Is It Working Well On Your hx4700 Series Unit?

MikeUnwired · 10-15-04, 10:35 AM

When I got my hx4700, I naturally loaded it up with all the software I had bought and had come to depend upon. Well, that was a bad idea.

I got conflicts and other issues -- like alarms that would not trigger or sound -- that I didn't expect.

I found out WAY after the damage was done that Tweaks2K2 didn't work fully on the hx4700 (that has since been fixed though.) The program I'm most interested in getting back and functioning is SPB Pocket Plus. I had it installed with all the rest of my initial programs, but when I had to do the necessary hard reset to get my alarm functions back, I started reading the forum threads and developer web sites BEFORE reinstalling.

I'm also wondering if some of these wonderful apps I'm using aren't maybe conflicting with each other. For instance, has anyone noticed issues when running SE_VGA with, say, Wisbar Advanced 2.0? Or, is running SPB Pocket PLus, Tweaks2K2 and Wisbar Advanced 2.0 at the same time too much under-the-hood tinkering for the registry to handle without grinding to a halt?

So, is anyone running SPB Pocket Plus 2.1 on their hx4700/4705 with no problems? What about Wisbar Advanced 2.0? Is anyone running SPB Pocket Plus 2.1 and Tweaks2K2 and SE_VGA on their unit successfully?

I know that this is the lot of the early adopter, but I'd like to feel your pain rather than my own on occasion.

I hate having to do hard resets as it just takes me so much time to re-wire all the systems when I bring the unit back up.

imported_stevef · 10-15-04, 10:55 AM

I am running SE_VGA & Wisbar Advanced 2. No issues whatsoever.

ShALLaX · 10-15-04, 10:55 AM

I have issues with wisbar - occasionally it will totally lock my system up requiring a soft reset.

R. Doug Vaughan · 10-15-04, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by MikeUnwired

... Is anyone running SPB Pocket Plus 2.1 and Tweaks2K2 and SE_VGA on their unit successfully?...

Yes I am running all of the above software successfully. Plus Wisebar Advanced and WeatherPanel. I now only run in Real VGA mode after changing the system fonts and increasing the font sizes. WeatherPanel's fonts and sizes cannot be changed, but the vendor says they will added changable fonts and sizes very soon.
I did experience slow down issues attributed to Wisebar Advanced but never ending in a lock up situation. SPB Pocket Plus 2.1 did have bad behavious come and go but it has been stable for over a week now.
Here is a list of Font and font size changes I have made:
1) I added true type fonts from Windows XP to the hx4700
2) Changed System Fonts (menus, buttons ... etc) and Today Panel by hacking the registry and using Tweeks2K2 (fixed version)
3) Modifed Wisebar Advanced 2 - See their Web site for details
4) SPB Pocket Plus - Modified through item #2's changes
5) Informant 5 -the "options" panel (Fonts/Display)
6) Infotmant 5 Notes - You can choose your own fonts and their sizes
7) eReader - options/text settings
8) MSReader - Settings
9) PIEPlus - ... etc

I have some more tuning to do but I have been working in Real VGA mode continuously for a week and do not see myself going back. Of course it is not perfect but good enough for someone who already wears bi-focals

.

**ctitanic** · 10-15-04, 10:48 PM

I would like one of you guys with SPB Pocket Plus installed to export the registry using Resco file explorer. The normal size of any registry is around 900 kb or less. If it's possible and to be out of doubt, do a hard reset, install resco and export the registry then install SPB Pocket Plus, configure it, and export the registry...
you will be surprised how much that program write in your registry

**ctitanic** · 10-15-04, 10:49 PM

I should add only one thing, increasing the registry size slow down your whole system

SHC · 10-16-04, 02:49 AM

I have been having persistent errors with bluetooth which I have isolated to spbplus. I haven't removed it but have disabled the today screen plugin. The error with bluetooth has stopped and my 4700 runs much, much faster.

MikeUnwired · 10-16-04, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by R. Doug Vaughan

...Changed System Fonts (menus, buttons ... etc) and Today Panel by hacking the registry...

I got the Tweaks2K2 update and did what I could with that. No one has ever said I was a smart man -- how did you hack your registry? And, is there a way to back it up prior to the hacking event?

**ctitanic** · 10-16-04, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by MikeUnwired

I got the Tweaks2K2 update and did what I could with that. No one has ever said I was a smart man -- how did you hack your registry? And, is there a way to back it up prior to the hacking event?

using iPaq Backup you can go into advance mode and create a backup of just your registry.

R. Doug Vaughan · 10-16-04, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by MikeUnwired

I got the Tweaks2K2 update and did what I could with that. ... how did you hack your registry? And, is there a way to back it up prior to the hacking event?

There are several "Regedit" utilities out there and I believe some are free. I purchased Vidya Registry Editor, as it seemed to display well in real VGA mode. With that utility, there is an Export and Import capability to back up and restore your registry. I always backup before doing any changes.

There are many font related entries in the registry not all of which I understand yet. Below is some information that got me started. I do not know if changing these entries have been automated using Tweaks2k2 as I modified the registry before purchasing Tweaks2k2.

(Q) How can I change the font size on my PsPc?
(A) There's two ways to alter the system font:
See this URL for the answer; you will need to scroll down a lot: http://www.jasondunn.com/windowsce/faq/software.htm

Of note is that the registry in the hx4700 is not exactly, as is described but I did exactly what was instructed and it had the desired effect. I suspect there is more font related parameters in the hx4700 than when this information was written. I did not have luck with the some of the software that is mentioned.

I have collected information on making Real VGA practical in a MS-Word document. I will submit it to the forum when I am satisfied with the results. I suspect a WM2003SE developer could explain what all the extra font related entries are on the hx4700. I have not tapped those resources yet. I am new to PocketPCs as the hx4700 is my first one so I am still exploring.

Here is another “how to” for add additional fonts to your PPC: http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/cesd/s/0059.asp

If you have Wisebar Advance2 (I highly recommend it) here is a URL on how to customize all it’s parameters including fonts. http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/wisbar/skinning.html

One thing I did notice is that if you make various fonts too big I out strips the display area on some buttons especially buttons with two words on it. I have a lot of discovery and tuning to do yet.

One piece of software that I find essential with these experiments is Pocket Controller-Professional v4.12 http://www.soti.net/default.asp?Cmd=...bCmd=pcprodnld

Good luck

**ctitanic** · 10-16-04, 04:55 PM

you can find more info about the font topic at www.Tweaks2K2.com/How_to/

But that information is not up today with the values for VGAs.

ibod · 10-16-04, 10:39 PM

My 4700 has been an awkward SOB. I haven't bothered loading spbp+ as it seemed such a resource hog on my old 4355. Wisbar Adv. has issues that are being addressed by the author.
After I installed se_vga, my 4700 deep discharged and nearly burnt itself out. I doubt se_vga was the problem as at the time, I wasn't aware of just how incompatible with some popular applications my 4700 is.
Now I reset after each install and that seems to minimize the show-stoppers.
I have a growing list of popular apps that are on my shitlist as potential problems. Actually I believe the rompaq installed is the problem and HP need a good ass-kicking for inflicting this on some (not all) of their customers.

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