WM5 Review, Problems, Solutions

11-03-05, 01:48 PM

I hope the following information helps people out, and gives them guidance to make the choice of what they choose to do. This is my experiences and will not be the same for everyone obviously.

After experimenting with WM5 I find I am going back to 2003SE. The system in its past state was solid and free of bugs. I do not regret trying out WM5 as I learned a lot. However I will stick to what is solid, and wait upon the upgrades from Dell to have a complete reliable system.

Problems:
1.Power up – Over 50% of the time during power up the system will lock up. After doing numerous soft-resets, I do not wish to do anymore. Dell must fix this for me to go back.
2.Dell GPS System does not work, and I do not use this program often, I was planning on using it for some upcoming business trips.
3.Some are experiencing problems with Active Sync, I have not but found it worth mentioning.

I am effective 04Nov05 rolling back to 2003SE and doing a restore courtesy of our most trusted back up program Sprite. The rollback file can be located in the support section of the Dell website.

Windows Mobile 5 Review (02Nov05)
Installation
Over all ease of installation was not difficult. I made sure to read through all directions as indicated with the software. This made life more reasonable. I did a full sync to ensure everything would run smooth. I then backed up everything through Sprite, Outlook, and then a manual drag of miscellanous files I wanted to save. I removed my Dell GPS system as instructed from my PC and Device. From there on I made sure I followed the directions step by step. Process took about 45 minutues.
Performance
Performance is an issue alot of people are concerned with, yet there is not a huge decrease in performance. Yes there is lag when you "boot" up, but it takes only about 10 seconds. Multitasking has become a little lagged, but being patient with all your programs installed is key. There will be some updates. Movie, Sound, and gaming quality for some reason is enhanced. I was greatly impressed by a little better quality. Battery life with programs installed is lasting on the 1100 battery over 3 hours from 2 hours 15 minutes on average.
Overall Feel
Over all the feel is mostly the same except for the bottom task bar. I do not notice a huge difference. Security issues are annoying, but in the long run worth it. The program is indeed large for the OS, however I am sure Microsoft could have slimmed it a little further. Plenty of memory is left over for direct device memory installation.
Programs
Most programs transferred with ease. A few did have to be updated so they ran more smoothly. Games are all on my SD card now and run faster, with better graphics, my assumption is that windows is taking better advantage of the X50v. I am glad I did not wait for other's reviews, I learned alot, and I am glad I installed. I only hope Sprite comes out with their Back Up Utility soon!
Problems
Not all programs work, and this was expected. Some updates are going to slow, but this is also expected. Bluetooth items such as the Dell GPS and the Dell Keyboard are unoperable due to security certificates and passkeys.
Updates
(02Nov05)Some people are encountering power up issues. This has happened to me once, be patient, do not hard reset. Soft reset will fix this in most cases. If that does not work, unplug your device and remove storage cards, then soft reset. Hopefully the first ROM update will fix this issue.
(02Nov05)Dell Keyboard had to be updated with R107814.EXE from the Dell Driver area. Once installed, the device was only recognized if the Secure Box is NOT checked! It now works and is WM5 functional!
(03Nov05)Though most issues are fixed, the Power up problem, and GPS problem is of a great concern. I will go back to 2003SE Edition tomorrow until power up and gps is fixed.

flipcody · 11-03-05, 02:17 PM

Bobby, Did you try running without your memory cards in your Axim? After I pulled them I did not have the power-up problem (and fast battery drain).

X51 users have been having the powering on problem for a month:
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=100190

I wonder when Dell will sort this out...I too will probably go back to 2003se until this gets sorted out.

11-03-05, 02:22 PM

Yes I tried that but still have no major success. Plus a lot of games I have are stored on my SD card along with music. This inconvience does not justify using a system that is not X50v happy yet. Remember these are toys so we want them to work as such, not work around them for their convience, but our own.

I just hope this helps everyone save time. If they want to update they should know what to face, if they don't that is great too.

maflynn · 11-04-05, 02:52 PM

The font on th thread is a little harsh on the eyes. I don't need to see everything large and bold.

As for the review, I myself had problems and decided to downgrade.

I'm a little peeved that I spend 40 bucks on something that isn't ready for primetime. My only hope is that a patch will be forthcoming from Dell. This time I'll wait for some braver souls to try it before I take the time to install the OS and then reintall my apps.

Mike

11-04-05, 05:25 PM

There are plenty of brave souls here at Aximsite that will try it!

dnaboston · 11-04-05, 08:38 PM

I was going to update, went through everything and had major problems with activesync 4 and then once I got it backed up I went to do the ROM update and I get the error system update not found, please restore system update????

Should I just stop right here?

Dave

11-04-05, 08:41 PM

you need to elaborate...

What are you updating to, what are you using to update? ETC...

wannabesean · 11-04-05, 09:13 PM

Ok, I am having problems installing the update. I read through the instructions several times and seem to be doing everything right. I backed up everything the way that it tells you to. Then I go throught the update process and it seems to go through it fine, but when it gets to the point where you do the hard reset when it turns back on it still has the windows 2003 SE on it. It goes through the first time start up stuff and then goes back to the same old 2003 SE. Everything is erased, but it is still 2003 SE! Can anyone help?

11-04-05, 09:18 PM

Hold on let me check something...Oh yea...Welcome to the site!

11-04-05, 09:25 PM

You have me stumped on this one. I assume you are doing a hard reset correctly, so it sounds like the device is not accepting the new rom. Either way I would suggest staying with your old os system until Dell provides a patch or update to fix the main bugs.

Sorry man, I don't have the instructions with me to proper review them.

11-05-05, 11:02 AM

I have not downgraded yet, but i should before I have to exchange mine as well.

Outsie of the over all performance kinda sucking, my CF card likes to disapear, then i have a folder that appears called CFCard2, which doesn't make me call for joy since i have apps installed on my cf card and also data being saved there.

Why Dell? Why? Why must you always dig a hole that we all have to crawl out of, ever heard the expression measure twice, cut once???

Oh, well. next hand held=Ipaq. My company uses them and the support is the best.

Flip_Lx · 11-05-05, 02:11 PM

search the GPS forum Dell Gps is working now.... and as people here have hinted the new rom is supposed to be coming out in a week or two but its all rumors last i had heard

11-05-05, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by wannabesean

Ok, I am having problems installing the update. I read through the instructions several times and seem to be doing everything right. I backed up everything the way that it tells you to. Then I go throught the update process and it seems to go through it fine, but when it gets to the point where you do the hard reset when it turns back on it still has the windows 2003 SE on it. It goes through the first time start up stuff and then goes back to the same old 2003 SE. Everything is erased, but it is still 2003 SE! Can anyone help?

Umm... You kinda forgot to read the rest of the instructions.. It clearly says to put your axim back into the dock after it has done the first half of the update. Then activesync 4 will ask to create a new partnership. Close this and a window should say "Continue update or something like that from the update installer window. It will then continue updating your PPC. I think the first half only erases all personal information so it updates faster on the second half.

pako · 11-06-05, 01:50 AM

I upgraded x50 to WM05 week and had some problems. Then I installed few apps (not from backup but true install) that are wm05 "designed" (no 2003se apps running). For last few days everything works just fine.

wannabesean · 11-06-05, 10:32 AM

I got it working, all I had to do was move to another computer. The computer that I was on did not have IE as the main web browser and I am sure that this was the problem. As soon as I moved to my other computer (which didn't have IE as the main web browser) it worked nicely.