Related
first, I just want to say that you are all bloddy briliant and your dedication to making your Universal TRULY yours is incredible.
I have four questions that I GOTS to have answered:
1) Is there a way to edit the dictionary in wm5? I use a lot of legal terms and it would be a great time-saver if I could put a bunch of them into the dictionary so I wouldn't have to type them all the time...
2) Someone made a registry editor for wm5 and I'm forgetting who. I need this so I can remove the damn yahoo.com as the default page on PIE.
3) Relatedly, I customize a lot of settings after a fresh hardboot. is there a way to export my settings (font size, menu items, stuff like that) so I can just click it upon re-install and my preferred settings are restored? I'm assuming that this is a registry backup thing, but am not sure...
4) I need some general cab guidance. I used the "cooked cab" thread (ABSOLUTELY WELL DONE) to give myself a fresh custom software install, but want to include several of the programs I bought with the cooked cab process as well. I THINK I understand how to add them to the config script, but I don't know how to extract the cab files from their setup files (like pocket informant for example) and thus I can't add them to my setup routine. Can someone instruct me how to do that?
Again, thank you for all contributors and my donation is coming momentarily...
I can't seem to figure out how people restore their apps, data, ActiveSync, etc. after updating their ROMs. It seems like people on this site replace their ROMs a few times a year at least, and with all the cleverness required to follow all the ROM issues, surely you can't all be manually re-installing every single app every time, etc. Are there some tools I don't know about that are useful for backing up/restoring files before/after ROM burn? Every backup program I see says you must not use it to restore after ROM update (which I understand, since you don't want to restore old versions of many key files). But surely someone could create a backup/restore app which knows which things should NOT be restored.
Thanks!
I do rom upgrades quite frequently, now I can have my device back with my settings and programs installed in around 10 minutes, here's what I did:
1)Install registry workshop on your desktop computer, this program allows you to remotely browse / export the registry on the PocketPC and compare current regitry settings on PocketPC with a previously dumped registry file.
2) Install RegDiff on your desktop computer, it allows you to generate .reg files out of two exported registry dumps done by registry workshop.
3) Spend a few hours going setting-by-setting and exporting the registry after changing each setting, compare and generate .reg file for that. Keep in mind that sometimes you need to power off the device for a while or soft reset for the registry setting to be permanently stored.
4) Once you have all the .reg files for your settings combine them in a single .reg file
5) Use WinCE Cab Manager to combine the cabs of all the programs you install, set the registry settings, and put shorcuts to all applications into the right places. This is the most "time consuming" part of the process.
Finally I end up with 2 big cab files:
- First one is around 9Mb which I install on pocketpc memory, this includes all today screen plugins, plus Net CF 2.1 and some registry settings (mostly WM5 settings and preferences from the today plugins)
- Second one is around 25Mb which i install on storage card, this includes all the other 3rd party apps I like and registry settings for those apps.
What I do after hard reset or rom upgrade: Install the two cab files, setup mail accounts and mms manually and use directpush to sync all my contacts and calendar items again.
The process of exporting all the registry settings is a PITA, but it is worth spending the time if you're going to switch roms frequently.
Look for an app called Sprite Backup.
pkx said:
Look for an app called Sprite Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, Sprite is the easiest. Be warned, however, that it isn't able to restore PIM databases over the AKU3 upgrade. See my Backup Bible, where I;ve explained this all.
Wow, thanks. That's a lot of work to get things set up! Clearly worth it if you can re-install everything in 10 minutes, though.
I started to investigate your recommendations, installed Cab Manager, and see how you use that.
How do you get the cabs if the install isn't directly via cab? In other words, if the install is initiated via ActiveSync, then are the necessary cabs always found under the Program Files\ActiveSync directory?
As for Sprite Backup, it looks great, and maybe that would be enough for me for now. I wasn't clear (I did search through and skim the Backup Bible and the WM5 backup software comparisons but couldn't find exactly where it talked about the issue regarding AKU3) is the PIM issue a known bug? Or some limitation/problem related to new security or something?
