Develop Bugs

Am I wasting my time or just plain stupid?

Hi Guys,
I've had my XDA-IIs for quite sometime now and recently upgraded the ROM - thereby started playing with the Extended_ROM also...I just thought I would like to share my experience with all here - which may be usefull or just another waste of time - for gurus out there..
Firstly - let me explain - I got this idea as I dont experiment a lot with my unit - so hard re-setting my unit quite frequently was out of the question, secondly I recently dropped my IIs and realized how - valuable it is to keep all settings, software and other information intact - as after i got it back from the service center - it was all gone.
Then was the major issue of Space - I found that the 16MB Extended_ROM was a waste as it is only required - When you Hard Reset...so why not use it ?
So i played with it a while and I got this solution : Please let me know If I am plain stupid or just wasted time on somthing simple by re-inventing the wheel !
First - thing I did was to clear all the clutter from my Extended_ROM by removing all the un-necessary stuff from the default CAB files (Thank you XDA-Developers)...
This reduced my Extended_Rom Contents to roughly 9MB - Then I added some of my MUST INSTALL cabs to the same and modified the Config.TXT file to execute them - This made the total Size to 12.4MB...(I still have space for more..in case i Need!)
Then - I made a CAB-File for myself (using CAB Wizard) - with my Shortcuts, Registry Settings, and all the other files I needed - Like my Games, Regularly used applications like BetaPlayer, noteM, VX-Util, PHM Regedit, etc...a complete list is provided below for reference..
Now - for my hard reset - I take the following steps :
1. I do a soft reset - to close all programs and remove from memory..and Since my Extended_ROM is always open - I just format the same using storage tools...
2. I copy the Contents of the Extended_ROM from the Storae Card into the Extended_ROM area...
3. I lock/Hide the Extended_ROM and give it a Hard Boot (No Pun) !
4. All the default and memory based CABS get installed - with no hassels.
5. Unit Automatically boots - So i just open the Extended_ROM and reformat the same...now using Explorer - Click on the Personal CAB that I made...This installs all my Other applications - Those I did not want to install on the Main Menory - the location for Installation is "Extended_ROM" and it also updates the registry for settings, Creates my Shortcuts etc.
6. That's It I Soft re-Boot - I just give a random check to see if all my settings are there...and start using my unit...Whole process takes NO MORE THAN 3-5 Minutes !
Now tell me am i stupid and wasting time ?
Oops - Forgot - abut the items the list is as follows :
In the Extended_ROM Folder (On Storage Card)
----------------------------
-- Filtered Default Installations
AIS_ALL_100104.CAB
Album_BlueAngelAKU26_Generic_WWE_RC20.CAB
AutoConfig.txt
AutoRun.exe
BandSel_BAWWE_140921.sa.CAB
BA_O2Asia_Camera_Driver_Patch.sa.CAB
CAB-Customization-BlueAngel-O2ASIAAIS-19May05.CAB
CAB-MMS-2.0.0.21-BlueAngel-O2Asia-ENU-01Jun05.CAB
Caller_ID_BlueAngelAKU26_Generic_WWE_RC20.CAB
CameraWizard_BlueAngelAKU26_O2Asia_WWE_RC20_Customize.CAB
Config.txt
CW-Album-Association.CAB
default.sa.CAB
Java_V10.1.2.49_BA_WWE_0901_unremovable.CAB
MIDI_RTPI_BA26_RC21.CAB
O2Asia_patch_140921.sa.CAB
O2Auto.sa.CAB
O2_Base_09240402.sa.CAB
RemoveWiFiLogo_140921.sa.CAB
SetButtonLock.exe
STK2240_Ecall_O2Asia.CAB
Version_BA_140.sa.CAB
-- My Personal Programs Installed on Main Memory (Via the Config.Txt File - During Hard Boot)
D_CabInstall.cab
D_ceremote.CAB
D_CrystalBlue_skin.cab
D_DTSysView.cab
D_FullScreenKeyboard.CAB
D_GPRSMonitor.cab
D_IntelliDialler.CAB
D_MyUtils.cab
D_PhonePlus.CAB
D_Regedit.CAB
D_SmiliesPanel.cab
D_StorageTools.cab
D_SysCleaner.CAB
D_ThemeMaster.CAB
D_TotalCommander.cab
D_XTNDUnlocker.cab
In My 10MB Personal_App Cab File - Which I execute Manually After the above are installed !
---------------------------
Games : Monopoly, BubbleBuster, PocketPegs, NeoTiles
Utilities : Unit Conversion, Lamp, Tray Launcher, Off, Reset, Run, Space Detective, Suspend
Ring Tones : My Default and Favorite Rintones placed in the Rings Folder
Alarms : My Favorite Sounds placed in the windows folder
Applications : BetaPlayer, eWallet, Games, Globe, MobiPocket, Repligo, Syscleaner
Registry Settings: Notifications, Sounds, owner, Device ID etc.. etc..and other default application settings like Tray Launch, SPBGPRS Monitor, Notem, Camera, Repligo, Mobipocket, etc..
Shortcuts : to All my Applications - Placed in \Start Menu\Programs and also on the "Start Menu' - Place my regularly used Softwares.
Stupid Question
---------------
But still wondering ? - Why did i create the separate Cab file for the Personal Applications and not just place them in Extended_ROM to execute ?
Well- For one thing - The Extended_ROM has a limit of 16MB and All my applications put together - along with the defaultones were crossing 23MB! So I could not placethem on the Erom and hard boot - I had to find an alternative - secondly I wanted to use the 16MB to install programs !
Also i found it a better option to install my programs on the Extended_rom rather than waste expensive space on the storage and the storage Card was just used for mp3's, videos, etc etc..
That way I could use the Extended Rom for my Installed Programs, The Storage for My Documents etc...and the 1gb Storage Card - For my videos, etc etc. Hence even if I changed my Storage Card - I really did not need to worry abt the setup within. As most of my stuff was saving on the unit.
So thats what I did - Stupid or otherwise - whatever it is - Now when I re-set my machine - It takes me less than 5 minutes to get back on track !
I am attaching some screenshots of the Space after installation and execution of the above...Check it out..
Extrom.jpg - Shows the Items placed inside the Extended_ROM
inside_backup_folder - This is the backup folder inside the Storage Card. It has the folder for Extended_ROM - Which I just copy and also the personal Application CAB installation file.
Space - The Total Space available on the Unit after a fresh Install
Storage - The items On Storage - All my Documents etc Go into the "My Docments" Folder
StorageCard - Contains the "Backup" folder which has my Extended_ROM and also the "My Fun' Folder - Which holds my Movies etc..
Last Question - What happens if I need to Hard Re-Boot and My Storage Card Does Not work !
I keep and alternative - 64MB Card with me all the time along with my credit card etc - this has a replica of the backup folder. I have also uploaded the files on my Google Mailbox - Just being paranoid god knows why !
That's my experience...Too Long a Note ! I hope someone has the time to read this...and tell me I am not stupid !
Rgs/DD

