chrismalone

iPAQ stuck in a bootloader loop?
Can't flash using HP's tool due to wrong version no. or corrupted rom?
You're in luck. This is the Universal BootLoader Tool.
--

This new version should be used instead of the hx4700 bootloader or the old universal bootloader, It's far superior.
It is a build on the Universal BootLoader,
It accepts servicepack/.exe files, aswell as .rar, .zip, .cab, .nbf, and .nb0 files.

What has changed since the last Universal BootLoader version:

Now supports flashing under Windows Vista.
A dialog box will prompt you to install drivers automatically if it detects you are running vista.
You may need to hold f8 while booting windows, then select 'disable driver signing' for drivers to install.

"Auto-find header length" is now the default option.
-In the past I only added this as a method that was still being tested, But recently I've looked at alot of different iPAQ roms,
and found that all the headers would work using this method.
this means there is no longer a need for the BootLoader launcher too.
you should be able to use this for all iPAQ's without setting the header length or any other manual options.

Warns if there are spaces in the nbf file path and the temporary directory of the archive's extracted nbf, then exits.
-There were reasons i didn't do this before. But too many people forget about removing the spaces.

Fixed the UltraEdit Associations screen popping up.
-Sorry guys, I didn't realize this was happening until i uninstalled UE.

Default directory is up one level.


Download: BootLoader.exe

How to use:
Put your device in bootloader mode by pressing ITASK+CONTACTS+RESET, and put it in the sync cradle.
Select an .nbf/.nb0/zip/rar/exe/servicepack file, and let it do the rest.

Note: The combination of keys to put the device in bootloader mode can be different for some devices. google for your device if the above one doesn't work.
e.g. For the iPAQ HX2000, You press ITASK+CONTACTS+RESET, and you will see "USB CONNECTED". Then you press the CALENDAR button for 2-4 seconds, and it will change to "USB".


Notes:
Make sure the .nbf filepath you select does not contain spaces or it will warn you and exit.
e.g. C:\some folder\wm5 os.nbf << WRONG
C:\some_folder\wm5_os.nbf << CORRECT
If you are extracting the .nbf from an archive, the path to the bootloader application must also have no spaces, or it will warn you and exit.
e.g. C:\Boot Loader\Boot Loader.exe << WRONG
C:\Boot_Loader\BootLoader.exe << CORRECT

Custom settings:
You can customize settings in the bootloader by creating a settings.ini file in the same folder as bootloader.exe.
This example shows the options available in the ini configuration file and how they work-

[hexedit]
bytes = 500 << this specifies you want to remove 500 bytes from the nbf file. (default = null)
nbf = C:\CE_OS.nbf << this specifies an absolute file path to an nbf file. if specified it will skip the inital selection screen and use this file. (default = null)
findheader = 1 << if set to 0, it will use the 'bytes' setting. if set to 1, it will search the nbf's header to find where the nb0 image begins. (default = 1)
[mtty]
port = \\.\WCEUSBSH001 << specifies the port setting to use in mtty. (default = \\.\WCEUSBSH001)




GUI Version (BETA/STABLE)
Please download the beta app, use it normally and perform a full flash,
and note down how the new features do/don't work. then make a new post here about it.
You won't risk damaging your iPAQ any more than with the stable bootloader versions. Nothing has been changed in the method of which it is flashed.

Download: BootLoader_GUI.exe

It includes a GUI showing the percentage of the rom transferred instead of the mtty console.
Currently the "Show/Hide Terminal Window" button does not work so don't worry about that.
But what should work is telling you the percentage of the rom transferred to the device accurately, and show a dialog after the rom has been flashed.
I'm not 100% certain that the percentage method will work for all devices, thus it is beta.

Updates:
--Update, 8th July 2007: Just updated the GUI version. added alot of manual checks of the terminal to check for errors and warn you, and also to make sure the rom has definitely been flashed right.
--Update, 13th August 2008: I've received a few pm's now regarding the tool detected by virus scanners as a trojan. (IM-WORM.win32.Sohanad.cf was one of them)
Someone found a virus when the tool came out, but it's happening more often after recent updates.
I assure you, There's no virus, It's the same one everyone else has been using. Virus scanners are wrong alot of the time.
I suspect it's the methods involved in flashing, controlling other apps, and installing drivers.
--Update, 16th August 2008: Built with new compiler, should fix some vista issues. Added extraction of nb0 inside rar files.
--Update, 19th August 2008: Built GUI version with new compiler. Included new x64 devcon.exe for installing drivers. Successfully flashed using the GUI and normal version under vista x64.

Credits/Thanks to:
Chris Malone (Me) - Developing the bootloader, updating threads etc.
Doug Markell, Jon Reed, Julian Satran, Volker Tristram, Keresztes-Fischer, John McFarlin, David Meyer - Kindly donating to help me get closer to paying for the repair for my iPAQ, as this will alow me to work alot better on the bootloader.
Abbaml - posting the info for using the bootloader with hx2000 devices.
Ishman - Re-flashing his iPAQ for the sake of beta testing the GUI version to help out.
Jim (a.k.a jiminy68) - Providing the link to the thread about the USB drivers for Windows Vista.
Menneisyys - Providing users of his blog with links to, and information about the bootloader.
Holvoetn (BH admin) - Allowing another bootloader thread and stickying it.
Other BrightHand admins - Allowing the thread even with the legal issues it imposes by the ability to even flash HP's 'update' roms. (mobilitysite admins allowed this to start, but new admins deleted the threads about a year later)
All forum users from BrightHand, Mobilitysite, etc. - Contributing to provide useful information, and supporting the project.