Database Users

n00b question about adding my own programs

Okay I understand you have to use mkrom and Linux (or cygwin on Windows) to roll your own ROM my question is regarding how one could say remove one program from the SE ROM and include something else, for instance take off the byte counter and put another different counter on or such, would you just copy the necessary files (.exe and dll's) to the files1 or files2 folder and that's it ? What more is involved? Thanks in advance!

for simple programs, that is all there is to it.
some might need more research, as to which registry settings need to be tweaked to get te program to run from the windows directory. and what settings it needs to run at all.

You copy the files to either files1 or files2. Both sets of files end up in the \Windows subdir. So if you do not want to copy the files to RAM (see below), you should make sure the program is set to run from \Windows. Then you add any necessary registry keys to "default.reg", and any file-copy or directory creation commands to initobj.txt. Then run "mkrom <ROMfile>" and hey-presto.

Thanks so much for all your guys awesome work!!

entropy1980 said:
ok sounds good, what would one need to do to mod the registry for the programs (By that I mean prior to booting) I don't want to be mucking around with a reg editor after the device boots just to get the progs to work...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure I understand the question. Default.reg just holds the entire registry as present after a cold restart. So if you put something in there, this will be in the registry when the device wakes up.

I think we wrote at the same time , so you answered my question before I posted it !!! What you said made complete sense! Thanks!

entropy1980 said:
[...]so you answered my question before I posted it !!! [...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed the phpBB telepathy mod a couple of days ago, so I guess it's working.

Hey I knew you were going to say that.... :lol: :lol:

hi,
i want to add the skelmir java virtual machine (thats default installed in windows\ceej) and copy the swingall.jar in the windows\ceej map.
I have the cab file of the virtual machine but i can't find out which files are in it (when i open it with cabextract is shows .001 files and not the files that i find back in the device)
please help me

Using Special Edition ROM, Tthe CabInst tool will run CAB files on the device if you move it there manually and double-tap it. It allows to set a new directory to install in.
Also the System Snapshot tool will write a file in the root of the device which holds a list of the entire filesystem and registry contents, so you can compare and see what changed. UltraEdit for the desktop has a compare function.
Good luck...

hi,
i installed it to a seperate directory and zipped the files. i also took a snapshot when the xda was fresh and after install. i only can't find where the xda's gets is files from in:
43 <! [\Windows\AppMgr]
8544 <! 31/12/2002 12:31 1632 FC0E9EE1 Skelmir CEEJ Virtual Machine.DAT
8576 <! 16/02/2003 23:10 27 AEBB1DF3 CEEJ.lnk
8587 <! 16/02/2003 23:10 40 1EAF4EB3 CEEJ Examples.lnk
8588 <! 16/02/2003 23:10 27 AEBB1DF3 CEEJ.lnk
because these are not in the map where i extracted the cab file too. maybe you can take a look for me and tell me what i have to change in mkrom to have ceej by default installed
the extraced cab map:
http://www.devosjansen.nl/xda/java installed.rar
the snapfiles:
http://www.devosjansen.nl/xda/xda snapshots files.rar
thanks in advance

laurens0619 said:
hi,
i installed it to a seperate directory and zipped the files. i also took a snapshot when the xda was fresh and after install. i only can't find where the xda's gets is files from in:
43 <! [\Windows\AppMgr]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These files are generated during the install process, and contain uninstall information. You do not need to write them if you install in ROM, since you don't need/want your programs to show up the in the 'Add/Remove Programs' dialogue.

ah i understand,
so i just put the files in the files1 or files2 directory and add this reg files to the default.reg? i dony really understand the readme file

ah little kick,
isn't also good for the next SE rom? because you have finally a java virtual machine on the xda and the app is freeware (got it from www.skelmir.com)

laurens0619 said:
isn't also good for the next SE rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Noted...

nice but can you please help me out for the moment? i dont know which part i must add to the default.reg file

laurens0619 said:
I dont know which part i must add to the default.reg file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
default.reg holds the registry that is present when the system wakes up from cold-boot. So any registry entries your installer (or first run of the app) has made that you would like to have present should go in there. Clear enough?

almost
so i just copy paste the **** at the end of the reg file? and the files in the files 2 map
but how will the rom know where to put the files??
sorry if i'm stupid but i don't want to f*ck my rom so i can use me xda's as a frisbee

Yes, the registry entries can be pasted at the end of default.reg. It doesn't matter if there's earlier entries with the same values, since the latter ones override.
All files in files1 and files2 will end up in \Windows, and if you want them somewhere else, (where they'll take up RAM), you must manually copy them (or pre-made links pointing to them) by issueing commands in initobj.txt.
Take a real close look at initobj.txt, and you'll get the picture.

