to low-level write the ROM image you have onto your SD card using an SD card reader which shows the card as another drive on your computer. Once you do that you need to boot into the boot-loader (press the reset button while holding the power button) and follow the prompts to restore from an SD card. If you're unlucky and are running bootloader 5.17 (or above I think) you need to write the bootloader diagnostics patch (wallaby patch from this site) onto your SD card first before doing the boot into the bootloader thing. You can then remove the SD card, write the O/S ROM onto it with XDRIT, and put it back into your phone while it's still sitting on in diagnostics mode. Then you can restore from the SD.
It sounds complicated, but it's easy, as long as you have an SD card reader, and as long as you don't mess with trying to update the bootloader or do an unknown radio update. There's lots of info in these forums if you get stuck.
I made a thread that summarised all the steps using the new tools and ROM's at this address : http://xda-developers.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3860. It's for Asian/European users, but if you are in the US the instructions are the same, except instead of using European 900/1800 radio you use 900/1900.

Further questions on ROM update
Thanks. It's becoming clearer and clearer. Have more clarifying questions:
1. How do you know whether or not you're including the radio stack with the ROM upgrade at yorch.net. I did not see any options there.
2. At www. yorch.net, nothing happens when I press the "Build ROM Now" command button. Is the download supposed to happen in the background or is there something wrong with my PC or the site?
3. I dont think I'm using the T-mobile ROM but how do I know if I'm runing bootloader 5.17? Is bootloader 5.17 only for T-Mobile users or all?
Once again, thanks for the help and bearing with a newbie.

2. At www. yorch.net, nothing happens when I press the "Build ROM Now" command button. Is the download supposed to happen in the background or is there something wrong with my PC or the site?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it should start to write some text about the progress of making the rom
and when it's finished then it should init a std download dialog

The meter down at the status bar does move, same as when you're loading a webpage, then it says Done. That's about it. Didnt see any other messages or dialogue boxes.
Can anyone confirm if it's up today or has it been down?
Thanks
PS. Tried to email using the email utility at the website but getting errors there as well.

OK, firstly to answer your question about Yorch's site... well it worked for me in getting all the ROM's I wanted, then when I went back again the download didn't work. I guess it's just on and off, so unless Yorch finishes getting married or someone else makes another kitchen it's a matter of pot luck. You can get away without using the kitchen if you can find another download source for ROM's, whether it be FTP or whatever. Just remember if you get an exe you can usually pull it apart with winzip to get the .nb1 or .nbf out of it.
Now, for Q1 :
An operating system ROM is generally just under 32MB, but when zipped from Yorch it's usually about 14 or 15MB - the operating system ROM will NEVER be smaller than that. I'm not sure about the exact radio stack size but I know it's a lot less than that. Also, doing some homework about the operating system ROM helps. eg. reading about the 4.01.00 ROM tells you that it's not a radio stack upgrade, it's an operating system upgrade - and the filename and the size of the file you receive reflects that.
Q2:
answered above...
Q3:
I think the bootloader is just pot-luck depending on when you phone was released. To check your bootloader it will reset your device completely, but I read somewhere that if you turn the radio (phone) off it doesn't hard reset. If you're worried, do a full backup first. But basically when you're ready to look, reset your phone while holding the power button and it will tell you the bootloader version. Don't be too turned off by that, I have read that SD card readers can be picked up very cheap if you look around, and that's all you need to get you out of trouble regardless of the bootloader version.
There's no real risk (but I won't guarantee anything), just make sure your phone is fully charged before mucking about with SD upgrades. Also make sure the radio (phone) is switched off before upgrading... using the bootloader/sd card method you shouldn't need to be concerned. I'm not sure what effect having your phone on and receiving a call while using XDA-Tools can have, but someone did mention it somewhere.
I'm a newbie too, but there's really not much you need to know, just a few caveats.

Yorch's Kitchen has been working OK for me the last couple of days. It takes maybe about 5 mins to "cook" before telling me that the ROM is ready. The 4.00.05 ROM gave me a lot of ActiveSync problems, so I went to the 4.00.16 ROM tonight and it looks like it's behaving better.
My SD reader is a Microtech Zio. It appears as a disk drive in windows, but the newer XDArit can't initialize a connection to write to the SD card. I used the "dangerous" older version of XDArit instead (available on Yorch's site), and it's worked OK for me (so far?).
One thing I wish I had realized before I started playing - going into the bootloader will reset your phone most (some?) (all?) of the time.
While I was flashing the ROM tonight I could see the GSM light flashing - I had the same "hope no one calls" feeling tht others must have had. Note that this was while I was flashing from an SD card in the bootloader - so apparently the process doesn't deactivate the phone while it's ongoing.

Muchas Gracias!
Ebswift, if ur a newbie then ur the god of the newbies. Thanks for all the help and for making me see the light. Much appreciated...

