Develop Bugs

Extended ROM Questions - trying to understand it all

Hi,
I have been playing around with ROMs and reading stacks of posts about cooking your own, but am slightly confused. Most of the threads seem to assume a certain level of understanding and also most of the info seems to relate to modifying the nk.nbf file.
I have taken the Orange AKU2 update and then added the ms_.nbf and radio_.nbf files from the latest Dutch TMobile ROM and put it on my Universal, but when it installed it appears to have added a number of TMobile files.
So am I right in thinking that the operators modify the ms_nbf as well as the radio_nbf?
Also is there a definitive article or thread around providing a step by step approach to putting together a custom ROM?
There are some things I like about the Orange ROM, but other areas I would like to remove. Also there are some things I spotted on the TMobile ROM (like streaming video) that would be handy to have.
THanks in advance.

jvoelcker said:
Hi,
I have been playing around with ROMs and reading stacks of posts about cooking your own, but am slightly confused. Most of the threads seem to assume a certain level of understanding and also most of the info seems to relate to modifying the nk.nbf file.
I have taken the Orange AKU2 update and then added the ms_.nbf and radio_.nbf files from the latest Dutch TMobile ROM and put it on my Universal, but when it installed it appears to have added a number of TMobile files.
So am I right in thinking that the operators modify the ms_nbf as well as the radio_nbf?
Also is there a definitive article or thread around providing a step by step approach to putting together a custom ROM?
There are some things I like about the Orange ROM, but other areas I would like to remove. Also there are some things I spotted on the TMobile ROM (like streaming video) that would be handy to have.
THanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, well I don't really know too much about the nbf files but when you do a ROM upgrade using whichever ROM you want, i.e., Orange, T-Mobile, I-Mate, etc, once the PDA reboots and then runs a customization it installs files that the individual operators have set for their version of the pda. The thing you should do is that before the pda starts customizing do a hard reset and after the reboot you'll see the basic Windows Mobile PDA. Then you should do an ExtendedROM unlock and then you'll see all the files that the operator has set the pda to install. What I did was try out all the different ROMs and still ended up with the latest T-Mobile UK ROM from BuzzDev.net. Then I did the tedious task of installing each one separately and then rebooting after each one to see what it changes. You can then add or remove the ones you don't want or want and edit the config.txt (on T-Mobile ROM) and then you have it all. Or after each format reboot before the customization, unlock the ExtendedROM and then install all the cabs you want and then reboot.
As for which one does what I really don't know too much. I do know the obvious ones like the MMS one and all but that's about it. There are a lot of good resources on BuzzDev that you should check out. Hope this helps.

Thanks.
I'm slowly getting to grips with it all, but just need some more time to run through all the messages on here to get a better handle on cooking your own ROMs.
It's a shame no one has the time to consolidate the great info on here and put it up on the Wiki.

operators put their customisation tools in ms_.nbf file,which acutally representst the extended rom.

How to cook?

Hi Chefs,
I want to cook a BigStorage/Light Edition of the new O2 Germany Rom. What should i do?
My my first thoughts: I extract the os.nb of the exe file, load it in the Rom Koch...OK, now, it's getting difficult...I want to remove for example Feedback, ringtones, example pics and vids, old office, games, windows live, homezone plugin etc. I don't know, which files i have to delete. Is there a list, which files belong to which programms?
Can i brick my phone, if i delete a wrong file?
Is it dangerous to flash my hermes with a selfcoocked rom (BADBLOCKS)?
Is that the right way to create a big storage rom?
What shouldnt i forget?
thnx
PS: pleas don't flame me...
Pello

Nobody can me help a little?

pello said:
Nobody can me help a little?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you have HardSPL as the bootloader before you flash and are just flashing OS only upgrades you should be ok...
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Hermes

jepp...ok, thats nice, so i can try without bricking my hermes.
can i just delete the files without changing user/default registry/flashinitfiles?
Is there a documentation for which files belong to which app, for example WindowsLive?

