Introduction for a Beginner? - Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking

Hello!
I'm new to the PDA-Modding scene.
And I've got several questions.
I updated my Asus MyPal A626 to Windows Mobile 6. It is an official Update.
Now I want to modify my ROM a bit. Don't panic! I'm a very experienced PC user. I did the same stuff with cell phones before. So I now, what I do
But before i can begin I've got some questions:
1. The official Update consists of 3 Files:
update.dat, Update.img and Upgrade Tool.exe
I used this tool (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=284379&highlight=asus) with update.img and it made 2 additional files from it. What are these files for? And how can I modify the Filesystem and so on?
2. Is it possible to read the current ROM? A backup wouldn't be the worst idea berfore playing with selfmade-ROMs.
3. And what if everything goes wrong? Is there a way to program this backup back into the Rom?
PS: Sorry for my crappy english I'm from Germany
Thank you!

Related

Can anyone help upgrading ROM on O2 ENG XDA??

I have recently asked a couple of questions on how to upgrade my ROM on my current O2 XDA. (I was trying to unlock it but could not use the unlock pgm because the ROM version was not current)
I have had a few excellent responses. But not being to computer literate, particularly on upgrading my ROM. I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. Does anyone know where to obtain a step by step guide to updating the ROM. Also I had asked about safeguarding my existing ROM until the upgrade was successful. Can someone help by answering the following?
I have downloaded the relevant versions of ROM to apply
1) How do I back up my current ROM so that I can re-apply in the event of a problem, i.e. is it possible to back it up to SD and also on my desktop?
2) Is it possible to copy the new ROM you wish to apply to SD/MMC card and then apply it?
3) What is the differences between radio versions I here so much spoke about it and don’t understand this?
Any responses would be very appreciated, hopefully I’ll get my answer in the one go or I can open the relevant thread. Thanks in advance and a merry xmas to you all.
Ok first thing you want to do is to read these three pages:
http://www.xda-developers.com/rom/
http://www.xda-developers.com/XDArit/
http://www.xda-developers.com/bootloader/
They should give you a reasonable understanding of whats involved to update your ROM.
1) The bootloader page covers backing up your current ROM
2) Yes you can copy it to SD/MMC (this is safer than using cradle anyway..) this is covered on XDArit page
3) Unless you are experiencing problems with your current radio stack most people will advise against upgrading it.. to upgrade your OS you only need the CE Rom. These can be made at Yorch's kitchen: http://kitchen.romanweb.com/kitchen/index.php then use XDArit/Osimage to copy it to your SD card.
HTH
Neil
I don´t know. Sorry

Please.... Step By Step Guide : XDAII ROM UpGrade

Because i am really confused about previous step already too much, now i would like to ask you guys kindly what is the step by step guide to upgrading XDAII.
1. How to modified the Extended Rom? I would like to modified the existing 1.60.36WWE, but cant even get in using ER2003EDIT. :roll:
2. Can i only upgrade the OS ROM? If i don't wanna upgrade the Radio and Extended ROM. How do i do this? Is it only simple erase those two files and click the HimaUpgradeUt? :roll:
3. How to DUMP the whole thing to an SD Card? But i dont wanna using serial cable. I already see the previous THREAD, but i dunno how to use the HyperTerminal in the Windows XP.
Thanks in advance, Masters....

