Database Users

ROM upgrade help

I wanted to install one of the ROMs from www.yorch.net. But before doing so I have some questions:
1. If I choose to build ROM as an installer.exe, is installing it to my device as simple as running the .exe file? (of course with the device connected thru Activesync)
2. Is my present ROM (see specs below) supported?
3. If Murphy comes to visit and I screw up, will my phone be completely unusable or can I just reinstall old ROM, do hard reset and everything will be back to how it was?
My specs:
OS: Pocket PC ver 3.0.12039
ROM:3.20.06 ENG( 07/30/03) (O2 Asia I think since I bought it here in the Philippines)
Radio: 4.21.00.
Thanks

1 as far as i know yes havent don it to my own device yet though
2 a rom dont have to support a rom since it'll overwrite it
3 of cause merphy can also show his ugly face
but if all fails a sd flash reader writer can save many a tears
also if your phone is working ok then i would not mess with the
radio stack and beware because some roms include the radio stack
and if you try to update your radio stack to a US (900/1900) and you network is 900/1800 you could be in for a world of pain

ROM upgrade step by step
OK I'm really dying to give it a go but I'm just a overly cautious bloke. So I'm gonna outline what I interpreted (after reading lots of posts I think I'm getting it but not sure) to be the way do the upgrade. Please correct me if i'm wrong:
Equipment I have:
1. My notebook (Windows XP, Activesynch 3.7)
2. O2 XDAI
3. Cradle and USB connection.
Steps that I think I should take:
1. Place XDA on cradle and make sure it's connected with PC.
2. Backup?? (not so sure what to back up since contacts, calendar, notes are synched with outlook, docs are also synched, I have copies of cab and program files since I download them to PC before installing them to XDA.) If i'm missing something please slam a frying pan (this is a kitchen right?) on my head.
3. Go to www.yorch.net, check mark on all appropriate options, then (since I have to Unix box and dont know Unix at all) just go for the easy option of cooking the .exe install file.
4. Assuming, the .exe is downloaded to my PC. This time I just run it. I expect this to be just like installing PPC apps. If not, throw a tomato on my face
5. Assuming everything worked and Murphy's in the Arctic freezing his A**e off, then all I do now is hard reset.
6. I have a new ROM and I'm singing happy-happy-joy-joy.
To the wonderful people at xda-developers, am I in the right direction or am I as lost as Bill and Ted? If I'm lost, is there a step-by-step guide for non-unix programmers? (Sorry, there was a sticky but I thought it was for people with Unix boxes)
Once again, thanks for all your help and your patience.

2. Backup?? (not so sure what to back up since contacts, calendar, notes are synched with outlook, docs are also synched, I have copies of cab and program files since I download them to PC before installing them to XDA.) If i'm missing something please slam a frying pan (this is a kitchen right?) on my head.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i can think of one thing to backup and thats your current rom
so if you dont like the new rom you are getting you have the option to go back
of cause if the rom you have now is downloadble from a place you know like your isp then maybe it dont matter

Thanks for the reply. That's a good point. Question: When you back up old ROM, is it just the ROM that gets backed up or is it the whole content of the device, like how you do in PCs?
Also, since no one, besides you, has made any comments regarding the steps that I outlined, is it safe to say that they are the correct steps?
Thanks

When you backup your ROM, no stuff that you customised will be in the backup - the backed up ROM will be the same as when you received it from your retail shop, or if you upgraded, it will be the upgraded ROM without any of your stuff. Do a backup and store it on your hard disk.
DON'T use the .exe cooked ROM, use a .nb1 or .nbf, and use XDA Tools from this site to do the upgrade. It's very easy that way, and less dangerous. Don't upgrade your radio stack unless you know exactly what you're doing, or your phone supplier has made an update available just for you.
If you use a T-Mobile ROM above version 4.00.05 it blocks the XDA-Tools from updating the ROM. At that point you need to use XDARIT (from this site) to low-level write the ROM image you have onto your SD card using an SD card reader which shows the card as another drive on your computer. Once you do that you need to boot into the boot-loader (press the reset button while holding the power button) and follow the prompts to restore from an SD card. If you're unlucky and are running bootloader 5.17 (or above I think) you need to write the bootloader diagnostics patch (wallaby patch from this site) onto your SD card first before doing the boot into the bootloader thing. You can then remove the SD card, write the O/S ROM onto it with XDRIT, and put it back into your phone while it's still sitting on in diagnostics mode. Then you can restore from the SD.
It sounds complicated, but it's easy, as long as you have an SD card reader, and as long as you don't mess with trying to update the bootloader or do an unknown radio update. There's lots of info in these forums if you get stuck.
I made a thread that summarised all the steps using the new tools and ROM's at this address : http://xda-developers.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3860. It's for Asian/European users, but if you are in the US the instructions are the same, except instead of using European 900/1800 radio you use 900/1900.