Windows live stuff is normally in directories called "WindowsLive*" inside the SYS folder.
Just play about, it's a fun way to learn and with HardSPL you shouldn't brick your device (for example I messed up a splash screen creation by not adding the padding required for the hermes. Looked horrible, didn't boot, but put it into three color bootloader screen and was able to flash a fixed version easily).

sorry I didn't reply in the other thread.
the software is somewhat modular - in that if you remove all of the Windows Live folders or Entertainment folders, you should remove all of that component.
Under /SYS/SQM is a .rgu file. The first entry is "Enabled"=dword:00000001. Change that to 00000000 to disable feedback.
Note that some kitchens uses an options.xml to allow BuildOS to determine what gets installed. The one for the files in /SYS uses a single one in /SYS.
I'd suggest grabbing a kitchen and following the directions. If you got HardSPL installed, and are careful, you should do well.
I "bricked" my phone twice in the first hour I started because I tried flashing a Wizard formated extended rom to the Hermes... gotta learn somehow

thnx mattk...
can i use the bepes rom kitchen or pandoras rom kitchen only with the included WM6Rom or can i swap the OEM,SYS Folders and the os.nb with the included?
What should i do with the XIP Folder?

official att wm6 release without bloat

Now that ATT released the 8525 wm6 is there someone who has removed the bloat? I would like to keep the official release for stability but not the extras. Is there anything out there or can I make a request for it by someone who knows what they are doing?

there plenty of roms already using the exact build that is in the ATT release.

most likely, vp3g will do it soon

MistaRip said:
most likely, vp3g will do it soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He already has. Check his updated post of 3.62

psuarmy said:
Now that ATT released the 8525 wm6 is there someone who has removed the bloat? I would like to keep the official release for stability but not the extras. Is there anything out there or can I make a request for it by someone who knows what they are doing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hypercore
Austinsync
VP3G
all have roms for AT&T WM6

shihayadreamer said:
Hypercore
Austinsync
VP3G
all have roms for AT&T WM6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but he wants the official build (3.62.yaddayadda.03 versus 3.62.yaddayadda.02).

mcorrie1121 you are right. I have tried most other roms and have had either stability or other issues. No problems so far with the actual official release for ATT. I just don't like the bloat, but I am not quite good enough to take it out myself and not ruin my phone.
I am trying vp3g's latest release now I will see how it works.
OK I have the wm6 .exe from ATT. I would like to break it down and edit the extended ROM to remove what I don't want. I have NBHextract, NBHgen, and Modified RUUUpdater but they may as well be Pig Latin. I have looked thru the forum and I am missing something, or is there an easier way that I don't know about. Any help?

psuarmy said:
mcorrie1121 you are right. I have tried most other roms and have had either stability or other issues. No problems so far with the actual official release for ATT. I just don't like the bloat, but I am not quite good enough to take it out myself and not ruin my phone.
I am trying vp3g's latest release now I will see how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Austinsnyc should be makin one soon. It was hinted at least. I have found his to be the most stable and fast ROM based on the old 3.62, and I used vp's for awhile. vp's ROM is very nice too, but this one just whips it, so I'm waiting.

If you want the AT&T rom minus the bloat, then flash the official rom and do a soft reset when the 3 second counter comes up. That will prevent the at&t customization software from running. The customization software consists of two parts, the first part lives in the \windows folder and is installed with the preAutoRun.exe and controlled by the PreConfig.txt file.
The second part is called by the first application and lives in the \Extended_Rom folder. You cannot see this folder by default. If you install total commander and manually type the folder location in the address bar, you will be able to see the files located in it. It is installed by the AutoRun.exe and controlled by the Config.txt file.
There is an application availabe here on xda(not sure where I found it) that allows you to mount all the extended rom partitions. After you install it and reboot, the Extended_Rom will show up in the file explorer as a folder. What I did was copy all of the preconfig and config files to a folder on my computer. I then modified the preconfig.txt and config.txt files to suite my tastes. I also edited the .xml files to remove the stuff I didn't want(creating all the music icons, installing the internet proxy, etc.). I put all the files I needed in a folder called cingular, and modified the path in the preconfig.txt and config.txt files to be \cingular instead of \windows and \extended_rom. Then I edited the registry settings under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm.
There are two settings that need to be changed, PreAutoRunCFG and AutoRunCFG. They point to the location of the two text files that control the installation of the bloat. You can't change the actual text files as they are located in ROM, not RAM. Once everything is sitting in the \cingular folder and the registry is modified, I kick it all off with the preautorun.exe and my customized at&t customizations are installed.
I only change/remove the things I'm sure I don't want/need. Anything I'm unsure about, I leave alone. You can tell that a lot of that stuff was written by programmers who didn't think anyone would ever look at it. Lots of commented out stuff left in there and other stuff listed as requested by so and so. Anyway, That's pretty much it. If you mess up, do a clear storage and try again till you get it just how you want it. I hope this helps someone.

psuarmy said:
Now that ATT released the 8525 wm6 is there someone who has removed the bloat? I would like to keep the official release for stability but not the extras. Is there anything out there or can I make a request for it by someone who knows what they are doing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you just would be happy by not installing the CUSTOMIZATION? I had the ATT WM6 for a while and if you prevent your device from customizing your Hermes (the installation after first start / screen alignment - you get a message on the screen telling you that IT WILL CUSTOMIZE YOUR DEVICE IN 3 SECONDS - simply soft reset your device within this 3 secs and you will end up with a pretty clean WM6 ROM).

