Develop Bugs

ROM Upgrading - Why it works for some & not others...

I have now tried all the Roms (Helmi, Indra, Jwright, Ivan) and believe I have the solution for a stable upgrade. Individually they all work well give or take speed issues and forgetting inherent bugs we discover in beta versions.
However when we cross platforms - IE go from an Indra Imate base to a Helmi O2 base is always when I have struck real problems. I had been using Jwright's Imate 96 version for a month or so and just swapped to Helmi AKU 3.5 1.3. After flashing the Helmi ROM I had awful problems from pathetically slow response to the unit completely freezing after installing several large applications. However after a 100 or so hours of extensive experimentation I have several key reccomendations that form the solution.
Now I can say the Helmi 3.5 is blisteringly fast and stable followed by Indra & then Ivan and Jwright in the AKU 3.2 flavours. By the way I have also attached with this post my extended ROM that I am currently using with Helmi and it works a treat! (Basically it is many useful applications from Jwright's rom like Candello, loaded into Helmi less any incompatable applications.) Speaking about incompatable applications I can now unequivicably warn you NOT to load the following applications in the 3.5 flavour ROMs: (EVEN IF THEY APPEAR TO WORK)
Battery Pack Pro (no versions)
Resinfo 1.5
Voice Commander 1.5 (NOTE: 1.6 IS OK!)
Device Lock
Sprite Backup - current version (IT DOESN'T RESTORE PROPERLY - USE SPB BACKUP INSTEAD - ALSO ATTACHED)
Here is my list of recommendations as a professional systems analyst:
1. Before flashing the new ROM reset the existing one to its default factory settings but dont let the extended rom load. (IE reset again when the "will customize in 3 seconds" message appears)
2.After flashing the new ROM (and resetting it by pressing both softkey application hardware buttons & reset then selecting '0') THEN FLASH IT A SECOND TIME! (I don't have any scientific evidence to support this but I know it works a treat! - maybe some old registry settings or system files are not properly overwritten.)
3.Only load ONE APPLICATION AT A TIME then softreset then if the PPC is still working perform a backup using SPB BACKUP ONLY. (This way you also find out straight away if you have an incompatable application and then you can go and restore your last good SPB back up - without going back to the beginning!)
4.Using the supplied registry editor DELETE any Today plugins that you donot use. (Search for either 'TODAY' or 'ITEMS'.)
Lastly regarding memory leak. I am not convinced this occurs in any of the roms tested. Remember WM 5 - all AKUs uses persistent storage so movement in and out of memory will vary constantly and appear to alter for no reason because it needs to. (Helmi's 3.2 1.2 rom is a good example where the memory movement seemed far less than the others but I found this rom unusable one I loaded nearly 2gb of applications onto the storage card.)
Regards,
Simon Jacobs

simonsalo said:
Here is my list of recommendations as a professional systems analyst:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Took a deep breath and start to try out your recommendations... despite that my device looks work quite well... but I always hope that good things can be even better

Alternatively, unlock your extended rom, and delete all the files in it, hard reset, then flash with the new rom of your choice.
It has the same effect, only quicker.

Good Link & WM5

Hi all,
I'm loving the WM5.0 ROMs, however I cannot seem to get GoodLink to install (it claims my version of WM is unsupported). I've noticed for some other platforms, people have managed to change their WM version number to effectively combat this (fooling GoodLink to install).
Any idea how I can change the WM version number to fool GoodLink to install?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

if you provide me with the install cab i may help, but first i have to look at it

Sure, I've uploaded the install cab here.
Thanks a lot.

