Finally! a step in the right direction (ROM A12)

**Frenchy** · 07-03-06, 10:36 PM

If you are an Axim X51v owner and were wondering about the timing for a new and well overdue version that will solve some if not all the outstanding problems related to your device, a new corrective ROM was found and here is what the members have to say about it. I would like to remind you that due to the many ROM and hardware version available, your device may not react like others did. Do this upgrade at your own risk and please read the posts. Personally I haven't done it yet but I will be after reading all the related post in this thread. I would like to thanks Duke Box for finding this and sharing it with us.

Thread link

I have completed my update and my first reaction is WOW! :approve: many of the little annoying problems are fine now. I will continue testing and reporting my findings.

Draw me a line about your finding (PM) and I will quote you here. There is limited space so be quick

firebush · 07-03-06, 11:56 PM

Is this directly from Dell? Is it beta? Will Dell exchange your unit if this turns it into a brick? If it turns into a brick, is there anyway of reviving it? I'm sure much of this is discussed in that 18 page thread, but these few points are ones that people should know right up front before even thinking of attempting this. Many people won't bother reading through 18 pages to find out, so these basic questions are probably important to answer right up front in this announcement.

Awesome news though. I'm going to go do an hour of reading now...

**Frenchy** · 07-04-06, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by firebush

Is this directly from Dell? Is it beta? Will Dell exchange your unit if this turns it into a brick? If it turns into a brick, is there anyway of reviving it? I'm sure much of this is discussed in that 18 page thread, but these few points are ones that people should know right up front before even thinking of attempting this. Many people won't bother reading through 18 pages to find out, so these basic questions are probably important to answer right up front in this announcement.

Awesome news though. I'm going to go do an hour of reading now...

Very good questions firebush and I will add to this when I have time to read the 18 pages too.

nkojis · 07-04-06, 10:24 AM

Thank you for all the information. However the "New A12 Rom for X51(v)" update did not successfully work. It was looking for a driver which my computer does not have. I performed a search but no success.

Any ideas why it did this?

Screen capture is attached.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Nathan.
Enclosure.

EngrPaul · 07-04-06, 10:42 AM

I had an easy upgrade experience with very fruitful results.

To upgrade, leave the device in the cradle the whole time and follow instructions.

Note: A hard reset will not prompt you to press the contacts button, or if it does it goes away before you can press it. Don't worry, it takes the combinations reset-on/off as a hard reset.

RESULTS:

A faster unit, and I can finally setup ActiveSync by Bluetooth.

THANK YOU DELL!!!

twebdonny · 07-04-06, 11:28 AM

Same old crap as the last update, when u try to restore your data backup
u get the "this was made under Windows Mobile 2003"....it was not, it was created about 10 mins ago under Mobile 5.0 A06, then when u attempt the restore it eventually fails. Dell is a joke anymore, will NEVER buy another DELL product
again.

rlarson_mn · 07-04-06, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by twebdonny

Same old crap as the last update, when u try to restore your data backup
u get the "this was made under Windows Mobile 2003"....it was not, it was created about 10 mins ago under Mobile 5.0 A06, then when u attempt the restore it eventually fails. Dell is a joke anymore, will NEVER buy another DELL product
again.

My experience with these ROM updates (I have done three to date) is that its best to start fresh. I first sync my unit, then save 'my documents' to a SD or CF card I have, then comfirm all of my added applications and where their exe is located on my PC, then copy the 'my documents' on my PC to an external hard drive. At that point I reread the ROM upgrade instructions (found on the Dell Support web site). Then I start the ROM update process. So far I have not had an issue with any of the three ROM updates I have done to my X51V since October 2005. This last ROM updage has given me a much much faster unit in every aspect. Faster soft reset (this happens when ever I insert a fresh battery at the end of each day), faster application loading, faster application functing, faster WiFi connection (30sec vs 2 sec), and faster web access. I have not had a single loss of SD or CF cards in the 16 hours since completing the upgrade. I have not had a white screen, soft reset to wake my unit up, no heated battery. At this point my battery life seems to be the same but will do some more testing on that. So far the upgrade has made a vast improvement on the usability of my X51V.

