[Q] Several TP2's Same WM6.5 ROM? - Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile General

Hi
First of all I'll apologise if the flavour of this post is similar in nature to a few others but I haven't quite found an exact match for what I need when searching through the other posts and I really need a definitive answer.
The background.....
My company use a third party forms application for passing data between our field service technicians and our office. This application had been specifically designed to be run on Windows Mobile devices. Up until very recently has been perfect for the task.
With the arrival of WP7 and Android in the phone market I have been finding it increasingly difficult to source devices running windows mobile. Those which I am still able to get hold of have varying versions of WM running which presents me with a variety of continuity issues. Providing support over the phone can also be quite challenging due to slight version descrepancies.
Recently one of my suppliers has been able to source me a large number of HTC Touch Pro 2 devices, however they are again running slightly different versions of the OS.
I would like to be able to use a standard WM6.5 ROM accross all the TP2's regardless of the original version or region of the device. I have been in touch with HTC without a great deal of joy. They simply refer me to there download page where invariably I am only able to download and install the ROM which corresponds to the individual device serial number.
Finally the Question.....
If I download a custom WM6.5 ROM can I run it accross all my GSM TP2's and if so then can you point me in the right direction?
Thanks for any help you can give

if these are all unbranded phones i suggest hard spl on all of them, and download a stock rom for one of them extract the .nbh file and flash them all to the same build...easiest way....
WC

Wild Child said:
if these are all unbranded phones i suggest hard spl on all of them, and download a stock rom for one of them extract the .nbh file and flash them all to the same build...easiest way....
WC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you really suggesting a stock ROM to this guy over your ROMs?
@Si_UK If you want the stock look without the bloat and with more speed, go with Wild Child's Illuminati ROMs. They retain the functionality of the the stock ROMs, but are tweaked for better performance and stability across the board. These ROMs are a very nice business choice. Like he said, though, you will need to Hard SPL the devices to be able to flash anything other than stock ROMs.

Thanks guys
I managed to download a standard rom from HTC using one of my UK device serial numbers and gave it a try to see if the RUU would work on one of the non UK devices. It did and works fine. I was planning on replicating this now with all the devices to ensure they're all the same.
I am now going to try and Hard SPL a device and use custom ROM as recommended. I like the idea of being able to improve the speed and lose some of the crap.
Fingers crossed as I've not done this before

cajunflavoredbob said:
Are you really suggesting a stock ROM to this guy over your ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, Sense 2.1 roms where... ehmm... usable... Not THAT bad after all.
However those S2 Sense 2.5 aren't capable of being used more then one day.

Related

So how does a complete newbie move ahead with wm6?

Hi everyone,
I've been going through the numerous threads talking about different versions of ROMs for wm6(on XDA EXEC). As a newbie, I would appreciate if you could help/suggest me the safest way and the best/latest WM6 Rom. I see different threads talking about upgrading using the bootloader method. However, the downloaded ROMs (XDA_Exec_WWE_20108_20301_11300_wwe_ship) have a inbuilt installer. I'm confused and wondering if bootloader was an older method used while having the inbuilt installer(exe) is the lates one.
I know some of you would refer me to already existing threads here which I've already gone through and thats what is causing the confusion to me.
Thanks
Rajat
that rom upgrade you mentioned the file name of is the newest released and easiest to install. just connect to active sync and run the upgrade, that's basically it.
There are a couple of additions to that just to be on the safe side...
1. Make sure battery fully charged before flash
2. Remove SIM card and SD card
... then, flash away.
Basically with ROM updates, there are OEM releases from your provider which are bundled packages consisting of Radio, OS, and ExtROM updates. Then there are the ROMs here written by the developers who mostly release just the OS ROM for you to install to give you choice on the other components (this is where bootloader is required). Jwright has released a full package in his latest WM6 release which does not require bootloader.
It's all quite straightforward if a little nerve racking at first, and well done for not blindly flashing before doing a little research.
Each developer's ROM will have different features and add-on's. Each radio seems to perform differently depending on geographics (don't quote me on that, just appears work for some, not others) and each ExtROM will contain further optional add-on CAB's or blank so you can use as storage.
You really have to read each release thread and work out if the components included match closely enough with your requirements... then read through some of the thread to see what tweaks are necessary, freezing problems, etc and take it from there.
I've tried all but one of the WM6 ROMs and they are all great, but each different too, and Jwright's suits my needs best, and is the most stable with my installed apps and tweaks, but this may not be the case for you.
Don't be put off by bootloader. It's just for developed ROMs not packaged with an installer like you say.
My advice: Stick with your current Radio! Start with a OS ROM flash that you like the sound of. My personal favourites are Midget's and Jwright's. One thing I can say for sure is that any one of the developed ROM's will completely change your device's performance and capabilities compared to your operator's releases!!!
Hope it helps, and good luck
What exactly does WWE Rom mean
Please pardon my ignorance. I have gone through most of the posts but could not find a clear explaination giving the difference between WWE Rom and other ROMs. Could anyone explain.
Where can I get the WM6 rom from, as I had a look on the FTP site and couldn't find the one mentioned in the first post.
Basically, I have the O2 XDA Exec and just want to upgrade to WM6, so what are the different roms (Midget/JWright). Are there different roms for different providers?
Also, what are radio/extended/cooked/dumped roms?
Thanks/...
d_ranade said:
Please pardon by ignorance. I have gone through most of the posts but could not find a clear explaination giving the difference between WWE Rom and other ROMs. Could anyone explain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wwe means "world wide english"
aniel1 said:
wwe means "world wide english"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks aniel.

