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.

HTC Alpine radio 1.04!!!

Here is rom with new Radio ROM 1.04
http://extendedsystems.dk/download/qtek/2020i/WWE_Sonofon_11100_165_10400_Ship.exe
Enjoy

Thank for the new radio, but some how I got country erro on the processing upgrade.
Please Help.

is this for the xda 2i please ..only asking as i'm not sure
thanks

This rom is only for Alpine phones, thats the 2i, 2020i etc.
As soon as my broadband is working again (tomorrow hopefully) I'll post the O2 162 rom with the radio 1.04 update for the UK users and anyone else who wants it.
If you want to try this update on the 2i you will need to extract the files from the installer and locate a copy of maupgradeut_noid.exe and use that instead of the included installer. There are better instructions elsewhere on this site, just do a search for my name, I'll be in amongst it all somewhere.

cheers i'll give it a go but if you are doing it maybe i'll wait ,i've only just gone back to your old 1 tonight as i don't use blackberry & it seemed better than o2 update

I have just posted the ROM upgrade on the ftp site, the only change is the radio from 1.03 to 1.04. It seems to give a better signal strength than version 1.03 on my phone anyway.
Here's the link to download the O2 version I just combined
(Edited to working link
ftp://xda:[email protected] XDA_IIi_Upgrade_v1.11.162_Radio_1.04.rar
1: Backup your contacts/device to Storage, Storage Card or PC. If you are using Ext Rom 1.11.162 now you can use full device backup to restore at the end to save you re-installing all your programs later.
2: Extract the ROM using Winrar to a folder of your choice.
3: Run MaUpgradeUT_Noid.exe. The install will fail, don't worry, just run it again without touching the phone.
4: When the upgrade has finished, do a hard reset by pressing the power button and reset button at the same time.
5: Install any programs and any data you backed up during step 1.
Good luck.

Excellent stuff
Upgraded and now running 1.04 radio and i can also say it has improved my signal strength too
Big thanks Pug for your work on the ROM image too, very much appreciated.

Hear, Hear. Many thanks to Pug, great work!

many thanks to Pug,
its work perfectly.....no more lag of ringtones or lag after green button pushed!! thanks Pug.....
i want to know about backup, after upgrade ROM, i cant restore back by backup. When using Backup Sprite, i will go back to old ROM after restore complete. any ideas????

@ Clustered
When you say it goes back to the old rom do you mean that the Radio rom is regerted back to 1.03 or that your extended rom goes back to 192 or whichever you are using?
Sprite backup should not revert the radio rom back to 1.03 as it should only do the file system of your device.
As far as the extended ROM version, all it is there for is to indicate the "update" status of the extended ROM and what software is installed in it. An asian rom may have a higher rom version but may be no newer or better than the european 162 rom. You're talking about comparing hedgehogs to wibbles, completely arbitary. As soon as you cook the extended ROM like I have it is completely meaningless anyway as the version number is no longer valid.
If you wish to change the version number yourself, use a registry editor and go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\OEM\3RDVERSION and change the MSYSTEM value to whatever you like.
If I have the wrong end of the stick, I apologise otherwise I hope this helps.

huh!? are u mad at me ??? anyway, i just wanna tell that you're the great! thanks very much....

I'm not mad at you, just woke up from a night shift....bloody binmen.
Was just trying to figure out which rom was reverting and so on. Hope it was of use to you anyway.
Once again, sorry.

HELP!
I Can't Upgrade the ROM.
step 1 is OK (radio)
Step 2 is OK (EXT):
Step 3 to 8 % PC show : Error 112: CE ROM UPDATE ERROR
WHY???
i run the MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe second Time , but frist Run MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe Need to STOP(use TASK Manager)??
PLEASE HELP ME

thanks for the update ..it's upgrading at the moment

thanks for the update, the only problem i'm having is that even though i've got the in call volume as low as it will go it is still too loud to be comfortable which is a big change from the previous rom. Also when using in the car on handsfree the other person can hear his voice echoing as they speak. Any ideas????

Successfully upgraded my XDAIIi.....
I'm now with the latest ROM from O2 UK (1.11.169 WWE) and the Radio version 1.04.00

Hi, I'm from Malaysia and will this rom be able to use on my device?
I'm using XDA IIi and device id is PH10C.
I'm affraid there will be a problem for my local operator "Maxis".

@ ramnkc
To be honest I can't see a problem with this ROM working with your current operator. I'm pretty sure that others from your neck of the woods are using the ROM with no problems. The biggest problem you would have is that it wouldn't load all your GPRS, WAP, MMS, etc settings as it is a UK rom.
Make sure you can get hold of these settings off your current provider before you perform the upgrade. Or as an alternative, extract your current ROM and reload it back onto your phone using SD card.

thanks for the reply !
Well i guess i gonna wait for the official release coz so far i'm happy with it. Apart of the constant SD Card data missing after playback mid, mp3 or what ever music files from SD Card.
And i finally found out that it cause by SBP pocketplus which had an option to close all application once you tab on X. Once i turn that option off in pocket plus so far problem free.
Guys/gals out there have this problem ?

ykyloveu - Does this mean you have BB Connect as well? The only modified rom from here I can download is based on cer .112 The new rom for o2 with BBConnect is ver .169

Unlock Extended ROM

I just discoverd that I cannot modify the extended rom (using Total Commander, etc.) How does one unlock it so tht it may be modified?
Thanks,
Frank

fmcgirt said:
I just discoverd that I cannot modify the extended rom (using Total Commander, etc.) How does one unlock it so tht it may be modified?
Thanks,
Frank
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can, just try again anad again, i did it on my 4th attemps
Cheers!