There are other things that can be removed that arent included in the extended ROM, as well as other things that can be incorporated (SetAcousticParameter, anyone?). Besides, i dont have the attention span to do what thexman suggested

If i would do the soft reset right after install to keep the bloat from being installed like suggested then just added the ATT config cab would that work? The only thing I need ATT for is phone calls and SMS texts, no mms or internet. I have wi-fi for that. Then I could just find what I want and add it.

the at&t settings are only used for mms and internet. so in ur case u dont really need to install them.

psuarmy said:
If i would do the soft reset right after install to keep the bloat from being installed like suggested then just added the ATT config cab would that work? The only thing I need ATT for is phone calls and SMS texts, no mms or internet. I have wi-fi for that. Then I could just find what I want and add it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me know what your end results are. I want to see how it goes.

alltheway I will let you know it might take me a day or so though
OK I installed the ROM and soft reset before extended ROM install. So far so good. I can make calls and send texts. Everything else seems to be working well. I will see how this works for a few days though maybe I will try another ROM such as Schaps or another cleaned out WM6 ROM to remove some of the unwanted Windows items. Thanks for the suggestions.

New Old style kitchen based on Bepe's tools

Hi here i release an OLD style kitchen based on Bepes tools
I have taken bepe's kitchen and created some batch files to make it a one click extract and one click build and flash
I was so used to the old style kitchens and when they stoped working (failing at xip extract) i was looking for something that worked that i could use easly.
I found bepes kitchen, and it was nearly the same so i ported the batch files from diamond kitchen 0.4 to make this.
this kitchen uses the new style packages but has the look and feel of the diamond kitchen 0.4
I am still looking for the package creater that makes these NEW style packages but can't seem to find it now so if anyone has it please drop me a link so i can include it in the kitchen tools
download link ---->
http://rapidshare.com/files/217781904/Kitchen.rar
Instructions
1 place you RUU_Signed.nbh in the baserom folder
2 click on !Begin
3 Dont touch anything until extraction is finished (approx 5-10minutes)
4 Modify your packages
5 click on !Cook
6 wait until the htc rom tool loads
7 select diamond in device, os.new.nb as the source OS and save as kitchen/RUU_Signed.nbh
8 close htc rom tool and Custom RUU flash tool will load
9 flash and enjoy
......

will this kitchen group the OEM and SYS files properly. im having difficulty in using the new format or everything's in SYS\MSXIPKernel folder.

Is the Rom dump protected after cooking?

DefJamz said:
will this kitchen group the OEM and SYS files properly. im having difficulty in using the new format or everything's in SYS\MSXIPKernel folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this dumps the rom into the OEM, SYS and ROM Folders if you want the EXT folder download Bepe's tool below OEM2EXT

RideTheTube said:
Is the Rom dump protected after cooking?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not had time yet to try and test if i can rebuild a cooked rom, will have a go tonight and post my findings.
This is Bepe's Kitchen automated by batch files so he is the best person to talk to about protection
sorry to be a little blunt but i am a noob when it comes to cooking that why i found something that worked for me and made it a little easyer to use,

Protected Rom? Almost Rom when rebuilding, it will delete all dsm file, so you can't use package tool.

ok i have now tried the flashing, and the cooked roms won't pass the splash screen page, not getting the device info in bottom right corner.
anybody there who uses bepe's kitchen mind having a look for me.
also i can't open a re-cooked rom

garymeg said:
ok i have now tried the flashing, and the cooked roms won't pass the splash screen page, not getting the device info in bottom right corner.
anybody there who uses bepe's kitchen mind having a look for me.
also i can't open a re-cooked rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem and it was a XIP "mess-up". however I can't help you more than this.
try asking here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3575850&postcount=131

i simply do NOT understand why build a tool that deletes stuffs that are important for cooking. isnt rom cooking supposed to be an open project for ALL? i mean some chef have the donate button in their sigs. but their rom's locked. it isnt fair to those (like myself) trying to learn how to cook a rom. i mean, i try to compare official roms and custom roms insides. what are the difference. it's by comparing that people learn to differenciate. and i would say BAHHH to missing rgu and dsm files!!