Just got a htc touch

Just switch to alltel from verizon (MUCH CHEAPER) I find the screen and theme to be a little boring. Are there any updates I can use to make it look Amazing.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/search.php
Amazing.
Use your imagination + all available software + custom graphics
I've tried CRiSTALv04 but I got 2 errors while it tried to update the rom to wm 6.1 something. I'm afraid that I'm going to brick my new phone so I stop. or there anything else that I can use beside flashing my rom.
Uhhhhh......
For someone who only wanted to change themes, you may want to slow down on the ROM flashing !
spawn1980 said:
I've tried CRiSTALv04 but I got 2 errors while it tried to update the rom to wm 6.1 something. I'm afraid that I'm going to brick my new phone so I stop. or there anything else that I can use beside flashing my rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This might be a dumb question: was your phone unlocked properly? Custom ROM's are great. Try to find one with Manila 2D and you will think you bought something from Dumbledore's secret wizardry tools. Plus, most custom ROM's have much better graphics (clearer fonts, better application skins, etc.). None of the custom ROM's have things so customized you can't immediately continue normal use.
I use Dette's 2.3 and really enjoy it. Look for it on ppcgeeks.com in the Vogue->Vogue Upgrades forum.
UPDATE: I now use NFSFAN's Sprint 1.03 and it is by far the best custom ROM EVER.
SPAWN, did you ever get your problem solved? People who help you would like to know how things go.

ROMs from other phones

Can I use a ROM from one model phone to another. Ex. can I use the ROM from a Blackstone and use it on a Fuze? I know I can use the blackstone radio but how about the ROM?
thanks
fuzeman219 said:
Can I use a ROM from one model phone to another. Ex. can I use the ROM from a Blackstone and use it on a Fuze? I know I can use the blackstone radio but how about the ROM?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO!
You can't use another device ROM or RADIO.
thank you sir, but you say you cant use the radio either? in other forums people are using different radios, ex. blackstone radio on a raphael, (fuze)
Yes you can use radios in 2 cases:
1) the radios are compatible. If you're not sure, don't flash it.
2) the phone is security unlocked.
Also, to use a ROM from another device it must be dumped and then ported in a Kitchen, you can't just flash it. The Kernel's and drivers just won't work.
Dave
Well, a teacher I had, always told "you can, but you must not". You can jump down from the roof of a highscraper, but you should not have to do it...
So, you MUST NOT flash a ROM of a device into another different one. Yes, you have tools to do it, but you'll probably get an electronic brick to put in any hole of a brick wall.
There's a part of the ROM which is specific for the device. Another part is specific for the OS. So, some parts of a ROM are related to WM6.1 or WM6.5, etc. and some others are related to a device. That's what is called the Kernel, mainly related to a nk.exe file inside the ROM files. In example, we can run WM6.5 into a Kaiser with a nk.exe belonging to a kaiser and WM6.1... BUT for running same OS of a different device, (i.e. Opal's WM6.1 into Kaiser) you'll completely inutilize (maybe forever) the device. Yes, you can do it if sou have enough money to buy another device, but if you don't want it, I suggest you to send me your device or give it for charity, but not to destroy it.
Another thing you can do is, as you were told, "dumping" the ROM, this is extracting all the files and structure, and then port it (this is, adapting it) to your device's needs - this means, getting your specific drivers and kernel files and substituting them into the folders you obtained of the ROM. (Also, getting the correct screen resolution files). In example, nk.exe and other files will be different for a Kaiser and for a Herald. And you should have different Camera files, as the drivers are different for one device and the other one. Also, a Touch HD uses different screen resolution that a Herald... so you must find the correct files for every device.
This looong post is to tell you that using ROMs from other phones is RISKY and also it GETS LOTS OF JOB (and TIME), and you'll always miss something. Only good, big teams, like to do it, not an only person. And they spend days, weeks, and must correct bugs and make trials and risk their devices even if they have lots of experience.
thanks
thanks folks, makes complete sense..
this leads to another question, how do you know if the radio is compatible with another device, ex. the blackstone radio with a raphael? I know the simple answer is to read the forums, which I have, but besides taking someones word for it, how do you know?
fuzeman219 said:
thanks folks, makes complete sense..
this leads to another question, how do you know if the radio is compatible with another device, ex. the blackstone radio with a raphael? I know the simple answer is to read the forums, which I have, but besides taking someones word for it, how do you know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to know about the chips in the phone and what's in the radio firmwhere, I leave it upto the experts .
Just take peoples word for it, if in doubt, don't use it.
Dave