Not sure about my Blue angel Upgrade

Okay, I promise that I have read until I think my eyes are going to bleed.
I upgraded my BA a few years ago. I was trying it when they forums said that some people were able to get them to work on Cingular. I did it using the WIKI pages which had nothing about cingular, and got the Cingular information from the forums. I got a divorce after I decided to start this upgrade, and could not think about anything else. I would now like to fix this phone,and start using it again.
My phone did upgrade to WM5 and everything worked except for the phone portion. That is where I turn to those of you here for help.
1. How can I find out which version of the upgrade that I installed? 16mb or 32mb?
2. I can not find my original Devicedata.txt. Can I use a generic or copy the data from another phone that a friend of mine bought at the same time? or is the data specific to my phone only? Is their a chance that I can recover this from my phone now?
3. If I can still use this phone which procedure should I use? Downgrade, and then upgrade: just install a few files or cabs? or go with a whole new rom since it was so long ago?
I appreciate any help, and I promise that I have read alot in these groups and the WIKIs.
Liquidd
1) Check settings, system, memory. Although I don't think it matters much if all you want to do is install the newest ROM available.
2) You shouldn't need it if you use maupgradeut_noid.exe to perform the upgrade
3) I think just go with the newest ROM, no need to downgrade as the new ROM isn't going to care what was on there before it.
Just go to the wiki at http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Helmi and download the 1.4Baniaczek R2 ROM. Follow the steps on that wiki page (they start 3/4 of the way down the page) and you should be fine. Step 2 doesn't really apply except part 4 of that step. Step 3 doesn't apply either as long as you use the maupgradeut_noid.exe to do the upgrade (included in the ROM download).

Tutorial for BEFORE ugrading from WM5 to WM6.