Further questions on ROM update
Thanks. It's becoming clearer and clearer. Have more clarifying questions:
1. How do you know whether or not you're including the radio stack with the ROM upgrade at yorch.net. I did not see any options there.
2. At www. yorch.net, nothing happens when I press the "Build ROM Now" command button. Is the download supposed to happen in the background or is there something wrong with my PC or the site?
3. I dont think I'm using the T-mobile ROM but how do I know if I'm runing bootloader 5.17? Is bootloader 5.17 only for T-Mobile users or all?
Once again, thanks for the help and bearing with a newbie.

2. At www. yorch.net, nothing happens when I press the "Build ROM Now" command button. Is the download supposed to happen in the background or is there something wrong with my PC or the site?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it should start to write some text about the progress of making the rom
and when it's finished then it should init a std download dialog

The meter down at the status bar does move, same as when you're loading a webpage, then it says Done. That's about it. Didnt see any other messages or dialogue boxes.
Can anyone confirm if it's up today or has it been down?
Thanks
PS. Tried to email using the email utility at the website but getting errors there as well.

OK, firstly to answer your question about Yorch's site... well it worked for me in getting all the ROM's I wanted, then when I went back again the download didn't work. I guess it's just on and off, so unless Yorch finishes getting married or someone else makes another kitchen it's a matter of pot luck. You can get away without using the kitchen if you can find another download source for ROM's, whether it be FTP or whatever. Just remember if you get an exe you can usually pull it apart with winzip to get the .nb1 or .nbf out of it.
Now, for Q1 :
An operating system ROM is generally just under 32MB, but when zipped from Yorch it's usually about 14 or 15MB - the operating system ROM will NEVER be smaller than that. I'm not sure about the exact radio stack size but I know it's a lot less than that. Also, doing some homework about the operating system ROM helps. eg. reading about the 4.01.00 ROM tells you that it's not a radio stack upgrade, it's an operating system upgrade - and the filename and the size of the file you receive reflects that.
Q2:
answered above...
Q3:
I think the bootloader is just pot-luck depending on when you phone was released. To check your bootloader it will reset your device completely, but I read somewhere that if you turn the radio (phone) off it doesn't hard reset. If you're worried, do a full backup first. But basically when you're ready to look, reset your phone while holding the power button and it will tell you the bootloader version. Don't be too turned off by that, I have read that SD card readers can be picked up very cheap if you look around, and that's all you need to get you out of trouble regardless of the bootloader version.
There's no real risk (but I won't guarantee anything), just make sure your phone is fully charged before mucking about with SD upgrades. Also make sure the radio (phone) is switched off before upgrading... using the bootloader/sd card method you shouldn't need to be concerned. I'm not sure what effect having your phone on and receiving a call while using XDA-Tools can have, but someone did mention it somewhere.
I'm a newbie too, but there's really not much you need to know, just a few caveats.

Yorch's Kitchen has been working OK for me the last couple of days. It takes maybe about 5 mins to "cook" before telling me that the ROM is ready. The 4.00.05 ROM gave me a lot of ActiveSync problems, so I went to the 4.00.16 ROM tonight and it looks like it's behaving better.
My SD reader is a Microtech Zio. It appears as a disk drive in windows, but the newer XDArit can't initialize a connection to write to the SD card. I used the "dangerous" older version of XDArit instead (available on Yorch's site), and it's worked OK for me (so far?).
One thing I wish I had realized before I started playing - going into the bootloader will reset your phone most (some?) (all?) of the time.
While I was flashing the ROM tonight I could see the GSM light flashing - I had the same "hope no one calls" feeling tht others must have had. Note that this was while I was flashing from an SD card in the bootloader - so apparently the process doesn't deactivate the phone while it's ongoing.

Muchas Gracias!
Ebswift, if ur a newbie then ur the god of the newbies. Thanks for all the help and for making me see the light. Much appreciated...

A quick Q:
Is the process for installing an .nbf file the same as that for installing an .nb1 file?
I have cooked a few ROMS to an .nb1 format and installed those OK, but now I have one in .nbf that I'd like to install.
So what I'd plan to do is put the nbf onto an SD card using XDArit, and then stick the card in the PPCPE and reboot to the loader. Is that it?

So what I'd plan to do is put the nbf onto an SD card using XDArit, and then stick the card in the PPCPE and reboot to the loader. Is that it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do it that way (onto the SD card), or if you're not already using a T-Mobile ROM you can use XDA Tools which is easier. Basically the capabilities are spelled out for you with the available file types in the drop downs when you select a source.

