Database Users

Rebuilding TMobile - Can I go straight to 1.1???

I have totally hosed my TMobile device and I am looking to rebuild straight to the 1.1 build instead of going back to TMobile first (although that may be an option)...
If I can reflash with the TMobile ROM (256k or so), which files and how would I load the system up with the 1.1 build???
Or would I be better off rebuilding to TMobile original and then running the executable to load the 1.1 build???
Any help would be appreciated...
Todd

OldManTodd said:
If I can reflash with the TMobile ROM (256k or so), which files and how would I load the system up with the 1.1 build???
Or would I be better off rebuilding to TMobile original and then running the executable to load the 1.1 build???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure I understand. The 256 k you're referring to is the size of the bootloader, maybe? You don't need to change the bootloader, it's fine the way it is.
Unless it's a 5.17 bootloader, in which case you may want to replace it with something more 'userfriendly', so to speak (5.17 has a feature to prevent you from easily flashing the device, we hacked said mechanism, but it's still a hassle)..
Anyway: your goal is to replace the OS. If your device still talks to ActiveSync, just run Jeff's exe file that installs our Special Edition ROM v1.1 and you're all set. If it does not, get an SD-acrd reader/writer for your PC, and use XDArit and the bootloader method to flash your ROM.

Got the card reader....
I am back at ground zero.. The 256 is the actual baseline from what I understand....
Basically the first step to upgrade is to backup the ROM and that is what is toast...
At this point I can't get to activesync, the device just resets it self over and over again (albeit it slowly)...
I have a version 5.15 bootloader, I am ok there...
I am going to search around in here to use XDARit (downloaded already) and try to find the bootloader method to flash my ROM (I am trying to find a good copy of the TMobile ROM now)..
Thanks for any assistance you can lend...
Todd
update - I can't seem to locate the Bootloader Method you are referring to?? - Todd

If you drag to winzip, you'll see the v1.1 Special Edition ROM nbf-file in there. You can just read that to SD-card using XDArit, and you'll be all set. No need to first install T-Mobile's ROM.

I downloaded the exe already...
basically at this point I formatted my only backup due to the only card avail is 128meg...
I will run the XDArit now....
After I write to the card, what do I do on the phone to load the software from the card???

Re: I downloaded the exe already...
OldManTod said:
After I write to the card, what do I do on the phone to load the software from the card???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simply insert the card and boot into bootloader (pressing power while resetting), and it will ask you to press the action button if you want to flash the contents of the card. The action button is the center of the big rocker key.

man alive!!! I can't win....
XDARite is blowing off when trying to write to the SD card...
To use XDARite you just use the Fat format??? I am rebooting with card in writer so that the volume will show on startup...
I have a Lexar Card reader and trying to run XDARite from XP and selecting the ~32 meg .nbf file from Jeff's update....
Thanks again for any thoughts...
Todd
p.s. You are a busy poster today

Re: man alive!!! I can't win....
OldManTod said:
XDARite is blowing off when trying to write to the SD card...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Blowing off ?? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with this terminology.
To use XDARite you just use the Fat format??? I am rebooting with card in writer so that the volume will show on startup...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the card is written to in RAW mode by XDArit, so XDArit destroys any file-system present on the card when it writes to it. It says so on the page, just read...
p.s. You are a busy poster today
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look who's talking!

XDArit not writing to USB device....
that is where I am stuck at... for some reason, I can read/write to the card, but XDARit cannot....
Has anybody experienced this before with XP and an External USB device????
T

mine was fine. i used xdairt to load the image. actually for me my activestink disconnected while i was loading the rom image and i had to use sd card.
alex

hi there, oldmantodd,
my usb sd-card reader is also not working, but i managed to rebuild my xda in the following way:
first thing you need is another xda/mda whatever
second you boot this device in bootloader mode, press the rec-button ( the one on the side) and choose backup ce
once you backupped this devices operating system, just boot your wrecked device in bootloader mode with the sd-card containing the backup
now it asks you if you want to download teh ce from sd card,
just confirm this and after a while your device is fine again..
jope this helps!!
best regards tim

not work if using 5.17 bootloader, i have 2 xda (1 damage) and 256m sd card, any suggest how to solve this problem?
i dont have card reader, getting frustasion,plsss help
thz

