Develop Bugs

Guide to Cook Extended ROM for Uni?

Hi,
looking for a guide to cook my own Ext Rom. I have looked at the Wiki, but found only tools for the Wiz. Can I use the same tools, or will I get into trouble. If there is a good Uni walk-thru available it would be highly appreciated. I already searched the forum, but did not find what I was looking for...
Thanks.

ireneus said:
Hi,
looking for a guide to cook my own Ext Rom. I have looked at the Wiki, but found only tools for the Wiz. Can I use the same tools, or will I get into trouble. If there is a good Uni walk-thru available it would be highly appreciated. I already searched the forum, but did not find what I was looking for...
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I unlocked my Extended ROM but I delete stuff it in. It seems its read only. Can anyone help me clean it up? I am sure that the WM speed will increase if the Ext ROM is clean. Also how can i lock it back after i clean it?

nuclear said:
I unlocked my Extended ROM but I delete stuff it in. It seems its read only. Can anyone help me clean it up? I am sure that the WM speed will increase if the Ext ROM is clean. Also how can i lock it back after i clean it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
read only? after a softreset the files are still there? so u can use extended ROM "unhider" from indra.AKU3.2.BETA5R2....so u unhide and unlock it...then delete and the files are deleted forever ;-)
see attached ZIP ;-) install / execute both on PPC

pixx said:
read only? after a softreset the files are still there? so u can use extended ROM "unhider" from indra.AKU3.2.BETA5R2....so u unhide and unlock it...then delete and the files are deleted forever ;-)
see attached ZIP ;-) install / execute both on PPC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes after a soft reset i still see the extended rom and all the files within it. The files are those Cingular and all those service providers etc and some skype and other stuff. The extended ROM is giving me 10MB of space on the device and I find it quite valuable. Rather than having it occupied by unneccessary stuff. Now this Ext-ROM unhider you speak of will let me write/read things from the Ext-ROM? Does it work with other AKU versions? Like helmi's aku 3.5? Thanks pixx

Be Careful
As always, care needs to be taken unlocking and unhiding the ExtRom. You can use the tools provided and they work well.
- First make sure to rename your 'storage card' to something else than 'storage card' since unhiding the ExtRom will make that the 'Storage Card' and your apps will not run from the SD anymore..
- It is not possible (as far as I know) to lock the ExtRom once you run the tools. But you can delete all the files inside to make it clean.
- The extended Rom space (10MB) cannnot be merge with the other storage, but you can install apps to it, or use it as storage space for attachments or whatever.
I am still lookng for a cookbook to make my own ExtRom...

ireneus said:
As always, care needs to be taken unlocking and unhiding the ExtRom. You can use the tools provided and they work well.
- First make sure to rename your 'storage card' to something else than 'storage card' since unhiding the ExtRom will make that the 'Storage Card' and your apps will not run from the SD anymore..
- It is not possible (as far as I know) to lock the ExtRom once you run the tools. But you can delete all the files inside to make it clean.
- The extended Rom space (10MB) cannnot be merge with the other storage, but you can install apps to it, or use it as storage space for attachments or whatever.
I am still lookng for a cookbook to make my own ExtRom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright I formatted the Ext-ROM ^^ . Now that its empty i will relock it which will speed up the device right?

No (re-)lock possible afterwards... just leave it as is.

ireneus said:
No (re-)lock possible afterwards... just leave it as is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No relock possible even after a hard reset? A hard reset usually restores the device to an unmodified state but it doesnt restore the data right?

Never tried the hard reset uption so I can't tell if that will work, I flash my device about once a week with different (new) versions.
I may try next time I flash. Does anyone know?

