Native VGA-users attn: a tutorial on relocating 2 Mbyte SE/ozVGA DLL's from RAM

Menneisyys · 09-12-05, 01:49 PM

I'm just writing a detailed review/breakdown of how the different resolutions are used in VGA PPC's (to be published later today or tomorrow). I've also played around with the files it installs to \Windows (in precious RAM) and proud to present my results: 1.8 Mbytes or RAM freed up! RAM-constrained iPAQ hx4700 and Dell Axim x50v users, rejoice :)

(Please note that this article is not the first on relocation hacking. You may want to read the previous ones at Windows Mobile Technology and Tips forum of PPCMag. If you want to free up some RAM, you really should read my previous articles.)

If you haven't installed OzVGA/SE_VGA on your device yet

Then, you're in a good position – you definitely won't have filelock problems (see for example this thread), unlike in the case of trying to relocate an existing installation.

If you plan to use OzVGA (highly recommended over SE_VGA!):

1. extend the System Path as described in, say, this article
2. get VgaRes.zip (it contains the DLL's). Note that you'll need to get the localized version if your operating system isn't English – please see the links at the bottom of the OzVGA page.
3. extract the contents of the ZIP file. Copy msim.96.dll (it'll be differently named in localized versions, the country code being added to msim – for example, msimes.96.dll, msimde.96.dll, msimfr.96.dll etc – you get the point) to \Windows and the rest of the files to the System path in the File Store.
4. get the OzVGA executable; extract OzVGA.exe from there and upload it to anywhere on the PDA. Create a link of it in \Windows\Start Menu[\Programs] and/or on your Today screen.

SE_VGA:

1. extend the System Path as described in, say, this article
2. you can use the above-mentioned VgaRes.zip (or some of its localized versions) and this EXE file – then, you won't need to do any additional manual copy/hack. Just extract msim.96.dll to \Windows and the rest of the files to the System path in the File Store from VgaRes.zip (as with OzVGA), and upload SE_VGA.exe anywhere on your PDA (may be even on a storage card). Create a link to the latter executable in \Windows\Start Menu[\Programs] and/or on your Today screen

I recommend Total Commander (TC) on the desktop (after you've installed its WinCE FS plug-in as described here) for copying the files to the PDA/extracting files from ZIP archives.

If you decide for post-hacking the files because you've already installed SE_VGA/copied the OzVGA files to their (official) destination (uninstalling won't delete locked DLL's from \Windows!), then, you need to do the following:

1. go to the \Windows directory in one TC pane; to the new DLL store in the File Store in the other
2. sort the files by clicking the Date tab in TC so that you can easily find the DLL's to move
3. select all .DLL and .GIF files dated 07/27/2004, except for tshres.96.dll (it will be locked) and msim.96.dll. The former file is locked by the system; the latter must remain in \Windows.

The list of the files to move (if you don't find them / want to be absolutely sure you move the right ones or there aren't files of date 07/27/2004 in \Windows):

Code:

07/27/2004  09:14 PM               375 arrow2.96.gif
07/27/2004  09:14 PM           115,904 browsres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM            37,525 complete.96.gif
07/27/2004  09:14 PM           195,388 coreres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM             6,860 exappres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM            79,820 miscres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM           101,152 officeres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM           381,384 outres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM           348,812 pegcards.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM           406,860 shellres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM             3,958 stylus2.96.gif
07/27/2004  09:14 PM            33,575 stylushead.96.gif
07/27/2004  09:14 PM            63,332 syncres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM           122,780 tapres.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM            46,792 TraRes0409.96.dll
07/27/2004  09:14 PM            43,551 welcomehead.96.gif

4.press F6 (Move) and move everything:

For this kind of relocation to work, you'll need to be in QVGA mode so that the files aren't locked. Note that even in QVGA, some files may be locked (that is, they can't be deleted from \Windows after copying, if the latter is allowed at all). In cases like that, you may want to consider a hard reset and copying the DLL files right to the File Store instead of installing SE_VGA in the "official" way.