How to change boot (splash) image?

Any ideas how to change the boot image on the prophet?

changing boot image
Got this info from PPCSG - so all credit goes to them (especially farbird). This changes the 2nd splash screen (the one with the windows logo on the blue background). The HTC/Dopod splash screen which appears after every reset is still there.
1) copy the welcome96.png file to your desktop from ppc. edit it... do not change the dimensions.
2) save that edited file as 'welcomehead.961.png' and copy it into your ppc /windows folder.
3) open total commander in ppc. go to windows folder, tap on hold on the original welcomehead.96.png, click properties, uncheck all the boxes under attributes. select ok.
4) total commander will refresh the directory, rename it now to 'welcomehead.962.png'. After that look for your edited file copied from the pc ie welcomehead.961.png.. rename it to welcomehead.96.png. after that, tap and hold and click on properties. check the box that says " read only, hidden, system "
once that is done, do a soft reboot. u should be able to see your new bootup screen after the rom version is up.
There is another way using activesync, but it didn't work for me as it gives me a write-protect error.
Do a search here @ xda-dev, u shld get the same info...

Hi,
this does not work on GER Vodafone ROM 2.15.3.26 cause welcome.96.png is in the rom part and not deletable.

funnysurf said:
Hi,
this does not work on GER Vodafone ROM 2.15.3.26 cause welcome.96.png is in the rom part and not deletable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that file is a ROM file and cannot be deleted. BUT if you use TotalCommander, you can rename that file to something else, rename your new splash image file to welcome.96.png, copy it to your windows folder and set its attributes to read only, system, & hidden. AND the changes will be permanent. Try it.
The reason it being a ROM file is why I was unable to copy & paste using the activesync method. But the way I did it works. Make sure you use Total Commander & not resco explorer or the built-in file explorer

krale said:
Any ideas how to change the boot image on the prophet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this feature will also add soon in JAFWM, i think is a very usefull option.

Putra said:
funnysurf said:
Hi,
this does not work on GER Vodafone ROM 2.15.3.26 cause welcome.96.png is in the rom part and not deletable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that file is a ROM file and cannot be deleted. BUT if you use TotalCommander, you can rename that file to something else, rename your new splash image file to welcome.96.png, copy it to your windows folder and set its attributes to read only, system, & hidden. AND the changes will be permanent. Try it.
The reason it being a ROM file is why I was unable to copy & paste using the activesync method. But the way I did it works. Make sure you use Total Commander & not resco explorer or the built-in file explorer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Pruta,
O.K., now I was able to rename welcome.96.png and replaced it with my PNG.
Softreset... Sh*t, the 'old' welcome.96.png was shown. O.K., my device wants war...it gets war .
I was able to DELETE the old (original) welcome.96.png.
Softreset... Aaaaahhhhh nothing changed!
O.K. continued search. I found a file named welcomehead.96.png, that is the same image than the original welcome.96.png.
The only prob is, I'm NOT able to rename or delete/replace it.
Are there anybody that also use the Vodafone rom and can test to change the boot image???
Attached file is welcomehead.96.png

If you can change the attributes to exclude System, and Read-Only, it should be able to change/remove it.

Hi krale,
nope. It's not possible to change the attributes. See attached MPG.

I was able to do it with total commander...
here is the link
http://www.ppcsg.com/index.php?showtopic=71471&st=40#
thanks for the credit, Putra.
Appreciated.

Do not delete, but overwrite
@farbird: Sure, bro - after all it was your post @ PPCSG that helped me change the splash screen.
Important: do no delete the welcomehead file as it is ROM file, and it will automatically be created again. The trick is to overwrite the file with another file but with EXACTLY the same name and attributes (except ROM). So Windows will not try to create the file again.
After you change the attributes of the original welcomehead file, NO NEED to check if it has changed - Total Commander will show it as NOT changed (meaning all the check marks are still present).
Just go ahead and rename that file, then rename your splash image file to welcomehead.96.png, and set the attributes, and it should work.
I used this trick to "delete" a useless movie file: 1-nature_15fps.mp4 (274K, I think). I created an empty txt file called 1-nature_15fps.txt (0B), copied into the windows folder, performed the trick, and now I have a 1-nature_15fps.mp4 file which is 0 bytes! Just a little experiment, which may come in handy if you really need the space.
Hope the above explains things a little.

