Database Users

Custom ROM for Pocket PC

Hi
Sorry if this post is not in the right place. I am in great need of help. I am a mobile software developer. A client who is into automation contacted me. The client has a control application that he would like to start up whenever the pocket pc starts. This itself is not a problem, since you can simply create a registry key to handle this. The problem comes in that the application must still start even if the battery has been drained completely and the device start like it does after a hard-reset.
From what I have read, it is possible to create a custom ROM image that contains the key described above. The application could be stored in the backup storage area of the ROM.
I have looked at tools to edit the .nbf files that are available with the ROM updates for the pocket pc from the manufacturer (HP iPAQ running WM2003SE), but I cannot find a clear answer, and my knowledge of Unix is bad at best.
Any help and suggestions from anyone on how to edit the .nbf file or any other method to manage this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Riaan

What was the name of this tool?

I saw a tool that could edit the dependancies and more stuff of Pocket PC executables so you could for example "force" a WM2003 application to run on PPC2002. Can someone please help me to find it again?
Many thanks in advance!!

Took a while but I found it, it's called ExecutabilityCheck.

The HTouchFlo Cube software application HELP

I need serious help, I can not get the HTouchFlo program to install on my Apache 6700 with WM6 on it. I have installed the files, but im not able to install the program. I tapped on the .exe file on my phone and the file with the source of the program comes up, it does not execute and install. All other files have nothing to associate itself with. What am I doing wrong? I don't have any other program of the sort on my phone. Can someone please help this newbie get this program to work. I would greatly appreciate the help.

HTC Debug Tools

Hi guys.
I stumbled upon this fantastic website which has already help me to understand my windows mobile 6 device.
However i have noticed that in the program list there is a folder named - HTC Debug Tools. Within this folder is a program named - QxdmSdLog.
Now i know that QxdmSdLog is a logging tool. I want to know how this tool can be activated so i can log the workings of the device. I know that the QxdmSdLog program states to have the Radio Flags in the Debug Tool program set to 4xx. Does anyone know what 4xx means???
If only i could get the logs through QxdmSdLog!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated please.
Thanks in advance.
bashme

I am interesting. How to get the HTC debug tools?

1. Run Debug Tool
2. Set [5]Debug flags to '5'
3. Set [8]Radio Flags to '405'
4. Reset device
You'll see \HtcLog folder with a text file inside. Actually this file should appear on SD card but looks like it depends on the phone. I have XPeria X1

Getting started with ROMs

I want to modify the messaging program but I've not done any WM coding before. I've looked at a number of posts on the forum and taken a look at the wiki but I'm still totally confused about where to start.
My current view is that I need to:
Extract the messaging program from the ROM I'm using
Is this possible? If so, what tools do I need? I found a few utilities that look promising on the wiki but there is no documentation for them so I've got no idea how to use them.
Disassemble the program
Can I do this with Visual Studio? Ideally I would like to step through the execution to find the bits I need to change, can I do that with the extracted program in the WM emulator? Or can I do it directly on my PDA?
Patch the program
I can probably figure this bit out by myself.
Get the patched program onto my PDA
As the program is in ROM, I'm assuming I'll have to re-make the ROM. Or can ROM files be updated/overwritten without rebuilding the ROM?
Each of those steps is assuming the previous one is the correct approach and is actually possible. I'm not looking for hand holding at every step, just some good pointers to relevant information and tools. Thanks.

0. - which programm you want to hack ?
1. What type of PDA you use ?
for example - for hx4700 -
prepare_imgfs.exe dump.dat
viewimgfs.exe imgfs_raw_data.bin
2. IDA - diassemble, or Visual Studio for debugging - if you know how
3. What type of PDA you use ?
for example - for hx4700 - like vivi kitchen.
4. ...

Thanks for your reply.
0. - which programm you want to hack ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The messaging program, is it called Outlook Mobile? Do you know if it is native or managed code? If not, what's the easiest way to tell?
1. What type of PDA you use ?
for example - for hx4700
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got a Kaiser. Currently running "udK 8.0 R0 Vega" ROM (WM6.1). Forgot to mention that in my previous post.
IDA - diassemble, or Visual Studio for debugging - if you know how
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does IDA support remote debugging on Windows Mobile? Also, are there any restrictions on what you can debug in VS, ie. do they stop you from debugging things you don't have the source for or are Microsoft applications (eg. Outlook) restricted from debugging in some way?
I'm finding it really hard to get decent information on these kinds of things. If I actually manage to get anywhere with this then I'll write up some kind of guide for the wiki.

Ok, I've used this tool to extract the ROM and get a file called 00_OS.nb. I then got these tools and managed to dump the NB file so that I now have all of the files inside the ROM.
I've been playing about with IDA but when I try and run poutlook.exe in the debugger, it runs but exits straight away (ie. it doesn't create a window on the PDA). I tried copying poutlook.exe onto my device but it doesn't run, I think I need to get it running from the exe before I do anymore IDA stuff. I remember reading somewhere that executables in the ROM image have been manipulated in some way (addresses rewritten or relocated or something), is that what is affecting it? Or do I need to run some additional tool on the extracted exe before it will run standalone?
How do I get an executable extracted from the ROM to run on my device? Or do I have to roll it all up into a ROM for it to work?