Hello,
I read a lot about the big ROM flashing and did this on my XDA mini. Anything seems to work so I'm quite happy until now. One point of concern is still there... what about the apps from the ExtROM that I copied for backup on my harddisk? Using an XDA on the O2 network, we are talking about apps like Homezone and O2 settings.
If I understood the BigROM thing right, I deleted the ExtROM that was executed on a hard reset before. Therefore, after BigROM,
- no O2 app will be loaded after hard reset
- no autostarter, like in the O2 ExtROM, is necessary any more since nothing is loaded after hard reset
- after hard reset, all apps have to be installed once again
- best way to keep the apps secure and appropriate is install all apps once and frequently backup the whole setup
Is this the right way to look at the changes?
Another question about the O2 files: Besides the homezone control, are there alternative programs for the rest (Java, Today screen) or do I need the special O2 apps due to the settings coming with them?
Any help appreciated!
Yes you got it all right! After the Big Storage ROM the Extended ROM bit was deleted from the ROM. The space consumed by the Extended ROM is now available for you to use under the /Storarge folder.
Now, to install the required extended ROM programs just copy them to any folder on the PPC and click on them from the file explorer.
However I would suggest to install a program called CABINSTL. This allows you to run CAB files and install them in the folder of your choice instead of the default folder that consumes some of your precious RAM. I would install these CAB files in the /Storage folder, thus making benefit of the Big Storage ROM
The same applies to any other program you install. Always install it in /Storage. If you don't, after the Big Storage upgrade the only benefit would be of having some extra storage space. If you have an SD Card you don't need this space so might as well use it to install programs and free up the RAM.
If I use the cabinstl programme to manually install my Orange ExtRom files after a BigStorage install - even when I choose a different install location (eg. /Storage) the utility is still installed into the default location (usually somewhere in /Windows/).
I have the same problem. Also i pushed the option not to delete the cab file, but after install they are deleted I know i can make them read only, but i cannot do this trough explore of activesync.
It appears that some CAB files have their install location 'hard coded' into the file so it cannot or should not be changed.
I guess that this is to ensure that the utility works correctly so I don't suppose that there is much that we can do.
You can edit the CAB on your PC and define your own folder. However this is not recommended as the code for these programs may have some paths that are hard coded as well.
Anyway these couple of CAB files will not impact your overall RAM situation at all. On mine I only installed JAVA, MMS, Bluetooth and Camera patches from the Extended ROM. I don't need the rest.
Thanks for your help! So is it okay to install anything in the storage that goes there without complaining? As I installed PocketPlus there, Windows looked at it like on the memory card and displayed a message that installing apps there could become a problem during startup.
Thanks again and bye!
Related
Hi all,
Almost everytime I check the forum I see a lot of rom upgrade & BIG Storage questions. Apparently not everyone is familiar with the wiki and search options on the board. That's a shame cause almost all the questions are answered in the already existing threads. So why a new thread about the same topic?
1. I'm chauvinistic and want my name on the board ;-)
2. To aggregate a part of my knowledge in one place for easy access.
3. To promote the wiki
- So if you tried to upgrade your rom and got an error 120: follow this description http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=MagicianRomUpgrade
- If you failed in upgrading your rom somehow & now you're stuck in the bootloader: just make sure usb connections are allowed in Active Sync, connect your magician with usb to your PC and run the rom upgrade program again.
Sometimes it helps at this stage to downgrade ActiveSync to version 3.8 (see the post from benenglish).
- If you need to go to bootloader for any reason (including incorrect rom upgrade) press 'camera, power and soft-reset' all at the same time for some seconds, till your screen fades and reads: Serial V1.0x. When you connect it to usb it should read ' usb V1.0x
- If you want to change the language from your magician (not including from or to Greek, cause those roms and devices are protected), just use http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=MagicianRomUpgrade again.
- If you want to flash your magician with a charmer or any other rom, please don't you will loose your device when you kill your bootloader and that's very likely to happen while flashing a not suitable rom.
- Want a WWE BIG Storage rom the easy way? Follow http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=MagicianRomUpgrade and download ftp://xda:[email protected]_NK.nbf/BIG_Storage_nk_for_rom_1.13WWE.zip This NK.nbf is patched for BIG Storage, you only need to put it in the directory with the extracted shipped-rom.