Quincy
quinxy said:
How do you get the cabs if the install isn't directly via cab? In other words, if the install is initiated via ActiveSync, then are the necessary cabs always found under the Program Files\ActiveSync directory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's installed via activesync you can find them there, but generally what I do is extract the cab files from the exe using orange in Linux, don't know if there's a windows equivalent.
pof,
Don't know if you ever ActiveSync since you use Linux, but is there a way to NOT break your ActiveSync by upgrading your ROM? I thought I tried once, years ago, to set the device name back to the original name and ActiveSync still didn't recognize it as the old partnership.
quincy
quinxy said:
pof,
Don't know if you ever ActiveSync since you use Linux, but is there a way to NOT break your ActiveSync by upgrading your ROM? I thought I tried once, years ago, to set the device name back to the original name and ActiveSync still didn't recognize it as the old partnership.
quincy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it doesn't recognize it, just delete the old partnership and recreate / reconfigure it . It's just some seconds.
Hey all,
I have a question.
I have been playing with my 8125 a lot lately and am constantly resetting my device. What I want to know is I have one main machine that I do all my application installs via active sync that way when I hard reset my device I just have to go to add remove programs in active sync and re-check all the programs I want to put back on my phone.
Here is what I want.
I don’t want to have to tell the phone where to install the applications (I want it to default to storage card without any prompts.) and.. I don’t want any confirmation prompts ie: security unsigned, approve this application to be installed, this application was installed properly… etc.. I want to streamline the process so I can just tick the check boxes for my apps, let them download and that’s it. Currently after refreshing I have to spend quite a bit of time clicking “ok” … storage card…. Ok… storage card… ok… I think you get it.
Thanks much!
I've seen a lot of different reg keys out there that may accomplis this. Is there a way to disable the notifications and pre-set the install path peramaters?
sledwrecker said:
I've seen a lot of different reg keys out there that may accomplis this. Is there a way to disable the notifications and pre-set the install path peramaters?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do this with WinCE Cab manager
If you really reset your device that often why don't you use SPB BACKUP? A reinstallation of all your apps wouldn't be necessary - just load your backup and you're ready to go!
Ya I did think of that but here is my issue.
the reason I am constantly hard reseting is because I am changing and playing with roms pretty much on a daily basis. I've been cooking my own roms trying to come up with what works best for me and what is closest to RTM. Thus why I am always re-installing apps.
So if I use SPB backup (which I have) it saves system settings and such right? So if I am switching roms all the time will it break my device?
Thanks guys! I'm new to the forum here I just got my first PPC phone a couple weeks ago but I've been an avid windows mobile (smartphone) user for years and have worked on WM platforms as beta tester.
Gotta love this stuff!!!
sledwrecker said:
So if I use SPB backup (which I have) it saves system settings and such right? So if I am switching roms all the time will it break my device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are exactly right, and so many people seem to miss this... Spb Backup, Sprite Backup, etc are full backups that backup and restore the registry and all. If you restore this from one rom to a different rom you are likely to break something (may not be obvious at first, but you have a very good chance of things being broken inside the registry that you will trip up on at some point).
So yeah, the only way around this (without building your own extended rom and such) is to create a folder (or set of folders) on your SD card with all the cabs, files, and settings that you need for when your flash a new rom. Then run through that to set things up. You can also use ActiveSync to reinstall apps (just check them all and it will put them all back on) but you have to remember which ones (if any) require a reset of your device as that can cause probs with the others that are installing (if all done together).
Yep,
but at least you can import contacts, email and pim data that way quite easy!
Since you continiously flash your device: there will be no other solution but reinstalling your applications again and again. You might want to look around for a CAB extractor and then create your own CABs with all the progs you would like to have in one large CAB ???
One such CAB Installer Creator is: WinCE CAB Manager
Take a closer look at MolskiBiz_DevPack and you will find a utility to extract CAB files. It will be a bit work to add all the registry values to the Installer you're going to create but finally you might save a lot of time since you only run 1 installation instead of xxx ...
This is good, I have been playing with wince cab and it is a solution.
Now I'm going to work on making my extended roms.. will this work? I did a full recover of my apps through active sync just an hour or two ago and it reported total size of all cabs as just over 112megs. That means I'd be flashing a MONSTER rom and would it even be possible?