Actually there is a way to relock the Ext ROM. I can't find the thread I read it from, but from what I remember you have to copy the registry settings BEFORE you unlock the Ext ROM. Then install Buzz's Ext ROM Unlocker. After a soft reset, the Ext ROM is now unlocked. Now customized it to your heart's content. Then cut and paste the original Registry settings to replace the new one. Another soft reset and your Ext ROM is now locked again. This is what I read from another thread. I had never tried this proceedure myself, so I can't guarantee it will work.
But, this is what I usually do whenever I customized my Ext ROMs:
1st: Install Buzz's Ext ROM Unlocker.
2nd: Soft Reset.
3rd: Customized the Ext ROM with CAB files.
4th: Perform a Hard reset to check if all the CAB files installed properly.
5th: Once I know every CAB files worked and installed properly, I now proceed with installing my other applications.
So basically, my rule whenever customizing my Ext ROM is: DO IT FIRST BEFORE INSTALLING THE REST OF YOUR APPS. This way you don't have to worry about LOCKING it afterwards.

Sounds like a plan
The next time I will apply a new ROM (probably within the next couple of days) I will try this. One more question: Do I have to backup the entire registry, or are there some specific settings I should back up?
Merry Christmas!

ireneus said:
The next time I will apply a new ROM (probably within the next couple of days) I will try this. One more question: Do I have to backup the entire registry, or are there some specific settings I should back up?
Merry Christmas!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mentioned, I myself had not tried that approach. But to be sure, make a copy of the entire Registry and try it.
Another suggestion, if you have SPB Backup, this I already tried, so I know it works. Use SPB Backup to DO A BACKUP OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM BEFORE INSTALLING THE EXT ROM UNLOCKER. After the backup, install Ext ROM unlocker and unlock the Ext ROM. You can now customize your Ext ROM any way you want. To RELOCK it, just run SPB Backup to the BACKUP you created before you installed Ext ROM Unlocker.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

cktlcmd said:
As mentioned, I myself had not tried that approach. But to be sure, make a copy of the entire Registry and try it.
Another suggestion, if you have SPB Backup, this I already tried, so I know it works. Use SPB Backup to DO A BACKUP OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM BEFORE INSTALLING THE EXT ROM UNLOCKER. After the backup, install Ext ROM unlocker and unlock the Ext ROM. You can now customize your Ext ROM any way you want. To RELOCK it, just run SPB Backup to the BACKUP you created before you installed Ext ROM Unlocker.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Ireneus
If your purpose is just to delete the files in the "\Extended_ROM" (actual name when hidden) without unhiding it, there are a few ways, all works.
Method 1
- Google, download & install "Total Commander v2.exe" (freeware).
- In Total Commander's command line, just type \Extended_ROM , and you will see it.
- Before you do anything, suggest you copy everything to somewhere in case you need it back again.
- And now you can do anything to it. If it is really "READ" only, Total Commander also can "UNREAD" it. Think Total Commander can delete files with the "atrributes" (hidden, read, system, archive).
Method 2
- Download Helmi_c AKU3.5 V1.3, extract it, look for the ms_nbf in the Empty_Extended_rom, flash only this ms_nbf into you device, it should be empty.
Method 3 (need to unhide first)
- I am lasy to find out which Registry, so before unhide, I copied all the "Registry HKCR, HKCU & HKLM" (hidden).
- download Extrom_Unhider.cab & UNI_ext_rom_unlock.exe (should be in this forum or FTP)
- run Extrom_Unhider.cab first and following by running UNI_ext_rom_unlock.exe, you have unhide & unlock the "\ExtendedROM".
- Press POWER key to powerdown, then Soft Reset.
- You can also now copy "Registry HKCR, HKCU & HKLM" (unhidden/unlock) to different location of above "Registry HKCR, HKCU & HKLM" (hidden).
- So depend you want to hide/lock or unhide/unlock, just copy the respective set of registry. Easy.
@cktlcmd
Copy of Registry & copy back was my posting, anyway I also cannot find where it is, but it works, I tried it myself.

Does anyone have earlier ROM for Cingular 8525?