- Want a BIG Storage rom in any language the easy way? Download a shipped-rom from the ftp or any telco and follow http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=MagicianRomUpgrade
- Want to get BIG Storage via a SD Card flash, read it here http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=MagicianSDflash
- Don't know what BIG Storage is? It is your ext-rom (with the operator customization cabs) exchanged for a larger internal Storage folder. So remember to backup those cabs before upgrading.
- When you want to revert from BIG Storage to the original Storage and ext-rom combination, make sure you put > 8MB data in your Storage folder before flashing it back with a normal rom. Otherwise you'll loose your Storage folder completely :-(. Seems that this might be a solution & doesn't work for everyone. Try it if reverting with empty \Storage folder isn't successful.
Any questions left, I guess so. Now don't be scared and put them on the board, nobody is going to eat you (at least not straight away) and someone will answer.
But remember that when this topic is still visible in the first page of this board I will probably stop answering new threads about BIG Storage and rom upgrading questions, I've done that for 5 months now and I'm starting to loose my interest.
Regards, M
Ps If you're really stuck in a rom upgrade & can't get it working, last resort is to pinpoint me to a location where I can download your rom-dump or the shipped-rom & I can prepare it for you. All it takes is a cup of coffee on my, for now, virtual world trip. Got Italy, Cyprus, Argentina, Asia, UK, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Turkey & US allready. So if you're living in any other country, especially Indonisia, Australia or New Zealand, be my guest.
Great job OLTP..
Your the man :lol:
- If you failed in upgrading your rom somehow & now you're stuck in the bootloader: just make sure usb connections are allowed in Active Sync, connect your Magician with usb to your PC and run the rom upgrade program again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AND USE ACTIVESYNC 3.8
My upgrade was stuck at this stage - removed Activesync 4.0 - Installed 3.8 and ran the firmware update again - its now "Upgrade Radio Stack - Please wait" with the progress bar going along on the screen.
Hope this helps
I've heard/read more complaints about Act.Sync 4.0. Though 4.0 is working flawless on my side, every contribution that works is valuable information. I updated the first post with it.
Thanks
Big storage
I did a big storage for my Mini by using a copy of my rom, changing the bytes as told in the guide to upgrading with a HEX Editor. I have installed programs to new storage gained but my main memory is showing very little memory. I have no programmes installed in main memory. What should I do now ?
How much memory have you got free. I got now, on my fully loaded device, 9.6MB storage & 22.5MB program memory occupied.
Did you happen to load all the cabs you copied from your ext-rom again? Those cabs install in RAM.
Cheers, M
stotage lost
pls help... i lost my storage when i flash my mini in my stock shipped rom i followed instruction of olps to soted data at least 8mb of files but it didnt works still lost my storage...
how can i back it again..is there any hope?..
thanks
First thing to do is to load the BIG Storage rom again. This should give you back the \Storage folder.
Now did you use the same rom version for BIG Storage as your original rom version? Some do claim it needs to be at least the same country version.
So pls try to revert to the same version only without BS & you can always try with an empty \Storage folder.
Seems that some tricks work out different on several devices.
Good luck, M
First thing to do is to load the BIG Storage rom again. This should give you back the \Storage folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks i got my storage is back...
Now did you use the same rom version for BIG Storage as your original rom version? Some do claim it needs to be at least the same country version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes i flash it wid the same version i followed the instruction on your post to be able to back the extended rom..
ill try again for the 2nd time...ill post if i succed
many thanks oltp
Can I upgrade my Mda compact 2 also with a sd-card like the compact ?
When I make a hardreset with the card in the slot, i cannot chosse to install from sd-card.
That's something I don't know. Try one of the board's for WM5 devices like the Wizard. Maybe you can find your info there.
Success, M
[edit] could you append it here too pls, if you find it?
Hi OLTP,
Right now I have 8.04mb free in storage memory (big hack). In MAIN memory around 3.10 mb in program memory (in use 23.47 mb). Storage (main) - in use 28.29 mb and free 2.55 mb. This keeps going less and less so from time to time as I use and close programs. So I keep doing a soft reset. I get critical memory short error. What do I do.