2gig mini SD card.
thanks
I tried before to add some apps (cab installers) to a personalized extended rom but it never worked the way I wanted it to. You might have seen that you always have to give some inputs when ever you install programs, sometimes you get ask if you really want to install the app, sometimes you need to choose a location. So, if you add CAB installers UNCHANGED to the extended ROM it just won't install because during extended rom installation you have no way of providing that information.
I was wondering what is your backup/restore strategy when changing ROMs.
When I install a freshly cooked ROM, there are 3 stages for installation:
1. Installing the ROM itself which is obvious.
2. Install all personal cabs - with or without UC support.
3. Configure everything to work according to my personal configurations.
The most annoying part is the 3rd, since I have to go through each and every program, and run the process, of configuring all the options. This process always, takes me longer then installing everything.
Is there a way to backup/restore globally all settings?
Amir.
http://www.spritesoftware.com/products/sprite-backup/full-edition
I know that software. Doesn't it's OS migration option is risky?
I remember reading many bad opinions against using that option...
???
Amir.
amir77a said:
I know that software. Doesn't it's OS migration option is risky?
I remember reading many bad opinions against using that option...
???
Amir.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I shouldn't agree more.
There's a lot of confliction and problematic after full restore the backup from the previous ROM to the new ROM.
It's my experiences.
KCJ
If you're willing to spend a bit of effort, you can have your device automatically configure 99.9% of what you want, as part of the customization occuring after flashing.
Look up SASHIMI, which should live on your SD card (or whatever you have which survives a hard reset). It basically install all the CABs, REGs and provisioning XMLs you want, plus runs any Mortscript, all in one big batch, according to certain sequencing rules. It can be configured to launch upon inserting the SD card, or as part of UC (User Customization), or to execute UC as part of itself, or run it manually. Most CABs which require manual intervention can be automated by using clever Mortscripts. The REGs and XMLs take care of configuring apps, games, serial numbers (legal, of course) or even network settings and Manila tweaks.
I now routinely flash a new ROM and leave my device for 30 minutes. I need to check in on it to tap past the WM setup dialogs. With that out of the way:
- all tools, apps and games CABs are installed, many with accompanying REGs for configuration
- WiFi is configured with my most used hotspots
- time is synchronized (assuming WiFi is available during this process)
- 3G is disabled (for better battery life), my data connection is configured but disabled (a la MoDaCo NoData)
- Pocket Outlook is setup with my Exchange account, an initial sync is performed (assuming WiFi is available), and additional mail folders are tagged for syncing
- PPCPimBackup restores my most recent backup of SMSes and call history (I've flashed or hard reset probably 20 times the last 2 months, and don't miss a single SMS/call since the day I bought the HD).
- My Start menu and programs list is neatly sorted into folders (of course this needs rework when I switch between ROM chefs)
- AEButton Plus is setup with my buttons the way I want them.
- SKScheMa is setup with the profile changes I want (GSM/WiFi off, silent and low brightness at night)
The only thing I really miss is to automatically provision a couple of Bluetooth pairings (a headset and 2 PCs). Apparently the encryption keys used for storing these pairings, is renewed on each hard reset. Typically, the first morning after a hard reset, while driving my car, my HD beeps every 1 minute as the car kit attempts to connect, and I'm usually unable to deal with it until I stop the car.
As you can imagine, there's quite a bit of initial manual labour, but I guarantee you that it's worth it.
I recommend that you get the following: Resco Explorer (w/registry addon), Orneta Notepad (or MobilePad). With these, most of the work can be carried out on the phone itself. To figure out the registry settings for a certain program or option, there are two ways:
- manual search, typically fast and has a very high success rate by first visiting HKLM\Software and HKCU\Software, then looking for the vendor or software name.
- registry diff, slow but very accurate, requires PC (for now). Export HKLM+HKCU (using multiple select in Resco regedit) *before* you make the configuration change, and *after* you've made the change. Copy the two reg files to a PC and do a diff (WinMerge should do a good job). Alternatively, you can use a Windows tool like Registry Workshop or CeRegEditor to export the registries, but I think the first way is faster, and you can actually prepare the exports on the move, then do the diffs when you come home.
Some programs store configuration data in files - these *may* be a bit harder to figure out, but they're usually in the installation folder. Once you've set up such a program to your liking, copy its CAB to SASHIMI\Auto\CAB and the configuration file to SASHIMI\Auto\Root\Program Files\<app name>, and the app will be as you want it after the hard reset.