New to the TP2 - Can you suggest a ROM

Hello all....
I just picked up a TP2 yesterday.....and i wanna get into tinkering with it.....
i have a g1 with a custom rom, and i also had an htc dash that i installed a rom on.....i know that stock doesnt always give the best performance so i want some suggestions....
basically im looking for a rom that has speed, stability and looks nice....my phones on 6.1 .......so can you guys point me in the right direction?
ohh...and ive notice the screen isnt as responsive on the tp2 as on my g1....i know theyre different (resistive/capacitive) ....can any of the roms improve the screen responsiveness? just askin.....
and thanx again ppl
I've sorted the ROM forum by most views for you, this just means they [probably] have the most downloads, support, and debugging
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=490&daysprune=-1&order=desc&sort=views
There are a lot of tools out there that can change performance, At0mAng d3d driver works nicely. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=546522
i guess ill try out the one with the most views then.....i was messin with the phone and it looks like its still on 6.1......lets see how this goes
gringo69 said:
i guess ill try out the one with the most views then.....i was messin with the phone and it looks like its still on 6.1......lets see how this goes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good luck! Also, downloading some sort of phone tools and updating your startup programs, auto kills and processes can help with running RAM %s. I use SK Tools and idle WM 6.5 sense 2.5 60%ish
GSM or CDMA rom version
I'm new too to this device.
I'm looking for a rom, then I found this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=562773
But which is the difference between GSM and CDMA version?
I thought that all HTC Touch 2 devices was CDMA version, as described in specifications in the official page:
http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchpro2/specification.html
Could you help me please?
mario.rossi said:
I'm new too to this device.
I'm looking for a rom, then I found this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=562773
But which is the difference between GSM and CDMA version?
I thought that all HTC Touch 2 devices was CDMA version, as described in specifications in the official page:
http://www.htc.com/www/product/touchpro2/specification.html
Could you help me please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the specifications page for the unbranded (european) version. There are several GSM-only models, mostly for use in the US.
Energy ROMs are my favorites. They look really nice with good features thrown in. Unfortunately, I'm sticking with 6.1 since it's the fastest, most stable, with the most available memory. Need to do a lot of multitasking so the bling bling just wasn't working for me.
sirphunkee said:
That's the specifications page for the unbranded (european) version. There are several GSM-only models, mostly for use in the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, if I'll decide to install a new unbranded rom, which one I should choose? The CDMA or GSM version? My Rhodium is European version so I suppose the GSM version: that's correct?
shawndh said:
I'm sticking with 6.1 since it's the fastest, most stable, with the most available memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is VERY interesting. Now there is a branded WM6.1 (tim) version on my HTC. But I could consider to leave this rom. Have you done some trustworthy tests for a long time?
Anyway if I decide to update with a new rom, I should use HardSPL. I downloaded this program but my avira antivirus flash up a warning message: can I really trust in HardSPL? Or is there any trojan that I'll could inject inside my Rhodium?
Lets put it this way, if you don't have Hard SPL and you aren't CID unlocked then you will very quickly have a beautiful new shiny Rhodium paper weight.
Hard SPL allows non-carrier specific roms to be loaded... Without it you won't get far...
Had the same problem with my antivirus, you will need to disable it while running Hard SPL, and you will still need to be connected to the net.
As for the Roms, YOU need to read about them then decide whats right for you. Everyone you talk to will recommend a different rom but your circumstances will play a big part in the rom you choose... It doesn't help that every other day a new rom comes out.
Cheers...
this thread will be very helpful for you:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=649466
nokiadashi said:
this thread will be very helpful for you:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you !
mario.rossi said:
So, if I'll decide to install a new unbranded rom, which one I should choose? The CDMA or GSM version? My Rhodium is European version so I suppose the GSM version: that's correct?
This is VERY interesting. Now there is a branded WM6.1 (tim) version on my HTC. But I could consider to leave this rom. Have you done some trustworthy tests for a long time?
Anyway if I decide to update with a new rom, I should use HardSPL. I downloaded this program but my avira antivirus flash up a warning message: can I really trust in HardSPL? Or is there any trojan that I'll could inject inside my Rhodium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't get me wrong. 6.5 ROMs work really well, I just had some issues with a particular software that I needed to use in most cases. But 6.1 does have more memory.