Yes, we're all noobs!!!
I have a brand new Excalibur (I bricked my first one five mins. out of the box) and I attempt to upgrade following instructions on the tutorial posted on these forums.
What's not stated on said tutorial (and no one tells you, only after you bricked your phone) is that YOU MUST BACK UP YOUR ORIGINAL ROM before the upgrade, because if anything goes wrong, that is the only ROM you can flash to your phone to restore it, otherwise IT IS BRICKED. (Believe me, it happened to me).
So, to all you experts reading these, please, help us noobs and post here a complete guide on how to back up your original ROM.
We will thank and worship you forever!!!
These days, there is no need to backup your own Rom.
We have a collection of ROMs on this site alone. Or in my signature.
I do suggest to download one prior to updating your ROM.
This forum uses most of a collection of ROM i have uploaded for everyone.
Click here for the forum of original ROMS
Mikey1022 said:
These days, there is no need to backup your own Rom.
We have a collection of ROMs on this site alone. Or in my signature.
I do suggest to download one prior to updating your ROM.
This forum uses most of a collection of ROM i have uploaded for everyone.
Click here for the forum of original ROMS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have two questions: Firstly, there is no official O2 Xda Cosmo ROM or? Secondly, if you back up the ROM first, how can you flash it back to the device? Is there a tutorial for this?
Thanks
READ this thread
uccellino said:
I have two questions: Firstly, there is no official O2 Xda Cosmo ROM or? Secondly, if you back up the ROM first, how can you flash it back to the device? Is there a tutorial for this?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i'm waiting for the official O2 Xda cosmo ROM. i need it badly because my camera doesn't work anymore with new ROM. and i am totally agree to write a clear reminder to backup your original ROM first before upgrading in the upgrading ROM thread. just in case for noob like me....
Mikey1022 said:
READ this thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After rereading, I still have the questions:
1. How is it possible to flash back a saved backup ROM image?
2. If I use a USPL and then something goes wrong while flashing a cooked ROM, can I only re-flash my original ROM (i.e. for XDA Cosmo which doesn't exist)?
Thanks
Okay - maybe I just figured out the answer to my own question: if I flash the USPL-RUU first before flashing a ROM update, maybe this means I can reflash if something goes wrong? Is this correct, or is there a chance that the SPL get overwritten before the error and I still get stuck?
Well, in fact, it is necessary...
Mikey1022 said:
These days, there is no need to backup your own Rom.
We have a collection of ROMs on this site alone. Or in my signature.
I do suggest to download one prior to updating your ROM.
This forum uses most of a collection of ROM i have uploaded for everyone.
Click here for the forum of original ROMS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...When I mean original ROM, I mean the ROM that could only work on a CID-Locked-by-a-carrier Excalibur, not the HTC WW ROM release.
Also, many of us noobs are international, I doubt that on the ROM database on this website we'll be able to find, say, the Movistar Mexico HTC Excalibur WM5 1.15.0000 ROM, which in my case, is the only one I would be able to flash in case anything goes wrong on the upgrade attempt. (I dedicated a week searching this ROM for the first Excalibur I bricked, no results)
Therefore - and I really hate to contradict -, for many of us, a ROM backup IS necessary and a tutorial from you experts on how to do it would be a great, great contribution to this community. (And also to the database, 'cause I'll definitively upload my ROM once I back it up)
velascoperroni said:
...When I mean original ROM, I mean the ROM that could only work on a CID-Locked-by-a-carrier Excalibur, not the HTC WW ROM release.
Also, many of us noobs are international, I doubt that on the ROM database on this website we'll be able to find, say, the Movistar Mexico HTC Excalibur WM5 1.15.0000 ROM, which in my case, is the only one I would be able to flash in case anything goes wrong on the upgrade attempt. (I dedicated a week searching this ROM for the first Excalibur I bricked, no results)
Therefore - and I really hate to contradict -, for many of us, a ROM backup IS necessary and a tutorial from you experts on how to do it would be a great, great contribution to this community. (And also to the database, 'cause I'll definitively upload my ROM once I back it up)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, it's quite easy to CID unlock your phone to load whatever ROM you want. Much easier in fact, than dumping your current ROM and restoring it. I was able to flash my first ROM within about 30 minutes of reading on this forum, and had no problems at all.
velascoperroni said:
...When I mean original ROM, I mean the ROM that could only work on a CID-Locked-by-a-carrier Excalibur, not the HTC WW ROM release.
Also, many of us noobs are international, I doubt that on the ROM database on this website we'll be able to find, say, the Movistar Mexico HTC Excalibur WM5 1.15.0000 ROM, which in my case, is the only one I would be able to flash in case anything goes wrong on the upgrade attempt. (I dedicated a week searching this ROM for the first Excalibur I bricked, no results)
Therefore - and I really hate to contradict -, for many of us, a ROM backup IS necessary and a tutorial from you experts on how to do it would be a great, great contribution to this community. (And also to the database, 'cause I'll definitively upload my ROM once I back it up)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree with you
I just have no idea how to restore a backed-up ROM and I haven't read anything saying how to do it either. As you say, many of us a stuck with devices CID locked to some international ROM that is impossible to get.
So once again the question: Does anyone know how to re-flash a backed-up ROM?
I'm no expert but all I'm going to say is this. If you have a Rom from a different carrier that has not leaked to the public, then you are probably out of luck. You take the risk of hoping your phone will not have serious problems down the line of your contract or usage. You should pick up insurance on your phone depending on the stipulations your carrier has about lost or stolen or even broken phones. In that case you could return/replace your phone if need be after modifying it to your liking. I also would suggest that the entire reason we are here is that we don't want to be like the norm. We want what we paid for and don't want to be restricted. It's a risk. You must make that choice and succeed or fail that's not anyone's problem but your own. With all the Roms out there you should find one to your liking. If you brick your phone which seems so much more difficult than my razr modding days, than sell it for parts and lesson learned.
In the U.S. the Open Headset Alliance is our future so what we do to our phones in the future will be our choice.
Good Modding
Pfunk
C'mon guys...
Wy all the negativity?
I'm I conspiring against copyright laws if I want to have a backup of the ROM I paid for?
Is backing up a ROM frowned upon on this community? or is it so easy (from what I can gather it requires "dumping" and "restoring") that it is even insulting for me to ask you how to do it?
Yes, we are all here because we don't conform to the norm, but we are all HERE to help each other out. Why the closure? Why the elitism?
Like all of you, I want to take full advantage of the piece of technology I acquired without the restrictions installed on them by the phone corps. Yes, I would like to have the minimum risks while doing so, and yes, I would like to do it as cost effective as I can, just as anyone of you would.
It is a risk to upgrade a Cid.Locked phone with the bypass provided on this website, It happened to me and to many: USB cord unplugs and voila, bricked phone.