Stupid or not...
Good note mate - can't stop wondering why you copy it all back to the extended rom before hard reset...
you could just as well just have them all run directly from the backup folder on the storage card... That would save the time copying and formatting every time...
Since you know how to do a custom cab file, my guess is, you also know how to add a registry setting (or shortcuts in start) to run thoose cab files at the existing location on the storage card at first boot...
(all cabs must be readonly however - otherwise it's a one-shot... and they are all gone)...
In the extended rom, you can just leave one tiny little cab with the regsettings/shortcuts, autostart.exe and config.txt running... That leaves all the rest free... Or - wondering... why not just change the paths in the config.txt file - or - wondering... the kernal might even look for autostart.exe in the root of the storage card??? Might be worth testing...
My cab file includes TomTom3 and settings, but now that tomtom5 is out, the setup is so simple that i didn't bother messing with it... Also, a custom written application for entering orders with replication, ending up in Navision Attain...
(Just showing off, but i like it )
Now see what you did... this note also became too long... can't stop writing when first getting started...
Oh - btw. - you have used a LOT of time making what you did - thanks for the notes, making me think of the above idea - might use that some day too...
Jan

Certified Stupid !
Thanks JanR,
Guess I now need a Hammer on the head to come back to senses !
You are right - Since I already have the CABS in the backup folder - I could have run the same directly from there by leaving the config.txt and the Autorun.exe on the Extended_ROM itself..and maybe a few critical CABS is necessary.
I wonder why the lightening did not strike me then. Please Punch me the next time I try to give out such Grande experience ideas on this forum !
Will change the script to accommodate and see how it works out.
Till then...cheers!