USB Lost connection during upgrade
For those who noticed this "Lost USB COnnection" problem during the installation of the ROM. I found that as long as you don't resit the unit, just carefully disconnect it from the usb, move the mouse over the active sync icon by your clock so it dissapears or you only have 1 left. (restart if needed if none are there) and than reconnect the update program will resume the upgrade or restart it. I noticed this problem on 2 rom updates. On one of the times I actually had to re-run the update program after I reconnected the usb sync cable (cradle)
Flished perfictly well!
I have bootloader 5.15
If someone has the ORIGINAL (any version is good to me) of T-Mobile's Rom's as mine got screwed before I could back them up... Hence the reason for my upgrades... I would love it if you could leave me a note as I really could use the originals to re-install.

Hey Tim...
Is that the same as going to boot mode and the pressing contacts and writing ce+boot???
I am at the point where I have probably got to start from the very beginning...
I tried the method of writing ce+boot from another device and then flashing mine and no luck...
I am starting to get desperate....
Thanks for any help...
Todd

yeah, it is the same as pressing contacts and write boot+ce, after that is written ob the sd-card just put that sd-card in your damaged device and boot it in bootloader mode.
it will then say something like sd-card contains boot+ce, do you want to download, the press the action button and there you go - your damaged device is being flashed and everything should be ok..
good luck

I tried that this morning....
is it possible I hosed my device beyond recognition???
T

I can get to usb flash mode...
would that do me any good???
Right now... the device comes up with unrecognized card and then sits for a while with the keyboard and the error screen to enter a name for the card... and after a bit it soft resets and goes through the same thing...
T

Ok, sounds like you didn't boot to the bootloader... If you do a hard reset (the little button with the battery indicator above it) and hold the power button (the button on the top left) while you turn it back on it will start the boot loader. Make sure your card with the Boot+CE writen to it is in the expansion slot before you do this and it will automatically start in the Autoload screen. Just push the action button (the control pad straight in) to start.
Hope that bit helped.

You can get to the bootloader from the soft reset button...
as well...
When I do that of course I get to GSM error....
Can anyone verify to rebuild from the ground up from another device I would follow these steps:
Boot Good device from power+soft reset
At menu press contacts button
at the flash tools menu select CD+Boot to SD
Let the software write to the SD then remove card
On my device (which needs rebuilt)
Press Power and Boot
Unit will detect info on card
and just press action button
That is my understanding, however, there are other options on the flash tools menu that I have not investigated...
Any help as always would be appreciated...
Todd

Re: You can get to the bootloader from the soft reset button
OldManTod said:
Boot Good device from power+soft reset
At menu press contacts button
at the flash tools menu select CD+Boot to SD
Let the software write to the SD then remove card
On my device (which needs rebuilt)
Press Power and Boot
Unit will detect info on card
and just press action button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The sequence above should work (I assume you know 'press power and boot' means keeping the power button pressed while soft-resetting).
You could write only CE to SD-card, no need to transfer the bootloader. If the above works, it means the receiving device has a functioning bootloader, if it doesn't then it won't be able to take the new bootloader.

rom flash crash

hi folks tried to update special rom and upon where the XDa comes up with upgrading takes 5mins the software crashed out telling me to remove from cradle and do soft reset well did all that but cant get active sync to recongnise the XDA and the XDA is still on that upgraing 5 minute screen HELP

If it will not resume when you restart the upgrade program on the PC, then it's time to upgrade via the bootloader method. You need (access to)an SD-card reader/writer for the PC, and to read around on this forum a bit.

thanxs I guess thats the conclusion I came to however just to make sure do u know the steps involved in installing the special rom I have the download exe file someones put on the forum

****. I cooked a second ROM (based on testing the first one - and removing utils I didn't need)
Flashing started - but this time, ActiveSync dropped out and I was left with the 5 minutes screen.
I have tried hard reset but only the "upgrading' screen appears. Now I'm wishing I had never messed with it.
I can get the Wallaby Boot loader screen to come up (GSM OK) it says.
But I have no clue about this other "bootloader" method mentioned on this page. Can anyone please advise where can I find details of the fix? Is the ROM really wiped out and no longer recoverable?

I have the same problem as the first person who posted.