How to delete everything and install a clean version of WM5?

Hi,
I'm really tired of debranding my MDA pro after a hard-reset and I would like to do the following:
-delete everything on my device (use the extended rom unlocker to unlock)
- install a "fresh" WM5
- configure the system
- create a complete backup of the system like the Norton-Ghost in the pc-world
Is that possible, and if so, how?
Where can I get a clean version of WM5?
Has anyone of you already done so?
How can I create a complete backup of the system?
I know that are a lot of questions and I'm thankful for every hint
C ya,
Elias
Shame on T-Mobile for the annoying branding!!!

Re: How to delete everything and install a clean version of
eli_d said:
Where can I get a clean version of WM5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you can achieve this from the provided ROM itself by unlocking then deleting the ExtROM followed by a hard reset. You can then use other hacks from this site to delete or replace the splash screen and etc... to clean it up some more.

surely if you delete the extended rom and then do a hard reset the system wont work as youll be missing the majority of the installation, there are Cooked ROMS on the FTP site which people have created which I guess you can try at your own risk. I tried to remove all of the tmobile branding but found that they'd tied in some of crucial configuration after the branding process so when I soft booted before rebranding the XDA was only half complete... I too would like a good clean install without branding, unfortunatley I have to use the tmobile rom with its gay pink colours so that I can use their blackberry client.?

eli_d said:
...
- create a complete backup of the system like the Norton-Ghost in the pc-world
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are various programs out there that allow you to make a backup of your phone. Currently, I'm using BackupManager which generate an EXE files that you can save into your SD card such that you can restore your phone without having to reinstall the backupsoftware itself. I know that there are better software out there you can use. I think they call it phone clone or something, which uses your pc to store and clone the phone.
tonyb15re said:
... I tried to remove all of the tmobile branding but found that they'd tied in some of crucial configuration after the branding process so when I soft booted before rebranding the XDA was only half complete...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have relatively the same problem, that my phone doesn't support MMS. However, if you were to extract the ext rom (by any means) to get the CAB files within, you can choose which to install or not. I think you pretty much need to guess what each of them means.

Thank you for your answers
I think I'm gonna try the backup-manager.
Now I wll start another post "Avoid T-mobile branding by install Jasjar or Dopod-ROM?"

Help Please - renamed registry folder & can't change it back!

What a numpty!
I was trying to get HTC Home Weather working thru T-Mobile UK using v1.5HTCHomeproxy0409.cab (without success), so went into the registry using Total Commander to check the Proxy settings.
Unfortunately I got as far as \\\Registry\HKLM and was trying to double click the "Software" folder but instead it went into edit folder name mode and whilst distracted by the wife managed to change the folder name to "n"
Whatever I try, I can't rename it "Software". I've tried creating a new "Software" folder and copying the files across, but a few won't copy:
/Apps/Shared/ "\Windows\mscoree.dll" and
/Apps/Shared/ "\Windows\Intellipad.dll" and
plus some .NET Compact Framework files in /Microsoft/ folder - but I'm guessing these are something the prev user had and wont affect the normal functions / programmes I will use
so... is there any way I can put the files I moved from
\\\Registry\HKLM\Software back, do I need to etc ????
Would appreciate a bit of advice from someone less accident prone!!!!
Its a (recently bought off eBay) , ex T Mob (UK I think) unbranded with HTC home etc. Can't work out how to see what version of HTCHome was on, but guess I've written over it with the proxy.cab now - the icons have changes and have lost today screen battery indicator, but that's a problem for another day!
Not sure what the ROM is, if its an original or cooked (OS ID looks normal to me, WM5?), but ExtROM looks like its been hacked by its name - dferriera WM5SE
G4 Wizard
ipl 2.21.0001
spl 2.21.0lip
gsm (radio?) 02.71.11
os 2.26.10.2 WWE

Well, if it wont change back, you can always hard reset or reflash to a new ROM...and if you do the later, all of the prerequisites have been done for you, you have HardSPL allplied already, and the correct radio ROM version for most of the ROMs, so you can flash away!

Thanks Ashasaur.
As you've probably noted from my profile and foolish behaviour, I'm new to this, does anyone mind just explaining the above comments on the ROM flash for me please?
-all of the prerequisites (?) have been done for you
-you have HardSPL (?) applied already: Is this related to the Server Proxy I've been trying to patch to HTC home for the weather fix?
-and the correct radio ROM version for most of the ROMs: does that mean I need to be careful I pick a ROM to match my radio version somehow?
If I can't find a way to rename the registry file, I'll have to go for a hard reboot, ROM flashing will be my next project once I feel I've done enough reading to understand what I'm doing and what not to do!
Thanks.