Yes! You've just freed up 1.8Mbytes of RAM! Congrats! :)

permalink · 09-12-05, 02:40 PM

Great tip, thanks, the only files I can't move are outress.96.dll and shellres.96.dll, those files are copied to the dll directory but not deleted from the windows directory, I tried to delete and shows that can't be deleted, anyway I savev more than 1 Mb, and I'll did it right on the Axim with total commander

Thanks..... :approve:

Menneisyys · 09-12-05, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Empel1960

Great tip, thanks, the only files I can't move are outress.96.dll and shellres.96.dll, those files are copied to the dll directory but not deleted from the windows directory, I tried to delete and shows that can't be deleted, anyway I savev more than 1 Mb, and I'll did it right on the Axim with total commander

Thanks..... :approve:

Are you sure you did all this in SE (not native) VGA mode?

permalink · 09-12-05, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Menneisyys

Are you sure you did all this in SE (not native) VGA mode?

Yes I changed from ozVga to SE and moved the files after the soft reset , I just tried again going back to SE vga and cannot delete those 2 files......

Menneisyys · 09-13-05, 04:23 AM

Posted an updated/extended version.

Menneisyys · 09-13-05, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by Empel1960

Yes I changed from ozVga to SE and moved the files after the soft reset , I just tried again going back to SE vga and cannot delete those 2 files......

Dunno why the system still locks these files... You will, however, be able to get rid of them next time you reinstall your SE/OzVGA.

permalink · 09-13-05, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Menneisyys

Dunno why the system still locks these files... You will, however, be able to get rid of them next time you reinstall your SE/OzVGA.

Correct me if I'm wrong, you installed SE VGA and then copied OzVGA and that way you were able to delete those files, in my case I copied the dll's files that come with OzVGA and after that installed SE VGA, I think that's the reason I'm unable to relocate those 2 files.

Menneisyys · 09-13-05, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Empel1960

Correct me if I'm wrong, you installed SE VGA and then copied OzVGA and that way you were able to delete those files, in my case I copied the dll's files that come with OzVGA and after that installed SE VGA, I think that's the reason I'm unable to relocate those 2 files.

I don't think so. Neither SE_VGA nor OzVGA lock these files - they are nothing more than (especially SE_VGA) 'simple' registry poker/file copier applications. It's the WM operating system that has a lock on the two DLL's, which would only be understandble in native VGA mode.

permalink · 09-13-05, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Menneisyys

I don't think so. Neither SE_VGA nor OzVGA lock these files - they are nothing more than (especially SE_VGA) 'simple' registry poker/file copier applications. It's the WM operating system that has a lock on the two DLL's, which would only be understandble in native VGA mode.

I tried to delete under OzVGA, SE_VGA and native VGA and no luck, so I went back to OzVGA and as usual doesn't let me delete the files, I rename to old instead dll soft reset and after that I was able to delete those files, thanks for the tip and your support, now I just use 2.59 Mb of RAM for programs.... :approve:

Jumbie · 10-01-05, 08:11 PM

Million thanks for this and all your other tutorials. Worked perfectly on an existing installation of OzVGA.

permalink · 10-13-05, 01:05 PM

I assume an you extend the system path to load from the sd card? When I go to
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Loader\SystemPath] using PHM, I see \Release\

what exacly should I enter? I have tried
\Release\
\SDCard\dlls\
etc., by creating a new multi-string value, but the program does not functionally launch from there. If it cannot launch from the card, where do I move it to to get it out of the windows directory?

Menneisyys · 10-13-05, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by edderh

I assume an you extend the system path to load from the sd card? When I go to
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Loader\SystemPath] using PHM, I see \Release\

what exacly should I enter? I have tried
\Release\
\SDCard\dlls\
etc., by creating a new multi-string value, but the program does not functionally launch from there. If it cannot launch from the card, where do I move it to to get it out of the windows directory?

In the BIS (Built-In Storage).

BTW, you won't need to leave \Release\ in the System Path - you may freely remove it.

permalink · 10-13-05, 02:26 PM

I have created a new multi-string value:

\Built-in Storage\dlls\

and placed the files in that same folder- but it does not seem to work.

BTW, when I put the files in the Windows folder it works fine...any advice?

permalink · 10-13-05, 02:49 PM

ok, I just 4got to leave msim.96.dll behind- thx

bassdominator · 10-16-05, 04:31 PM

I tried using Tweaks2k2 to extend the system path to the memory card, but it doesn't seem to be working. Oz_VGA works but a lot of icons are missing. Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Should I just try using memmaid or editing the registry by hand to extend the system path?

Thanks in advance.