HELP!! How to change 1st Splash and HTC splash
Hi EveryBody
i've Imate JamIN
batterystatus overclocked to 286MHz
Rom: PDAVIET 4.0.0.4 (totally stable)
i know how to change the 2nd Splash (concerned of Windows)
but i dont know how to change the 1st Splash (that of Imate or Qtek) OR the Splash concerned of white backgrounded HTC Innovation...
Can anybody help me in full details, step by step and straight commands
NB. I still dont know what is CID, IPL , SPL... (please let me understand these terms)

Welcome ksadek
read the xda wiki to find out what CID IPL and SPL are

[SOLVED!] Any Language of WM5 on any Athena!

Hi guys, I just wanted to let you know that I have managed to translate 99% of all the WM5 interface to English or almost any language. The secret has been found long time ago by our friend Asukal: http://asukal.net/blog/
Some things like the battery panel, the soft keys on the Communication Manager are missing and others are not translated, maybe somebody can tell us how can we complete this work on the Athena.
Instructions:
1) Install ENG_mui.cab or any other desired language. Don't install ENG_Notifi_COM_BT or any other since they will change some settings.
2) Now you will notice that the Start Menu doesn't exist anymore! So go with the help of your keyboard to the File Explorer, go to /Windows and look for the folder on the Old Language that contains the Start Menu Folder, now rename it to: Start Menu. Then inside rename the folder that contains the Links to your programs to Programs and Create or Rename a Folder called Settings. All of them should be inside /Windows/Start Menu
The original work was made by our friend Asukal. Thank you very much for your hard work! And you can view the original post for the HTC Universal and the Languages Pack at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=267541&page=2
you can download all the CAB's that Asukal made with a lot of different languages (some of them are not finisihed) at: http://buzzdev.net/components/com_s...les/UI_LNG_SWT_beta_20060629193323_Asukal.rar
Feel free to ask me any question, I will try to do my best!
I will try to post some screen shots later...

bogusiano said:
Hi guys, I just wanted to let you know that I have managed to translate 99% of all the WM5 interface to English or almost any language. The secret has been found long time ago by our friend Asukal: http://asukal.net/blog/
Some things like the battery panel, the soft keys on the Communication Manager are missing and others are not translated, maybe somebody can tell us how can we complete this work on the Athena.
Instructions:
1) Install ENG_mui.cab or any other desired language. Don't install ENG_Notifi_COM_BT or any other since they will change some settings.
2) Now you will notice that the Start Menu doesn't exist anymore! So go with the help of your keyboard to the File Explorer, go to /Windows and look for the folder on the Old Language that contains the Start Menu Folder, now rename it to: Start Menu. Then inside rename the folder that contains the Links to your programs to Programs and Create or Rename a Folder called Settings. All of them should be inside /Windows/Start Menu
The original work was made by our friend Asukal. Thank you very much for your hard work! And you can view the original post for the HTC Universal and the Languages Pack at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=267541&page=2
you can download all the CAB's that Asukal made with a lot of different languages (some of them are not finisihed) at: http://buzzdev.net/components/com_s...les/UI_LNG_SWT_beta_20060629193323_Asukal.rar
Feel free to ask me any question, I will try to do my best!
I will try to post some screen shots later...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for sharing this information with us, good news !

Camera stopped working
The tweak works nice but camera application could not start. Will check further later. Meanwhile I have restored backup

I solved this by replacing /Windows/Camera.exe with one of the Camera.exe.* which size is 404 KBytes. Sorry but I can't remember the exact name.
victoradjei said:
The tweak works nice but camera application could not start. Will check further later. Meanwhile I have restored backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

bogusiano said:
I solved this by replacing /Windows/Camera.exe with one of the Camera.exe.* which size is 404 KBytes. Sorry but I can't remember the exact name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
where did you get the camera files from?