In order:
1-Prerequisites)-You have got HardSPL flashed succesfully to your device which leads to;
2-HardSPL)-Since you have a G4 device, in order to flash a non-carrier ROM you have to have HardSPL applied to your device, and you can tell that yours has been done by your IPL and SPL. Your IPL or 2.21.0001 indicates that you have a G4 Wizard, and your SPL or 2.21.Olip means that you have HardSPL applied already, otherwise you would have had to do it in order to be able to flash any ROMs...which leads to;
3-Radio)-What I mean by correct radio for most of the ROMs is that 2.71.11 is regarded as one of the more stable radio ROMs out there, and together with version 2.19.X, they are the preferred versions, though any version will work with any ROM, some work better than others.
Hope that helps!

Yes it does, thanks - especially now it has prompted me to read the wiki on hardSPL.
So maybe flashing a new ROM is not too far away...
Does the ROM contain the Windows operating system, in which case can I upgrade to WM6 / 6.1 (version currently says WM5) on my device, will I find a selection with info on what's in them on the downloads pages? (can't get access right now for some reason)
Cheers

I just did this today with my Touch Pro, it's alarmingly easy to break your device like this.
I think I have it fixed ... after I made the mistaken renaming, the device had locked up (or grown very slow) so I soft reset it. That rebuilt a large portion of the Software folder. After that, I copied the remaining keys in the renamed folder to clipboard and overwrote whatever was in the new Software folder.
Phone seems to be back to normal, but I'll be on the lookout for anything that didn't quite work. If that's the case I may have to hard reset.

@burnsy, yes, most of the download pages contain what the ROMs have in them, but I would look at my review thread in the Wizard Mobile 6 section...its called ROM Features......such such such, its got a list and ratings of the ROMs that you may find interesting.

Nice one ashasaur, sounds like just what I want. Should keep me off he streets...
Dr G, seems you're getting on a bit better than I am - my device won't let me copy all the files into the new folder. Noticed that I can receive but no longer send email, even after deleting and reinstalling my account, but that could equally have been caused by the htc home proxy files I was playing with!
I feel a hard reset coming on...

Wifi blocked by Orange (France)

Hi there.
I've just bought a Touch 3g with Orange in France, and even though the box has WiFi written all over it, it appears that I can only connect to Orange WiFi hubs. I have a different hub at home and would like to know whether I can unlock the WiFi function so that it is free to work with any WiFi connection.
I've had a look on here and can't find the answer to my question. I apologise in advance if I've missed the thread somewhere.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
PS - As someone new to this geek lark, I'd also be interested in knowing what programs I really ought to install onto the phone. You're top 5 programmes if you like.

The orange branded phones (if they are the same as the uk ones) have the unique manager not the standard wifi one. So even if you have an orange wifi hub you still don't get a wifi connection (at least not one you can do anything useful with)
Unique is a wierd orange version of voip.
The only way of changing it (i think) would be to flash a new rom to the phone.

Hi,
I got a French Orange phone too that I have flashed to non-Orange ROM, so Wifi works OK.
For programs I would recommend SBP Mobile Shell to replace Touch Flo, and TrackMe to have fun with the GPS ( I find it awesome).
Bonne chance

TrackMe does not work on my Jade (.net 3.5 installed), but I can recommend GPS Cycle Computer as well. Supports a lot of data formats, check the link or the xda-dev-thread for more information.

Thanks very much for all your help. I'll have a look at flashing the ROM and will give that a go.
Is flashing Rom a particularly complicated or potentially phone breaking experience? It's my wife's new phone, and I don't want to live with an angry woman whose phone no longer works

DaM79 said:
TrackMe does not work on my Jade (.net 3.5 installed), but I can recommend GPS Cycle Computer as well. Supports a lot of data formats, check the link or the xda-dev-thread for more information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you install SQL Compact framework as well ?

Billy Ze Feesh said:
Thanks very much for all your help. I'll have a look at flashing the ROM and will give that a go.
Is flashing Rom a particularly complicated or potentially phone breaking experience? It's my wife's new phone, and I don't want to live with an angry woman whose phone no longer works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it's not complicated ; yes is very much potentially phone breaking
FYI I flashed HardSPLv3 on my phone (see Jade ROM forum) , downloaded the kitchen (idem), built a ROM using htcrt (in the kitchen) and the OS.nb found here http://www.planete-htc.com/index.php?mod=forum&ac=voir&ref=20&cat=220&id=18955, and flashed it. And tada, a stock french phone with wifi access.
Your SPL/ROM will degrade from 1.7 to 1.4 though.