First i think this is smartphone release, not pocketpc one, second your link does not work

Apologies.
Here is the correct file. I selected the wrong one
Matt

I dont know what this software is, and how to configure it but here is working WM5 cab of it, it installs and the some kind of setup wizard comes up, and then it asks for email and for pin

Thanks for your help. However, the issue with GoodLink is that it does a check after you enter your PIN on the WM version. At this point, it sees my BA is 5.1 (not 5.0) and fails the install.
I've seen other ROMs change the version number to avoid this problem and didn't know if it's something that's easy to do (either via a hex editor or a registry fix).
Cheers,
Matt

it is compatible with older wm5 roms without the 5.1 core, i am not sure where is the correct address to change for blueangel
and i think that it is time for them to update their app, there are no WM 5.0 devices anymore on the market

Thanks xplode, I'll try finding, downloading & installing a 5.0 ROM tonight then and see if it all works.
Agreed that they should update their software!
Matt

Just a followup to the above, I cannot seem to find any older images for download, the earliest I can find is "xplode_AKU3.3_Beta1_R1.rar" which still has a 5.1 core.
Any ideas where I can get an older WM5.0 image from? I'd go back to 2003, but that's not supported either (between a rock and a hard place with GoodLink!)
Matt

Stable WM6 with Japanese Support

Ok so off recent reading it seems that many people that have followed the steps in "Make your X01HT a WM6 Device (for Gaijins)" have unstable devices. Please complete this poll, and if you have a stable (one or less crash a week) please tell us how. It seem that many people here are Stuggling to get a stable WM6 that supports Japanese.
My Black Majik ROM and every other ROM before it crashes 4 or more times a day!

to stop crashing cook in Japanese support??
look at this (from Make youe x01ht a wm6 device) from my last post there.
I wish somebody could figure this out. Anyway, at the moment, the cooked lvsw with built in Japanese support works best. Although it is a little slow. It has not crashed for 2 days solid -- no matter how much I have thrashed it. Every single other English rom crashes.
Therefore, it is possible to make a stable wm6 with Japanese support -- just how!
-----------------
Yep I installed the Japanese input enabled version of LVSW. Some things I noticed were that it was modified to install the Japanese stuff (including character input, mslite, fonts, x02ht setting for softbank Japan, etc) following flashing, i.e installed these setting automactially from the extended rom. Now, I am wondering why the thing is so stable. It has not crashed ONCE in the 24 hours I have been trying to crash it.
Funny because every single other English WM6 rom, including the same version of the LVSW rom I have installed have all had terrible problems with random crashing etc; the only difference being that I followed instructions from the beginning of this thread to install the Japanese.
My question: how do we set up English roms so that they automatically install Japanese stuff (including x01ht settings for Japan) from extended rom following flashing?
Very strange that doing it this was could make it so stable. Unless of course, there are newer/more stable versions of a lot of the software links that appear in the original thread?
Ideas please! Would like to solve this enigma.

tora201, where do you download the Japanese input enabled version of LVSW ? I'm really tired of frequent crash and would like to have a really stable ROM.

rickywck said:
tora201, where do you download the Japanese input enabled version of LVSW ? I'm really tired of frequent crash and would like to have a really stable ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://rapidshare.com/files/39953635...WWE_3.30.3.zip
See #89 onwards of "make your x01ht a wm6 a wm6 device"
And, yeah, it is extremely stable. I have installed the HTC home plugin thing as well as the new touch dialer, etc. No problems at all! Cheers mate.

I use LVSW 3.30.3 English ROM with LetsJapan and JapaneseIME (both by Asukal) installed...
Generally, phone seems stable, but then after switching to any of Japanese IMEs (Tegaki, Romaji...) trouble starts... Worst problem is that sometimes SMS and MMS freezes the phone, for example, on message reception. It is even worse by the fact the incoming message is then lost forever!
For some people, switching to Japanese input everyday is essential, and of course, messaging too... these two things seems to clash on all ROMs (some seems to be much more stable than the others).
What we need here is more stable Japanese font & input method package to do things properly... We need Asukal

tora201 said:
http://rapidshare.com/files/39953635...WWE_3.30.3.zip
See #89 onwards of "make your x01ht a wm6 a wm6 device"
And, yeah, it is extremely stable. I have installed the HTC home plugin thing as well as the new touch dialer, etc. No problems at all! Cheers mate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but the link seems not working, could you post again ?