A quick Q:
Is the process for installing an .nbf file the same as that for installing an .nb1 file?
I have cooked a few ROMS to an .nb1 format and installed those OK, but now I have one in .nbf that I'd like to install.
So what I'd plan to do is put the nbf onto an SD card using XDArit, and then stick the card in the PPCPE and reboot to the loader. Is that it?

So what I'd plan to do is put the nbf onto an SD card using XDArit, and then stick the card in the PPCPE and reboot to the loader. Is that it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do it that way (onto the SD card), or if you're not already using a T-Mobile ROM you can use XDA Tools which is easier. Basically the capabilities are spelled out for you with the available file types in the drop downs when you select a source.

Newbie looks for basics informations (upgrade/change ROM)

Hi to all
I was looking around the different forums, but I was not able to find the basics ... how to make a backup, how to upgrade (I have O2 ger 1.60.00 and would like to upgrade to the 1.60.52 or even try the special xda-developers rom (special edition) ...
Is there a brief (but also) complete expanation manual somewhere I was not able to find?
thank you
ps.: it is really a great machine and this is a great forum, exactly the best for the best

You can make a backup on a Storage Card or simply through ActiveSync-Tools-Backup/Restore.
If you upgrade you need to know a few things:
First of all I'm assuming you have an XDA II, with 1.60 O2 ROM. If you upgrade to a custom or hacked ROM you run the chance of a voided warranty with O2. You mention upgrading to O2's 1.60.52, which is within the "Brand ROM, and will not void your guarantee.
Regarding backups prior to ROM upgrades, I only backup my contacts and calendar, and email if you desire, but I do not perform a full backup. I have read that this can create problems when you try to reload a full backup that had an older ROM. I'm not sure, but I do not take the chance. Besides I have all my Programs, skins, dial pad skins and other stuff saved on my PC. After I do the upgrade I form a new partnership and automatically my contacts and calendar are loaded back on-no big deal. The time consuming part is reloading the applications, but it only takes an hour or two. Once again, no big deal.
Get the 1.60.52 ROM from O2 or this source or others, but make sure it is the manufacturers and not a hacked ROM.
Connect your device via USB, not serial.
The desktop or workstation you use to partner and upgrade your device should be XP operating system, or NT, 2000.
Make sure your PC (Desktop) has the screen saver and automatic power off set to "none". This is important.
Perform a hard reset (press power button and soft-reset at the same time.
Re-connect PPC and PC. Make sure you have a solid partnership. Guest is OK.
Simply open the ROM Upgrade and let it do its thing, loading ROM, ExtROM, and Radio Stack.
Do not interrupt anything, disconnect or anything else. Once again be patient.
I'm no Electronic or Computer Technician. All my training and use of any type of computing system is self-taught, trial and error. This doesn't mean recklessness, however. I have upgraded my device 3 times now, with the procedure outlined above, with no trouble. It has worked flawlessly.
The ROM Upgrade software does the work, not me. I just need to make sure that I have a good connection with my PPC and that I do not lose that connection while upgrading.
I hope this helps.
I'm sure there may be better ways of doing it, but this has been my experience and it works.
Ed

ROM mda pro

hi, I bought a mda pro.
If I want can I install the rom of I-mate in english?
and where can I download?
and for unlock?
thank you

Hi,
sorry for eventually beeing unpolite, but have you ever tried to read a single post in this forum ?
Here is a complete forum called "Universal upgrading" .. there you will find all the answers to your questions.
If you don´t find them within 10 seconds, try the search. If you still don´t find it .. no, you don´t have the skills to upgrade your mda, you will toast it.
- Superbowl
PS: if you still have questions AFTER you read, you are welcome to ask.

Download this file, it contains the I-Mate JASJAR Rom update with a No Device ID executable.
ftp://xda:[email protected]/Uploads/MDA_PRO_JASJAR_ROM_UPGRADE_WWE_11353_137_10301.zip
Put the MDA in bootloader (Camera + Reset + Power)
Connect the device via USB
Run MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe
Once updated, press reset on the MDA Pro
That's it! Then you'll have a nice MDA pro with MSN, Skype and ALOT more free RAM!

MDA Pro upgading
hollinshead
I see that you have updated your MDA Pro with the IMate ROM Update, Im keen to do this but wanted to know what the pitfalls are?
What about connection settings? How can I get them back?
Does all the software work OK? Can you still Video call?
Ive had problems with the signal being a little poor in my area, does the radio upgrade seem to solve it or not.
Sorry for all the questions, but if I balls this up, I have no original ROM to go back to, as TMobile dont seem to release them on the net.
Any help you can give would be great

HI,
at least you should make a complete backup of your extended rom. There are all the files you may need to re-install the original customization, e.g. the original connection settings.
- Superbowl

Problems
Its academic now really as I cant complete the upgrade, it comes up with the wrong country code error.
Is there a solution to this, mine is UK TMobile?

