Axim X3i Rom A02 Update - How To

Sorry folks, I lost the file that was hosted on my site. After going through a multitude of problems with various discount hosting providers, I've settled with a good one. Unfortunately the .exe file wasn't backed up during a transfer. If someone would like to send it to me, I'll be glad to host it again - binaryspiral (at) gmail (dot) you know.


Greetings - I've whipped the X3 Rom Update issue - after an hour or so of searching Dell and AximSite's forums, everyone saying "search the site - someone fixed it"

Well I found it, and I wanted to post the updated instructions for anyone having problems upgrading to A02 rom version on their X3i.

I purchased a X3i refurbished from Dell for a good price last month. The only problem - I couldn't do the latest rom update ( R80976, Dell Axim X3 System Update Utility for Windows Mobile 2003, v.06290400EN, A01)


First you'll need to download two things.

1. The R80976 update from Dell. ( http://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R80976.EXE )

2. An OLD rom update R74809 that Dell doesn't host anymore.

Use Google and search for R74809.exe

I no longer host this file, but if you have a copy, send it to me and I'll be glad to put it online again. (see above!)

(AXIMsite.com should mirror this file too - hint hint :) )

Second

After you download R74809, extract it - but hit cancel when it starts to install. You don't need it. We're just going to use the updater software to install the new ROM - the new updater has issues that Dell doesn't care to fix.

Exit out of the update.


Third

Open C:\Dell\Drivers\R74809\SETUP.INI with notepad

Look for:

[Image]
LOADDEFAULT	= 1
COMBOMODEL   	= P16R_A01050400EN.IMG
NONCOMBOMODEL  	= P16R_A01050400EN.IMG

and change the "LOADDEFAULT" to a zero so it looks just like this:

[Image]
LOADDEFAULT	= 0
COMBOMODEL   	= P16R_A01050400EN.IMG
NONCOMBOMODEL  	= P16R_A01050400EN.IMG

Fourth

Turn off or disable your AntiVirus program. I had to simply right-click on Norton Antivirus icon and choose "Disable Auto-Protect" or else I would get a "USB Driver Problem" error.


Fifth

Open - C:\Dell\Drivers\R74809\Setup.exe

Now when you go to update the ROM it'll ask you to choose a ROM image.

Change your directory to the A02 update: C:\Dell\Drivers\R80976\

And choose the file: P16R_A04080402EN.IMG


Sixth

Let it install - it'll take a while. Really - yours won't be any faster than mine. :)

When it reboots you'll see the Dell splash screen for a VERY long time. Don't panic - you didn't hose anything. Just walk away and go watch TV or something. It takes a long time.

When I came back an hour later, I was looking at the setup screen. So I don't know exactly how long it took.


Credit - I didn't invent this process, a smart user posted a reply 20 messages deep into a Dell.com forum thread. I thought it would help a lot more people to have the instructions right here on the first post.

Disclaimer - I can't be held responsible for your Axim. If you screw it up following my instructions - Aximsite.com, it's owners, me, and everyone else in the world can't be held liable. Do this at your own risk - it worked for me and a few others, YMMV.

Thanks much for your Post Barney. I'm one who is guilty of the "search the site" :hide: . I remember looking for it and couldn't find it, so this is a great post. I think it should be pinned to the top of the forum.

Thanks again, and welcome to the AximSite!!

[FallN]

... I think this thread is deserving of a tutorial sticky. :love:

As for the actual update: I have rom A00(09100300EN). What's the benefit of updating to the new ROM? (It seems like a lot of work, VERY iffy and tricky and quite a headache for what gain?)

I don't want to do this update if there's no major difference...

Originally posted by FallN
... I think this thread is deserving of a tutorial sticky. :love:

As for the actual update: I have rom A00(09100300EN). What's the benefit of updating to the new ROM?

Good question - well, from the information Dell gives:

Enhance the USB link stability for utility.

But it also includes most, if not all, the patches and fixes released to date.