Stable CJK system
My experience :
1. Install Asukal's echinaNo5a to support Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
CJ fonts are included.
1.1 move&over write /Temp/wince.nls to /Windows
1.2 delete the startup menu's "usemynls?".
2. Install A4&Hanwan to input Chinese input and Atok to input Japanese.
3. Install other stuffs: Genocide Today, KPCapt, MMSLite265, JJ Pimp My Black 0.2,SQLCE 2.0, AozoraKoneko
I am using Elf_Edition_v2.1 based on LSVW 0519 ROM switching from Black 3.0.1.
It usually works several days for me and surely randomly locks too, but is mostly stable one ever
If anyone teaches me how to cook a ROM, I can make it.

I've tried it and it seems that it is quite stable, but I can't connect to the Internet via GRPS/3G. I've tried to delete the Softbank setting but it didn't seem to work.

http://rapidshare.com/files/40804243/RUU_signed.nbh.html
here you go! Just the nbh file.

Thanks for your replies and votes. Many others here seem to have crashing/freezing problems, just wondering why you all (except me and one other) said that your PDA is stable?
My Black Majik ROM has been better recently, but not what I call stable, recent crashes:
Thurs-0
Fri-4
Sat-0
Sun-0
but I don't know why.
I expect a phone to be completely stable, not mostly stable, not like old versions of Windows, like XP very rarely crashes, sure programs crash but I think it is a major programing/design error when the OS fails and the only way out is a reset.
People have all sorts of problems, quite often linked to the software they install(in this case Japanese support software), but I don't see how this software stops the OS from working, if there is a problem with SPB mobile or any other sotware then that software only should crash within the OS and leave everthing else alone, not take down the whole system, unbelievable!

pre-cook Japanese into the external rom in wm6 english??
rockyV said:
Thanks for your replies and votes. Many others here seem to have crashing/freezing problems, just wondering why you all (except me and one other) said that your PDA is stable?
My Black Majik ROM has been better recently, but not what I call stable, recent crashes:
Thurs-0
Fri-4
Sat-0
Sun-0
but I don't know why.
I expect a phone to be completely stable, not mostly stable, not like old versions of Windows, like XP very rarely crashes, sure programs crash but I think it is a major programing/design error when the OS fails and the only way out is a reset.
People have all sorts of problems, quite often linked to the software they install(in this case Japanese support software), but I don't see how this software stops the OS from working, if there is a problem with SPB mobile or any other sotware then that software only should crash within the OS and leave everthing else alone, not take down the whole system, unbelievable!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mate, here is a sort of copy of my post in the "Make your X01HT a WM6 Device (for Gaijins)" (in wm6 hermes forum).
I have not heard anything back about my inquires, so I am posting it here with a few changes/comments. Note, I am using a x01ht and live in Japan, so I am using the softbank network.
I had the same problem as many others: when using WM6 (An English version) with Japanese language cabs/MMSlite etc installed AFTERWARDS using the guides on this board, they ALL crash, in one way or other.
This is strange because The Samurai build (beta 1/2) (Japanese cooked rom) worked perfectly! What is going on here? I wish there was away to convert it to English (I mean the GUI only). Then I would be in PDA heaven.
Overall, I have found that all Japanese language wm6 roms have worked better than with English ones installed with Japanese input/language support. Anway reasons/ideas why this would be would be most welcome......
Some typical crashes with English WM6 builds with Japanese language/fonts/mmslite 2.65 or 2.75 installed aftterward：
- MSSlite crashes A LOT (the whole thing freezes, then upon re-set, half the mail in the inbox is gone -- or the MSSlite programme itself is gone and needs a reinstall).
-crashes A LOT using explorer. No reason at all. Again, it just freezes. Freezes more with wifi.
-sometimes crashed on the comm manager screens, or in settings.
The point is, the thing crashes A LOT under WM6 with Japanese support installed later, following any of the guides here.
Anyway, in the end I went with Hermes_WWE_3.30.3.3_4_X01XT (Latest LVSW wm6 in English with Japanese support cooked in to install settings upon first boot via the external rom)
http://rapidshare.com/files/39953635/Hermes_WWE_3.30.3.zip
It works fine. Not one crash over a week! And believe me, I have tried to crash the thing. I even installed the touch HTC plugins.
Basically, the difference between this and other wm6 roms is that all the Japanese support was cooked in to install via the external rom upon the first boot. So, my question is:
Since somebody (A Japanese guy) made this, it should be possible to make a similar Black version (for example) with built in Japanese language/mms/softbank settings set up to install automatically via the external rom upon first boot. Anybody know how to do this?
If we can do this, or somebody post a guide, it would seem to solve all our problems.