Did my MDA pro this morning
1. Make sure you are running form the bootloader or you cannot install as the id issue comes up. If you aren't sure about accessing the bootloader- run the update first - it will fail but phone should be in bootloader.
2. Disable USB connections in Activesync,
3. Re-run update - all should work fine.
The new rom includes a prompt on set-up for your carrier settings and should work fine without having to use the files from the extended rom backup you shoud make before playing with a new rom (allows you to install the specific customisations for your device
Thanks to the poster for the link to the files
Issues solved,
MS voice command now installs
Streaming video via ORB works (a bit gimmicky though and no full screen)No more t-mobile schemes - much nicer dial skin and today themes

It works fine, the T-Mobile MMS settings are installed for you (just select the network when going through setup on the PDA after the flash).
The GPRS / 3G settings you can add manually.
Access point: general.t-mobile.uk
Username: t-mobile
Password: one2one
Video calls etc work fine, because its all included in the I-Mate rom. What's more, it doesn't have that horrid T-mobile dialler theme!

Dead - well Almost spv m5000

Hi,
I have been donated an Orange SPV m5000 to help with my disseration,
unfortunatly the rom as been tampered with or removed , well im lead to
believe. Due to this the phone no longer turns on, the only thing the handset will do is get to the bootloader screen.. after resetting the factory settings the handset still does not turn on. i think the handset therefore has no ROM files on it as I have tried to update using downloaded roms such as
Orange_SPV_M5000_v1.13.49_WWE
JASJAR_WWE_11353_137_10301
both say that they cannot communicate properly with the device...
using MaUpgradeUt_noID and following instruction posted the handset starts to update but then says that the updater is not compatable with the handset... any suggestions on how to load a new rom onto the handset would be greatly apprecieted or infact how to to fix this problem with limited technological knowlegde
thanks
cjh28

I'LL GIVE YOU 50 QUID FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
****, not even I'd be that cruel.
First off I'm 75% sure your device is fine.
ROM chips are nigh on impossible to remove without breaking the device and doubly nigh-on impossible to put back in! No one in their right mind would even concider doing such a rash thing, espcially with something that costs this much!
Now I think the problem is the same as the one I had - these ROM upgrades can contain many separate updates which are then kind of glued together - the problem is (and the problem you may have) is that they don't all match what is already in your PDA.
You therefore have to do one of 2 things:
1) Find an upgrade that DOES match - but then you'd have to know what's already in there & then find a match - unlikely.
2) Make them match with a bit of jiggery pokery. read THIS:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=40986
Seriously dude, good luck!
Andy

Still Dead well almost
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, Ive been thru the directions on the link provided and still having no luck, am still getting a communications error - 101 from the update ... am thinkin ive got the incorrect orginal roms ... does any1 know where i can find the orginal roms for a UK Orange SPV m5000 ( am currently using a rom that gives me operator name as Qtek and WWE - the name of the file is on my orginal post)
any further help/guidance would be greatly appreciated....
Many thanks
cjh28

Flash It Again
1. Download This:
http://www.business.orange.co.uk/se...c=PaDPage&cid=1044130840493&mid=1044129390154
2. Make sure u are not using a USB Hub
3. Make sure u are using the proper USB Lead!!!
4. Install Active Sync 4.1 On your Computer (it needs the USB Driver Within this Program to communicate with your UNI.
5. If you have followed all the above correctly your SPV will flash
especially if it is going into bootloader mode.
If you get country error or comm error, hit update AGAIN, DO NOT Disconnect.

IF the upgrade wont go 100% thru, try upgrading the radio only by deleting all the .nbf files except the radio_.nbf then run MAUpgradeUt_NOID.exe

Up and Running finally .... thanks
Just to say that my SPV M5000 is now up and running.. thanks to Andy and comp.solutions for helping me out, just followed ur instructions took a few attempts but its all gd now
Many thanks
cjh28

Damn! Bang goes my 300 quid profit!
No, seriously dude, you don't know how much 'inner glow' that gives me to know that we have helped you recover what may have seemed a lost cause.
Well done! :wink:
Now you can spend the next month trying to figure out how to get things to work 'properly' on the bloody thing..... :lol: (i.e. guess what I've been trying to figure out for the last month: Bluetooth, WiFi, ActiveShyte, installing programs, discovering what a 'uni' is, what 'BT' is blah blah blah.... :roll: )
Andy

Fixed M5000
Glad to Help, Enjoy :wink:

Wifi blocked by Orange (France)

Hi there.
I've just bought a Touch 3g with Orange in France, and even though the box has WiFi written all over it, it appears that I can only connect to Orange WiFi hubs. I have a different hub at home and would like to know whether I can unlock the WiFi function so that it is free to work with any WiFi connection.
I've had a look on here and can't find the answer to my question. I apologise in advance if I've missed the thread somewhere.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
PS - As someone new to this geek lark, I'd also be interested in knowing what programs I really ought to install onto the phone. You're top 5 programmes if you like.

