imported_Danno

Well, I managed to nuke my hp 1940 when my desktop was accidentally reset halfway through the flash upgrade of the new 1.10 ROM, and sure enough, it's now a paperweight. When restarting the flash process, it actually recognises my pocket PC still, but then halts on an incorrect ROM version, so I think there might still be some connectivity, and therefore some hope of reflashing the ROM.

Thing is, my wife also has a 1940. I'm wondering if there's any kind of ROM backup software out there for our units? If so, I'm hoping to be able to overlay her ROM onto my 1940. I notice most of the other IPAQ flashers also back up the ROM, but alas, not the 1940's.

Another option might be to bypass the modem/rom version check on the flasher software, but I fear that's beyond my meager abilities.

Thoughts?

wzielenski

I've not run into this before, but have you tried hard resetting your device before you lay it quietly in the ground? That may get it back on the road to recovery.....
Can't hurt to try, anyway.

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Walt Zielenski
Ipaq 5555
128MB SD Card
PCMCIA Sleeve / CF Adapter

Cheryl

HP support might be able to give you some advice even if the unit is not under warranty any more. That sucks!

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It's that time of year again. I need a new holiday avatar... Is there anyone up to the challenge?

imported_Danno

HP's reply is below. none of this worked for me, by the way, but there's some stuff here I hadn't seen posted on the internet anywhere, so maybe someone else can get some use out of it


Dear HP Customer,

Thank you for contacting HP eServices.

In order to resolve the issue, please follow these steps to get back the iPAQ to boot and upgrade the ROM image.

1) Hard reset the iPAQ using the on off switch at the bottom.
* Afterwards, the iPAQ may (still) only display blank screen.
2) Verify that at least 30MB or so of free space is available on the hard drive.
* Only required if select ?Save to disk? option during ROM upgrade.
3) Configure the Host PC not to launch any programs during startup, except Explorer.
4) Disable Standby and Hibernate functions on the host computer.
5) Shutdown and restart the host computer.
6) Verify that no Anti Virus, firewall, proxy server, or communications software is running.
*Close all the programs.
7) Verify that no other background applications are running. Close any application if found except Explorer.
8) Physically connect the iPAQ to Windows computer.
9) Attempt to re-connect via ActiveSync from the Windows computer.
* If unable to connect, then click ?Retry? repeatedly.
10) If still unable to connect then do NOT click ?Retry?, again. However, also do NOT click any other ?buttons? or ?options? within ActiveSync.
11) Re-launch the upgrade program. Follow all prompts, carefully.
12) If the problem persists, then repeat all the above on another Windows Host PC after installing ActiveSync. While trying with the other Host PC please select the correct port to which it is connected.

The solution we sent works in most situations, but there are always exceptions. Let me suggest another approach.

Note: This recovery procedure must be done using the serial cable connection. If you only have a USB cable/cradle then you will need a serial cable/cradle because the upgrade procedure works over a serial connection, and there can be 16MB of flash ROM content, this procedure can take more than 20 minutes to complete. Once the process has begun, it should not be interrupted.

Please follow these instructions:

1. Remove the iPAQ from the cradle.
2. Close ActiveSync.
3. Perform a soft reset.
Reconnect the iPAQ to the cradle.
Restart the ROM upgrade.

If the above steps do not resolve the issue then we shall try recovering by following these instructions:

1. Plug the AC Adapter into the iPAQ Pocket PC or the serial cradle. 2. Press and hold the 5-way navigation button. 3. While holding down the 5-way navigation button, perform a soft reset by pressing the stylus into the small hole on the bottom of the unit. 4. Look for the image of the parrot on the screen of the iPAQ Pocket PC. Plug the serial cable into the unit or place the unit in its serial cradle. Restart the ROM upgrade.