I'm guessing that maybe we take a copy of the Ext_ROM from the one you're using, install another English ROM, and then copy the EXT_ROM over, and hard reset it to kickstart the auto setup process. What do you think?

I tried it in Black Majik, and had to run the Ext_ROM manually, but nothing changed, even after a reset! No connection, fonts, nothing!
You've got to edit a file in the Windows directory to enable it, I see. When I get time I'll have a go...

hamster0914 said:
I'm guessing that maybe we take a copy of the Ext_ROM from the one you're using, install another English ROM, and then copy the EXT_ROM over, and hard reset it to kickstart the auto setup process. What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would that work?? Oh, my phone is locked so I can't do that! :-( its the post April softbank one. Damn you softbank! Can somebody else try that??

****! This ROM is Magic!! How made it?
Only problem is that it's slow, if compared with Black. Can anybody cook a black ROM with this incredible Softbank support?
Please!!!!!

hamster0914 said:
I tried it in Black Majik, and had to run the Ext_ROM manually, but nothing changed, even after a reset! No connection, fonts, nothing!
You've got to edit a file in the Windows directory to enable it, I see. When I get time I'll have a go...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mena that if if you run all the .CAB of the extended ROM, 1 by 1, in the proper order; nothing changes?

Yes, that's right.

hamster0914 said:
Yes, that's right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked the ROM carefully ... All the Japanese support is cooked into the ROM, not via Extended ROM.
Or that boy cook new ROM, or we can't do anything. Anyway ... I think that it's extremely slow for be WM6.
Saludos

Great! Kind of.
It is good to know that I am not the only person who has had chronic trouble with installing Japanese support in WM6. I have tried quite a few ROMs, Black 2.5 through Dymond, as well as a few LVSW, and have had random lock-ups and the SOD on all of them. I keep going back to my Japanese WM5 ROM for the stability. I've got a three-day weekend coming and will report back after flashing Hermes_WWE_3.30.3.3_4_X01XT with anything I find out about this baked-in Japanese support ROM.
To sesaru, I have noticed that LVSW is routinely slower than Black - even without any Japanese support issues.

the rom is slow, but it is completely stable. I wonder how it was made? It certainly shows it CAN BE DONE. I have not had a single lock-up since I installed it. So.... something going on here. Nobody can figure it out? Oh, and for the record, it installed all of the Japanese stuff from the external rom upon first boot (the 3 second thing). So, I wonder why does Japanese work without crashes if installed automactially upon first boot via external rom??

Newbie anxiety!