My thoughts exactly... Alas...
it is ironic, that NONE of the chefs who lock roms/doesn't supply kitchen/ask for donation wrote the code themselves. In short - everybody operates on stolen/leaked or any other way obtained code.
Ok, there are authors who created tools. And those guys have full right (and reason) to ask for donations fro that - TOOLS.
Otherwise - it's just funny. it's like stealing a car, and then asking police to protect it....

no panic.
at normaly old style kitchens never delete dsm'S.
and if you delete manualy dsm'S, you get all files in folder.
i think, with protect rom it means, no recookable roms.
it stops at point 1 or in the first step by using BEGIN! with a message like
"rom is smaller/bigger than/at starts" or so. excuise me, i've forgot the exactly words.
for checking of recookable rom i checked it with "htcRIE_0.5.0.12.exe".
it shows you all files with oem/sys - folders. but the oem can be empty. you find the oem-files than in sys-folder.
these points are my thinks that i see/learned by beginning flashing and cooking until now. other people can see/learn other thinks so dont dismiss me, if you are not my oppinien - but you can dismiss my english

Htc rom tool
Is it possible to use this for the Fuze?
EDIT: I found HTC tools with support for more phones on this thread a couple posts down

[KITCHEN+ROM][WWE]Stock Diamond 2.03 Kitchen & Rom ported with 21042XIP/SYS (Online)

[KITCHEN+ROM][WWE]Stock Diamond 2.03 Kitchen & Rom ported with 21042XIP/SYS (Online)
I've seen a few requests for kitchen's & rom's based on 21042 XIP/SYS so I decided to knock one up using the 2.03MRII 2.03.401.3 base and XIP/SYS from 21042 build.
This kitchen & rom is currently completely stock. Nothing removed from the OEM & SYS folders, no tweaks no addon programs just standard diamond build with newer core.
The only extra included which isn't in the original stock rom is remote desktop mobile (came with the sys not an extra) which of course you can remove from the kitchen if you wish. As it's the new sys it obviously contains the newer builds of MS apps including Windows live. Also this does not have the newer version of IE, just standard version.
Keyboard currently supports English, French, German, Greek, Italian & Spanish t9 however this should be updatable with the 14 language patch available elsewhere.
The kitchen is bepe platformrebuilder in almost stock form. No extra tools except for it runs htc rom tool to build the nbh file at the end.
XIP is not changed in anyway except updated msxipkernel & msxipkernelltk from 21042. No pagepool patching, cert patching or time/date/name changes. os.nb.payload size is reduced in the kitchen however this has no bearing on the final rom.
As this uses bepe's platformrebuilder, if you wish to change the date, build, pagepool, cert patching in the kitchen directly, these need to be done on nk.exe in the oemxipkernel. Any changes made to os.nb.payload (except uldr) will not be carried forward to the final rom as the nk.exe will overwrite changes to the payload. The payload itself is not ported so if you extract this and replace the msxipkernel folders then you will be back to a 20764 xip. There is no need to port the payload as replacing the msxipkernel & ltk folder in the xip folder properly ports the xip anyway if you are using bepe's kitchen (surface kitchen does not work properly in this way)
Also any rom's built with this tool are automatically locked as the kitchen deletes rgu's & dsm's from the cooked rom for space saving and performance. The files are extractable but then all you get is a dump of the files, without being able to seperate to packages.
Hope this helps some of you out there.
Also on the link there will be a stock diamond rom built from this kitchen - entirely stock but with latest xip/sys - even .netcf is still v2.0 that's how stock it is. It does however have more storage memory as it is cooked - original has 82Mb total and 57 available - this has 102Mb in total and 75+Mb free. Using the kitchen you could make a rom with alot more free space however.
I would recommend atleast upgrading .netcf to 3.5 in this rom if you are lightly cooking. Package for this is available on the forum
If you release a rom using this kitchen, please do not forget to credit the source.
Shaks.P Roms are free and always will be. If you like my Roms optionally send me a drink here:
​

Download Links:
http://diamond.geg0r.de/index.php?dir=Shaks%2FStock%2F
Please donate to bl0w for providing this mirror.
Important: Hard spl is required to use either the rom on this link or any rom created with this kitchen.

Basic Tutorial
As the rom is already ported & extracted, all you need to do is make your modifications then build the rom.
Step 1. Modify the sys & oem folders with the packages that you need. Make a backup of any folders you delete in case they cause issues with anything else.
Step 2. Once you are happy with the modifications, run build_rom.bat. This will create the os_new.nb file in the root of the kitchen folder. Once this is done, it will load the htc rom tool that builds & signs the final nbh file.
Step 3. Once the htc rom tool loads, select Build!, Change the version to anyversion you would like (this version only shows up when flashing). Under system, click on ... and select the os_new.nb file that has just been created. Then click on Build! ROM and this will ask where to save the nbh file and the name. Save as diamimg.nbh if you want to flash thru internal storage or any other name you like if using customruu.
Step 4. Ensure your device has hardspl, then flash the rom you just built either using custom ruu or using the internal storage method. If it doesn't work, you can allways flash another rom after getting the device in bootloader mode.