Should I flash with my saved original ROM (the one I had before doing the hack) and then immediately flash the saved Big Rom ? Please let me know. You are the Guru.
@ Galahad: What kind of software did you install after the update? & how's the memory pressure right after a hard-reset (don't forget to make a proper backup first)?
Do you use cabinstl to install cabs to another location then 'default' (which is RAM)? & tell Act.Sync to install to Storage or Storage Card, otherwise your RAM will be used up very soon.
My advice no need to reflash right now, a hard-reset should be sufficient to see what is causing your prob.
M
After the hack I had installed couple of commercial software, all into storage memory thru active sync which prompts you where you want to install. I choose storage memory (26.92). I keep doing this for all the commercial software I need to install. When I finished doing this I had 6 mb free. so far so good. Then I started installing cabs files from Ext Rom copy on harddisk, with cabinst. These were smart dial cab, O2 connect and a few other (which I thought necessary) cab files. These too I installed into storage memory. If my memory serves me right, I started experiencing a sudden slide down in memory after this. Before this I had around 25 mb memory free. Then suddenly the slide down in memory. In fact Resco today plug in shows me the dramatic slidedown as if the memory is getting sucked down a black hole.
I will do a hard reset as suggested by you and then load my software into storage memory. This time I will not install cab files from Ext Rom. Is that OK ?
Your O2 software is def. causing your probs. If you need some apps from it, try WinCECabManager. With it you can see which files are stored where on your device. After cab installation you can move them to eg. \Storage\Windows & change all links & reg keys referring to those files. Or change tea cab-file of course. It can take some time, but ves a huge amount of RAM.
M
Thanks ! I will try your suggestion. Have never used WINceCab Manager. Hope it is not too technical.
Not for me, it's a bit like explorer. But then again I'm not standard.
Some good news !
Like I said, I had around 24 mb free memory after the big storage hack (after installing all applications, whether in storage memory or storage card).
The good news is that all my FREE MEMORY has come back. Don't know really how it happened. I was using my blue tooth device which I switched thru the icon on the screen bottom right.
In error I touched the icon to rotate screen orientation. When I finally got my orientation correctly, I also got all my lost memory.
IMAGINE THAT !
Thanks for all your quick responses and great help you gave me. I will surely emulate you helping ways.
oltp said:
Hi all,
- Want a WWE BIG Storage rom the easy way? Follow http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=MagicianRomUpgrade and download ftp://xda:[email protected]_NK.nbf/BIG_Storage_nk_for_rom_1.13WWE.zip This NK.nbf is patched for BIG Storage, you only need to put it in the directory with the extracted shipped-rom.
But remember that when this topic is still visible in the first page of this board I will probably stop answering new threads about BIG Storage and rom upgrading questions, I've done that for 5 months now and I'm starting to loose my interest.
Regards, M
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear OLTP, I am not able to find the patched nk.nbf on the ftp. Kindly check it is not there.
When I use nbfdec.exe for decoding the NK.nbf it gives me crc error and the decoding fails. whereas with the same set of NK.nbf,ms.nbf and radio.nbf I have success fully upgraded my magician to WWE1.13 with radio1.13 Kindly help
Hi guys (and gals)
First, thanks to c_shekhar for the Himalaya WM5 roms. Top Job
I'm quite new to WM5 and it has taken a little while for me to work out
how the XDA memory usage has changed from older PocketPC versions.
I thought I'd share how I think it looks for others, like me, who are using WM5
for the first time, thanks to the great ROMS on this site.
