Develop Bugs

"CLEAN" WM5 ROM?

Hi. Are there actually any ported ROMs for the Uni that allows a super-clean (i.e. purely Microsoft) WM5? Thanks.

This is exactly what i am here at the Forum for please someone step up?
Cause i foudn one in general by name one time but im not sure if they are shapped for the Universal
I guess to clarify ...
A Clean version of WM5 shapped for the Uni if possible
I want to amke sure i do not lose any features
Please help thanks
rightnow im on the newest qtek but is actign weird so im going back to my orignal imate

don't install the extended ROM...

Can you explain SIMPLY which file is the extended ROM?

philby said:
Can you explain SIMPLY which file is the extended ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What "ady" meant was:
1st: Install Buzz's Ext ROM Unlocker and unlock your Ext ROM.
2nd: Cut and paste them to your SD Card and save a copy on your computer for backup.
3rd: Perform a hard reset. Since you already took off the Ext ROM, you now have a pure Microsoft OS running on your device.
To answer your question, the Ext ROM is what you see being installed when you perform a hard reset. It is indicated by a progress bar during installation after a hard reset. The Ext ROM contains the customizations provided by the "Brand" name of your device.
The simpliest way to avoid the installation of the Ext ROM, if you don't want to unlock it is:
1st: Perform a hard reset.
2nd: "IMMEDIATELY" perform a soft reset by pressing the reset pin as soon as you see the "Microsoft Today Screen". By doing this, the installation of the Ext ROM is by-passed.
If you are going to ask me where to find the Unlocker. Just do a search. Hope this cleared it up.

Thanks for the excellent reply. Can you tell me what exactly would be excluded by not installing the Extended ROM contents? I am guessing this would be like selecting a corporate install on the O2 XDA EXEC?? Thanks again for any reply.

philby said:
Can you tell me what exactly would be excluded by not installing the Extended ROM contents?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any customisations your operator has made. It's hard to say what exactly as that changes per ExtROM (and each new version of Windows Mobile by each operator has a new ExtROM so...)
If you don't install the ExtRom you have plain Windows Mobile, if you install the Extended ROM (which it will be default) it adds patches, customisations (backgrounds, sounds, GPRS settings etc), button configurations, home page settings, add icons, remove icons, custom programs etc.
My advise is to read the wiki (link in top left) open up your ExtendedROM as the poster above advised and then customise it how you want, or just by pass it completely each time and add in what you want manually.

philby said:
Thanks for the excellent reply. Can you tell me what exactly would be excluded by not installing the Extended ROM contents? I am guessing this would be like selecting a corporate install on the O2 XDA EXEC?? Thanks again for any reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xanth is absolutely right. The Ext ROM changes with each "Brand". I am attacching a link for the O2 Ext ROM explanation: http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=32527
Some applications in the Ext ROM, you can deduce what it is made for like "default_Backgamon etc...(which installs the game backgamon in Imate Ext ROM) and some are similar to O2's, so let it be your guide.

why
you don't want a "clean version" it would not contain any drivers, camera software or bluetooth software that make life easy. your jasjar is not clean by bypassing the ext-rom. to prove this look at your programs the zip program and voicedial do not come with a clean wm5 image.

Re: why
sandrobber said:
you don't want a "clean version" it would not contain any drivers, camera software or bluetooth software that make life easy. your jasjar is not clean by bypassing the ext-rom. to prove this look at your programs the zip program and voicedial do not come with a clean wm5 image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually ALL WORKS FINE with a clean install, as mentioned above, the only thing you might have to add is the settings for MMS, and video call capabilities. But ALL SOFTWARES INSTALLED WORKS. From BT to WiFi, camera app, voice dial, etc... I know because I already tried it.