[Q] Adding Shortcuts on Home Page

Dear all,
I have HTC TP2 device, and I tried to add shortcuts on the home page, when I got the steps from the HTC site, I could not apply them, can anybody help me in this?
- I could not find the '+' button.
- When I press and hold on an icon in the start menu, I can find only one command in the popup menu (Move to top).
---
From HTC site:
Personalizing Your Home Screen: Shortcuts
Placing shortcuts on your Home screen gives you quick access to your favorite programs, contacts you most frequently communicate with, and other information.
Adding a shortcut
Press HOME and then tap the + button. You can also press and hold an empty area on the Home screen.
When the Add to Home options menu opens, tap Shortcut.
Select the type of shortcut to add to the Home screen. You can create a shortcut to a Bookmark, Gmail label, your mail inbox, music playlist, a contact, or a program.
To quickly add an application shortcut that is on the All programs screen to the Home screen, press and hold an application icon. When the phone vibrates, drag the icon to an empty area on the Home screen, and then release it.
This can only be done if you are running Sense 2.5. Most TP2/Tilt2 phones came with TouchFlo 3D or an earlier version of Sense. These have a Programs page where you can choose which program icons you want to appear, but they won't be on the Home page.
Thanks a lot for you reply. May you please tell me what is the difference between Sense and TouchFlo, are they two different programs, which is better and if those programs are supported from HTC or not. In other words, can I go to an HTC shop in my country to install it for me or it is downloadable from their site?
mrtarrouk said:
Thanks a lot for you reply. May you please tell me what is the difference between Sense and TouchFlo, are they two different programs, which is better and if those programs are supported from HTC or not. In other words, can I go to an HTC shop in my country to install it for me or it is downloadable from their site?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get in touch with your carrier to see if an upgrade is warranted for your device. Only a couple of carriers got the Sense "upgrade." It is considerably slower than TF3D if you go through their options. If you really want to experience Sense the way it should be, try one of the many custom ROMs on this site.
Thanks a lot. Can you refer me to one of the good ROMs here in the forum.
What country, carrier are you on?
Couple reason I ask this. Firstly, some carriers released an official ROM update to Sense 2.5.
Also, custom ROMs on this website are limited to GSM versions of the TP2, although there is CDMA subforum, with links to ROMs for CDMA devices.
redpoint73 said:
What country, carrier are you on?
Couple reason I ask this. Firstly, some carriers released an official ROM update to Sense 2.5.
Also, custom ROMs on this website are limited to GSM versions of the TP2, although there is CDMA subforum, with links to ROMs for CDMA devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even though some carriers released updates to Sense from TF3D, I don't think it's a good idea to use them. I have yet to see a single one that was stable enough for continued use. They are generally resource intensive. Chefs of custom ROMs take the device's hardware into consideration unlike the carriers who only seem to want to load it with their own software.
redpoint73 said:
What country, carrier are you on?
Couple reason I ask this. Firstly, some carriers released an official ROM update to Sense 2.5.
Also, custom ROMs on this website are limited to GSM versions of the TP2, although there is CDMA subforum, with links to ROMs for CDMA devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here are the info and other info that might help:
Country: Egypt
Carrier: Vodafone
ROM Version: 1.86.415.2 (67102) WWE
ROM Date: 12/28/09
Radio Version: 4.49.25.17
Protocol Version: 61.44tc.25.32U
ExtPkg Version: 1.48.415.70
redpoint73 said:
What country, carrier are you on?
Couple reason I ask this. Firstly, some carriers released an official ROM update to Sense 2.5.
Also, custom ROMs on this website are limited to GSM versions of the TP2, although there is CDMA subforum, with links to ROMs for CDMA devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cajunflavoredbob said:
Even though some carriers released updates to Sense from TF3D, I don't think it's a good idea to use them. I have yet to see a single one that was stable enough for continued use. They are generally resource intensive. Chefs of custom ROMs take the device's hardware into consideration unlike the carriers who only seem to want to load it with their own software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for you both. Here are the info and other info that might help:
Country: Egypt
Carrier: Vodafone
ROM Version: 1.86.415.2 (67102) WWE
ROM Date: 12/28/09
Radio Version: 4.49.25.17
Protocol Version: 61.44tc.25.32U
ExtPkg Version: 1.48.415.70
cajunflavoredbob said:
Even though some carriers released updates to Sense from TF3D, I don't think it's a good idea to use them. I have yet to see a single one that was stable enough for continued use. They are generally resource intensive. Chefs of custom ROMs take the device's hardware into consideration unlike the carriers who only seem to want to load it with their own software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people seemed pleased with the latest ATT ROM with Sense 2.5. I never flashed it, so I can't personally comment. And the shipped ROM was so horrible, I have trouble believing it myself. Plus, you get the usual ATT bloat. But I mentioned the possibility of an official ROM update, only because many people are scared of flashing a custom ROM.
But I completely agree with you that a custom ROM is probably the way to go.
To the OP, poking around on the internet, I see that Vodafone in Egypt is GSM, so you can use the custom ROMs on this website.
redpoint73 said:
Some people seemed pleased with the latest ATT ROM with Sense 2.5. I never flashed it, so I can't personally comment. And the shipped ROM was so horrible, I have trouble believing it myself. Plus, you get the usual ATT bloat. But I mentioned the possibility of an official ROM update, only because many people are scared of flashing a custom ROM.
But I completely agree with you that a custom ROM is probably the way to go.
To the OP, poking around on the internet, I see that Vodafone in Egypt is GSM, so you can use the custom ROMs on this website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. Yes Vodafone Egypt is a GSM operator. Can you tell me whether I can backup my original ROM before I flash a cooked one (in case I needed it) ... And also please refer me to the best cooked ROM here and the steps to flash/install it on my device.
Your reply is highly appreciated.
All you need to flash a custom ROM is on the ROM Development subforum for the TP2:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=490
The resources pinned to the top of the subforum are extremely helpful, and indispensable.
One of them is an excellent step-by-step guide for flashing a custom ROM, written for beginners:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=550540
As indicated in the guide, you will need to HardSPL the phone. This unlocks SPL (secondary program loader), which is normally locked so you can only flash "official" ROMs from your carrier. HardSPL is here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=550131
Also, optional, but highly recommended (I do it before EVERY new ROM flash) is running Task29. This formats the ROM area of the memory, and completely wipes it, so no old fragment of previous ROM linger to screw up the new ROM. It only takes a couple minutes to perform, and can possibly save you the headache of some random bugs.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=550131
Flashing is really not hard. Just read as much as you can on the threads I linked, and follow the instructions carefully. The threads are really long, and you don't have to read the whole thing, but read as much as you have patience for. Any question or issue you can possibly have about the process has probably been encountered by someone else already, and a solution/answer already posted. The more you know before you start, the less you will panic when something doesn't go exactly as you expected.
Keep in mind that flashing a custom ROM will void any warranty you may still have. Although, people generally have luck re-flashing the stock ROM, and re-locking SPL before returning for warranty service, so the repair people actually have no idea the ROM was ever modified. Also, keep in mind that there is a slight possibility of "bricking" or disabling your phone. But follow the instructions and be careful, and it won't happen. Main things to remember, is never mess with the phone (power off, unplug) while its flashing, make sure you have at least 50% battery at each step, and flash the correct software (flashing a CDMA ROM to a GSM phone, or ROM for a completely different phone are highly probably ways to brick it). But normally, it is very safe. People on here have flashed custom ROMs onto their phone dozens, maybe even hundreds of times, without ever bricking their phones.
There is no correct answer to the question "what is the best ROM". Its like asking "what clothes are best to wear", there is no correct answer, it depends on your personal tastes and needs. The best ROM for you depends on how much you want looks and functions over speed and stability, what software you want packed-in, or if you want a minimum of built-in software (a "lightweight" ROM), and to install your desired software yourself. Look through the various ROMs to see the features of each one, look at replies from users, which thread are most popular, and pick for yourself. If you still need some suggestions, Energy, simplicity, Jackos, and Valkyrie are popular. But it would be an injustice to other chefs to suggest that other ROMs are not just as great. If you scan through the ROM Development subforum, you will see some threads along the lines of "what ROM is best, fastest, etc.", and you can look at those for more suggestions/opinions.