I've probably got bits of this wrong. Feel free to correct me
1st we need to understand what memory is in an XDAII:
128MB RAM (non-volatile after soft reset | volatile after hard reset)
32MB Flash ROM - Integrated with CPU (non-volatile after soft or hard reset)
32MB Flash ROM - Disk On Chip (DOC) (non-volatile after soft or hard reset) *
* All or part of this will get formatted if you select YES on the FORMAT STORAGE option on hard reset on WM5
The 32MB DOC Flash Rom is divided into two 16MB partitions by default:
Half goes to extROM
Half goes to persistant storage
Pre WM5 the memory map looked like this:
PRE WM5 - MEMORY MAP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
...................| Storage (Installed Program Files, My Docs etc
128MB RAM.| Programs (running apps)
...................| Pocket PC OS (i.e. running state)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
32MB Flash / CPU..| System ROM (i.e. where the ROM .nbf goes) (/Windows folder?)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
16MB Flash DOC.| extROM (hidden by default. Contains vendor specific apps / hard reset - system startup)
16MB Flash DOC.| Persistant Storage (/Storage folder on pre WM5)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre WM5 pocketPC versions allowed you to dynamically select the amount
of (non-persistant) storage / Program space via the memory applet. Obviously
a hard reset would lose any programs installed into this RAM area of memory. Also the file system had a /Storage folder so you knew where to put impotant files that a hard reset wouldn't wipe out.
Things have all changed with WM5. Thus: (Based on c_shekhar 3.50a ROM)
WM5 - MEMORY MAP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
...................| 37MB Programs (running apps)
...................| 40MB RAMDisk Storage (Non persistant storage /RAMdisk folder)
128MB RAM.| 24MB PagePool (PocketPC OS Cache ares (?))
...................| 27MB Pocket PC OS (i.e. running state)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
32MB Flash / CPU | System ROM (i.e. where the ROM .nbf goes) (/Windows folder?)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
16MB Flash DOC.| extROM (hidden by default. Contains vendor specific apps / hard reset - system startup)
16MB Flash DOC.| Persistant Storage (14MB Formatted space)**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** WM5 no longer has a /Storage folder. Now /My Document /Program Files etc
reside in this persistant area
Obviously one benefit to this re-arrangement is that a hard reset does not wipe
out your installed program, assuming you don't FORMAT STORAGE in the WM5 hard reset screen.
If you are using c_shekhar's ROM then the extROM area is not used. In fact its
probably is sitting there invisible to you with the old pre WM5 vendor apps wasting space. There are tools to make this 16MB partition visible and merge it into the existing 16MB DOC partition to give you 32MB of persistant storage.
Instructions >here<
To check how much storage space you have:
Start>>Settings>>System Tab>>Memory
Storage Total will be circa 14.60MB for standard Install
Storage Total will be circa 30.53MB for merged extROM modification
There are also ways to change the size of the PagePool and RAMdisk but they are not discussed here. Search for c_shekhar + PagePool + RAMdisk
I hope this has been helpful
Please post any corrections, or further useful info
Regards
S_F
sawyer_family said:
Hi guys (and gals)
I hope this has been helpful
Please post any corrections, or further useful info
Regards
S_F
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
very helpful indeed
thanks for all the research
Sorry to ask you silly questions... I am a newbie about PDA. And I stil didn't understand clearly concerning why extROM exist in PDA.
1. What is the real function extROM ?
2. I read from your writing, If I used c_shekhar rom it means extROM doesn't have any function anymore. Is it true ?
3. What are the risks if I merge extROM to storage ?
I hope you would like to be kind to explained this for me.
Regards
Selangkahlagi
Well..
selangkahlagi said:
Sorry to ask you silly questions... I am a newbie about PDA. And I stil didn't understand clearly concerning why extROM exist in PDA.
1. What is the real function extROM ?
2. I read from your writing, If I used c_shekhar rom it means extROM doesn't have any function anymore. Is it true ?
3. What are the risks if I merge extROM to storage ?
I hope you would like to be kind to explained this for me.
Regards
Selangkahlagi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...again I could be wrong here, and c_shekhar would know more about his ROM, but I think the general idea was:
1. XDA Manufacturer (i.e. HTC) provides main system ROM i.e. the pocketpc OS
2. The network supplier, or distributer (e.g. O2) provide the extROM ROM
Then when you hard boot the OS loads and autoruns and installs the branded
applications from the extROM to give you a clean branded install after a hard boot.
The extROM is readonly and invisible so you don't mess it up and can always
get back to the standard installation O2 or other supplier provided in the box.
My understanding is it is only used during a hard boot to install branded apps.