You could just create a self executing sprite backup of everything as you want it and put it in ExtROM and call it from the config file. That's what I did and it works fine on XDAII and MDAIII. Just Hared Reset and its all done in a minute or two.

Once again suggesting...use SPB Clone software......it is bestg back up tool

spb clone
Don't you think it's a bit pricey for your average user?

I totally agree..
Some of these softwares are "Nice to have..but not really necessary" if you can find work arounds.
What i started of from a complicated process has by far progressed and reduced itself trementously and - i can thankfully say I dont need nothing more....
I have achieved the initial objective of using the Extended_ROM for installing softwares, keep all my docs are in Storage - so I could Switch Cards without issues...
...and that my friends, thanks to all of you here in XDA-Developers have been achieved.
Devdarshan

Jasjar extended_rom manipulating

Did someone of you all talented and gifted people found a way to delete\add programs in the JJ extended rom?
i keep deleting them using the total commander and they keep coming back after a hard reset.
As i understand:
1) All cellular network operator specifications found in the extended rom are taking a lot of memory space that can be freed.
2) The anti-virus program is slowing the whole thing operation as it is allways running on the background.
3) I know other cab files i would like to add to the extended rom in order that they will be installed automatically after a hard reset.
What do you think?

You can find the three cab files for the CA anti-virus, backgammon, and Skype, on the xda ftp site. Go to wiki.xda-developers.com, find the ftp link most of the way down that page, scroll down to Universal, click on the link under Universal uploads, then click on the extended rom folder on the ftp site and Joe Bongo.zip under that.
Use add / remove program to uninstall these three programs - anti-virus, backgammon, and Skype. After they're uninstalled, in turn, tap on the cap file for each of these three apps and when the install dialog comes up, choose to install TO THE SD CARD.
It says there is a problem installing the anti-virus program on the SD, but it's not true, it works fine from the SD card. Putting the three apps anti-virus, backgammon, and Skype on the SD card frees up about 4.2MB of space in ROM (storage).
Don't hard reset and these apps won't wind up back in the ROM. You don't need to hard reset unless you are installing an new ROM.
Alternately, you can go the more involved route in the link below to free up a little more space. If you get the Joe Bongo extended ROM, you'll see that there are 7 other cab files in the extended ROM. They take up about 0.5 MB of space. I'm not going to hard reset my device to save 0.5 MB of ROM space, because it's not that much space and I'll lose all of my settings on hard reset.
http://wiki.howardforums.com/pocketpc/index.php/Selectively_Bypassing_the_Extended_ROM
8) 8)

Hi cool_case and thank you for your reply
what i wanted is something totaly different
1) i wanted to delete the files i do not need from the extended rom (to free up some memory)
2) i wanted to add programs i do need, to the extended rom (to make installation automatic after a hard reset)
as you probably know, when i remove programs allready installed (like the anti-virus) i am never 100% sure what registry changes were made (altough i am deleting all changes i know of, using a registry editor).

Hi aseptic,
One of the xda-developers aces will be fairly like to figure out how to create a special ROM image that doesn't have have the extended ROM stuff in it. You may be familar with the Anansky hack (and later easier methods) posted in early summer here for the xda mini (JAM) that freed up about 27MB of 'storage'.

okay i will be waiting

The thing about deleting things from the extended rom to free up memory is that the extended rom is already partitioned so deleting things from the extended rom will not actually free up space. It will only prevent the deleted things from installing the next time you hard reset.
We will need some sort of other hack to free up this partitioned space (big storage hack). Just deleting them from the extended rom will not do what you're hoping for.

