Database Users

Installing .cab files (New to WM5)

Sorry for this stupid question but this is my third day of having a windows mobile 5 xda (the cingular 8125) and I'm having problems installing .cab files. I started with the "DJVW HTC Wizard Optimizer 2.0.cab". I moved the cab to the root directory of the device, tapped on it, and it went through the progress bar, told me that it had installed, but then when I went to look for the newly installed program, i couldn't find it anywhere. I also tried this with a few games and other apps. What am I doing wrong that it keeps telling me that it installed fine, but I can't find the programs. Thanks for your help in this.
-Rich

You may have tried but have you used explorer to check if the files have installed under "Programs"? I've often seen cab files install but the shortcuts not get installed though the programs are there. If you find them then connect to your PC and use explore from Activesync, create shortcust and drop them in the windows\start menu folder.

Yeah, I have tried that... I even tried to a search for the files to no avail. Any other ideas? I really appriciate the help.

You've got me stumped. Personally I always drop the cabs on the SD card and install from there thats the only thing I can see different. Maybe it's a problem with dropping it in the root directory - have you tried dropping it under the programs folder and then installing?

correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't the wizard optimizer cab just tweak a few settings/registey values? a cab of this nature will not show up in your programs list because it isn't a program, it just changes stuff. this is normal, the same thing happened when i installed some camera tweaking cabs. so the cab has worked fine, done its job, there is nothing else you need to do.

Program Installation Problem

I have had many pocket PC's and the Universal w/WM5 is the only one that gives me consistant installation problems. I had listpro 3.0 installed in program memory. I uninstalled it with the intent of re-installing it on the SD card. Unchecking it from activesync did nothing. Removing from the ppc directly told me that all of the file were not removed. I saw the the folder still existed in program files, do I deleted the directory and shortcuts pointing to it. I have had this exact same problem MANY times
Am I the only one with this problem? I don't find any messages like this.
Next, I try to reinstall listpro and it won't reinstall :x I get a message cannot be installed, try another location (which does not work). Do I need a hard reset? I tryed installing another program and I can still install other stuff, but the removal did not work again.

GaryK2 said:
I have had many pocket PC's and the Universal w/WM5 is the only one that gives me consistant installation problems. I had listpro 3.0 installed in program memory. I uninstalled it with the intent of re-installing it on the SD card. Unchecking it from activesync did nothing. Removing from the ppc directly told me that all of the file were not removed. I saw the the folder still existed in program files, do I deleted the directory and shortcuts pointing to it. I have had this exact same problem MANY times
Am I the only one with this problem? I don't find any messages like this.
Next, I try to reinstall listpro and it won't reinstall :x I get a message cannot be installed, try another location (which does not work). Do I need a hard reset? I tryed installing another program and I can still install other stuff, but the removal did not work again.
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Click to collapse
Hi Gary!
I have a lot of experience in this sh*t. WM5 cannot uninstall or install in a lot of cases. Usually if you still have some files or folders which are on the same location than with the installation, installer says: cannot install. In that case you have to delete (or rename) the folder left, and then you can install it. In other cases installer stays in a loop install condition, and cannot continue. In that case try to install another application to finish somelooped order. I realised another thing, which is very interesting: when you want to uninstall a program, and your pda says it cannot be removed - or something -, if I run Vijay555 killphone application in 98% of the cases after it I can uninstall the same.
I hope this wil help!

Hi,
Perhaps I have been lucky but I havent had any issues with regards to installing or uninstalling programs.
I do make sure that I soft reset before and after - so maybe thats a golden rule!
Matt

Yes, softreset would be a good tip in more cases, but it wouldn't solve the problem when you want to install a program which needs a place what exists.

I did find some files in the windows directory and deleted them. That WORKED. Just doing program files is not enough. In this case, the file name was the same as the program. I don't expect to be that lucky all the time.
I have done soft-resets when it does not work. I do a number of trial programs and tend to forget prior to removal. What a apin
Got to love Microsoft - reboot is the answer to everything.