I am a newbie and not myself a developer, so if this question or my accessing this list is out of line, let me know. I am looking for a way to restore the former ROM that was on my device before upgrading.
Cingular/ATT just sent out an upgrade on their 8525 ROM, not to Windows Mobile 6, but just a more enhanced Windows Mobile 5 with push to talk, and some other changes.
After upgrading the ROM, my backup file for my Personal Databases will not restore. The Sprite Backup (5.1) backup file was the only storage I had of important data at least for the last four months, when I stopped being able to activesync it. The support staff at Sprite said they got my personal databases file to work, so I know the file itself is not corrupted, and the data is there, but every time I try to restore it to my 8525 (ie, following a hard reset, with and without the sbu file that Sprite created for moving from one ROM to another)... every time I try to restore it, it corrupts my Calendar and Contacts programs, bringing in no data, and making the Contacts program unusable.
My best guess is that the only way I can regain access to this data is to restore to the old ROM, then fix the ActiveSync problem, and save the data that way, then reupgrade to the new ROM, and sync that.
I give all this detail in case someone has a better suggestion as to what might be causing the Personal Database file not to restore, and not to work following the upgrade.
Short of that, I'd be interested if anyone can show me where I might restore the old ROM. Private replies are accepted.
Tom Bartlett

Here's the original 1.34.502 ROM for the 8525. If you're needing the UNofficial 2.06 leaked release, I don't have that one. . . sorry

Thanks so much!
Tom Bartlett

I am not sure how to use what the link downloaded. Perhaps my mistake was in downloading it to my laptop, for later use? It came as a large zip file, with three RAW files.
How do I use that download to change my ROM?
My guess is that I'll need to have my 8525 synced in Active Sync, and do the hit "run" rather than "save as" ?
Tom

CRAP!! Disregard that file. . . it's the wrong one. I'm uploading the CORRECT one right now.
I'm soooo sorry. . . I'll be back with the correct link as soon as it's uploaded.
Here it is. . . the CORRECT file.

pim.vol create/repair/restore/extract on desktop

Please post all utilites for handling/copying/extracting/repairing/
restoring/upgrading etc for pim.vol
I have backed up a pim.vol and changed my device with same OS WM 5.0 however when the pim.vol is restored the contacts do not appear.
1)Is there any software to read pim.vol and extract it in txt,csv file.
2)Is there any software to rewrite pim.vol to fit in newer roms.
3)Is there any software to upgrade or repair pim.vol files.
4)Is there any way to add data from pim.vol to Outlook .
5)I have two pim.vol files both of different devices but WM5,
Is their way to interchange data between them so that each other device
has data of the other device. (One is empty in my case)
Thank You
girish Kadel

Same problem
I have a similar problem. I would like to fix a failing pim.vol. If I put it on my device I get "no service" on the phone and can't access my calendar or contacts.
I found a perl script that parses pim.vol for contacts, but it only extracted about 20 out of over 100.

I have exactly the same problem as drkosse except that my contact list is around 4000 and I just updated like 5% of it last week without sync. So I really need it back up. Any tools to fix it?

Hey,
I am also urgently needing some application to read or extract my contacts from a pim.vol.
Any suggestions>?

I thought there is an answer for this...

I would also be highly interested in something that could do that.

yes im having the same problem! i went froma moto Q to HTC Mogul 6.1
i copied the pim file from the storage card after renaming the first one.
the soft reset. then clicked contacts and it just shuts out!
im not sure what to do now. i need those numbers!
lol

I had the same problem, flashed my Omnia with a new rom, forgotten to extract all contacts appointments etcpp, so had searched for a tool to extract the information from the pim.vol (which i saved wisly before)
had found this:
http://www.phatware.com/index.php?q=product/details/dbexplorer
looks like it works, doing now an extract of the data and restore into the systems pim.vol (else it won't work, the pim.vol's are incompatible through different roms ): )