I got them from my /Windows directory they have been renamed by Asukal's translator. They have the extension: *.0404.mui
So the original file of Camera.exe (the one in Chinnese) has been renamed to Camera.exe.0404.mui, so once Asukal's CAB has been installed, rename Camera.exed to Camera.exe.old and rename Camera.exe.0404.mui to Camera.exe
In fact once you rename the working Camera.exe you will find a different Icon, like more "fashion". Hahaha!
faisal.husain said:
where did you get the camera files from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Camera working now
I have the camera working now
I followed the instructions above, but before the procedure I created a folder on the storage card and copied all the file in the windows folder named camera for preservation
NB: I INSTALLED THE TWO CABS TO THE STORAGE CARD
ALL COPYING AND RE-NAMING WAS DONE WITH TOTAL COMMANDER
1. Ran the Language switcher cab and do a soft re-set.
2. May not be needed, but I started the switcher application and changed the language to English. Nothing changed of course
3. Installed the English mui and clicked ok for reset.
4. Copied all the camera files (4 of them, counting in Camera.exe.0413) to the Windows folder of device
5. Copied all content of the Windows sub-folders Start Menu and Programs from the old language Dutch in my case, to the new English folders.
6. Did same as in 5. for all the folders I wanted to re-name which would not take the new name
7.Camera works as normal, but I did not see the Microdrive to select in the initial settings. I believe that can be sorted with reg-edit or something else, but that is not important for me at the moment. Have not tested the front camera etc. I need to go and have a meal.
Am continueing to re-name the folders and checking the functions as I go along. Happy tweaking to all of you! Many thanks to Bogusiano and Wu.
Cheers

Very good! I am happy for you! I think this the closest we can get until a WWE ROM for the Dopod U1000 is released, for me at least, this is enough to enjoy my device meanwhile!
victoradjei said:
I have the camera working now
I followed the instructions above, but before the procedure I created a folder on the storage card and copied all the file in the windows folder named camera for preservation
NB: I INSTALLED THE TWO CABS TO THE STORAGE CARD
ALL COPYING AND RE-NAMING WAS DONE WITH TOTAL COMMANDER
1. Ran the Language switcher cab and do a soft re-set.
2. May not be needed, but I started the switcher application and changed the language to English. Nothing changed of course
3. Installed the English mui and clicked ok for reset.
4. Copied all the camera files (4 of them, counting in Camera.exe.0413) to the Windows folder of device
5. Copied all content of the Windows sub-folders Start Menu and Programs from the old language Dutch in my case, to the new English folders.
6. Did same as in 5. for all the folders I wanted to re-name which would not take the new name
7.Camera works as normal, but I did not see the Microdrive to select in the initial settings. I believe that can be sorted with reg-edit or something else, but that is not important for me at the moment. Have not tested the front camera etc. I need to go and have a meal.
Am continueing to re-name the folders and checking the functions as I go along. Happy tweaking to all of you! Many thanks to Bogusiano and Wu.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

bogusiano said:
I got them from my /Windows directory they have been renamed by Asukal's translator. They have the extension: *.0404.mui
So the original file of Camera.exe (the one in Chinnese) has been renamed to Camera.exe.0404.mui, so once Asukal's CAB has been installed, rename Camera.exed to Camera.exe.old and rename Camera.exe.0404.mui to Camera.exe
In fact once you rename the working Camera.exe you will find a different Icon, like more "fashion". Hahaha!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks M8 works a treat

I have WM 5 chinese edition, I installed the englsh mui, after that, the when i create a new sms, the sms application hangs. Therefore i am unable to create sms nor open smses.
Please help
thanks

Change start text on swedish ROM?

I have tried to change my start text to something else but I really can't find that string 321 in ANY .dll on my device. I don't even have a shellres.dll.0409.mui as it says below.
Change Start Text
1. Unsign your shellres.dll.0409.mui
2. Open it in one of these three Reshack / PE Explorer / Restoratorand go to string value 321 and change the name from Start to whatever you want.
3. Save your modified file
4. Open MssignerorMultiple file Signer
· click Start sign Process (for MFS follow directions in the link)
· a window will pop-up with "Process finished!"
· You will see a that a text file has been create for your shellres on your desktop
· Open the text file, if you see "Warning: This file is signed, but not timestamped, Succeeded" you know the file was signed.
5. Transfer the modified file to your SD card
6. Open TC and navigate to the /Windows and rename your old file to "shellres.dll.0409.mui.bak"
7. Move your modified file from your SD card into the /Windows
8. Soft Reset
Can someone help me out please? The people at PPCGeeks are so slow

No one?