Installation problems.....
I am having the same problem too.
Even after a hard reset when I try and install Sprite Backup & Agenda Fusion I keep getting the install error: 'cannot be installed, try another location'
It's driving me up the wall! I would have thought after a hard reset this wouldn't be an issue. I'm now the proud owner of an MDA Pro (Universal) that I can't use because the software I want to install won't install.
Can anyone help me please?

Automating Program Installs

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?
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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?
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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.

How to batch install software after flash

Hey guys,
Could someone point me in the direction of a good batch installer.
I've reflashed my phone and i don't want to spend 10 days reinstalling everything.
I tried using SDConfig.txt but it won't start.
I know there were some threads talking about this...but hey...the search feature didn't help.
Thanks

A very good question, I'd like to see what else beside SDconfig can be used. It's been rendered useless on Itje's newer ROMs.

see post#2 of the thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=509891
look for:
4- CAB batch installer by helloworld1: neat, small, smart app to automatically install all of your apps after a flash or hard reset

I did see that link since luck would have it ... I reflashed with that exact same rom
The reason why I didn't want to use that tools is
"Problems:
1. The small utility can not silently install cab files. "
For a batch installer I think that is A MAIN REQUIREMENT...
I have almost 40 cabs...using a "batch installer" thats waiting for each one to prompt me a confirmation is ludicrous...
Any other ideas?

stormlv said:
1. The small utility can not silently install cab files. [/B]"
I have almost 40 cabs...using a "batch installer" thats waiting for each one to prompt me a confirmation is ludicrous...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, it's important to have silent installation.
However, that would mean an override would need to be done so that each confirmation selection would install it to either the device or the storage memory.

gundamboy said:
...However, that would mean an override would need to be done so that each confirmation selection would install it to either the device or the storage memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something like the SDConfig mechanism would be just fine.
Plus I rarely keep stuff on my SD Card anyway (besides Tom Tom that is...and even that doesn't need to be reinstalled - you can just copy a link to the start menu and you're done)

And what about Sashimi autoinstaller? Personally haven't use it. But I saw a post in BlueAngel's XDA forum wrote by red-hanks. It installs CAB, .REG., and .XML files.
Maybe this would be helpfull.

I think SKTools should be able to do it. Read the manual (http://s-k-tools.com/sktoolsm.pdf) on page 37. There you will find the command- line parameters for silent installation.

I recommend Sashimi Auto Installer. It does what you guys want.
You put all the cabs you want to install in the CAB Folder and then start the autoinstaller. It will go 1 by 1 and install. After it's all finished, it will ask you if you want to restart the phone. It will silently install the cabs (but still shows what it's installing currently), it just won't ask you anything until the end. This goes with registry edits as well and other files.

Tri3Dent said:
I recommend Sashimi Auto Installer. It does what you guys want.
You put all the cabs you want to install in the CAB Folder and then start the autoinstaller. It will go 1 by 1 and install. After it's all finished, it will ask you if you want to restart the phone. It will silently install the cabs (but still shows what it's installing currently), it just won't ask you anything until the end. This goes with registry edits as well and other files.
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Click to collapse
Sounds good. What does it do with CABs that require user input to finish installation? (For instance G-alarm, FingerKB etc.)

Thanks guys...this is exactly what I needed!

Angelusz said:
Sounds good. What does it do with CABs that require user input to finish installation? (For instance G-alarm, FingerKB etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u can stick those ones in a "Manual" install mode in Sashimi. give it a go - looks confusing but it's incredibly flexible / powerful.

With the FingerKB, it would just popup the settings and wait for you to finish.. it will only continue once you have saved the settings.

I can't seem to find Sashimi Auto Installer - the top search result points to a thread with the first posts blank ("..........................") by a user that appears to have been banned?