I also really do need a tool for repairing my pim.vol DB. Isn't there any solution available yet? Calendar and Contacts won't start anymore, also I get shown thet there is no Service available, if I use my broken pim.vol. If I rename it and it gots replaced with a newone, everthing is working fine again, but all my data is lost, of course. Also DBExplorer isn't working for me, it says that file is no valid database or broken. :-( Can anyone help me pleaze! Greetz, BKC

Creating a ROM image

Hi all
From some research i've been doing i think i need to create a ROM image but i'll tell you my problem and let you recomend me a solution.
Basically i need to setup 30 PDA's (XDA Argon's running WM5.0) These PDA's will be running a program called service director and also have TOMTOM installed. What i need to be able to do is be able to create an "image" that i can just copy to each PDA to speed up deployment. It would also be useful should there be any problems in the field with the PDA's that they could just be hard reset back to their modified state after deployment. E.g with Service Director and TomTom installed. I have found out that if i create a folder on a memory card with a directory name of 2577 and put my .cabs in there that they will automatically be installed on insertion of the card. This could also be beneficial to me, but i don't think that it would be robust enough, especially if they drop the device and put their memory card back in after its popped out.
So what do you think my best options would be?
Thanks for any help in advance and if you need any info, just let me know.
Thanks
Andy

kingpin83 said:
Hi all
From some research i've been doing i think i need to create a ROM image but i'll tell you my problem and let you recomend me a solution.
Basically i need to setup 30 PDA's (XDA Argon's running WM5.0) These PDA's will be running a program called service director and also have TOMTOM installed. What i need to be able to do is be able to create an "image" that i can just copy to each PDA to speed up deployment. It would also be useful should there be any problems in the field with the PDA's that they could just be hard reset back to their modified state after deployment. E.g with Service Director and TomTom installed. I have found out that if i create a folder on a memory card with a directory name of 2577 and put my .cabs in there that they will automatically be installed on insertion of the card. This could also be beneficial to me, but i don't think that it would be robust enough, especially if they drop the device and put their memory card back in after its popped out.
So what do you think my best options would be?
Thanks for any help in advance and if you need any info, just let me know.
Thanks
Andy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do the 2577 option but create an autorun program that installs the cab files and then deletes the 2577 folder, thus it wont re-install when the cab is re-inserted

That's ok, but then the engineer would then have to send the card back to us so that we could set it up again. E.g the card would only allow them to set the software back up once and then they would have to send the PDA back to us for us to reconfigure it should it go wrong again. We can't really afford to do this as they need the PDA to find their next job/update jobs etc and can't really afford to have it sent back to us everytime it goes wrong.

well there is currently no way flashing custom ROM's to the xda argon (HTC Panda?) and wont be until one or more devs get thier hands on one so burining it into the rom isnt an option. the only thing I can think of is to have it ask if you want to install the software when it is inserted rather than doing it automatically.

I didnt think it wouldve been available yet. Oh well, looks like i'll have to make it do it via the memory card for the moment. Like all brilliant companies mine just told me, here's what we want, now go and make it happen! Haha!
I take it the card will need to have some kind of .inf file on it to ask you whether you want to install it or not. I would try it, but my company havent even given me the PDA to play with yet.
All i have is an SPV M500(My own old phone) and knowing my luck, they won't work the same with the software we're using.

In that case, why dont you have the autorun RENAME the folder instead of delete it. Your users should then be able to rename it back in case of need (they should be able to do that!), and do the insert sd card thing.
kingpin83 said:
That's ok, but then the engineer would then have to send the card back to us so that we could set it up again. E.g the card would only allow them to set the software back up once and then they would have to send the PDA back to us for us to reconfigure it should it go wrong again. We can't really afford to do this as they need the PDA to find their next job/update jobs etc and can't really afford to have it sent back to us everytime it goes wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Why not on original installation have it delete the file from the folder and also have in the same folder a IE web shortcut to the original file on a Company server that would allow them to download the file again into the same folder, assuming they would have an internet connection and the file is not too large to download and you can direct the download to that particular folder?
They could then take out the card and re-insert it to automatically install the program again.
Maybe a poopoo idea, but I guess worth a thought?
Good luck
C