This WORKED for me!!
Following the instructions listed on this page I was able to reclaim 15M+ for Storage and Programs on my JasJar.
http://wiki.howardforums.com/pocketpc/index.php/Selectively_Bypassing_the_Extended_ROM
Not to bore you guys with result details here is how it played out with application installation:
After hard reset with Extended ROM bypass (eliminating Backgammon/Antivirus/Skype)
Storage 39.52 Program 28.27
After first ActiveSync 4.1 Storage 34.53 Program 21.29
Installs with soft reset after each:
Resco File Explorer Storage 33.31 Program 21.39 (?)
SPB Imageer ' 30.03 21.35
Pocket Artist 3 28.08 21.55
Listpro 4 27.24 21.45
PhatPad 26.42 20.84
MS Pocket Streets 5 25.92 20.75
TCPMP 24.28 20.25
Magic Button 24.15 20.44
NewsBreak 23.32 20.25
also on 2G SD Card Pocket Informant / MS Reader / Weather Panel
Sync includes 1,235 Contacts / 3 years of Calendar / 2 years of email (3 accounts) (attachments on SD) etc.
Bottom line Storage 19.67 Program 14.86
I wouldn't consider this too shabby.
Darn sight better than with the fluff on Extended ROM.
Hopefully this may be of interest
Noel

Thanks for the link to the hofo wiki with the very clear instructions for bypassing the extended_ROM installation.
What I had done before was use add-remove programs to remove Backgammon, the CA anti-virus, and Skype. Then, I used the cab files for these three apps found on the xda ftp site to install these three to the SD. This saved about 4.2MB of storage. People had said that this method didn't really remove the apps from ROM.
But, that's apparently not the case. I followed the instructions for bypassing the extended ROM installation above and wound up with about 1MB more of "storage" memory than was obtained by just removing the three apps above manually using add-remove. So, the method above works is a little better, because while you can manually remove the backgammon, anti-virus and skype, you can't manually remove the carrier settings.
Another good thing came of doing this -- Sunnysoft backup did a nice job of restoring settings, including Today Screen plug-in settings Haven't found any omissions yet, but as I don't sync pim data, can't comment on whether Sunnysoft does that.
8) 8)

Install programs on Storage Card (SD)

Hello all,
great efford!!!!!
I have QTEK 9090 WM2K3SE or should I say Blue Angel.
ROM version 1.40.00 WWE
ROM date: 03/10/05
Radio version: 1.15.00
Protocol version 1337.45
ExtROM version 1.40.148 WWE
When you install a new program it is automatically installed on
My Device\Program Files\New program (This is RAM I think.).
You do not have any option of selecting in which folder to install the program
in order to select the Storage Card.
???Is there any way to force new programs to be installed on SD???
Is there another open Thread that contains this information?
Thank you!

If you are installing from the desktop, ActiveSync asks "install program in default location?". Click 'no' and you will be able to choose to install to SD.
If you are installing directly from a cab you will need CabInstl to change the destination.

Thanks
Thank you, I will try both!

Explicit path
Thank you, both of the suggestions worked fine!
But, I have some further questions.
CabInstl allows to specify an exact installation path, e.g. SD\MyPrograms\New Application.
With ActiveSync 3.7 you can select SD but not any subfolders of SD like with CabInstal.
Does the newer version of ActiveSync support an exact path installation definition and not just drive?
Blue Angel has 128 Mb RAM. Under Settings\Memory\Main you can see that.
Settings\Memory\Storage Card\Storage Card is the SD memory card that I have attached.
What is the Settings\Memory\Storage Card\STORAGE which is 40 Mb?
If you want to install any application from ActiveSync it gets also installed on the PC Add/Removes programs and after Sync with PDA you have to Remove it from the PC. Is there any way to avoid the PC permanent installation?

OK:
1) No. ActiveSync only lets you choose the general location. Note that what CabInstl does may cause some programs not to work as PPC programs often expect to be in a specific directory.
2) Main memory is divided in to two parts:
Program - your actual RAM just like on PC which programs use to run.
Storage - on WM 2003 devices (like yours) this is also RAM but it is treated like hard drive. WM 2003 has a slider that lets you repartition the RAM between storage and program. On WM5 device this is internal flash.
3) No. This is just something installers do, they keep a part of themselves on the PC. Unless you have extremely little space on you hard drive, I recommend not removing the apps. It will make them easier to reinstall should you have to preform hard reset.

Thanks again Levenum for the usefull feedback.
Thanks again Levenum for the usefull feedback.
1) I just had this experience yesterday with GSPocketMagic1_32_19
during a restart its .exe file cannot be found. Good to know that it is a more general problem in order to avoid installation on subdirectories.
2) The manual is not describing this very clear and surprisingly if you change the allocation size with the bar in screen main memory the size in storage screen does not change, or if you copy something to Storage again the size of the Memory\Main\Storage -InUse does not change were the Memory\Storage Card\Storage changes, so it was difficult to figure it out. It is like you have 128 RAM + 40 Storage RAM.