Re: why
sandrobber said:
you don't want a "clean version" it would not contain any drivers, camera software or bluetooth software that make life easy. your jasjar is not clean by bypassing the ext-rom. to prove this look at your programs the zip program and voicedial do not come with a clean wm5 image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that depends on the base Windows Mobile ROM. Some will have some features, while some won't (won't fit possibly?) and would require the ExtROM to install them.
I appreciate this is a Universal thread, but one example is the BlueAngel. The SX66 doesn't come with a camera so it's ROM doesn't contain camera software and if you used that on a regular BlueAngel (XDA IIs for example) you'd need to install the camera software seperately.
Hope this actually makes sense.

what about a real clean ROM...
i mean a ROM that does not contain any of those "dog barking" junks media files and themes (there is around 8MB of these), as well as unnecessary EXTROM files. YET sparing drivers for camera, bluetooth , and other crucial drivers.
thanx

go it
then you are correct to hard reset then soft reset before your device wants to load the ext-rom

unnecessary media files are not in the ext rom
they come with the winows folder and the my doc. they r more than 8mb , and they serving for NOTHING... so stopping the erom wont save you from them

Guide to Cook Extended ROM for Uni?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is this possible?

As I understand some of the ROMs run a set of cab-files aftewards. Is it possible to make an option that enable a user to choose a directory on the memorycard with cabfiles to be installed the same way on setup?
I ask because I need to innstall norwegian keyboard and settings, ant it would be nice to install the most usual cabfiles as well, would save me some time as I'm trying several of the ROMs issued here, and backup not allways compatible.

I don't believe this is possible as the phone does not see the card until the device is booted. Thus, this is why an extended rom is used onboard the device.

There is some apps that can do that. Not Automatic but you can choose 1 folder and then it will install all cab's inside that ROM.

how to save/restore all my data after a rom update ?

it's schaps fault : he cook his roms too fast.
i had his french 3.54, then i updated to his 4.01 and now he publishes his 4.20 .
my problem is that i have to reinstall all (many many) my softwares each time after i update the rom.
i install almost everything on the storage card but parts of the installations are in the "operating system zone", for example in the registry.
i must be missing something, but is there a procedure to save and restore all my data and not having to reinstall all my stuff and programs by hand after a flash?
thank you.

You can use commercial backup programs. Only one capable of ROM/Device upgrade is Sprite Backup. I had a mixed results with it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not, but it is worth a try.

Other than this... There is Settings Savior app somewhere on this forum (too lazy to do the search myself - sorry) it enables you to save and restore som parts of registry I think and also provides for silent installation of CABs from a SD card.

[HOWTO] Install Latest WaveSecure in ROM

I found that [email protected]'s ROM had a good idea of adding WaveSecure to the system partition (preventing listing in the My Downloads part of market, and preventing uninstallation through normal means), but his version is slightly out of date now (latest version is 3.0.0.43)
As a result, I set about finding a means to install WaveSecure to ROM myself. Here are my findings for anyone interested in doing the same.
Install the latest version from the market (3.0.0.43 at this time). Now use adb pull to get it off the device onto your pc
Code:
adb pull /data/app/com.wsandroid.apk D:\com.wsandroid.apk
Now open Market back up from the menu, go to My Downloads, and choose Wavesecure Mobile Security Beta and uninstall it for just now (to get it off the data/A2SD location that normal apps are stored in) - thanks, my-space!
Then push the saved apk to the system partition after a remount (to make it read/write)
Code:
adb remount
Code:
adb push D:\com.wsandroid.apk /system/app/com.wsandroid.apk
Then set it all up as usual (will appear in apps list immediately)
and remount system as read only again
Code:
adb remount
And that seems to be it so far. Remember to change the D:\com.wsandroid.apk path to whatever you actually used.
Let me know if anyone finds any problems with this, but I've done it and, fingers crossed, it's worked OK for me.
Obviously, this is only for root users, and there are no guarantees for this.
Couple of questions that might need looked into -
- Do settings carry across after a wipe (as Paul claims Modaco's version does. I've never tried it so can't confirm)
- Is there any disadvantage to using this method? (I guess this is all Modaco's update.zip does, but I don't know)

you forgot to metion to uninstall wavesecure before it is pushed back into system....

my_space said:
you forgot to metion to uninstall wavesecure before it is pushed back into system....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oops! Knew I'd forget something, as I always seem prone to do. Well spotted, and OP corrected.
Thanks

No worries I got a bit confused when i pushed it back onto the phone and was still in my downloads...