the autorun folder is the same for all devices with wm5/6 so thats fine and you would haev to write a progra to do it, not an inf.
if you cant do it yourself im sure someone else on the forum wouldnt mind for a modest donation (myself included)

kingpin83 said:
Basically i need to setup 30 PDA's.
What i need to be able to do is be able to create an "image" that i can just copy to each PDA to speed up deployment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A software called SPB Clone was specifically designed to meet this need:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/clone/?en
Regards

using another phone's backup

I played with the OEMName reg settings as posted here to tinker with the other oem apps, and it stopped all my applications from working, I had to hard reset to get any apps to function again. Luckily, I had saved my 7008 backup files and I used the method posted [url="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1060103&highlight=backup+file+locations+zune]here[/url] to revert my locked 7392 Focus to the 7008 backup. I had saved the backup. These are some observations:
- When I updated to 7390 and created the backup, my phone was already unlocked and prevent unlock was done, when I restored my backup, the unlock was preserved
- the unlock retained through my subsequent update to 7392 (expected, but nice to know)
- The sideloaded apps on the phone at the time of the 7008 backup also installed with the backup
Even with my phone on the pin lock, as soon as I connected it to the PC, Zune opened and synced and prompted for the update. Is this new bahavior?
I was able move the saved backup files into the Windows Phone Update folder after the phone was connected and synced.
Once I was back to 7008, I hard reset the phone and updated again without setting up my Live Account info to create a "pure" 7008 backup for the purpose of posting here for others to tinker with.
If there is interest, i will post the files when I get home.

That backup could be very handy to have around! Please post it!

Backup is for one phone only, not all around. I know, you can change the DeviceId, but it will fail when you try to restore to another phone. I guess a backup is useless for others.
The best backup is the firmware itself.

I do believe this will work. There are two .xml files in the restore point. Each of these has a deviceID field. I believe that if you change these fields to your own unique device id number and wait until after the phone is connected to zune to replace the files, you may be able to use someone else's backup files on your phone.
Also, I reverted my phone to 7008, but once there, I was unable to get the chevron unlock to work. I'm not sure why this is or what I did wrong.
Later tonight, I will try to restore my wife's phone using my restore point as a proof of concept

Proof of Concept failed...
this is what I did...
1. First, I located the existing backup files on my computer.
C:\Users\#USER#\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Phone Update
In this location, there is a folder with a long name that looks like this:
B12da62f - d8d2d122 – 81d60512 - 6aaa3f12
This folder holds your restore files. This number is your unique device ID number.
2. I copied this folder and its contents to a safe place in case I needed it later. I have made it a practice to make a backup copy of all my backups so I can restore to any point. Restoring your own backups definitely works. I’ve done this several times with many old and new backups. See this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1060103&highlight=backup+file+locations+zune for details on how
3. Next, I got a backup file that didn’t belong to my phone and I edited the .xml files
- in the properties folder, you’ll find properties.xml
- I opened this file using notepad and change the #’s in the DeviceUrlId field to my unique device ID number
<DeviceUrlId>zune-tuner://windowsphone/XXXXXXXX%20-%20XXXXXXXX%20-%20XXXXXXXX%20-%20XXXXXXXX</DeviceUrlId>
- in RestorePoint\5372F2DE-F333-4717-9CB8-1846BE19900E\Data there is Manifest.xml
- I alsoopened this file using notepad and change the X’s in the DeviceId field to my unique device ID number
<DeviceId>XXXXXXXX - XXXXXXXX - XXXXXXXX - XXXXXXXX</DeviceId>
4. I connected my Focus to the computer and opened and waited for Zune to open
- waited for it to finish syncing
- left my Focus connected and Zune open.
5. Then I replaced the authentic backup files with the edited files from the other phone.
- Opened the backup file location on your computer from step 1
- Delete the existing Properties and RestorePoint folders
- Copied the Properties and RestorePoint folders from step 3 into this folder
6. I returned to Zune, went into Settings, then go to Update
- Wait for Zune to finish looking for an update
- It indicated that I had a restore point
- I selected to restore and followed the prompts
- All appears to be going well
7. On Step 3: Restoring Backup, the phone restarts, the and the Backup fails
- It spits out error code 801812E0
- I can't find anything on this code anywhere
At the beginning of step 3 it must be checking something in one of the other files?
IDK...
I do think this could work if we knew what Zune was checking that gives it the fail.