DrummerCT · 07-04-06, 12:18 PM

Like many users, I have lots of software products. The problem with ROM updates is the hours of time it takes me to reinstall all of my software from scratch, reset registration keys, and re-do software settings. Not to mention dealing with the odd things that don't seem to quite work, that worked before. Yes, I know that the Axim may likely perform a bit faster, but I doubt that the time saved from modest performance enhancements will add up to the hours of time spent updating.

I just went through a similar situation with updating to the latest version of Zone Alarms System Suite. The update didn't work out, and there wasn't an easy way to uninstall -- in fact the "clean" uninstall procedure is a ticklish, uber-detailed nightmare. Ultimately, I had to restore the Toshiba Tablet PC's hard drive using a Norton Ghost backup (which, thankfully, I had) and for which the non-updated version of ZASS was included.

Unlike the Tablet restore scenario, updating the Axim's ROM doesn't provide for a practical way to go back in time if the update doesn't work out nicely. A better solution would be for development of a viable restore of software once the new ROM was in place (yes, I know the potential issues with this approach). And for there to be a way to return to prior ROM version if the update turned out to be too much hassle. If one could get back to the earlier ROM easily, then one could restore software from something like spb backup.

07-04-06, 12:58 PM

It is best to start off with a fresh install of all your programs, for maximum compatibilty, after a rom update. As for nkojis problem, I would recommend reinstalling activesync.

HueJorgen · 07-04-06, 02:52 PM

Followed the instructions left in this thread....
http://forums.hardwarezone.com/showp...&postcount=309

I still had to install the Widcom Bluetooth stack to get my Logitech Ipod Headphones and Anycomm Ear piece working correctly but they do now and the unit and my wi-fi is noticabley faster.
Absolutely painless ungrade. I only wish the bluetooth had been replaced with Widcom stack.

Originally Posted by tancerman

It is best to start off with a fresh install of all your programs, for maximum compatibilty, after a rom update. As for nkojis problem, I would recommend reinstalling activesync.

twebdonny · 07-04-06, 03:12 PM

Called Dell Support, New Axim on the way, there is no reason I should get error messages when attempting to restore programs using high tech backup software included on the Axim. It kept giving me an error mesage saying the backed up data was in mobile 2003 format and could not restore to a mobile 5.0 device.

w3iner · 07-04-06, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by twebdonny

Called Dell Support, New Axim on the way, there is no reason I should get error messages when attempting to restore programs using high tech backup software included on the Axim. It kept giving me an error mesage saying the backed up data was in mobile 2003 format and could not restore to a mobile 5.0 device.

Back up's only work on same Rom Grades. So a A03 will not run on a A05 and vice versa.

**Frenchy** · 07-04-06, 07:04 PM

I have finished my upgrade and everything worked fine. During the installation it stress not to starts or do naything with the system. The system is your PC not the Axim.

My systems works way faster now and I will test Wireless when I get home. I also noticed that GSPlayer is also working better, the display is clean compare to the previous installation.

My Logitech Bluetooth headphone were detected and paired right away and I am listening to music typing this.
I reinstalled every programs and will post an update in View MyPDA later today or tomorrow.
Sprite backup is also working faster (done a backup not a restore yet)

My next test will me Resco and Soti Pocket Controller

chs_arg · 07-04-06, 07:19 PM

I just upgrade my Axim X51 from A01 to A12, it took me 5 minutes (Sempron 3000 64bits-512 mg ram) and it works perfect. My first impression is that the ppc opens programs a lot faster than before :approve:

07-04-06, 09:06 PM

I'm still a bit hesitant. What happened to A07 thru A11? I mean where there any ROM upgrades w/ those numbers? If so, have anyone tried to up grade to those?

I had recently upgraded from A04 to A06 back in may, so i'm a bit hesitant b/c it took some time to reload the programs etc. And i finally have my Axim working fine, i guess better than before is fine for me. So i'm not too sure if should upgrade so soon?

What are your advice in this matter?