Downgrade my Ipaq 3850

bettejensen · 06-05-05, 10:59 AM

Hi there..

I have a problem with my Ipaq 3850.. I have upgraded it from windows mobile 2002 til windows mobile 2003.. The update worked well, but now my bluetooth wireless pack doesn't work

I have searched the internet last night, and found out that the wireless pack isn't supported in windows mobile 2003..
So now I would like to downgrade my ipaq to windows mobile 2002.. But I'm not sure how to do so, and I'm afraid to corrupt my pocket pc by doing something wrong!!
Is there anyone on this forum that can help me with my problem??

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen

bettejensen · 06-06-05, 04:00 PM

Is there no one out there with a quick answer???

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen

oSPANNERo · 06-06-05, 06:19 PM

You need to find the 2002 installer. I don't think the loader will keep you from doing it but there is always a chance something will go wrong when messing with ROM images.

bettejensen · 06-07-05, 06:13 AM

I have the ROM-file for windows mobile 2002, but I can't install it...
I get a message saying that the image isn't right for my pocket pc - even though is is!!
I have read on different webpages that I have to use a hexeditor on the 2002 rom-file to make the downgrade possible???
I'm not an expert on computers or handhelds, but isn't there an easier way to downgrading from windows mobile 2003??

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen

oSPANNERo · 06-07-05, 12:38 PM

Are you using the actual Upgrade or just the CAB? I was just looking on HPs site and they showed a screen from the installation that gives a "restore option" check out this link.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...ctID=c00041001

Its about halfway down the page under "Figure 6." Seems straight forward if you are using that software.

bettejensen · 06-07-05, 12:59 PM

That's just the problem.. The version on my pocket pc now (windows mobile 2003), was installed by the previous owner.. He found the copy on the internet, so I rather doubt it's a legal version..
So I don't have the possibility to restore

I have downloaded this version of windows mobile 2002:
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/fi...oad/15253.html
But I have read in another forum that I have to edit the ROM-file before it can be installed on my device.. I believe the reason was that the ipaq won't accept an older version of windows mobile than the one installed... But again, I'm not sure!

Kinds regards
Jakob Jensen

oSPANNERo · 06-07-05, 01:50 PM

Well... I hate to say it but you could chance it and buy the update from HP and just use it to downgrade and then post it on here for sale, technically legal since you didn't use the license. ::tries to cover up the moderators ears anyways:: Depends on how desperate you get.

bettejensen · 06-07-05, 04:23 PM

I have spent most of the evening looking in threads on the forum.. I'm very confused right now

Thanks for all your help oSPANNERo , but before I purchase any software, I have to try all other possibilities..

As I can gather, it is not possible to downgrade my ipaq 3850 the easy way.. And when I say easy way, I mean with the bios I downloaded here:
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/fi...oad/15253.html

I have read in other threads that if you strip the 2002 ROM-file in size (32 kb for ipaq 3970), it is possible to downgrade it from windows mobile 2003 to 2002!! But has anyone tried this with a 3850???

I have found a company that can downgrade my ipaq for me, but it's quite expensive :bang: So if there is anyone out there with some good advice, or perhaps even a solution to my problem, I would be very pleased :cheers:

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen

stinkypaul · 06-07-05, 05:33 PM

Jakob,

First of all, I believe you are unlucky as I was to download the Beta version of the WM2003.

To revert it back to PPC2002, you will have to follow the following procedure (I have written that in other post):

Pocket PC 2002 ROM
1. Download the Pocket PC 2002 ROM for 3850
http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/fi...oad/15253.html
2. Run sp21747.exe to extract the files

Put 3850 into Engineering mode
1. Press button2 (contact) + button4 (itask) + Power
Ipaq should now show a red screen with "serial" on top
2. On PC, stop ActiveSync (wcescomm.exe) from TaskManager
3. Connect 3850 to PC via USB cradle (make sure power is connected to the cradle)
Ipaq should now show "usb" on top
4. Run RUU.exe to "upgrade" the pocket pc

If you follow the exact step, by end of this, you should be able to get your 3850 back with PPC2002.

Good luck.

bettejensen · 06-07-05, 05:42 PM

Thanks for the quick answer stinkypaul, but I've tried that already... I had hoped it would be that easy, but it dosn't work

The upgrade-programme requires activesync to be running.. And activesync can't find my ipaq if it's in engineeringmode.....
I've tried to run a "normal" update/restore with activesync running, but it's not possible.. I get the following error-code:
Error 100: incompatible image.. But the image is the right one for my ipaq!! Is it impossible to downgrade this way???

Is it possible to downgrade with the ROM-file for 2002 using the same method as when installing a downloaded version of windows mobile 2003?? I believe the programme is called host11.exe

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen

CookieKid · 06-09-05, 09:49 AM

Still stuck?

bettejensen · 06-09-05, 01:05 PM

Hey there CookieKid...

I'm still stuck :( Do you have any good ideas??? I'm getting desperate here... Any help would be more than welcome :)

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen

CookieKid · 06-09-05, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by bettejensen

Hey there CookieKid...

I'm still stuck :( Do you have any good ideas??? I'm getting desperate here... Any help would be more than welcome :)

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen

You got PM

bettejensen · 06-09-05, 03:49 PM

Hey CookieKid..

I have sent you a privatemessage too :approve:

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen

bettejensen · 06-11-05, 02:59 AM

I have managed to downgrade my ipaq 3850 to windows mobile 2002 :yeah: With a lot of help from a member of this forum called CookieKid - thankyou very much :)
If anyone out there ever gets in the same situation as me, here is a step-by-step guide, and don't worry it's not as complicated as it might seem.. I did it without any deeper knowledge on computers:

1. Download the latest ROM-update from HP-support (SP21474):

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/fi...oad/15253.html

2. Run the self-extracting file and locate the following file on your harddrive:

NK_Glamis3812021WWE.nbf

3. Open the file with a hex-editor (I used one from www.download.com)

4. Here you have to delete partial of the content. The line you have to delete is the following (should be the very first line in the file):

iPAQ 3800-ENG-1.20-28f4---------

When you have removed this line, the rest of the file should begin with FE03

5. Save the file as:

nk.nb0

6. Upload the above mentioned file to your Ipaq using a programme called host11.exe .... I found the programme on the net, and as far as I can gather it is a remote usb-update programme mostly used to flash ipaq's with pirated roms... The upload procedure is as follows:

- Place the file (nk.nb0) in the same directory on your harddrive as host11.exe
- Then put your Ipaq in engineeringmode by pressing power-button + contact-button + itask-button + softreset
- Place the Ipaq in the cradle and terminate the activesyncprogramme. This is stopped by pressing ctrl+alt+del and choosing to shut down this file:
wcescomm.exe
- Run host11.exe and it will flash your Ipaq with a working windows mobile 2002 rom
- When the programme popsup and says it's finished, then remove your Ipaq from the cradle and do a softreset..

That's it, now you have an Ipaq 3850 running windows mobile 2002 :approve: It worked like a charm in my case :)

Kind regards
Jakob Jensen