Then you will need to restore the OS using an SD card. (Min 64mb).
Probably easiest to cook a ROM at Jeffs Kitchen to your taste:
http://cuba.calyx.nl/~jsummers/ROMkitchen/
Save it as .nb1 type (bottom of that page).
Then get XDA Tools (yes I know its starting to sound complicated but its not really). http://xda-developers.com/XDAtools/
That program allows you to copy the .nb1 file you cooked to be loaded onto the SD card.
Once you have transferred the OS (.nb1) file to the SD, stick it in your XDA.
Turn on the XDA pressing simultaneously the on switch and sticking the stylus in the SOFT reset hole.
You should get a white screen saying something like flash ROM from SD. Press the JOG (navigator) big switch at the bottom to start the process.
Make sure you have mains power to XDA during this process.
When it finishes, REMOVE the SD card and press HARD reset.
Should be back to normal!

p.s. It goes without saying that you need an SD card reader !!
p.p.s I hope yours is better than mine. Try to get the latest version with drivers that can deal with big SD card sizes...

It does not say hard reset it say cold reboot to reset. So I did a soft reset and it worked after about 7 tries.
I really like what they did with this ROM Kitchen. I would think that if they can get this really stable then they should offer a service to create your own ROM's allowing the user to select what programs they want to include in the ROM.

Er, if you read other areas on this site you will notice that this is run by enthusiasts, who are making their work available to others.
So a little please and thank you will ease your way.
Rather than... "they should" maybe "it would be nice if...."
:idea: If you really want to DIY - then follow all the instructions, get yourself a Unix platform and MKROM.
Bye
ps sorry I got one detail wrong.
pps Sorry I bothered actually

Ariel said:
Er, if you read other areas on this site you will notice that this is run by enthusiasts, who are making their work available to others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Believe me as the owner of www.pocketpcminds.com I understand this. Back in the days of carrying a Palm OS device there a program that allowed you to add and delete things in your ROM.
What I was suggestion is a service that users could pay for that would inlude a list of Pocket PC programs that the users could choose what programs they want loaded in the ROM. From what I have seen of Pocket PC users each person has a list of programs that they find useful and use regularly.
I onlt suggest this because the people running this need to cover thier cost. Otherwise they may use intrest and stop it all together.

We're all too busy with other things to turn the ROMkitchen into a commercial thing. But if anyone else wants to do so, please contact us.
Pro:
- It would be a great sales platform for software (spb gprs monitor, PIMs, etc.)
Con:
- Available space shrinks as OS grows
- No idea how this works out on XDA II yet

Can't burn the Wallaby Patch to the SD
When I try to burn Wallaby Patch to SD the following error appears
Failed to open device \\.\PhysicalDrive8
Anyone help with this.

hi I did all that but when the XDA is being flashed it finishes but comes with achecksum error now I know I am doing everything right as I managed to reload O2 original .nb1 file and my xda is still as was however I want the forums version rom so can unlock many thanx for the previous how 2 instructions

SD card flash - 5 min screen
Ariel said:
Then you will need to restore the OS using an SD card. (Min 64mb).
Probably easiest to cook a ROM at Jeffs Kitchen to your taste:
http://cuba.calyx.nl/~jsummers/ROMkitchen/
Save it as .nb1 type (bottom of that page).
Then get XDA Tools (yes I know its starting to sound complicated but its not really). http://xda-developers.com/XDAtools/
That program allows you to copy the .nb1 file you cooked to be loaded onto the SD card.
Once you have transferred the OS (.nb1) file to the SD, stick it in your XDA.
Turn on the XDA pressing simultaneously the on switch and sticking the stylus in the SOFT reset hole.
You should get a white screen saying something like flash ROM from SD. Press the JOG (navigator) big switch at the bottom to start the process.
Make sure you have mains power to XDA during this process.
When it finishes, REMOVE the SD card and press HARD reset.
Should be back to normal!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a similar 5 min screen, and I tried as told, that is bought a card reader, cooked ROM, downloaded and transferred the nk.nb1 file to sd card using xda-tools, and entered into bootloader. But all I get is WAIT and then GSM OK message. Not the one that gives me option of flashing the ROM. How exactly to transfer the ROM image to SD card?