If you decide to install a ROM like c_shekhar's then he installs all the software
you need into the main system ROM. He doesn't use extROM to provide any
other applications that would install on a hard boot. In fact I assume he
takes out any call to the autorun in extROM which is why there are no app loads
when you hard boot his ROMs.
So you have a choice. Leave extROM alone and let 16MB of nonvolatile flash
rom sit there with O2 apps you'll probably never use again. Or, merge it into
the 16MB of storage space and get circa 32mb or storage.
There are always risks from flashing a pda device and messing about with flash
memory, especially from a non-official source. But then there are huge benefits from
c_shekhar providing us with a fantastic WM5 ROM that we otherwise wouldn't
have.
Hope this is correct and helpful.
S_F
What Needs To Be Done?
Dear all ,After upgarding rom of Shekhar My device stopped Reading MMC And SD card,unfortunately till now i have not get any reply about this issue ,can some one help me outof it ?
Require help >>>>>>>>
Thanks In advance.
creations_31 said:
Dear all ,After upgarding rom of Shekhar My device stopped Reading MMC And SD card,unfortunately till now i have not get any reply about this issue ,can some one help me outof it ?
Require help >>>>>>>>
Thanks In advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong thread to be asking in. But SD slot works ok on my XDA with 3.50a.40CS
I'd suggest you go back to an official ROM version and verify its not a hardware fault.
sawyer_family said:
...again I could be wrong here, and c_shekhar would know more about his ROM, but I think the general idea was:
1. XDA Manufacturer (i.e. HTC) provides main system ROM i.e. the pocketpc OS
2. The network supplier, or distributer (e.g. O2) provide the extROM ROM
Then when you hard boot the OS loads and autoruns and installs the branded
applications from the extROM to give you a clean branded install after a hard boot.
The extROM is readonly and invisible so you don't mess it up and can always
get back to the standard installation O2 or other supplier provided in the box.
My understanding is it is only used during a hard boot to install branded apps.
If you decide to install a ROM like c_shekhar's then he installs all the software
you need into the main system ROM. He doesn't use extROM to provide any
other applications that would install on a hard boot. In fact I assume he
takes out any call to the autorun in extROM which is why there are no app loads
when you hard boot his ROMs.
So you have a choice. Leave extROM alone and let 16MB of nonvolatile flash
rom sit there with O2 apps you'll probably never use again. Or, merge it into
the 16MB of storage space and get circa 32mb or storage.
There are always risks from flashing a pda device and messing about with flash
memory, especially from a non-official source. But then there are huge benefits from
c_shekhar providing us with a fantastic WM5 ROM that we otherwise wouldn't
have.
Hope this is correct and helpful.
S_F
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good Sutdy and informations for the newbees. appriciations for sawyer_family. There exists the autorun program for installing the third party S/Ws and configurations at the time of hard reset developed by buzz. But, I have not provided it in the ROM. It can install the S/Ws and configurations from the resrve space into the RAM just like it used to be with the ExtROM. Here the advantage is that ExtROM can be placed on the Storage card. Like I am using it on my device to install the third party S/Ws and all the stuff at the time of hard reset. I have placed all these stuff in folder called "Storage Card/ExtROM". May be I provide it in my next release If people require. ......
c_shekhar said:
Good Sutdy and informations for the newbees. appriciations for sawyer_family. There exists the autorun program for installing the third party S/Ws and configurations at the time of hard reset developed by buzz. But, I have not provided it in the ROM. It can install the S/Ws and configurations from the resrve space into the RAM just like it used to be with the ExtROM. Here the advantage is that ExtROM can be placed on the Storage card. Like I am using it on my device to install the third party S/Ws and all the stuff at the time of hard reset. I have placed all these stuff in folder called "Storage Card/ExtROM". May be I provide it in my next release If people require. ......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice idea c_shekhar, it is a brillian idea to put extROM in storage card. It will safe much place in ROM. I will waiting your work mate !!!!
sawyer_family said:
...again I could be wrong here, and c_shekhar would know more about his ROM, but I think the general idea was:
1. XDA Manufacturer (i.e. HTC) provides main system ROM i.e. the pocketpc OS
2. The network supplier, or distributer (e.g. O2) provide the extROM ROM
Then when you hard boot the OS loads and autoruns and installs the branded
applications from the extROM to give you a clean branded install after a hard boot.