Hi all
I've taken a good long read throughout this Upgrade to WM6 subforum, I like the idea of it a lot and want to go ahead and do it, but having never re-flashed a PDA Phone before (I've done my PSP lots of times tho but thats easy in relation) I think its very difficult to find anywhere to even begin from!
Can anybody just give me a total-overall-topdown-summary-breakdown of the steps I need to perform on a fresh T-Mobile MDA Vario II. Doesn't have to be in detail, just all the basic steps required.
The forums, whilst being great for regulars seems to just confuse me the more I read them because of all the new issues raised and the individual cases on different vendor models of the Hermes.
My phone isnt a new Vario II, but I've done nothing to it except install apps, and it is showing REALLY old bootloader (I think 1.04) and radio versions (cant remember) in the system information. I'm presuming it'll require a radio upgrade at the least.
I would really appreciate a summary of everything and I think all newbies would benefit a lot.
Specific areas of confusion and concern -
-I would like to be able to grab the existing memory contents as an image off the phone just in case I choose to return to WM5 in future, and have a way of easily restoring it with no fuss. Exactly like ghosting a PC will return the whole OS, and all files and apps. Any recommendations how?
-I cant choose which custom third party WM6 ROM to use or just use HTCs official one if I should.
-I dont know if I'll still be able to use TomTom Navigator and some games plus I'm running TCPMP with the YouTube FlashVideoBundle. Will this still work?
-Should I upgrade the radio and bootloader before thinking about moving to WM6? Is there any other areas I should be flashing/rejigging before upgrading? Eg whats this about the ExtRom and gaining more space (obviously good)?
-The vendor lock on the firmware concerns me. Is there one on the UK T-Mobile MDA Vario II? Also about what I read somewhere about how disabling the lock with one of your tools might brick the phone (or am I getting confused somewhere along the line).
-As the community moves on with further developments, the divide between n00bism (me) and l33t (you) increases - case in point - kitchens??? I'm not saying though that it shouldn't happen!
Many thanks for everybodys work.
Stu

I'm basing my comments on Vp3G's ROM,
Begin by reading over
http://www.mrvanx.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=26
(1) MUST DO: Download and install SPL (Bootloader) version 2.10.Olipro (HardSPL v7)
(2) Optional: Download and install an updated Radio. I'm using 1.54.07.00
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334697
Pick out a ROM and download it. I'm currently running vp3G's
ROM version: VP3G's v3.62
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334946
Install the ROM.
Study your phone, read, study your phone, read. Very soon, all of this will become second nature to you.

Heliosphan said:
Specific areas of confusion and concern -
(1) I would like to be able to grab the existing memory contents as an image off the phone just in case I choose to return to WM5 in future, and have a way of easily restoring it with no fuss. Exactly like ghosting a PC will return the whole OS, and all files and apps. Any recommendations how?
(2) I cant choose which custom third party WM6 ROM to use or just use HTCs official one if I should.
(3) I dont know if I'll still be able to use TomTom Navigator and some games plus I'm running TCPMP with the YouTube FlashVideoBundle. Will this still work?
(4) Should I upgrade the radio and bootloader before thinking about moving to WM6? Is there any other areas I should be flashing/rejigging before upgrading? Eg whats this about the ExtRom and gaining more space (obviously good)?
(5) The vendor lock on the firmware concerns me. Is there one on the UK T-Mobile MDA Vario II? Also about what I read somewhere about how disabling the lock with one of your tools might brick the phone (or am I getting confused somewhere along the line).
(6) As the community moves on with further developments, the divide between n00bism (me) and l33t (you) increases - case in point - kitchens??? I'm not saying though that it shouldn't happen!
(7) Many thanks for everybodys work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(1) No idea, but why would you want to return to WM5. Once you have WM6, you'll never go back. I'm sure there is probably a WM5 somewhere.
(2) I use http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334946
(3) Hit and miss. But probably.
(4) Upgrade the boot loader. Radio is optional, but I recommend it to.
(5) News to me
(6) Welcome to the world of custom, "free", ROMS. You like it or you don't. Download, support and enjoy, or move on
(7) You're Welcome

gwtx2 said:
I'm basing my comments on Vp3G's ROM,
Begin by reading over
http://www.mrvanx.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=26
(1) MUST DO: Download and install SPL (Bootloader) version 2.10.Olipro (HardSPL v7)
(2) Optional: Download and install an updated Radio. I'm using 1.54.07.00
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334697
Pick out a ROM and download it. I'm currently running vp3G's
ROM version: VP3G's v3.62
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=334946
Install the ROM.
Study your phone, read, study your phone, read. Very soon, all of this will become second nature to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's basically what I just did last night after getting my 8525. I did the unlock before the above tho.
pretty easy and quick.
now I need a keyboard skin that is grey... schap's version (I think it was his) does not work for me dunno why.