Thanks for the response but I haven't had any success after several tries. I tried installing the Wizard unlock cab file and afterwards with Total Commander, I can reset the Read Only bit on all the files and copy the files to my SD card. However, I am unable to delete any files. They appear to be deleted but come back after a soft reset. I would like to especially get rid of all the operator settings files. The rest of the stuff like Skype, Anti Virus and Backgammon I can get rid of using Settings>Remove Programs.
Frank

Isn't "ROM" short for "read only memory"?

hi, I am using Buzz's unlocker for Wizard... it made the ExtROM visible but still it is read only
I need to find how can I delete and add files to it.
Any challenging minds out there?

Total commander does not work with the jamin in my case anyway.
Tried several time with no results.

shahzadkhan15nov said:
hi, I am using Buzz's unlocker for Wizard... it made the ExtROM visible but still it is read only
I need to find how can I delete and add files to it.
Any challenging minds out there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi,
unlocker for wizard is not mine...
buzz

...well, if anyone can give me a dump of Prophet's bootloader + clean registry export, i can take a look at it..
buzz

Buzz,
Thanks for the great offer.
I can give you the clean reg but how can i get you the first part, bootloader thingie?
Regards

I have used the Wizard Extended ROM unlock program to unlock the ROM on my Prophet. I now have a copy of the Extended ROM on my SD Card. I'm not concerned about erasing the Extended ROM files, I just don't wan them installed, so I did a Hard Reset and just when it says that it will start installing the additional prorams in 3 seconds, I did a soft reset.
OK, now I have a Prophet without extended ROM. I can now install the stuff that I want.
Most of the cab files I've figured out, Does anyone know what the following extended ROM cabs do? This is from the latest Imate Jamin ROM.
Default_CAAVPPC_IMEI_2.6.77_range.CAB
Default_Imate_PPC_SA_V5.5.03.cab
Default_MP_Shortcut_MMS1_JAVA_VOICE_CV_051213.CAB
Default_PP_TSK.CAB
Default_PP_UAString.CAB
Default_PT_Signed_IconDll.sa.CAB
Default_PT_Signed_Patch_SD.sa.CAB
Thanks heaps,
Matterhorn

Default_CAAVPPC_IMEI_2.6.77_range.CAB is the anti-virus app which used to play havoc in slowing down the KJAM. Maybe this version is better but I uninstalled it using Remove Programs. About the rest I am not sure. At least you don't have Skype, backgammon and the Operator Settings files so I expect you will gain a fair amount.
Frank

you can use wince cab manager to see the content of the cab file.

Still nothing? Guess I will go the way of Matterhorn when I need to do a hard reset. Several others have not installed the Extended ROM at all and have reported significant speedup in the JAMin.
Frank

That would be me. I haven't installed one thing off the extended rom and my speed is really pretty good. You can see a video review at the link below to compare the m600 and the jamin (with no extended rom). Keep in mind I don't use mms, skype, antivirus anyway....so no big deal to leave off the ext rom. I also use adobe and don't need the clearview .pdf. Hope the video helps
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=849592

Thanks, Mike. I don't use the stuff either except MMS once in a while but can just as easily use email for that. I presume Voice Dial is in the Extended Rom but rather have MS VC anyway and things like Connection Manager, Messaging, etc., that I want are not in the Extended ROM so I should be fine.
Now to find time to do a hard reset and re-install my apps.
Frank

Everyone has diffrent issues, I was able to delete the files from there (verified by refreshing the dir, and I recieved no read only error) but I was unable to write files to it, which I thought was very strange, I am using APA_ext_rom_unlock.exe and it does NOT give me the success msg it acts like it hasnt even ran. I updated my ROM to teh test one that was floating auround 2.8.7 whatever, and I realized too late that aWizard has no way to reflash teh extended ROM so I am without all my Cingular apps and I have all the 2.8.7 Extended rom stuff with the 1.8 Cingular OS ROM which I reverted back to. Any suggestions how I can replace my extended ROM ?

any luck so far?
Hi guys,
Are we getting any hope/luck to unlock Ext ROM for JAMin/Prophet?

I don't know how you guys are doing it. I have tried several times to delete items in my extended rom using total commander, at least 10 times and the result is the same. After the hard reset all that was deleted was re-installed after the reset.
I have contacted TC a while ago, and have not heard anything, maybe they are working on it.