No because 0409 is for English rom
In Sweden the value is 041D
So find the file shellres.dll.041D.mui

Ye I have that file, but it seems I can't copy it to my internal storage with Total Commander for some reason. Well I can copy it, but the file seems hidden and stuff even if I take away those properties on the file before I copy it.

Try to modify this file taken from windows mobile 6.1 version 2.03 SVE
then you can make a cab file that overwrite the orignal file in the windows folder

Will it make any difference when I have 1.93 ROM? I'm too lazy to upgrade to 2.03 since it most likely won't make any difference (I checked the changelog for 2.03).

2.03 is much faster then the 1.93

And also more battery consuming I read, true?

ArtieQ said:
And also more battery consuming I read, true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so, I'm using 2.03 standard rom and I don't see any difference.
Different versions of the radio can consume more or less battery and also
influence the function of the GPS.
There's a specific thread for radios.

I'll update later today then when I've charged the phone :]

[Solved][Q] EXT packages + app.dat = duplicates of files in \windows\

I tried to keep the title as descriptive and short as possible, I hope it makes sense
I picked up the kitchen of nhathoa (a retired Topaz cook) hoping to get it customized to make it exactly the way I want but I'm running into some issues.
Long story short, I'm using Ervius Visual Kitchen (1.8.2) and I noticed that the EXT packages I added end up leaving two copies of the files, a copy under \windows\ and another one in the places I specified using app.dat using:
Code:
Directory("\Program Files\bla\"):-File("bla.exe","\Windows\bla.exe")
Is there some way to get rid of the copy under \Windows\ ??
I know that I could simply leave everything there and discard the app.dat files but I would really prefer having everything organized properly (I have a bit of an OCD when it comes to organizing everything neatly ).
I'm pretty sure that this is a rather simple and noobish issue but I couldn't find anything relevant by searching and I took a look at some ext packages by various cooks and noticed the same behaviour.

MusikMonk said:
I tried to keep the title as descriptive and short as possible, I hope it makes sense
I picked up the kitchen of nhathoa (a retired Topaz cook) hoping to get it customized to make it exactly the way I want but I'm running into some issues.
Long story short, I'm using Ervius Visual Kitchen (1.8.2) and I noticed that the EXT packages I added end up leaving two copies of the files, a copy under \windows\ and another one in the places I specified using app.dat using:
Code:
Directory("\Program Files\bla\"):-File("bla.exe","\Windows\bla.exe")
Is there some way to get rid of the copy under \Windows\ ??
I know that I could simply leave everything there and discard the app.dat files but I would really prefer having everything organized properly (I have a bit of an OCD when it comes to organizing everything neatly ).
I'm pretty sure that this is a rather simple and noobish issue but I couldn't find anything relevant by searching and I took a look at some ext packages by various cooks and noticed the same behaviour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's call Read-Only-Memory (ROM) and is the reason you can hard-reset your phone. Every file you cook into the ROM is in \windows. Two ways I know of to reduce the amount of files would be to zip them and have a mortscript unzip them to the proper location during customization or cook in a cab containing all of the files and have it run during customization.

That makes a lot of sense, I really feel ashamed that I didn't figure it out earlier
EXT packages seemed easier than bothering to read about customization but I guess it's time to start reading about this kind of stuff.
Thread marked as solved.
Thanks for the quick reply!

Yup, files in rom are in rom forever, or until you flash again, lol. The trick is to just run bla.exe from \windows. I would say that 90% of the time, bla.exe runs just fine out of the windows directory (especially if it's the only file in the package). When people create cabs, they naturally install the app in \program files, but in general apps don't need to be in a specific folder. If there are other files present, usually an .exe will search within its own folder for those files. So, if you just cook everything straight into windows, you'll be good to go. It's easy enough to test: just move all the files from program files to windows after installing a cab, fix the shortcut in the start menu, and then try to run the app. It's always a good idea to do a soft reset and try again (found this out the hard way many times). The one thing you have to watch out for is settings files, like .dat files. These files frequently have to be archived (not read-only). Particularly with apps that use net 3.5, if there's a setting file that is read-only, the app won't boot and you'll get an error message. The fix is to name the file settings-1.txt (or whatever) and have an app.dat rename it to settings.txt (and keep it in \windows).
Also, remember to fix the shortcut path in the start menu, and examine the registry entries to see if there are any paths for files present-you may need to change them to point to \windows (this could also be true in settings files).