The extROM is readonly and invisible so you don't mess it up and can always
get back to the standard installation O2 or other supplier provided in the box.
My understanding is it is only used during a hard boot to install branded apps.
If you decide to install a ROM like c_shekhar's then he installs all the software
you need into the main system ROM. He doesn't use extROM to provide any
other applications that would install on a hard boot. In fact I assume he
takes out any call to the autorun in extROM which is why there are no app loads
when you hard boot his ROMs.
So you have a choice. Leave extROM alone and let 16MB of nonvolatile flash
rom sit there with O2 apps you'll probably never use again. Or, merge it into
the 16MB of storage space and get circa 32mb or storage.
There are always risks from flashing a pda device and messing about with flash
memory, especially from a non-official source. But then there are huge benefits from
c_shekhar providing us with a fantastic WM5 ROM that we otherwise wouldn't
have.
Hope this is correct and helpful.
S_F
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thany you sawyer_family, you help me much to understand this topic.
Normally I use sprite, or i just copy everything off my device to a folder on my desktop, but it seems like theres no easy way to flash a rom and keep everything from your device previously.
when using sprite, it may save things in the windows folder or registry, causing this new flashed rom to not work properly, or not have all the effects it's supposed to.
yes you can disable this in sprite, but if you do that you may lose the registry settings or some files that some 3rd party apps used.
so what do you guys do when flashing a new rom?
I guess restoring over different roms is not such a great idea.
UC compatible roms do make it a lot easier.
Use settings saviour, create custom cabs to install registry settings, Install Apps on SdCard, then make a folder with the shortcuts and copy the shortcuts back to programs folder. Re-install from active sync,
The best though that I have used lately, is the UC compatible roms that allow Cabs and registry settings to be install automatically after Hard reset or rom install.
Some people copy pim.vol to sdcard and then copy back later, but since i use exchange activesync, I find that to be useless.
But Never, ever restore from a backup if upgrading to a new rom...Sometime people say it works and other times it causes issues...
rohanmaini said:
I guess restoring over different roms is not such a great idea.
UC compatible roms do make it a lot easier. Though, I am waiting for the day when we shall be able to install programs to the storage card....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use the app WinCe cab manager and modify the install directory, very usefull when using UC compatible roms.
This has been a common question when flashing ROMs....and unfrotunately there is no 100% answer.
Different ROMs/chefs put in different tweaks, progs in different locations, etc, so a traditional backup/restore will not work well (as you put it already).
There is some really good promise using UC Compliant ROMs. See here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=366337
Using these UC compliant ROMS, you can do two things:
1. Automatically install your favorite progs. It does this after flashing and initially setting up your device. NOTE: you can only install progs to main mem, not Storage Card.
2. Automatically "tweak" your device beyond just installing cabs using XML based settings files. This is something I have not played with yet, but this could put back specific settings just the way you like them.
I am sure that there will still be some things that conflict on occasion, but at least it is a good timesaver.
There are also some commercial programs that can package up all your cabs into a "super" cab and install them all at once as well. I can't recall the name right now though.
Need help guys! How can i delete the files contained in my phone's storage or ext rom? I tried deleting the files but as soon as I soft reset my device, all of the files keep coming back... It really drains my battery big time and I want to get rid of it. How can I permanently delete the files contained in my phone's storage? Hope someone could help me here, thank you in advance!
Sukir420,
Not quite understand the question. Sorry, but you are referring to too many things without much details.. ExtROM, files in it and 'Storage' are two different things , The files in ExtROM are used by the device to install additional applications which are there in it, when you Hard Reset your device, and otherwise they just lie there eating that space.
It would help if you post more details about your device and current versions of Radio/ROM/ExtROM and whether your device is SupeCID unlocked etc.,
Anyway, act any of the below at your own risk.
a) If you would like to delete files in ExtROM first unlock (search this forum to get the extrom unlocker) it and make it visible then use a tool like TC (type /Extended_Rom folder) or Resco Explorer and delete filesfrom it. Alternatively you can pick up one of the empty ext ROMs floating around and flash that then unlock it to use that space as storage.
b) Do not understand or comment on whether files in ExtROM could significantly impact the battery drain!! , to my knowledge files in ExtROM may not impact battery too much.
rbalu72 said:
Sukir420,
Not quite understand the question. Sorry, but you are referring to too many things without much details.. ExtROM, files in it and 'Storage' are two different things , The files in ExtROM are used by the device to install additional applications which are there in it, when you Hard Reset your device, and otherwise they just lie there eating that space.
