3970 wont update

CaptKirk · 08-21-07, 12:44 PM

Hey all,

I have a 3970 with ROM version 1.00.00 ENG that refuses to update to the 2.10 ROM on the HP site. I can do everything (including save off the old ROM) except do the update. I get to the part where you put it in the flash loader screen (red screen version .48??) and the SERIAL changes to USB as expected, then the update utility ungreys the "Next" button but after pushing next, the flash update stas at 0% and it eventually errors out with a message like "cannot recognize the IPAQ". I am not sure what the former owner of this did to it.

Has anyone seen this issue? Is the problem the seemingly older flash loader (.48)? Is there a wya to update THAT part of the ROM? Would the proceedure outlined in the sticky "Downgrade my IPAQ" thread solve this?

THX

CaptKirk · 08-22-07, 12:46 PM

host11.exe just endlessly says "connection lost" in hundreds of pop up boxes until I kill it with task manager... the WCECOMMS was killed and activesync does not show up in the processes box so I think it is not running....

DaveNZ · 02-07-08, 10:02 PM

I have exactly the same problem, except that mine's running ROM v0.61 and bootloader v0.42.

The installers from HP hang up when it's time to load in the new ROM image, and Host11.exe just keeps generating "USB connection lost" messages.

Have you had any joy with resolving this since August '07?

DavesPPC · 02-07-08, 10:07 PM

Would either of you be running Windows Vista on your computer by chance?

DaveNZ · 02-10-08, 03:30 PM

Nope, I'm trying to load it off an XP machine. I did get one possible explanation from a local service centre. Using the HP-supplied UpdateUT program, the final error it comes up with is #116 which means, apparently, that my iPAQ has an illegal copy of Windows on it (and it therefore gets in a sulk) and won't allow any upgrade.

This is not surprising, given that the iPAQ is marked as an "engineer sample" and it's such an old version of the ROM.

However, what makes me doubt this reason is that I've also tried the Host11 approach (and removed the first two lines of the ROM image) and that shows the USB dropping out.

Could it be that the early ROM versions were set up to block possible future upgrades? Seems a little pedantic.

03-07-08, 05:27 PM

Hi Everyone
I had exactly the same problem with host 11, in trying to update my ipaq I used mtty.exe to save my rom to memory card using the command d2s (device to storage)then I formated the card by accident after screwing up my ipaq making a very pretty brick.
I had thoughts of reviving it via jtag then thought to complicated, then looked at the easy option £30 at ipaq repair but I had srcrewed up the boot loader so no joy there.
Then brainwave buy an ipaq 3970 with busted screen, I looked for one from a private seller as the ones from ebay shops would probably have more faults and got one for £26 hoping it was ok, BINGO,
Stuck it in my desk charger it lit up on the part of the screen that was ok, so out came the torx driver & screw driver pulled out the motherboard and screen and had a live ipaq again.
used mtty.exe d2s again to copy rom to 64mb sd card, so now have a rom from a 3970 running 2003 rom revision 400.08, OS version 4.20.
As the upgrade is no longer available from hp or any other source I can send you a copy of the image on cd for you to put on a sd card and you can try using mtty.exe command s2d (storage to device)to put the image on your ipaq. pm me if that is ok
Steve