SASHIMI can also back up such files for you, just put the paths into filebackup.ini. Similarly regbackup.ini can perform registry backups that will be automatically restored after a hard reset. You need to run or schedule this backup yourself, though, but both can be performed with one shortcut to SASHIMI.
I'm sorry for making this so long - I'll stop now, and hope this post provides a bit of inspiration to others. I can also help with certain aspects of UC - I'd love to post my custom tools and scripts, they're just not prepared for public consumption yet.
intersting idea.
I tried Sashimi before, but I gave up due to prior needed investment.
I'll might adopt that idea, which seems to be very useful.
Amir.
Sashimi can basically accomplish the same as UC/SDConfig.txt - it just provides a simple UI and conventions that makes setting it up so much easier. I did play with SDConfig.txt (and various tools to automate/ease its maintainability), but quickly found maintaining the file very time consuming and error prone, and practically impossible without using a PC. Sashimi you simply copy to your SD card, and you can run it right away (it won't do anything). Next step is to copy a CAB to Auto\CAB, then run Sashimi, and the CAB will be installed.
Ah well, I hope it proves useful to others!
amir77a said:
I know that software. Doesn't it's OS migration option is risky?
I remember reading many bad opinions against using that option...
???
Amir.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use it without any problem and flash my hd every day should use it correctly :
Overall performance of backups and restores are clearly within my expectations. My backups can range from 4-9 minutes and restores can take a little longer which is worth every minute for a disaster recovery plan. I have yet to try the FTP or TCP/IP backups so I cannot report on those features, but for “geeks-sake” I will look into these when time permits and report on my findings.
Two other interesting features of Sprite Backup are the Restore “Upgrade” (see Figure B PC console screen) feature and the Sprite Explorer tool. The Restore “Upgrade” features allows restoration of a backup to the same device with a different ROM (usually an upgraded ROM) or to a different device entirely. While this is an unpopular move by most device users, it is an interesting and perhaps useful function for those who do not wish to reinstall applications or data after a ROM or device change. The Sprite Explorer tool is reminiscent of Symantec’s Ghost Explorer tool. Sprite Explorer allows browsing of your Sprite Backup EXE files so that you can review the details of the backups and restore individual files to your PC. Sprite Explorer will also identify which version of Sprite Backup was used for the creation of the EXE file. When browsing a password protected EXE backup file, Sprite Explorer will prompt for the correct password before revealing the contents.
fonte: http://www.fuzemobility.com/?p=1805
Thanks.
I made a fresh backup with Sprite, after a new fresh install.
When Dutty will launch his 1.9 ROM , I will try o upgrade with Sprite, otherwise I'll goto sashimi.
Amir.
ugumba said:
I'm sorry for making this so long
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I liked the posting for its longeness... I really made me wanting to have a look at SASHIMI.
However, I am not much into MortScript, yet - would you mind to share your customization files?
I think it would be very helpful for me to have a starting point for my own work...
Thank you,
The Whistler
what about spbbackup2, easiest backup ever, and the files are self extractable so you don't even need to install spbbackup again to restore a rom.
i like the tought of just installing the ONE app.
And when i flash, that this will restore my personal settings, games, and programmas.
going to read up on this!
still, thanxxx!!
ugumba said:
I recommend that you get the following: Resco Explorer (w/registry addon), Orneta Notepad (or MobilePad). With these, most of the work can be carried out on the phone itself. To figure out the registry settings for a certain program or option, there are two ways:
- manual search, typically fast and has a very high success rate by first visiting HKLM\Software and HKCU\Software, then looking for the vendor or software name.
- registry diff, slow but very accurate, requires PC (for now). Export HKLM+HKCU (using multiple select in Resco regedit) *before* you make the configuration change, and *after* you've made the change. Copy the two reg files to a PC and do a diff (WinMerge should do a good job). Alternatively, you can use a Windows tool like Registry Workshop or CeRegEditor to export the registries, but I think the first way is faster, and you can actually prepare the exports on the move, then do the diffs when you come home.