The orange branded phones (if they are the same as the uk ones) have the unique manager not the standard wifi one. So even if you have an orange wifi hub you still don't get a wifi connection (at least not one you can do anything useful with)
Unique is a wierd orange version of voip.
The only way of changing it (i think) would be to flash a new rom to the phone.

Hi,
I got a French Orange phone too that I have flashed to non-Orange ROM, so Wifi works OK.
For programs I would recommend SBP Mobile Shell to replace Touch Flo, and TrackMe to have fun with the GPS ( I find it awesome).
Bonne chance

TrackMe does not work on my Jade (.net 3.5 installed), but I can recommend GPS Cycle Computer as well. Supports a lot of data formats, check the link or the xda-dev-thread for more information.

Thanks very much for all your help. I'll have a look at flashing the ROM and will give that a go.
Is flashing Rom a particularly complicated or potentially phone breaking experience? It's my wife's new phone, and I don't want to live with an angry woman whose phone no longer works

DaM79 said:
TrackMe does not work on my Jade (.net 3.5 installed), but I can recommend GPS Cycle Computer as well. Supports a lot of data formats, check the link or the xda-dev-thread for more information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you install SQL Compact framework as well ?

Billy Ze Feesh said:
Thanks very much for all your help. I'll have a look at flashing the ROM and will give that a go.
Is flashing Rom a particularly complicated or potentially phone breaking experience? It's my wife's new phone, and I don't want to live with an angry woman whose phone no longer works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it's not complicated ; yes is very much potentially phone breaking
FYI I flashed HardSPLv3 on my phone (see Jade ROM forum) , downloaded the kitchen (idem), built a ROM using htcrt (in the kitchen) and the OS.nb found here http://www.planete-htc.com/index.php?mod=forum&ac=voir&ref=20&cat=220&id=18955, and flashed it. And tada, a stock french phone with wifi access.
Your SPL/ROM will degrade from 1.7 to 1.4 though.

OK. Thanks Gomi. I'll have a look and see if I really want to risk it or not.

Hello @ll.
I have a french Orange Jade too.
The UMA radio ROM make me sick !
But for me, the HardSPL does not work... The RUU progressbar still blocked at 0%.
fyi : I have the SPL 1.71.000 version.
Concerning the HardSPL, i'm not using the original exe, because of the unavailablity of the "server". I use an extracted nbh file of the HardSPLV3.
Any idee ?

fyi : because of specifity of the RUU used to flash the HardSPL, you can not use an another RUU to flash it.
With luck, the HardSPL setup exe have found the server, and now, all is ok !

Hi mate and welcome to the slippery slope. I only have Dad to convert now...
There may be another way to prevent the Orange rubbish crippling your phone - when you do a hard reset your phone will give you three seconds after the first boot-up before it begins to customise the ROM with all the operator-specific stuff. If you do a soft reset within those three seconds you prevent the customisation. If the crippled WiFi is part of this customisation then you'll end up with the default Windows Mobile WiFi manager. This trick used to work on my Universal and my Elf. You can experiment with many hard resets until you get it right.
Having created a vanilla Windows Mobile system you may need to fanny around unlocking the extended ROM and cherry-picking the customisations that you do want (such as the GPRS connection data) but this effort might be worth it to have an unbranded phone.
Flashing a new ROM will almost certainly invalidate your warranty.
(Oh, and a hard reset will wipe off all your data of course.)

Thanks SiliconS.
Have tried that and I don't get the 3 second warning. I just get a message saying that this will wipe the phone (hard reset) and asks me to press 'enter' to continue (which I obviously do). It then tells me:
Format FAT partition
FAT partition complete
before carrying on with all the Orange stuff. Have tried randomly pressing soft reset at various times, and all this does is turn the phone off...
Thanks anyway though.

That's weird. In that case Orange must have embedded their rubbish within the fundamental ROM rather than the extended ROM like everybody else does.
Flashing a completely new ROM may be your only hope, Luke. HTC have released an official ROM for the Jade that surely wouldn't invalidate your warranty...
http://www.htc.com/www/SupportDownload.aspx?p_id=174&cat=2&dl_id=537

I think an official ROM update could be the way forward yeah. I'll have a look this weekend maybe.

for the benefit of people who may be subscribed to this thread, I think I have found a fix for the orange rom using data connection instead of wifi, read on here:-
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=4517074&postcount=12
post back to that thread if it works for you!