mwalt2 said:
No, it's call Read-Only-Memory (ROM) and is the reason you can hard-reset your phone. Every file you cook into the ROM is in \windows. Two ways I know of to reduce the amount of files would be to zip them and have a mortscript unzip them to the proper location during customization or cook in a cab containing all of the files and have it run during customization.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This actually made me think a little bit. When you think about read only, I always thing can't delete or overwrite. Obviously I can run a cab and replace a file that is located in the \Windows directory, that leads me to believe there is a way to delete a file or maybe even replaced with an empty file of the same name.

You can over-write a rom file, but the rom file is still there. The file system just flags it somehow or another and tells the device to ignore it and instead use the new file.

TMartin03 said:
This actually made me think a little bit. When you think about read only, I always thing can't delete or overwrite. Obviously I can run a cab and replace a file that is located in the \Windows directory, that leads me to believe there is a way to delete a file or maybe even replaced with an empty file of the same name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The new file you copy over goes into the "user" partition of the file system and windows knows to use that file instead. Once you delete this newly copied file from \windows, the old one from the ROM will take its place back in the filesystem.

Farmer Ted said:
Yup, files in rom are in rom forever, or until you flash again, lol. The trick is to just run bla.exe from \windows. I would say that 90% of the time, bla.exe runs just fine out of the windows directory (especially if it's the only file in the package). When people create cabs, they naturally install the app in \program files, but in general apps don't need to be in a specific folder. If there are other files present, usually an .exe will search within its own folder for those files. So, if you just cook everything straight into windows, you'll be good to go. It's easy enough to test: just move all the files from program files to windows after installing a cab, fix the shortcut in the start menu, and then try to run the app. It's always a good idea to do a soft reset and try again (found this out the hard way many times). The one thing you have to watch out for is settings files, like .dat files. These files frequently have to be archived (not read-only). Particularly with apps that use net 3.5, if there's a setting file that is read-only, the app won't boot and you'll get an error message. The fix is to name the file settings-1.txt (or whatever) and have an app.dat rename it to settings.txt (and keep it in \windows).
Also, remember to fix the shortcut path in the start menu, and examine the registry entries to see if there are any paths for files present-you may need to change them to point to \windows (this could also be true in settings files).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, a small question about the underlined part, just to make sure that I got it right: it won't be exactly a rename just a copy with a different name, correct?
Some of the apps I use need a specific directory structure for the resources and files they use, so just dumping them in one big folder won't work.
Another possible issue that I think I'll run into is having two files sharing a generic name (let's say settings.xml) while each belongs to a different app. I didn't personally encounter such a situation just yet but my packages are still a work in progress and I did see a post or two about this while searching.
I was still hoping there would be a simple way to arrange the files in folders while keeping them under \windows\ but I can't find such a method either. Doesn't seem like I have other options than to decided on a firstboot customization method: Runcc, autorun, xda_uc or something that I haven't read about yet...
"Runcc" is currently used in the base kitchen so that gives it an edge right now.
Edit:
Remembered that I had another question, and it's probably not worth a new thread.
I was looking at how to manually create .lnk files and I noticed something that I didn't understand and couldn't find info about.
For example:
Code:
21#"\Windows\MSDict.htm"
What exactly does the "21" refer to?? I tried changing it randomly to other values a couple of times and it didn't effect anything.

NRGZ28 said:
The new file you copy over goes into the "user" partition of the file system and windows knows to use that file instead. Once you delete this newly copied file from \windows, the old one from the ROM will take its place back in the filesystem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok now that makes a lot of sense. I guess I'm just use to Android and being able to see that separate partition. Thanks for the explanation.
That sort of leaves me to another question. Can't someone develop a way to overwrite directly to the "system" partition? It would almost be like a root/superuser for WinMo.
Sent from my HTC Evo 4G!