Wow!
Thanks guys that was lightning quick!
I'll take a proper ganders at your responses tomorrow.
Thanks
Stu

ikkoku said:
That's basically what I just did last night after getting my 8525. I did the unlock before the above tho.
pretty easy and quick.
now I need a keyboard skin that is grey... schap's version (I think it was his) does not work for me dunno why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go to programs\advanced config (or system tools, cant remember)
Find advancedconfiguration options, go to keyboard, then select Cingular out of the list
I had to do the same thing on schaps with my 8525
heheheh...this is post # 69 for me!

intrglctcrevfnk said:
go to programs\advanced config (or system tools, cant remember)
Find advancedconfiguration options, go to keyboard, then select Cingular out of the list
I had to do the same thing on schaps with my 8525
heheheh...this is post # 69 for me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you talking about system tools\ htc custom?
it's already on Cingular
Also, anyone know how to get rid/change the second startup screen (Blue and Green with Windows Mobile)

Whoa, subject hijack...
...oh well, not to worry.
Anyway, in response to gwtx2, I might want to go back because some little thing I need might not work, and I might require some T-Mobile support, I'm sure they'll not touch a phone thats been reflashed with unofficial fw.
Also T-Mobile might release an official WM6 Hermes upgrade too.
Besides, have you never heard of this 'take backups = a good thing' thing?
Besides, it must be relatively easy, how else would all these custom hermes firmwares be built from?
How do these guys do it?
Thx
Stu

sorry .. didn't mean to hijack

Upgrade process.
gwtx2 et al.
Many thanks for pointing me towards MrVanx's Hermes Guide site.
Are you sure its fine to be using the VP3G firmware for my phone given it was derived from and is in general use with a US model AT&T 8525 (A hermes 100)?
My phone is a UK model T-Mobile MDA Vario II (A hermes 300)? Thats three differences I see (Country, operator firmware, hardware revision)!
Although MrVanx guide says the Vario II is suitable on the first page, I'm thinking its worth going for a different ROM derived from the Vario II for luck.
If I choose to go with another that was derived from the HTC official one, I'm presuming the general instructions are the same then?
eg.
#1 take down settings and xfer files.
#2 reflash HardSPL bootloader
#3 reflash radio version
#4 reflash ROM.
#5 restore settings & apps.
Am I right?
Many thanks again.

Done some stuff!
Hi all again.
Right, I've been perhaps too brave for my own good, but it turned out well!
I've installed HardSPL 2.10.Olipro on my phone, plus I've gone the whole hog and picked a very up to date radio version 1.54.00.10, I think it was originally ripped from a french firmware, I figured a Euro fw would be best suited for my UK model Hermes.
I was right I think - I now see a good fast T-Mobile home webpage, and sites load pretty good once it finds it. I also tried YouTube on TCPMP player, that seems quicker but I couldn't be totally sure.
One point I should note - When running the RUUWrapper app, AutoDetect flashed up a YES NO question on the PDA screen to accept running the program. Problem is I didn't catch it in time, so instead it threw up an autodetect error. Now after closing RUUWrapper and re-running it, it never throws up the YES NO question any more in any radio flasher (even after rebooting the PDA and the PC)! Instead I had to choose the HardSPL tickbox and the SPL 2.02/2.10 fourth option down, to continue. Slightly concerning but it worked.
Now all I need to do is up to a WM6 firmware when I choose one, it's gone well so far so my luck is bound to change!
QUESTION PLEASE-
Does anybody know the T-Mobile UK 3G Cellular Line access point password? I know the username but would need to fill in the pwd. The username is t-mobile but the pwd is ****** and wont copy paste of course! Its in the bit where you see the access point address - general.t-mobile.uk.
Many thanks to all for helping me this far.
Stu