A quick look at the data files suggests to me that they may be encrypted. This would make sense, since otherwise you could overwrite the OS at a very low level by modifying your backup and then "restoring" it.
I bet the encryption key is stored in the device somehow, though.

GoodDayToDie said:
A quick look at the data files suggests to me that they may be encrypted. This would make sense, since otherwise you could overwrite the OS at a very low level by modifying your backup and then "restoring" it.
I bet the encryption key is stored in the device somehow, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they are encrypted and sighed against your imei and CID from the sd card.
and it could be that it is sighed online when you are downloading the update (but I don't know that for sure)
but the main problem is that you can't use another his backup because the activation email adress is stored in the backup.
and it is way to complicated to get that out because it is stored on to many parts of the backup.
so if there was a way to hack the encryption you could only use it on your own phone.

ceesheim said:
they are encrypted and sighed against your imei and CID from the sd card.
and it could be that it is sighed online when you are downloading the update (but I don't know that for sure)
but the main problem is that you can't use another his backup because the activation email adress is stored in the backup.
and it is way to to get that out because it is stored on to many parts of the backup.
so if there was a way to hack the encryption you could only use it on your own phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the email has anything to do with it.
I have tried all variables of restore files to phones with live activation set up and not set up.
With the false restore files, it fails the same regardless.
With restore files from the phone, it works the same, regardless of what live account is activated on the phone or in the restore.
Sent from my Focus using XDA Windows Phone 7 App

As I mentioned, it is not the way we can walk. One phone, one backup, another phone, another and so on. Sad but true.

well, FWIW, here are the 7008 backup files...
7008_Backup.zip
the file is 515 MB.
There is no Live account associated with the backup and I've already replaced the device ID info in the two xml files with X's

munkeyphyst said:
well, FWIW, here are the 7008 backup files...
7008_Backup.zip
the file is 515 MB.
There is no Live account associated with the backup and I've already replaced the device ID info in the two xml files with X's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would've spared you some time, I did it before you and it's not working. As ceesheim said, they are tied to hardware.
I'm looking now to patch Zune to bypass that.

Thanks, I didn't see that. I hope the "clean" 7008 restore files are of use.

Is there the possibility to extract specific files ie those related to SMS and use them in another backup?

efjay said:
Is there the possibility to extract specific files ie those related to SMS and use them in another backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not at the moment, as the backup files are encrypted. Different people (myself too) are working on various approaches, to try to access or unpack the rom files (from backups).

EnderPsp said:
Not at the moment, as the backup files are encrypted. Different people (myself too) are working on various approaches, to try to access or unpack the rom files (from backups).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply.

I wrote something about this topic overhere.

EnderPsp said:
It would've spared you some time, I did it before you and it's not working. As ceesheim said, they are tied to hardware.
I'm looking now to patch Zune to bypass that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it isn't zune that check it but the ULDR that validates it , so it doesn't bring you anywhere to patch ZUNE I think.

7008_Backup.zip
7008_Backup.zip multiuplood link please

ranya said:
7008_Backup.zip multiuplood link please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way (yet) to use another phone's backup so a link would not help you.

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but maybe all we would need to do is change the activeid and the folder, that goes 8-4-4-4-12 with random numbers. Is there another 7008 backup to compare that number with? maybe all you need is the activeid for your phone, if phones have seperate active ids.