MusikMonk said:
First of all, a small question about the underlined part, just to make sure that I got it right: it won't be exactly a rename just a copy with a different name, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, that's correct. Another approach is to take all similar files that go into windows and stick them in a zip file that unzips to the windows directory. I do that in a few cases (power radio comes to mind; it has an ini file). What I do in most cases though is use a backup/restore mortscript. The backup copies all settings files (and similar things) on my device to my sd card. During customization, the restore copies them back. It's convenient for apps where I change the settings a lot and I don't want to have to constantly fuss with the packages.
Some of the apps I use need a specific directory structure for the resources and files they use, so just dumping them in one big folder won't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you do in that case is move the sub-folders into windows. In this case, I'll use a zip file to unzip those folders into windows. Using app.dat files to copy large numbers of files blows. It increases the rom file count as well as the storage used. A zip file is a single file, and usually it saves space.
Another possible issue that I think I'll run into is having two files sharing a generic name (let's say settings.xml) while each belongs to a different app. I didn't personally encounter such a situation just yet but my packages are still a work in progress and I did see a post or two about this while searching.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case, you're screwed unless there's a registry key that lets you change the name. I've run into a few complications; tcpmp and OMarket both use a common.dll. My solution was to buy Core Player, lol.
I was still hoping there would be a simple way to arrange the files in folders while keeping them under \windows\ but I can't find such a method either. Doesn't seem like I have other options than to decided on a firstboot customization method: Runcc, autorun, xda_uc or something that I haven't read about yet...
"Runcc" is currently used in the base kitchen so that gives it an edge right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using cabs or zip files is the way to go if you want to copy large folders in one shot (with a mortscript; you can also un-rar rar files, but I don't know how. Yet, lol). Zips are easier to make and edit than cabs, but you need to have mortscript cooked in and know how to write the simple script (aka cut-and-paste).
Edit:
Remembered that I had another question, and it's probably not worth a new thread.
I was looking at how to manually create .lnk files and I noticed something that I didn't understand and couldn't find info about.
For example:
Code:
21#"\Windows\MSDict.htm"
What exactly does the "21" refer to?? I tried changing it randomly to other values a couple of times and it didn't effect anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 21 is the number of bytes after the #. It doesn't matter. I usually just change the first number to 1. It works fine. Counting bytes blows.

That was extremely helpful. Too bad these boards don't use a rep system
Farmer Ted said:
Yup, that's correct. Another approach is to take all similar files that go into windows and stick them in a zip file that unzips to the windows directory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if I'm going to follow this method, and it seems like I am, I don't see why I would still have to limit myself to the \windows folder. I can just put everything the way I originally wanted to do. I only looked at arranging files under \windows when I found out that there's no way to get rid of the duplicates.
Farmer Ted said:
Using cabs or zip files is the way to go if you want to copy large folders in one shot (with a mortscript; you can also un-rar rar files, but I don't know how. Yet, lol). Zips are easier to make and edit than cabs, but you need to have mortscript cooked in and know how to write the simple script (aka cut-and-paste).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tried writing mortscripts yet but I've seen enough to figure out the basic and notice how easy it is. I'm gonna check how usable is the WM version of 7zip, as long as it accepts arguments combining it with mortscript will be easy and perfect for me.
7z archives can get smaller in size than half of the zip archives for the same files. And cabs are too annoying to work with and keep updated later on.
Only issue remaining now is checking whether I should put the archived files under \windows or use the sdcard for customization. I'm leaning toward the first but I'll have to wait and see how much memory I would be sacrificing that way.
Farmer Ted said:
The 21 is the number of bytes after the #. It doesn't matter. I usually just change the first number to 1. It works fine. Counting bytes blows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah! I thought about counting bytes/characters and noticed that it works sometimes. But I thought it was a coincidence after I experimented in changing the value and noticed that it wasn't always the right count in the .lnk files that I found.
[rant]
Nice, I was messing around with some packages to free up ram and storage and I seem to have ended up with a rather b0rked up xTask. And then there's still convincing Resco Explorer that the registry add-in IS in fact there.
Figuring out the causes should keep me happily busy for a while (and probably heavily pissed for another while afterwards).
[/rant]
Edit:
Just for the record, I ended up using xda_uc it's a lot easier than doing things manually. Although it would help if there was some kind of documentation available, took me a while to understand what .xda, xdai, xdas & .xdaz files are supposed to be.

hi by the way is it possible to convert ext packages of QVGA phones to one another?