Some programs store configuration data in files - these *may* be a bit harder to figure out, but they're usually in the installation folder. Once you've set up such a program to your liking, copy its CAB to SASHIMI\Auto\CAB and the configuration file to SASHIMI\Auto\Root\Program Files\<app name>, and the app will be as you want it after the hard reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All very helpful so nevermind the long windedness. I've been using Sashimi and I've managed to backup some apps to my satisfaction. I've have been trying to backup CorePlayer settings. I have backed up its regs keys. I have also backed up it's program files folder and reinstalled it manually with no success. What is the configuration file you are referring to that should be copied to SASHIMI\Auto\Root\Program Files\<app name>? Do you mean a file within program files or some other file?
DRTigerlilly said:
what about spbbackup2, easiest backup ever, and the files are self extractable so you don't even need to install spbbackup again to restore a rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SBPBackup backs up the complete registry, so this would be a problem if something has changed from one rom Version to another (as f.e. stated in the first post of the Energy rom´s thread), thus this program would not be ideal for restoring a backup after flashing to a different rom.
Restoring backup´s to the same rom version however, this is what sbpbackup is perfect for.
Cheech1976 said:
SBPBackup backs up the complete registry, so this would be a problem if something has changed from one rom Version to another (as f.e. stated in the first post of the Energy rom´s thread), thus this program would not be ideal for restoring a backup after flashing to a different rom.
Restoring backup´s to the same rom version however, this is what sbpbackup is perfect for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, SPB Backup should only be used emails, contacts etc.
A full backup should only be used if you are trying to restore rom i.e. if something happened to it. It shouldn't be used when swapping between different rom builds as the registry settings/paths would be different
ok my question in here might have been asked in the paaast but now i can not find the answer..
if we have serial no for some appz for registartion..
so every time when we flash rom or do hard reset wehave o set up owner name and enter that sn to that application./
what a ****..
so any way to create .reg file that contain info both owner name and sn for particular appzz.
like
XXXXX app
owner:XXXXXXX
SN:XXXXXXX
and voilaaaa cook it in rom and forget about everything
Post Mod edited
Just get sk tracker and use it to find where the registration keys are stored. Of course this stuff can be cooked in. I must have 20 paid-for apps that I cook in with all the reg info. It's usually in an obvious place (especially sk tools; c'mon, it takes no effort to find that one). It's normally just in the apps registry keys; sometimes it's a file (ae button; resco keyboard). In rare cases, it requires multiple reg keys that are kind of hidden (Phatware Database Editor).
I would expect you're already cooking in user settings, so you should have found some by accident. Don't tell me you input fresh preferences for SK Tools after every flash?!? The registration info for all SK software is all in hkcu/software/sk. You should just have the entire key in an app.reg in you sk tools package.
C`mon guys... dont do it again... you have all the info in the main stickie... check the so many regs tweaks thread link for that and dont hide the m,ain question with another bud... and dont prvide serials... is not good even if it isnt a real one or what ever...
Edited post.
if i m not wrong there is a pc tools that can make mortscripts..
if yes then anyone help me to find out..
i do just googling but not yeild whatt i want..
its only about mortsripts..
This isn't really a rom cooking question, anyway. This is a flashing/restoring question. The best place to find answers to questions about restoring user settings is in threads on sashimi or UC or XDA_UC. There are many threads out there that catalogue where user settings for specific applications are stored. Cooking them in is pretty trivial.
mortscript download has files to install both in pda or in desktop pc. The syntax is the same but some commands are restricted to the pda. In addition to xda_uc there are two other threads: the mortscript compendium and mortscript examples. you can restore provxml/xml files with mortscript, xda_uc, sashimi (they are all mortscript), with a cab, with a UC file, runcc, with sk tools and most of backup programs, etc, etc. you can do it sending keys to the screen or writing to the registry / restoring files. You can also restore many things: passwords, voice labels, contacts, configurations, bt pairings, wifi connections, email accounts, weather parameters, etc...It is a whole world but no distributed ROM should contain any registration keys.
cruiserrr said:
It is a whole world but no distributed ROM should contain any registration keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you'd be nuts to do that, since you'd also have to have your own owner info cooked into the rom. That's a recipe for disaster, lol. This is more for cooking personal roms (which is all that I do).
can someone hel me how to cook xda"uc?
i tried everything but that is not working