Heliosphan said:
gwtx2 et al.
Many thanks for pointing me towards MrVanx's Hermes Guide site.
Are you sure its fine to be using the VP3G firmware for my phone given it was derived from and is in general use with a US model AT&T 8525 (A hermes 100)?
My phone is a UK model T-Mobile MDA Vario II (A hermes 300)? Thats three differences I see (Country, operator firmware, hardware revision)!
Although MrVanx guide says the Vario II is suitable on the first page, I'm thinking its worth going for a different ROM derived from the Vario II for luck.
If I choose to go with another that was derived from the HTC official one, I'm presuming the general instructions are the same then?
eg.
#1 take down settings and xfer files.
#2 reflash HardSPL bootloader
#3 reflash radio version
#4 reflash ROM.
#5 restore settings & apps.
Am I right?
Many thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The general answer to the first part is it doesn't really matter which provider gave you your Hermes as long as it is one. (Actually, there are some differences between Hermes models but honestly don't worry about that for now.)
Don't worry about going for a ROM that's derived from T-Mob. Basically, all the different network providers get given the latest working versions of Windows Mobile from time to time for them to either check and have a play with or to customise and release as an upgrade or in the newest issues of their phones (or as a download for current users).
My Hermes is Orange UK (i.e. SPV M3100) but I've ended up at various times having WM6 versions derived rom AT&T, T-MOb, HTC et al. The only thing that matters is that it's Windows Mobile for the Hermes.
As to going back to WM5, I think it's worth having the original ROM about. If you search around the Hermes Wiki (I'd do it but it's late and I honestly can't be bothered, soz!) you'll find a list of original ROMs available for download. Note your current version and go download it so it's there ready for you to pit back on should you ever want to. (Warranty-claim time can be a good time for that.)
I'd suggest the following as a routine, myself:
1. Note down any details you might need later such as ROM version etc. Anything that comes up briefly after soft-reset or in Device Info and About in settings and any network setting for acessing GPRS or 3G etc.
2. Download the OliPro bootloader and install. The reason for this is to protect yourself as much as possible against problems.*
3. Have a gander at all the current cooked ROMs. I'd advise initially going for a lightish version as you can always add to it with cab files for your preferred extra bits.
4. Don't go for the Kitchens yet. It's best to mess with installing ROMs before trying to make one. The people eho run the kitchen threads, and the people who wrote the tools they use, have all worked very hard on making it possible for people who don't know much to make their own version of WM6 easily. It's easy but do it later.
5. Radio is absolutely optional and in most cases not very unnecessary. Like everyone else, I always want the latest of everything just in case there's a tiny, incremental improvement but if you have no problems with reception or internet access then worry about that last, if ever. Not every radio version is 'better' than the previous. The most recent version always has the highest version number obviously, but new versions are often brought out to deal with issues in a particular geographical area (usually country-specific AND network-specific, though it may or may not be better for other users elsewhere). The latest version of radio may be better for you but it might be worse and it might stop your internet of wifi working or something. Leave it for now if you have no issues with any kind of radio-related functions.
6. Installing your apps and settings is obviously something you'll do when the phone itself is done.
*There is another BRILLIANT touch to make sure you're extra super-safe and it's particularly easy: follow this link: http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Hermes_SDCardFlashing . Basically, if you keep a copy of the a ROM image (renamed to HERIMG.nbh) on your microSD card (check the wiki item for specifics) then you can flash your phone at the touch of a button (well, two butons) from there in an emergency. even if your house loses ekectrical power during the flashing process whilst it's connectedto your PC and your Hermes won't even THINK of booting with half an OS flashed to it, you can very nearly always restore the ROM by flashing from the card.
It's all dead simple one you get into it, it's just a tad worrying before you start to take a scalpel to a new toy you just paid good money for.
You'll be fine mate.

Aha! Your success story must've appeared whilst I was busy typing!
Nice one. Ah well!