There is one other thing I forgot to mention regrading RAM:
No matter what you do with the slide, if the system thinks it needs more running memory or more storage it will repartition by it self. Usually it will divide the free ram 50/50 between programs and storage.
This is why you may copy something to main memory and not see a difference in available storage. You should always look at 'used' values.
Also there is a reg key you can create:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Shell\NeverDorkMemory
Simply creating this key will prevent the system from automatically repartitioning your RAM.

mSD not recognised by Outlook + Extended ROM

Hi,
I installed the LVSW (Pro Style) 15/3/07.
I synchronized it with exchange, and when going through the options to shove all the attachments onto the microSD card.
Although it [options] only displays that there's only 2.76mb free - IT'S 1GB card with over 700MB free. Could this have something to do with Extended Rom being available? [I installed the 3DES.1 ROM before and unlocked Extended Rom].
Question 2:
Now that Extended Rom is open - I want to delete some of the things on there, that I will never use - like Operator specific programs. Although I don't have permissions ?!

romka said:
Hi,
I installed the LVSW (Pro Style) 15/3/07.
I synchronized it with exchange, and when going through the options to shove all the attachments onto the microSD card.
Although it [options] only displays that there's only 2.76mb free - IT'S 1GB card with over 700MB free. Could this have something to do with Extended Rom being available? [I installed the 3DES.1 ROM before and unlocked Extended Rom].
Question 2:
Now that Extended Rom is open - I want to delete some of the things on there, that I will never use - like Operator specific programs. Although I don't have permissions ?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. - This can be changed by changing the Ext ROM directory in the Registry to say Storage Card 2... as the inbox application searches for the first available Storage it doesnt give you an option...
2. use HTweakC application to unhide and allow write access to the ext_rom... but you must have either installed Olipro's patched driver or SuperCID'ed your device to have write permissions...

great - thank you.
for now - i've disabled the 'extended', and it's all back to normal - although I'll look into deleting some files off there this weekend.
thanks

Your instructions say:
1. - This can be changed by changing the Ext ROM directory in the Registry to say Storage Card 2... as the inbox application searches for the first available Storage it doesnt give you an option...
I'm using Total Commander to attempt to edit this value in the registry, but can't locate it. Tried searching for "Ext ROM" and "ExtROM". Where in the registry can the Ext ROM directory name be changed to Storage Card 2?
Thanks much!

[Trick] Use Extended rom as storage without Unhiding extended rom

You can use extended rom as a permanent storage without unhiding the drive. The main benefit is that Pocket Outlook does not see it as a storage device and make it the primary storage over your storage card.
Instruction:
1) Unhide extended rom (either with Advanced config or do it manually via registry)
2) Create a Folder in Extended Rom
3) Make a short cut of that folder and place it in My Device or anywhere you want.
4) Hide Extended rom.
You can now access extended rom from the shortcut. Windows will not see it as a storage card.
Some known issues:
1) Up directory button does not work when you are in the extended rom folder shortcut. You need to use the drop down box to change directory
2) The extended rom folder does not automatically refreshes itself. You need to get out of the folder and get back in to see changes.
Another odd thing I noticed is that when I dump my extended rom out with itutils, extrom extractor says the format is invalid. And if I flash the extended rom, it will say the image is corrupted. If anybody could dump the extended rom out for me with nothing but a folder called Storage in it, that'd be great

Schap's uses his extended ROM to store some files in them and access it through shortcuts...predominantly exes, and I have tried them too, it sure does work.
But I think there is a limitation on how many exes you can have in there!! When I had more than 10 exes one time, extended ROM did not work very well...but when I reduced the count, everything worked great..
Just my 2 cents.

You can definitely run exes in there. However, this thread is not to tell people that you can run exes in there, which had been discovered some time ago. As far as I know, almost all cooks either fill the extended rom with cabs for auto installation, or some exes that doesn't require hard coded files in windows to run. Others will unhide the extended rom (which I did previously) so that you can use it as storage. This is about the latter case, but with this method you'd avoid the pocket outlook storage card issue if you decide to use extended rom as a storage card.