One alternative is to pay $40 bucks for a permanent Cid.Unlock, which will allow you to flash and flash and flash, even if you get stuck in the middle of one process.
The other, used by many here who wont pay, is to use the Cid bypass, while having a backup original rom "just in case".
What I only ask (for myself and my peer noobs) is to have this same other alternative as many, many of you.
Really, is it to hard to post the following?
1. Downoad these softwares;
2. Do this to "dump";
3. Do that to "restore";
4. To re-flash, do this.
C'mon, all for one and one for all right?
p.s. For my friend asking how to re-flash a backed up ROM, from what I've gathered, it goes something like this: your backed up ROM must be in a *.bn format (I still don't know how to even achieve this); then you must get a hold of any HTC RUU Software, extract it (Winrar) and replace the *.bn file inside the extracted folder with your *.bn file; with the HTC connected in bootloader mode, run the exe file in the extracted folder.
velascoperroni said:
...I doubt that on the ROM database on this website we'll be able to find, say, the Movistar Mexico HTC Excalibur WM5 1.15.0000 ROM, which in my case, is the only one I would be able to flash in case anything goes wrong on the upgrade attempt. (I dedicated a week searching this ROM for the first Excalibur I bricked, no results)
Therefore - and I really hate to contradict -, for many of us, a ROM backup IS necessary and a tutorial from you experts on how to do it would be a great, great contribution to this community. (And also to the database, 'cause I'll definitively upload my ROM once I back it up)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Official ROMs collection is as full as I can make it. To have more images, we need everyone to upload ones that are missing to something like rapidshare, mediafire, or one of a few dozen other hosting sites, then tell up here on xda dev. Or upload it to several yourself. Spreading things on the net is much easier than ripping the ROM out anyway, and you benefit from the online backups, too.
So, yes, if you aren't going to back up your ROM, hope that someone else already has. Or, even better, be that first guy who does it, to make things easier for the rest of us. Besides, we might want to see what kinda goodies are tucked in the Movistar version
Indeed!
Profezza said:
...Or, even better, be that first guy who does it, to make things easier for the rest of us. Besides, we might want to see what kinda goodies are tucked in the Movistar version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the support Profezza, indeed I intend to be the first, but in order to do that, I need to know how to do it.
I'll keep my hopes up for someone to post here the procedure for backing up my own ROM.
Also, the Movistar version is pretty lame, at least it would be a language addition to the database since it is originally in Spanish.
velascoperroni said:
Thanks for the support Profezza, indeed I intend to be the first, but in order to do that, I need to know how to do it.
I'll keep my hopes up for someone to post here the procedure for backing up my own ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My post kinda ignored that point, as... I don't actually know how it is done.
velascoperroni said:
Also, the Movistar version is pretty lame, at least it would be a language addition to the database since it is originally in Spanish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the version # system is controlled by HTC and fairly consistent across brandings, so it looks like it is a rather old one, but yeah, it could handy just for the Spanish. And ya never know, maybe a better graphic or two in some odd corner. I'll come back and bump this if it looks like it is fading away.
velascoperroni said:
p.s. For my friend asking how to re-flash a backed up ROM, from what I've gathered, it goes something like this: your backed up ROM must be in a *.bn format (I still don't know how to even achieve this); then you must get a hold of any HTC RUU Software, extract it (Winrar) and replace the *.bn file inside the extracted folder with your *.bn file; with the HTC connected in bootloader mode, run the exe file in the extracted folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi velascoperroni!
Thank you for your help - this is helping me to get closer to understanding
Basically I have my old ROM image as .img files (actually 5 of them) produced by bkondisk, together with a log file saying what goes where. So now all we need to figure out is how to turn these back into a .bn file and we'll be in business. For info on bkondisk, which lets you save your ROM (as .img files), see this wiki http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=bkondisk
Could anyone point me to some resources on these two file formats? Then maybe we could come up with a conversion program when one doesnt exist
Getting closer!
Great, it seems we are getting closer to our goal!!!
But still surprises me that no one has posted a complete how to... perhaps the only few who know the deal haven't read this thread yet.
Now we know the following:
1. Bkondisk: software that allows to backup ROM in *.img format.
2. The original format of the ROM is *.bn
We don't know if the *.img file needs to be converted to *.bn or if they are compatible.
I also found out about an easier method to re-flash the ROM:
1. Format your SD Card in FAT32;
2. Copy your *.bn file to your SD Card;
3. Turn off phone, insert SD Card, Turn on phone in bootloader mode;
4. The phone should automatically recognize the ROM and start the flashing process.
Uccelino: Try placing the *.img file in the SD Card instead of the *.bn file. Maybe, just maybe the phone also recognizes *img files!
Getting closer!
Great, it seems we are getting closer to our goal!!!
But still surprises me that no one has posted a complete how to... perhaps the only few who know the deal haven't read this thread yet.
Now we know the following:
1. Bkondisk: software that allows to backup ROM in *.img format.
2. The original format of the ROM is *.bn
We don't know if the *.img file needs to be converted to *.bn or if they are compatible.
I also found out about an easier method to re-flash the ROM:
1. Format your SD Card in FAT32;
2. Copy your *.bin file to your SD Card;
3. Turn off phone, insert SD Card, Turn on phone in bootloader mode.
4. The phone should automatically recognize the ROM and start the flashing process.
Uccelino: Try placing the *.img file in the SD Card instead of the *.bin file. Maybe, just maybe the phone also recognizes *img files!
Also...
Sorry for the double post back there!!
Also check out this thread I started when I bricked my first Excalibur:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=378050
I never got a feasible response to wether sprite backup would work or not, and I did not want to spend $30 bucks to find out.
velascoperroni said:
Great, it seems we are getting closer to our goal!!!
But still surprises me that no one has posted a complete how to... perhaps the only few who know the deal haven't read this thread yet.
Now we know the following:
1. Bkondisk: software that allows to backup ROM in *.img format.
2. The original format of the ROM is *.bn
We don't know if the *.img file needs to be converted to *.bn or if they are compatible.
I also found out about an easier method to re-flash the ROM:
1. Format your SD Card in FAT32;
2. Copy your *.bin file to your SD Card;
3. Turn off phone, insert SD Card, Turn on phone in bootloader mode.
4. The phone should automatically recognize the ROM and start the flashing process.
Uccelino: Try placing the *.img file in the SD Card instead of the *.bin file. Maybe, just maybe the phone also recognizes *img files!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just had an idea: I will flash a ROM, back it up, and compare the *.bn files to the *.img files I get from backing up - maybe they are or are almost the same, and we can convert them
I will try. Thanks

