Would like to obtain WM5 ROM for friend's hx4705

**breley** · 03-11-08, 04:45 PM

I coworker of mine has an hx4705 with WM2003SE that he'd like to update to WM5, but HP has currently taken down the ROM update. Does anyone know of a site where I could download the update ROM for this device?

Julie · 03-11-08, 04:59 PM

You may be able to find it on eBay

**breley** · 03-12-08, 07:06 AM

Yes, he's considering purchasing one there; I was hoping someone had downloaded the ROM off HP's site before it had been retired by HP.

Julie · 03-12-08, 01:08 PM

It was never freely available on HP's site. That update always had to be purchased. Consequently, sharing that particular update would essentially be pirating the update.

**breley** · 03-13-08, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Julie

It was never freely available on HP's site. That update always had to be purchased. Consequently, sharing that particular update would essentially be pirating the update.

I believe that might be incorrect as the rom was found here:
HP iPAQ hx4700 Pocket PC Series ROM Update - Version 2.01
Support and Drivers - Transition Page

At one point I believe it may also have been located under ftp://ftp.hp.com/ftp1/pub/handheld_computers/software/

I've been a member of HP's IT Resource Center for a number of years, and my experience with HP updates and such is that support drivers/rom updates and similiar ilk have generally been freely available to consumers for downloads. Now, I do not claim to be an expert where iPaqs are concerned, but at one point HP did offer the ROM as a freely downloadable update, which prompted my inquiry. :)

FYI, I have also posted an inquiry on hp's ITRC website so hopefully I can get "official" clarification as to what the status is.

**breley** · 03-13-08, 08:42 AM

Julie, it appears we are both correct. Acccording to Menneisyys' post here on Brighthand here, the original 2.0 WM5 DID require purchasing, but the preceeding 2.01 update could be downloading free of charge. However, the 2.0 had to be installed first

:

Quote:

Q: Do I need to install the "old", non-free, 2.0 upgrade? Or, can I install 2.01 right on my WM2003SE device?

A: Unfortunately, you must install 2.0 first (and purchase it if you still don't have it). The new, 2.01 upgrade must be installed on top of 2.0. I don't think HP will ever release a stand-alone 2.01 upgrade CD meant for WM2003SE devices.

In any case the issue is now moot for me as my coworker went ahead and purchased the CD.

Julie · 03-13-08, 09:53 AM

HP provides many updates to existing ROMs freely. The link you provided was an update to the WM5.0 upgrade.

HP generally sold upgrades that completely changes the Pocket PC's operating system from one OS to another. For instance, they sold the upgrades for pocket pcs that were upgraded from windows mobile 2002 to windows mobile 2003, and they sold the upgrade for the pocket pcs that could be upgraded from windows mobile 2003 se to WM5.0 - I have a windows mobile 2003 se device that was upgradeable to WM5.0 and so I debated purchasing the upgrade to install to my hx2415, but finally decided not to do it after reading all the negative reports.

03-13-08, 04:52 PM

I am an old user of a hx 4700 with the 2003 second ed 1.10.
Do I have an advantage, if I would upgrade to win5.2?
Gerhard

spud42 · 03-14-08, 08:37 AM

not really.... if 2003se does what you need then why go throught the pain...

this "upgrade" for 4700 doesnt work very well unless you follow the tutorials and do a lot of registry hacks.. but if you do BUY the upgrade you are then allowed to go to talk about the russian hacked WM% rom that DOES work. look for the thread in this forum....

Julie · 03-14-08, 09:19 PM

The only thing I see that this upgrade gives you is persistent memory, which means if your battery drains you won't lose your personal data.

However, even with WM5.0, you should not let your battery drain because

Allowing the battery to drain shortens the life of the battery and can even damage the battery
A dead battery = a dead pocket pc, which means, when the battery is flat you can't use the pocket pc until the battery is charged up and that's inconvenient.

You pay a cost with this upgrade:

Performance will be degraded - many users who upgraded their pocket pcs to WM5.0 were not happy with the degradations in performance. Subsequent ROM updates, helped to improve performance, and the unofficial WM5.0 ROM upgrade and hacks that spud42 mentions improves performance considerably, but I'm not sure performance is completely back to pre-upgrade performance.

With WM5.0, you'll have to upgrade to ActiveSync 4.x. With ActiveSync 4.x, you no longer have the option to sync via WIFI connection.

Even when your data is stored in persistent memory, things happen and the best way to protect your data is by performing regular backups.
Yet with WM5.0, you will no longer be able to backup your data through ActiveSync's backup option and you lose the free IPAQ Backup software - so you'll need to purchase backup software.

spud42 · 03-19-08, 10:20 AM

eloquently put Julie. that is basically what i ment. Also why i still have 2003se on my 4700. the few"gains" are not worth the problems.

Julie · 03-19-08, 10:50 AM

Exactly! That's why I didn't upgrade my windows mobile 2003se IPAQ hx2415 to WM5.0. I still use my hx2415 every single day, love it, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.