It would help if you post more details about your device and current versions of Radio/ROM/ExtROM and whether your device is SupeCID unlocked etc.,
Anyway, act any of the below at your own risk.
a) If you would like to delete files in ExtROM first unlock (search this forum to get the extrom unlocker) it and make it visible then use a tool like TC (type /Extended_Rom folder) or Resco Explorer and delete filesfrom it. Alternatively you can pick up one of the empty ext ROMs floating around and flash that then unlock it to use that space as storage.
b) Do not understand or comment on whether files in ExtROM could significantly impact the battery drain!! , to my knowledge files in ExtROM may not impact battery too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, okay sorry for that. I am then referring to Ext Rom. Yes, sir I would like to flash an empty ext ROM for my uni but I can't seem to find one. If you could please help me with this I would definitely appreciate it Sir. The files located in my ext Rom has an autorun file with it and again, sorry for implying that about my uni's battery getting burned too quick.
My Uni is superCID unlocked and I am using Tomal's WM6.1 Rom right now. I had this problem since I flashed my Uni with the "WM5 faster than WM6 ROM" for its video calling feature but I was too hooked to WM6 that's why I flashed back to Tomal's.
So, if anybody can help me with an empty ext rom to flash, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks guys!
Here you go
You can find Empty Ext Rom here
Surprised to note taht when you are on Tomal wm 6.1 (hopefully 8.2) you should not have ext rom as is unless it is 'NOT UNLOCKED'.
Tomal's Rom makes the ExtRom as 'Storage' which is visible and uable for storing files.
Ensure that your Extended Rom is unlocked and Visible before flashing this empty one. Other alternative is, use the unlocker tool and reflash your current Tomal version, if you can manage to reinstall the applications you got post Hard Reset as that would for sure make ExtRom as 'Storage'.
Attached is a working Ext Rom unlocker(at least it worked for me)
All the best !
The link for the empty extension rom states "Page not found", if you could please provide a mirror for this file, thank you very much sir for your big help.
Uploaded the ms_.nbf file which is Ext Rom for you to rapidshare.. Hope this helps
http://rapidshare.com/files/147183731/ms_.zip.html
As a tentative newcomer to the world of flashing ROMs, I've searched the forums but not found clarification on the following:
If I was to flash a cooked ROM onto a Windows Mobile device (say a Touch HD on the UK T-Mobile network), would the phone still have access to the settings/configuration it needs in order to access the T-Mobile network for data, SMS, etc without any further work or reconfiguration required on my part?
If so, where are those settings held such that they are unaffected by flashing?
If not, would I need to locate and back up the necessary settings prior to flashing? How is this generally done to ensure that no settings are missed?
Thanks in advance to those taking the time to reply.
most new roms have the major networks info built in.. so it should set your network up automatically both for SMS and phone usage.. about data connections.. I don't think it would be set up automatically unless the rom is already setup for a specific network.
Everything is affected by flashing. all your data and configuration will be erased thus you will have to setup the data connection again.
you can backup your data prior to flashing
you can find a backing up guide in my signature under the GUIDES thread
I see - thanks. I've noticed a few mentions of ExtROM - is this the part of the ROM where such settings are stored?
Also, when using a device such as the Touch HD which (unless I am mistaken) has no onboard storage, when a user installs a new program onto the device, where are the new files (DLLs etc) actually installed to? And where is the registry held so that it can be updated during installation (or when editing manually)?
If I understand correctly, the installed ROM cannot be changed unless you replace it completely by flashing. So if the ROM contains the operating system (including the registry) then how is it possible to edit this?
clockworktangerine said:
I see - thanks. I've noticed a few mentions of ExtROM - is this the part of the ROM where such settings are stored?