I've rooted my phone already but whenever i try to use the command adb remount I get "remount failed: operation not permitted". Suggestions?

I see more and more often, redundant threads.
What How-to will you post next time? How to change backlight settings?
You're pointlessly spamming the board.

I can't say i agree with the 'pointlessly spamming the board' comment, but i would have thought this would at least be better in the applications and themes subforum rather than in development.
Don't forget that an awful lot of android users (and more recently all HTC devices) are more and more 'newbs' and need stuff like this.
While this is good and provides info that people like that need (and myself cos i'm crap at adb and stuff like that so wouldn't have had a clue how to do this previously), maybe the development forum is not the best place for it....

I'm guessing one won't be notified via Market if there's an update available if you push an app to /system/app/, right?

usb0 said:
I'm guessing one won't be notified via Market if there's an update available if you push an app to /system/app/, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't be notified, correct

If anybody doesn't already know, WaveSecure have started hosting update.zip files. This means it's now easy to update your "baked-in" version of WaveSecure without much messing around.
https://www.wavesecure.com/installations/update.zip
Download the file, save it to your SD card, reboot into the recovery console and choose the option to apply an update.zip file.
Voila! Your version of WaveSecure will be updated to the very latest version

DJBenson said:
[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's really awesome! Thanks for the tip!
Just a question of curiosity: If I push an app to /system/app/ and then issue the rm-command to remove its apk, won't there be lying a bunch of files associated with the program and with absolutely no function, since the app itself is removed? How do I know the name of these files and where they are located for removal?

I'm a bit confused by that question. My understanding (which may be incorrect but from what I've seen of the "guts of a ROM" appears to be the case) is that the applications reside in the apk files, they are not extracted. If you list the content of any of the app folders (/system/app, /data/app or /data/app-private) then all you get is a bunch of apk files (and some odex files). So when you 'push' an apk to the phone, that application is then "installed", when you rm/remove an application, you do so by removing the apk.

if you remove the apk you have left something in /data/dalvik-cache. wiping the dalvik-cache every now and then helps reclaiming that space, though it is not much.
the app settings and data are stored in /data/data, you could delete the files manually by checking their names (no idea if/what convention the names follow), imho not worth the trouble as it is only a few kb.
odex files aren't created if you don't do in a PITA process manually. don't worry about them, don't touch them, then you're good. odex files are only for system apps.

I bought a used phone and it had WaveSecure already installed. I couldn't find it in the applications list to uninstall, so I did a factory reset on the phone. The application was still there and it still didn't show up in the applications list.
I have the Superuser Permissions application, so someone must have rooted it.
Is there any way to uninstall this?

motomeup said:
I bought a used phone and it had WaveSecure already installed. I couldn't find it in the applications list to uninstall, so I did a factory reset on the phone. The application was still there and it still didn't show up in the applications list.
I have the Superuser Permissions application, so someone must have rooted it.
Is there any way to uninstall this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
""Just (re)flash a ROM................""

I just noticed that WaveSecure now points to this post for instructions to install as system application, and I am not sure that the update.zip maintained with them is up-to-date.
However, you can now select to download the .apk directly to your PC thus eliminating the first Market step in this guide.

strife242 said:
I just noticed that WaveSecure now points to this post for instructions to install as system application, and I am not sure that the update.zip maintained with them is up-to-date.
However, you can now select to download the .apk directly to your PC thus eliminating the first Market step in this guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it is kept up to date, as VillainROM kitchen uses it as a source for the WaveSecure app (fetched each night to keep it up-to-date).
I've certainly never had any problems with it.

Excellent guide Pulser,... I should really reinstall Wavesecure now Im not using a MoDacO Custom ROM. Nice one bruv.

Found this to be helpful.
https://www.wavesecure.com/blog/how-to-make-wavesecure-hard-reset-proof.aspx

I just did a search in the Market fro 'wavesecure' and two things popped up WaveSecure and WaveSecure UninstallProtection Add-on which needs to be uninstalled before WaveSecure and if the add-on is uninstalled it is supposed to lock the phone. (all this is in the description I have yet to try)