How to Flash Dell Axim x51v and install WM 6.1

Hey Everybody,
Heres a big hello to everyone, this is my first post here. My brother gifted me a Dell Axim x51v with Windows Mobile 6 Classic installed on it. He flashed it himself earlier on. Now, I'm wanting to install Windows Mobile 6.1 on it, but am pretty much lost on how to do so. I've never flashed my Dell before, so have no clue about it. If anyone could refer me a guide to do so, or help me out with it, it'd be much help!
Which is the best ROM to install? I've read up and seems like Lenny's is the best to Install. Is it stable on x51v?
Any help will be much appreciated,
Thanks in advance,
Regards,
Sibot
You might want to have a look at this
Lennysh, didnt try them yet but Makuu has a sweet one out now with Voip embedded. Looks pretty sweet.
Hey, Thanks for replying. I'm looking into the football version. I don't really require VOIP support apart from Skype.
The football version has A03 and A07. Any idea which is the more stable version?
Also, I have 2 memory cards. CF and SD card.
On my CF card I store some programs. I plan to flash the ROM using SD card. Do I make sure that the CF card is not in the Dell Axim while flashing? Also do I delete the "Program Files" folder in my CF card on the new install?
Is there any way I can take a back-up of my current Dell Axim ROM? Incase if I mess it up, I can load it back on? I remember there was FUBAR when I used to flash my Siemens Cellphone, like a backup.
Regards,
Sibot
Do you mean all the files included in the rom image or all the files (ones that came with rom AND personal files)? If just the files in the rom image, you just need the nb0 file for a backup. If it's everything, use a backup program like Data Backup (not sure if came bundled with rom, ususally has) or SPB Backup.
Hi!
How i flash my Axim with CF card?
Thanks ;-)
So I got it brand new, I am trying to get basic windows executables running. I was wondering if anybody could recommend me with any good ROM images. I have the original ROM, but the PDA dosent see it for some reason.

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