Rom Flash Crash
Just in case
I found that getting the XDA going initially by putting across the O2 installer programmeA onto the SD card rebootting with soft reset which installs the standard O2 locked phone system however this allows your XDA to be seen by the PC
all I did then was using the Kitchen Rom is double clicked it then goes into install mode through Programme A and does a PC to phone install.
I found I reinstalled twice and the phone now is working unlocked as required
I tried many times to do the soft reset install as instructed on the forum but it just crashed everytime

I guess the WBL version 5.15 does not identify nk.nb1 file as a rom image. it needs the rom image in raw form, the same as it is copied by bootloader that is WinCE to SD. I think the old XDArit writes it in the required format. dont know how the XDA-Tools does it.

ROM flash crash - solved!
It finally worked. With help from ntabikha, a member of this forum, I got it going. I plugged it in the cradle after hard reset. Activesync kept announcing that it can not connect to the device, and I kept clicking "Retry" (perhaps "disconnect com port" might as well have been all right, but I didn't do it. I thought it might disconnect the com port and stop the Program A from connecting to the device).
I then ran the Original Qtek Upgrade installer, and it did not connect on the first attempt. But it asked me to soft reset the device and run the program again. I did so, and whoa! it worked! It worked great! However, I don't understand why the cooked version 3.17 from Jeff's kitchen was installed instead of Qtek Upgrade Version 3.16.52. I care the least though, since I now have a working xda! Thanks to the guidance from ntabikha.

Radio Stack Failed? HERES HOW TO GET YOUR XDA BACK ON TRACK!

(mods i would appreciate if you could make this a sticky for people... ive worked long and hard trying to get this thing working again)
Ok so heres what happened to my XDA which proberly happened to yours.
I went onto the 02 site and got the latest radio stack upgrade for my xda, but i didnt have the sim in my device so once it finshed and restarted the xda it crashed because there was no sim in it. So i hard reset it.
Causing it to hang on the boot screen showing the G & U letters on the side for about 4 minutes before booting to a blank screen with the keyboard icon in the corner.
*** Please remember at the moment my status LED isnt working showing there is no battery (but still booting etc - P.S i have installed a new battery - no diffrence) ***
Heres how to get it working...... remember that everything takes longer because the XDA lags like mad.
Ive created this guide myself ive took nothing from anyone else info ive done this from scratch, it will need to be done everytime the machine runs out of power (hard resets).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* when i put " + " it means AT THE SAME TIME e.g button1 + button2 = keep pressing them at the same time.
** I refer to the directional keypad centre button as the "OK" button.
Make sure you have the correct RSU Version from here :>
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Wallaby_HT_GSMError
Download it and put the files onto an SD card.
1. Boot up the device
2. keep pressing the OK button + volume button until it shows the today screen, please note there will be no titles on the screens, HENCE NO START BUTTON.
3. Then press the contacts button + THEN OK a few times, then press the OK button this should bring up the start menu
4. CLICK programs, file explorer, select the SD Card. Then Copy RSUPGRAD.exe to : my device > windows>start up.
5. Copy the remaining 3 files to the : my device > windows
6. Soft Reset Device
7. Click on start (on the upgrade util) it will then restart the device because theres no LED for the battery (hence the 1% then fail).
8. Once started it should then start up as it did when it came out the box giving you the windows setup screen.
9. Go into file explorer and delete tha flas util file from the startup.
Thats it!
- Remember if you hard re-set the device again it will need to be re-done, i dont know how to solve this problem LONG TERM, im giving my XDA to 02 to fix it...... been as its there screw up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Everyone
James

Does this actually flash the gsm radio? If it does then why does it need reflashing following a hard reset?

No it doesnt re-flash it.............
All i know is that it fixes it and many people have had the same problem but had no replys so id thought id help them out :roll:

Where are he diffreneces to the instrucions on wiki????
Stefan

huh? so your saying someone has already written the instructions?
Do you have a link? it will be intresting to find out how i can get my LED working again so the system will be able to work once more.
EDIT: IF THE BATTERY LED/STATUS IS UNKOWN (as in my case)
"Maybe the upgrade will stop again at 1%, this may occur when you have an empty battery. "
Does not apply to you............... hence why my guide overcomes the one on wiki.
If you have had the situation happen to you, then you would undertsand.

would it be possible to use the xda developers 1.2 special edition ROM instead of the 1.1 version for this procedure?thats the only rom i seem to have found.

Boogie, I think you need only the radio stack not the rom if I read the post correctly. The special edition rom contains NO RADIO STACK.