WOOOHOOO! I'm on WM6!!!
Many thanks chunkymunky for all your comments, its nice to know some fellow brits are on here too. Which phone do you have?
Its also nice to know that any hermes ROM will work on my phone, and I'm definitely going to have a go at this SD card reflash at some point now I'm gaining confidence in reflashing. Having said that, I have an old HTC Blue Angel (Orange SPV something) and that used to occasionally crash and do a full hard reset, erasing everything. My hermes has never done that so SD reflashing could be moot.
As it goes I'd like to share my experiences - late last night I flashed my Vario II with Fun_Keys 1.5.2 thats based on the 3.62 WM6 ROM. It reflashed fine, and I am utterly over the moon!!!! My phone has been reborn into something far better, faster in lots of areas. T-Mobile UK be damned for not releasing an official WM6 upgrade (yet) because WM6 is noticeably faster, looks really great with the shiny black theme. etc etc etc.
And because of all the work the ROM authors have done, I now get full on HSDPA access on my phone, I get the H icon on the top bar and everything! I know the H Icon being present now doesnt mean that I didn't get HSDPA before on my original WM5 firmware, but I'm pretty sure it is muchos faster.
Besides, a while back, a guy on T-Mobile UK tech support said I'd only get HSDPA when using my phone as a modem for a laptop, not via PocketIE on the phone itself. That made me feel I'd been a bit ripped off.
Oh and TCPMP with FlashVideoBundle works fine too and the phone downs YT Videos really quickly. I don't even have a serious problem with the ATI Imageon stuffs.
I'd like to mention that after a good while using radio versio 1.54.00.10 that it works fantastically on a UK T-Mobile MDA Vario II. HSDPA access included. Not unexpected since it was on 1.05.05.00!!!
Also TomTom works fine with two different bluetooth GPS receivers I have. WM6 has granted me access to the 'External GPS' option in the control panel I was missing originally (bloody operator firmware!) - as a result Google Maps can now use my GPS too!!!
As a techie by profession, I'm also loving all the extra tools Fun_Keys put on, like the advanced configuration tool, the task manager, regedit etc.
Countless other advantages I've gained has basically brought my phone a new lease of life, now I definitely dont plan to upgrade to a newer phone any time soon.
Who would have thought such a simple thing would bring such happiness!
The only disappointment was with having to up to ActiveSync 4.5 which killed my partnerships! No biggie, and nothing to do with WM6.
a big Thank You to the XDA Developers forum in general for your tireless efforts.
Stu

every time i tried to update the rom or radio i've got the
260 error...why is that?...i have a htc mda basic t-mobile...and its sim locked to austria....can somebody tell me how to unlock it?

Hi all....
1st.. dont flash any full stock ROM cause it includes SPL and radio those (most important radio) are the first thing to brick a device...
2nd.. many times i flash back to wm6 just to test the performance, is ok but you must to stripp the stock rom and guess what?... is hard... so i suggest if you all want to go back to wm6 use the stripped att stock rom

WOW....that was wierd!!!

My Dash has been running WM6.1 080408 Final For Excalibur WWE with English - By Kavana without any issues for months. Then rather spontaneously I was unable to access some of the settings and would get a message saying the settings couldn't be opened. So I re-installed the ROM. It fixed the settings access, but only for a couple of days and it went back to not being able to access the settings. I searched the forum and found one thread that recommended deleting a registry folder, which I did without luck. Any ideas? I am presuming that this is a software issue rather than a hardware issue.
Thanks in advance.

Why don't you try switching to another ROM? Mabye this one; |ROM||WWE|| ** EnergyROM Series 1.0 21040 - HTC Snap based ROM ** || Build 50909 |

Thanks Bigmannyjr, but that ROM looks like it is still owrking out the bugs. I need something that is solid now.

you wouldnt by chabne be doing a restore using sprite backup would you? sprite backup while being a good restore program, has done things like this to me too after i switched to WM 6.1.
On a side note.... BOOMER!
sorry for the plug.

Actually was using Sprite, but did not re-install after the second ROM update so I don't think we can consider it related to Sprite.
SOONER!!