Here it is
Here you can find it: http://www.winmo-experts.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4

Completely Uninstalling programs

Sorry if there is an answer somewhere already, but I have been looking around for 20 minutes and I'm giving up and posting a thread. I have like five programs that won't uninstall when I go into the settings-->remove programs application. It comes up with a message that says "XXXX was not completely removed. Do you want to remove it from the list of installed programs?"
Has anybody had this also? How do I get it completely off my phone/get the memory back?
One more thing, I have a program called "AA AA" and I know for sure that I didn't install a cab with that name, so what the hell is it? I'm a noob with WinMo so sorry if it's simple **** haha.
Thanks in advance

Caribeanbreeze22 said:
Sorry if there is an answer somewhere already, but I have been looking around for 20 minutes and I'm giving up and posting a thread. I have like five programs that won't uninstall when I go into the settings-->remove programs application. It comes up with a message that says "XXXX was not completely removed. Do you want to remove it from the list of installed programs?"
Has anybody had this also? How do I get it completely off my phone/get the memory back?
One more thing, I have a program called "AA AA" and I know for sure that I didn't install a cab with that name, so what the hell is it? I'm a noob with WinMo so sorry if it's simple **** haha.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For programs that say they didn't uninstall completely, the method I use to get them out is this:
1) run the cab again, the same one you used to install a/the app in the first place
2) when it gives you option or error dialogs, just click "ok" or "yes" to all of them, to allow it to go through what looks like another complete install process (yes, it's odd, but this is how to do it).
3) when it's done, soft-reset, and then you should find that there's no more trace of the app in your uninstall list.
Don't ask me how/why that works, but I've used it in many instances for just that reason, and it's worked every time I tried it.
As for that "AA AA" app, I've certainly never seen a cab that used that name (fyi, the name in the uninstall list doesn't necessarily match the name of the cab file...only if the person creating it set it up that way). So...I'd just say uninstall it, and see if any apps/links are missing then.

This thread is closest to my problem,so I'm asking here.
I cant uninstall ANY of my programs, I have tried the usual method from the remove programs section in Settings. I get same error as OP.
When that failed I then try to just delete the program folder from program files, using file explorer, but get an error saying 'Access is denied. Be certain the folder isn't in use and not write protected'
At first I thought I had a memory card problem, but its the same regardless of where the program is installed.
I also tried to re-install the programs from their cab files as described above, but get an 'unsuccessful' message.
I cant rename any files anywhere on my device either.
I know a little about write protection, but cant figure out what my problem is or how to fix it.
I hope I explained properly for someone to help.
Thanks.

It looks like that the installer process "wceload.exe" was not correctly quit and is still in the memory. Terminate the process wceload.exe with a task manager and try again.

Thanks ElectronX.
I did a search on my HD2 for the file you mentioned and couldn't find it. I have Duttys task manager installed and after a soft reset, the problem still remains. The task manager is empty of processes when I start the device.
Im sorry that Im a bit clueless to how to achieve what you suggest.

I have discovered that the problem extends beyond removing and installing programs. I cant do anything in file explorer other than open documents. If I want to move, delete, rename any file on the device I get the 'write protected' error message. I cant do it via active sync either..I connected to the computer and could browse my device, but if I tried deleting, moving or renaming, the message said it didn't have permission to do it.
Last resort is a hard reset, but hopefully someone will be able to help.

Use sktools to uninstall when windows fails. Best program ever...
Good luck

Thanks, but I cant install anything on my device...can sktools be run from my computer to fix the device?

Unfortunately not...
Good luck though..

sirphunkee said:
For programs that say they didn't uninstall completely, the method I use to get them out is this:
1) run the cab again, the same one you used to install a/the app in the first place
2) when it gives you option or error dialogs, just click "ok" or "yes" to all of them, to allow it to go through what looks like another complete install process (yes, it's odd, but this is how to do it).
3) when it's done, soft-reset, and then you should find that there's no more trace of the app in your uninstall list.
Don't ask me how/why that works, but I've used it in many instances for just that reason, and it's worked every time I tried it.
As for that "AA AA" app, I've certainly never seen a cab that used that name (fyi, the name in the uninstall list doesn't necessarily match the name of the cab file...only if the person creating it set it up that way). So...I'd just say uninstall it, and see if any apps/links are missing then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy crap, this works.