Also be sure to read through the first several posts on the ROM thread you pick to flash, as there are often specific instructions and FAQs for that ROM posted by the chef.
You don't need to backup your old ROM. If you need to return to the stock ROM for some reason, just go to shipped-roms.com and download it:
http://shipped-roms.com/
You will however, lose your personal data (contacts, texts, email) when you flash the ROM. There are a bunch of ways to back these up. Microsoft My Phone, synching to your PC on Outlook, or if you are a Gmail person, using Google Synch, are all popular methods.
redpoint73 said:
All you need to flash a custom ROM is on the ROM Development subforum for the TP2:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=490
The resources pinned to the top of the subforum are extremely helpful, and indispensable.
One of them is an excellent step-by-step guide for flashing a custom ROM, written for beginners:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=550540
As indicated in the guide, you will need to HardSPL the phone. This unlocks SPL (secondary program loader), which is normally locked so you can only flash "official" ROMs from your carrier. HardSPL is here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=550131
Also, optional, but highly recommended (I do it before EVERY new ROM flash) is running Task29. This formats the ROM area of the memory, and completely wipes it, so no old fragment of previous ROM linger to screw up the new ROM. It only takes a couple minutes to perform, and can possibly save you the headache of some random bugs.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=550131
Flashing is really not hard. Just read as much as you can on the threads I linked, and follow the instructions carefully. The threads are really long, and you don't have to read the whole thing, but read as much as you have patience for. Any question or issue you can possibly have about the process has probably been encountered by someone else already, and a solution/answer already posted. The more you know before you start, the less you will panic when something doesn't go exactly as you expected.
Keep in mind that flashing a custom ROM will void any warranty you may still have. Although, people generally have luck re-flashing the stock ROM, and re-locking SPL before returning for warranty service, so the repair people actually have no idea the ROM was ever modified. Also, keep in mind that there is a slight possibility of "bricking" or disabling your phone. But follow the instructions and be careful, and it won't happen. Main things to remember, is never mess with the phone (power off, unplug) while its flashing, make sure you have at least 50% battery at each step, and flash the correct software (flashing a CDMA ROM to a GSM phone, or ROM for a completely different phone are highly probably ways to brick it). But normally, it is very safe. People on here have flashed custom ROMs onto their phone dozens, maybe even hundreds of times, without ever bricking their phones.
There is no correct answer to the question "what is the best ROM". Its like asking "what clothes are best to wear", there is no correct answer, it depends on your personal tastes and needs. The best ROM for you depends on how much you want looks and functions over speed and stability, what software you want packed-in, or if you want a minimum of built-in software (a "lightweight" ROM), and to install your desired software yourself. Look through the various ROMs to see the features of each one, look at replies from users, which thread are most popular, and pick for yourself. If you still need some suggestions, Energy, simplicity, Jackos, and Valkyrie are popular. But it would be an injustice to other chefs to suggest that other ROMs are not just as great. If you scan through the ROM Development subforum, you will see some threads along the lines of "what ROM is best, fastest, etc.", and you can look at those for more suggestions/opinions.
Also be sure to read through the first several posts on the ROM thread you pick to flash, as there are often specific instructions and FAQs for that ROM posted by the chef.
You don't need to backup your old ROM. If you need to return to the stock ROM for some reason, just go to shipped-roms.com and download it:
http://shipped-roms.com/
You will however, lose your personal data (contacts, texts, email) when you flash the ROM. There are a bunch of ways to back these up. Microsoft My Phone, synching to your PC on Outlook, or if you are a Gmail person, using Google Synch, are all popular methods.
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Dear redpoint73,
Really thanks a million, you unleashed a lot of information to me with your very descriptive answer . As I'm new to the Windows phones world, I was confused with its terminologies like chief, ROM, cooking, flashing ... etc etc. But now it is very much easier than ever ... Thank you.

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