Also, when using a device such as the Touch HD which (unless I am mistaken) has no onboard storage, when a user installs a new program onto the device, where are the new files (DLLs etc) actually installed to? And where is the registry held so that it can be updated during installation (or when editing manually)?
If I understand correctly, the installed ROM cannot be changed unless you replace it completely by flashing. So if the ROM contains the operating system (including the registry) then how is it possible to edit this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Touch HD actually has 512 MB of ROM memory (on-board memory)...
As far as the ExtRom, this is a part of memory that most device carriers use to put their "junk" in. These are normally either hidden, or otherwise not accessible by normal means. Anyways, the settings (as nir36 pointed out) are in the ROM itself, so whether you have an Extrom or not is irrelevant as far as network settings.
Just to put it in simple terms, flashing a device means completely wiping out everything you have in there... kinda like formatting a hard-drive. The only thing that is left is the bootloader, which is not located in the rom memory, so this doesn't get wiped out with an OS flash.
Lastly, the registry is part of the OS. Therefore, when you wipe out your OS by flashing, the registry goes bye bye as well...
Hope this helps some...
egzthunder1 said:
The Touch HD actually has 512 MB of ROM memory (on-board memory)...
As far as the ExtRom, this is a part of memory that most device carriers use to put their "junk" in. These are normally either hidden, or otherwise not accessible by normal means. Anyways, the settings (as nir36 pointed out) are in the ROM itself, so whether you have an Extrom or not is irrelevant as far as network settings.
Just to put it in simple terms, flashing a device means completely wiping out everything you have in there... kinda like formatting a hard-drive. The only thing that is left is the bootloader, which is not located in the rom memory, so this doesn't get wiped out with an OS flash.
Lastly, the registry is part of the OS. Therefore, when you wipe out your OS by flashing, the registry goes bye bye as well...
Hope this helps some...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this reply
I understand that the ROM is on-board memory and that a flash replaces all of it, including the OS.
What I don't understand is how registry edit tools (e.g. Resco) work. Since the registry is part of the OS and resides in the ROM, how can the registry be edited, i.e. written to, so that the changes are still there even when the phone is turned off and back on?
(I am presuming that the registry editing tools don't do any kind of flash operation.)
ok, first of all, registry settings are not saved on the ROM but on the internal storage.
the ROM files CAN be replaced but only "apparently" not "really".. that is, when you flash a rom, the files from the rom will stay on the device whether you replace them or not.. but if you copy over them, the device will read from the new files WHILE still keeping the other rom files (since they can not be deleted).
the touch HD has 512megs of ROM memory and 256megs of RAM memory..
nir36 said:
ok, first of all, registry settings are not saved on the ROM but on the internal storage.
the ROM files CAN be replaced but only "apparently" not "really".. that is, when you flash a rom, the files from the rom will stay on the device whether you replace them or not.. but if you copy over them, the device will read from the new files WHILE still keeping the other rom files (since they can not be deleted).
the touch HD has 512megs of ROM memory and 256megs of RAM memory..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright I'm getting closer to fully understanding! Here's a couple of statements and follow-up questions, please correct me where I'm wrong.
Statement:
So when copying over a file that is in the ROM, the original file remains in the ROM but the system somehow knows to read from the replacement file, which is held elsewhere on the device.
Question:
How does it know when a ROM file has been replaced, and where to look for the replacement file?
Statement:
If the replacement file is installed to the device, but cannot itself be in the ROM, then presumably it must be in the RAM. If so, then I would expect that turning the phone off or removing the battery would clear the RAM, causing the replacement file to be lost, effectively resetting the changes.
Question:
Is this the case or is there some internal battery which keeps the RAM alive, and only an explicit hard reset can clear the RAM?
Please can anyone help with my follow up questions?
Thanks
1. yeah.. it stays.. dunno how the reading is done tho
2. when a rom is replaced all those files which you replaced are erased. flashing a rom is like performing a format, nothing is kept and the OS is reinstalled.
3. flash memory is not like computer ram.. it uses capacitors to reserve data.. and it takes years before it is erased
Ah so it's Flash memory, right!
So the internal Flash memory is used both as a RAM workspace and for storage space for stuff installed to the device...apps etc.
Thanks Nir!