That´s not 100% correct. I´ve noticed, that some ROMs wouldn´t boot up so that you can follow the procedure.....
Stefan

hey guys this is my 1st post to this forum, but for the last year or so I've found it very helpful.
I was experiencing this same issue it would just boot up and hang on the welcome screen for what seemed like an eternity. I gave up and just left it booting up and finally the today screen came up. This is what I tried and it worked. All of this was after a hard reset when I tried to upgrade the radio stack and it fell into this infinite loop of 1% and fail and reboot. I had read a couple of the procedures for doing a radio stack upgrade but here is some of what I did.
In one of the procedures it says to copy the files to ur ppc windows directory and to copy the exe file to ur windows startup directory. I figured I would bypass that in some way. After I finally got to the today screen and used my pc to copy the files to the sd card, I copied all the files to the windows directory on the device and ran the exe file from the windows directory. It worked like a charm and my ppc was back to life. It no longer took for ever to get passed the welcome screen. I hope this helps some of you that have this issue

Hard Reset doesn't reinstall ext rom cabs

Hello there,
just wanted a fresh start with wm5 after recieving my 1gb minisd. because i didn't got the hardreset by pressing the buttons to work i used clean storage to hard reset, but afterwards it asks for calibration and timezone settings but doesn't install the cabs in the extrom. does someone know why and how i can fix this?

Ok, found out how hard reset by presing the buttons on the device works. But it's the same thing. Windows Mobile 5.0 setup starts (time zone and popup menu howto) but after this it says setup is completed and returns to the today screen.
But The cabs in the extended rom are stil there. I never touched them but copied the as backup to my pc. I#m able to manually install them when unlocking but they do not install by default. Why?

Can someone of the german XDA mini S users send me a copy of their original ext rom? I'm completly confused why my device ignores the complete cabs and autoexec from ext rom

hello there,
just inspected my extended rom a little further. There is no config.txt. I may have accidentially deleted this file.
Can someone who own a GERMAN O2 XDA mini S send me hiw original config.txt?
Thanks in Advance,
Maui

make an image of my ROM

hell guys how can i make an image of my mobile ROm with all the software I have installed so next time I just need to flash again the image I backed up....something like Ghost for PC....do u know anysoftware...better freeware?
thanks a lot
a hope this topic can be hepful for some other newbie
cu

Giordano said:
hell guys how can i make an image of my mobile ROm with all the software I have installed so next time I just need to flash again the image I backed up....something like Ghost for PC....do u know anysoftware...better freeware?
thanks a lot
a hope this topic can be hepful for some other newbie
cu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
You need:
1. SD card (128MB is big enough)
2. Terminal program that can speak through the USB port
3. A CID-unlocked device
Boot to the loader (hold CAMERA while powering on) - the "three color screen". Plug in the phone and kill the wcescomm.exe process on XP (this is the ActiveSync USB driver process)
Start your terminal program and hit return. You should get a command prompt.
Type: "r2sd all"
The phone will dump the enitre ROM, including the extended ROM, to the SD card.
When done it will tell you. Remove hte card and store somewhere safe.
To restore, insert card, hold the CAMERA key and turn the power on. There will be a brief prompt telling you to press the VOICE key if you wish to restore from the SD card. Press the VOICE key.
The phone will restore.
This will work even if you brick it, so long as you can get to the tri-color screen.
Note that it appears NOT to back up the SPL - I just used this to return to the T-Mobile ROM from the new I-Mate one, and EVERYTHING restored EXCEPT for the SPL, which remains at the former level. Not quite sure why..... it should have dumped it all, but that's missing.
However, the restore appears to be fine and it both loaded and went thorugh customization without incident.

great it's very easy actually...but I didnt get it what u mean for terminal program....is there any detail
thanks so much in any case

An ASCII terminal program that can talk out the USB port.
Terraterm (there's a patch for it) is one option; there are several others as well. Basically you need to be able to open an ASCII terminal connection to the USB port on the device.

GREAT THANXXXXXX 8)

SPL`
What is the SPL?

There are two little pieces of code that start up the phone. "IPL" or Initial Program Load" and "SPL" or "System (or software) Program Load"
For reasons I don't quite understand the SPL does not get restored reliably off a SD restore. It doesn't hurt anything, but it does leave you with a changed version number on the splash screen.