Can't wait
Thanks!

Will you post it today, or....?
And can i make my rom from this "Rom ported with 21042XIP/SYS"?
Thanks!

alxalx said:
Will you post it today, or....?
And can i make my rom from this "Rom ported with 21042XIP/SYS"?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's uploading at the moment. It is a seperate kitchen & a rom as well. You can make whatever type of rom you wish to with this. Just mention the original source if you release it.
The rom is if you want a stock rom with the new build. Looks like you need the kitchen. Should all be uploaded in next 15-20 mins. Had to start the upload again.

Thanks shaks!
Not only do you provide the best ROM around, but now also a kitchen, you rock!

sweat shaks thanx for sharing going to finaly try my own Rom you make us happier and happier every time
(EDIT)
so does this mean your not going to build any more Roms or ?

shaks1979 said:
It's uploading at the moment. It is a seperate kitchen & a rom as well. You can make whatever type of rom you wish to with this. Just mention the original source if you release it.
The rom is if you want a stock rom with the new build. Looks like you need the kitchen. Should all be uploaded in next 15-20 mins. Had to start the upload again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man! I appreciate it!

Dynomite232 said:
sweat shaks thanx for sharing going to finaly try my own Rom you make us happier and happier every time
(EDIT)
so does this mean your not going to build any more Roms or ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is just something I felt like doing for today. The kitchen won't get updated much (probably not at all as it's not modified). The roms will continue but will be going for the long release cycles again just like 3.20. I envisage I will probably have one more release and if that doesn't have issues then no more flashing till something big happens again (maybe stable tachi rom comes)
This kitchen is so stock that it can't replace my rom without alot of work - no tweaks, extra packages or anything for that matter except what comes in the stock as that's what some people wanted and I thought it won't take long so I did it.
P.S sorry for the delay with the upload. Having some issues

damn nice to here for one more rom coming out in the near future but tell u the truth my wife went back to rom 3.20 of urs she says it was much beter for her she was used to it she will never change roms agains she says beter for me lol , but mine is doing realy fine and i gots bunch of programs installed no issues at all by the way thanks man i cant stop thanking u

Dynomite232 said:
damn nice to here for one more rom coming out in the near future but tell u the truth my wife went back to rom 3.20 of urs she says it was much beter for her she was used to it she will never change roms agains she says beter for me lol , but mine is doing realy fine and i gots bunch of programs installed no issues at all by the way thanks man i cant stop thanking u
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well 3.20 was a damn good, stable, time tested rom. I know a few people who won't change from it at all. Tested the latest but went back to it because they preferred it. 4.x series are a little bit more experimental but still go for the same stability. Next release should take of that small percentage who have corrupt memory/hard reset issues hopefully but I don't expect a big changelog as 4.10 is otherwise fine.

Should the bluetooth work well with this rom?
Thanks!

alxalx said:
Should the bluetooth work well with this rom?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shouldn't be an issue - I use the same sys/xip in my rom without any issues with bluetooth.
Kitchen now online
Rom uploading now. I found if I tried to upload both at the same time, it kept stopping part way!

shaks1979 said:
Shouldn't be an issue - I use the same sys/xip in my rom without any issues with bluetooth.
Kitchen now online
Rom uploading now. I found if I tried to upload both at the same time, it kept stopping part way!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man, downloading now!

hi shaks when u say Modify the sys & oem folders meaning i can delete what i dont want and so on

Dynomite232 said:
hi shaks when u say Modify the sys & oem folders meaning i can delete what i dont want and so on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's right - delete what you don't want, modify rgu's for packages, add your own packages e.g. using ervius package creator to turn a cab into a package or use a package already provided. You'll get lets of cooking help from here (talks about surface kitchen but basic concept the same):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=413782
Add your own packages into the OEM folder.

Downloading... In the meantime thank you!

got a question which file is it ? and can i get rid of the keyboard languages and add only the english and swedish ? if anyone
can answer plz and thank you which file is it

Dynomite232 said:
got a question which file is it ? and can i get rid of the keyboard languages and add only the english and swedish ? if anyone
can answer plz and thank you which file is it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add this package to your oem folder for 14 languages & edit the line in the rgu to specify languages you want