I was having a wireless quirk that I hoped would be fixed.



I haven't ran into the problem since I upgraded.

There are some subtle differences that you'll notice over time, but as Binary mentioned, it has all the patches applied up to that point, so you don't have to apply patches before it . . .

Originally posted by wooch06
There are some subtle differences that you'll notice over time, but as Binary mentioned, it has all the patches applied up to that point, so you don't have to apply patches before it . . .

And it falls back to the "Latest and greatest" rule... you gotta have it!

It's like the dog told to "stay", while the owner places a biscuit on his nose and waits for the command to eat it... I could never be that dog.

Besides, it was a challenge to install the bloody thing - it's got to be worth it! :)

I really haven't had any "quirky" issues since upgrading, and the WiFi works great as well. Gotta "keep up with the jonses" ;)

Originally posted by wooch06
I really haven't had any "quirky" issues since upgrading, and the WiFi works great as well. Gotta "keep up with the jonses" ;)

Bah, I'm still having problems ActiveSync'ing and Terminal Servic'ing to my local machines. Sigh...

I can ping the machines. I can TS from machine to machine. But from my Axim wirelessly - it dies. I can TS from the cradle... but that's not very useful is it.

I've turned off WEP, rebuilt connection profiles, and hard reset the beast a few times.

Back to the drawing board (with a big hammer).
I was having these issues before the update. And to churn the knife a bit more - it worked flawlessly with my iPaq H5550 via wifi.

--- Update 8/15

Turns out I had a problem with a few other hardware devices at home - my USB hub wasn't enjoying the UPS it was sitting next to. And the wifi access point had a rom update to fix some connectivity issues... stupid Netgear garbage. Anyway - it's working 100% good now. The poor little Axim wasn't to blame :approve:

I'm able to connect via TS to my machines via my Axim, hmm. BTW, cool avatar!

[Wile E. Coyote]

Hi !
I'm new to this forum and have tried to ROM update my X3i by following the directions given here, but I still get the message that this img isn't compatible with my model. I have an X3i with A00C. Any good suggestions ??? Have some troublle with WiFi connections and would really like to install the update....

[Phillbis]

Originally posted by Binaryspiral
Bah, I'm still having problems ActiveSync'ing and Terminal Servic'ing to my local machines. Sigh...

I can ping the machines. I can TS from machine to machine. But from my Axim wirelessly - it dies. I can TS from the cradle... but that's not very useful is it.

I've turned off WEP, rebuilt connection profiles, and hard reset the beast a few times.

Back to the drawing board (with a big hammer).
I was having these issues before the update. And to churn the knife a bit more - it worked flawlessly with my iPaq H5550 via wifi.

How is your WAP configured within your network? Does it exist in a DMZ? The fact that you can TS from the cradle and not when using wireless appears to be a configuration error. Maybe you have to establish a VPN connection to your wired network before connecting via Terminal Services. My home network is setup this way. Connections on the wireless network cannot connect to my internal (network) unless they VPN into the internal network. This sounds to be what your issue is.

Originally posted by Phillbis
How is your WAP configured within your network? Does it exist in a DMZ? The fact that you can TS from the cradle and not when using wireless appears to be a configuration error. Maybe you have to establish a VPN connection to your wired network before connecting via Terminal Services. My home network is setup this way. Connections on the wireless network cannot connect to my internal (network) unless they VPN into the internal network. This sounds to be what your issue is.

It's something internally on my network keeping the connections from working - probably my AP (Netgear MR814). I was able to TS and AS without a problem on a public network and at work.

Thanks for your info though.

[jpiercy]

thanks so much for the update info , it worked very smoothly and Im all updated

this was awesome

JP

[Wile E. Coyote]

What kind of ROM versions have You guys updated from ??? As I wrote a few lines longer up here, my Axim has A00C, and it wouldn't take the update... (so far....)

First I was AOO, then A01, now I'm A02.