Just curious....as I'm new to this ext rom stuff....but why don't you just "not install" the ext rom. Then use gsfinder to install whichever .cabs you want? If any? Just curious as I may be missing something. :roll:

mikewchandler said:
Just curious....as I'm new to this ext rom stuff....but why don't you just "not install" the ext rom. Then use gsfinder to install whichever .cabs you want? If any? Just curious as I may be missing something. :roll:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I think the end result would be pretty much the same. For me I would like an Extended ROM for the JAMin that includes exacty what I want installed - no Backgammon, AntiVirus, Smart Dialing, Skype and a single Operator Settings file for TMO USA. Then when I hard reset I don't have to mess with anything else, just let it go. I had my KJAM setup that way and I would like the JAMin to be the same. I would also be as close to an OEM install as I can get (without the junk) so I don't have to worry about proper default settings not being there because of some file I didn't install or installed in the wrong order. Having said all this and thinking about it more I am sure you would get to the same point doing your procedure and then installing the required .cab files in the proper order.
Now I have a question:
Wonder what would happen if I did a hard reset, then did the soft reset to stop the Ext ROM install, installed the required .cab files in order, soft reset and then restored from a Sprite BU file. Wonder would I be restoring any files that could cause problems due to an imcomplete ROM install? I guess I will have to try that first since I do hate to re-install a bunch of apps and especially have to re-enter all the reg codes.
Frank

Answering Phone Calls

I've been reading various posts since buying my Orange M5000, but havn't seen much said about the one major problem I have.
About 50% of the time, if I attempt to answer a phone call it will cut the person off and divert the call straight to voicemail.
I'm running ROM version 1.30.90 WWE, Radio 1.03.00, ExtROM 1.30.174 WWE. Has anyone had this problem and resolved it ?

A radio ROM upgrade to 1.09 may help & it's relatively easy to do - Just search the forum Can't say I've ever encountered your particular problem though...

Installng Radio Rom 1.09
I have the same problem - nearly half of incoming phone calls are lost. I found the upgrade at http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Uni_Radio_1.09.00 . I downloaded the file to the Jasjar and tried to run it, but it didn't work.
How do I install this strange .rar-file?

Having just tried it, I can help !
Firstly you need to download a program called winrar, should be able to find it through google. It's basically like winzip and will extract the files from the .rar archive.
But, the 1.09 download I found didn't have all the files. You need to download the 1.06 version from the ftp site, extract the rar file and then replace the 1.06 radio_.nbf file with the 1.09 radio_.nbf file you have downloaded.
On you PC (with your Universal connected via USB), run the MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe to do the upgrade.
In saying that though, I've only been able to install the 1.06 so far, 1.09 won't install.

I've had problems with answering calls on my M5000, even after upgrading the radio ROM.
A couple of things that I find makes a big difference are the amount of free memory available and also changing the ring tone.
If you have some memory hungry apps chewing up the program memory it is difficult to answer the calls because the phone software is slow to load.
I have played with a variety of programs and find it best to keep a minimum of around 12-15Mb of program memory free.
Also the default orange ring tone seems to leave a delay before it starts ringing - I have changed this so that it vibrates and rings from the outset and also have been into the phone settings and changed the network services settings to divert to answering machine after 30sec, the default is 20secs.
Hope that helps.

i-mate JAMin help please :o

Well....I bought a i-mate JAMin and I'm very happy.I've CID unlocked it and SIM unlocked.I think I've done it well.For just a single day I'm inlove with it and this site So these are my problems:
I read almost everything on this site about the Prophet but I can not connect to the ftp for the files to update the rom.
I would like to ask what is the best for my Prophet.Here is the info for it:
IPL 1.00
SPL 1.00.0000
GSM 01.14.20
OS 1.0.9.27
Rom version 1.0.9.27 WWE
Rom date 11/23/05
Radio version 01.14.20
Protocol version 4.0.13.25
Ext Rom version 1.0.9.115
If some one can explain me what are the latest updates for the phone or where I can see them.Or give me some working links to download and update my software
How can I put mp3 for Incoming calls?
I've got 1 GB sd card,and I've a lot of programs,games,pictures and mp3 on it.So I wonder when I update my rom will be everything erased from the sd ??? Well I think that is everything that I'm thinking all day long.
I'm sorry if this is not the right place for this post.
Thank you for your help in advance!!!
P.S. I'm sorry,if my english is bad

hey there..
maybe you have found it by now but for the links, try this very useful post by binky11
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1166781&postcount=1
...read the wiki and related threads in prophet upgrading and just have a play around... I have tried a few and could not say which is best, i think the WM6 ones still have more bugs than some older ROMs, i am back with LvsW's WM5 for stability at the moment.
And I am sure flashing any of these will not harm your data on SD card. Just pics etc saved on the phone itself. And if there's software installed on the SD card, it'll still be there, but you have to make new shortcuts to it on the phone after update. However, some software does not seem to like you doing this so IMO the most annoying thing about updating is having to spend ages reinstalling half my applications, and making shortcuts to the other half.
Oh, and about the MP3s, i have just checked mine, and any MP3s on the root of the SD card, then windows finds them and they are shown if i tap the start menu, then settings, personal, sounds and notifications, notifications, then choose phone:incoming call from the drop down menu.