OK. Thanks Gomi. I'll have a look and see if I really want to risk it or not.

Hello @ll.
I have a french Orange Jade too.
The UMA radio ROM make me sick !
But for me, the HardSPL does not work... The RUU progressbar still blocked at 0%.
fyi : I have the SPL 1.71.000 version.
Concerning the HardSPL, i'm not using the original exe, because of the unavailablity of the "server". I use an extracted nbh file of the HardSPLV3.
Any idee ?

fyi : because of specifity of the RUU used to flash the HardSPL, you can not use an another RUU to flash it.
With luck, the HardSPL setup exe have found the server, and now, all is ok !

Hi mate and welcome to the slippery slope. I only have Dad to convert now...
There may be another way to prevent the Orange rubbish crippling your phone - when you do a hard reset your phone will give you three seconds after the first boot-up before it begins to customise the ROM with all the operator-specific stuff. If you do a soft reset within those three seconds you prevent the customisation. If the crippled WiFi is part of this customisation then you'll end up with the default Windows Mobile WiFi manager. This trick used to work on my Universal and my Elf. You can experiment with many hard resets until you get it right.
Having created a vanilla Windows Mobile system you may need to fanny around unlocking the extended ROM and cherry-picking the customisations that you do want (such as the GPRS connection data) but this effort might be worth it to have an unbranded phone.
Flashing a new ROM will almost certainly invalidate your warranty.
(Oh, and a hard reset will wipe off all your data of course.)

Thanks SiliconS.
Have tried that and I don't get the 3 second warning. I just get a message saying that this will wipe the phone (hard reset) and asks me to press 'enter' to continue (which I obviously do). It then tells me:
Format FAT partition
FAT partition complete
before carrying on with all the Orange stuff. Have tried randomly pressing soft reset at various times, and all this does is turn the phone off...
Thanks anyway though.

That's weird. In that case Orange must have embedded their rubbish within the fundamental ROM rather than the extended ROM like everybody else does.
Flashing a completely new ROM may be your only hope, Luke. HTC have released an official ROM for the Jade that surely wouldn't invalidate your warranty...
http://www.htc.com/www/SupportDownload.aspx?p_id=174&cat=2&dl_id=537

I think an official ROM update could be the way forward yeah. I'll have a look this weekend maybe.

for the benefit of people who may be subscribed to this thread, I think I have found a fix for the orange rom using data connection instead of wifi, read on here:-
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=4517074&postcount=12
post back to that thread if it works for you!

Need help with certificates. CABs won't install.

I still get the error about "not digitally signed with a trusted certificate" on my T-Mobile US HTC HD2. I downgraded my SPL and added the hspl. After that I flashed to the cell series EVO rom. At first I can install anything, and then after a few hours I get the error. Maybe the hard reset, or even installing marketplace is messing with it. I've tried a signer program, but it didn't work. I've also installed the new certificates and still nothing. Sorry for creating a new thread, but please help!

Based on my ssl secured exchange direct push experiecne you will need to install the actual certificate for the cab/server and if it is not a class1 certificateyou will need to install the root (class 1) certificate for it. Because you weren't clear with the exact details of your problem i'm only speculating as to what the problem is. Although i have just thought that if this is related to installed apps on to the device try copying them to the SD card and installing them from the device itself.

I'm new to all of this. As clear as I can get it, this stupid phone won't let me install apps after a period of time. Right after I flash the rom it prompts me with a yes or no, but later it goes straight to refusing to allow me to install. Its like apple's 3.1.3 and I lost my jail break or something! It says they aren't digitally signed. As far as installing the stuff, I don't know how. Any direction?

still cant install

I've been thinking about this and i can't come up with a reason as to what might cause it. So questions.
1) are you trying to run the cab files from on pc or directly on the phone?
2) Is it a specific cab file that you are using to this with or do you use any random one.
3) if you try to install app via activesync (.net compact framework 3.5 for example) does it install?
TMOUS devices actually have their own special board (http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=631) it may be worth having a look there and asking. It may also been worth trying a different rom from the ones you have tried. The energy series of roms seems to be very popular and i'm trying it out for my first custom rom. No problems at all yet and it does work very well.

Can you Help
I have had my HD2 for 2 days now and have only just today tried activating my hotmail and facebook accounts. with no prevail.
i was told by another member of XDA to check out my certificates;
well i have no certificates at all except for the root 1's, i dnt seem to be able to add any either. im well n truely a noob when it comes to the HD2 and its stressing me out hard
can any1 please help
any help would be much appreciated
thanks tom