GRiM

Hi.

Well I've had a great service out of my X5 for nearly 18 months now. And I upgraded it to A05 Windows 2003 Mobile, when that came out, last year.

But just at the weekend, while doing a soft reset, my Axim froze at the DELL blue screen.

I removed my 512MB CF card and the 256mb SD, and tried a hard reset, and I got asked to clear all data in memory or cancel.

Regardless of which I choose my Axim still freezes on the DELL blue boot screen.

I've removed both batteries, and let it sit overnight to ensure it's definately discharged, and tried both soft and hard reset, to no avail.

I've contacted our friends at DELL and they infromed me, that as my warranty has expired, I need to buy a new unit.

I did try to have DELL service it, and asked if I could just buy a replacement motherboard, and fit it myself.

But they would only suggest that I buy a complete new unit.

Thanks guys... lots of help that one.

Can anyone suggest any ideas to get it to reboot?

I'm not afraid to open it up, as I've already replaced a broked screen myself.

I believe replacement motherboards are available. (Not from DELL though)

Can anyone suggest a source?

many thanks.

__________________
Axim X50v 624Mhz/128Mb 512Mb CF 256Mb SD

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary,
and those who don't.

wooch06

Wel, it sounds like you tried everything hardware wise, os no suggestions there. I would recommend this. You mentioned that you upgraded to WM 2003. This means you should have a backup of your 2002 ROM file. I would try re-flashing your ROM, as it may have become corrupted. First, try flashing it with 2003, if that doesn't work, try flashing it with your 2002 ROM file, then flash it back to 2003.

Gdio53

Check out the 1st thread regarding ROM update: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...ight=x5+rom+cf
The instructions: http://tom61.arcadecontrols.com/axim_bootloader.html do work, but the key combination is a bit tricky.

I've used the procedure to recover a friend's unit and it does work.

rvdparis

Have you tried the bootloader process described in other threads? You load an IMG file on your CF card, and do a wierd combo of simultaneous key strokes, and your Axim is back. Not sure if it's appropriate for your situation, but this method worked for an upgrade from PPC2002 AND a language change - and I am not at all sure if what I did can be reproduced, but I did this bootloading process twice and it worked both times. Good luck, Rich.

__________________
I got uh Axim X5 Basic 32Mb
I made it go from 300Mhz --> 400Mhz
Now it's WM2003
And I got these: 128/256Mb CF | 128Mb SD

GRiM

Thanks for the prompt and informative replies guys.

And thanks to Gdio53.

I provisionally tried your octopus method, (at least you need to be one to press all those buttons together!) and indeed did get to the white loader screen mentioned.

Will let you know of my progress once I get a ROM image on my CF card.

I'll be calling on one of my two chums who both bought their Axims after seeing mine.

__________________
Axim X50v 624Mhz/128Mb 512Mb CF 256Mb SD

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary,
and those who don't.

Gdio53

You're welcome.

Wish I could take credit for the information, but I can't.
When my friend's machine crashed like yours, I went into a panic as it was I who had installed something that caused the lockup
But the great resources of Aximsite came to the rescue and saved me the cost of buying a new X5 for him:D

Good luck in the restore, glad you were at least able to get to the white screen, it took me 15 minutes to get there with all the key combinations and my fat fingers!

as77

BTW if you do the CF flashing procedure without a CF card being in the CF slot, the unit will run a series of diagnostic self-tests. If there is some hardware fault, this diagnostics may reveal it.

GRiM

OK. Quick Update..

Firstly many thanks to JohnnyB for the loan of his Axim.

I copied the file PK_25_NK_H_05200300EN.IMG to my CF card, and tried the 3 fingered re-boot.

I get the following message on my Axim

LCD initialized Ok.!!
P25 EBoot Ver.1206200
SDRAM 64MB cleaned
Dell Axim X5


Then nothing. I've left it for a good half an hour. But the message stays on the screen.

I did have a load of files on my CF card, but I copied the .IMG file into the root directory of the card. My SD card has been removed.

After trying a few 3 fingered re-boots, and only getting the above message, I formatted the CF card, and copied the .IMG file back, ensuring it was now the only file on the CF card.

I still however, can not get past the above message.

The CF card was read and written to using my friend's Axim. And I never had any problems reading/writing to it from my Axim. I also tried his CF card, (but not formatting it) with the file in the root directory.

ideas?

__________________
Axim X50v 624Mhz/128Mb 512Mb CF 256Mb SD

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary,
and those who don't.

wooch06

I'd let it go for a while and see what happens. If you are seeing a screen similar to the one in the instructions, let it go. I believe it has to format the Built-in storage, which can take a while, depending on the speed of your processor.

as77

Try it without the CF card in, as I already suggested.
I don't think it formats the built-in storage.

GRiM

OK guys, the plot thickens...

As I said, after giving my Axim the Mr. Spock Vulcan Mind reset, I get the following message..

------------------------------
LCD initialized Ok.!!
P25 EBoot Ver.1206200
SDRAM 64MB cleaned
Dell Axim X5
------------------------------

It then hangs at this screen. I tried numerous times but each time it still hangs.

I tried again, and this time I went away for lunch. (about 45 minutes) When I got back I had this message.

------------------------------
LCD initialized Ok.!!
P25 EBoot Ver.1206200
SDRAM 64MB cleaned
Dell Axim X5
Hardware Device ID
0000000000000000
Manufacturer Code
00 50 BF E4 5C E5
UUID Method1 Version=1
UUID Method1 Version=8
CF card detected!
Init CF card ok!
Determining Card Type....
Storage Card Found!
Load Image from CD Disk....
!! PLEASE DO NOT TURN OFF !!
No DOS Partition Found!!
------------------------------

So it at least recognises the CF card. Me thinks it might be because I formatted the CF card on my mate's Axim using Flash Format utility. I changed the default to FAT32, and changed the cluster size. Never had problems with the card when it was formatted this way before, but the FAT and cluster size may be relevant during a ROM re-flash.

Back to the drawing board. I will try reformatting the CF card in my mate's Axim again, but this time leave it to all default settings.

Incidentally when I rebooted the Axim with NO CF card, I still had to wait approx 40 minutes before the messages, but I provide this for info only.

------------------------------
LCD initialized Ok.!!
P25 EBoot Ver.1206200
SDRAM 64MB cleaned
Dell Axim X5
Hardware Device ID
0000000000000000
Manufacturer Code
00 50 BF E4 5C E5
UUID Method1 Version=1
UUID Method1 Version=8
NO CF Card detected!
Flash Lock...
------------------------------

Stay tuned for next instalment.

__________________
Axim X50v 624Mhz/128Mb 512Mb CF 256Mb SD

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary,
and those who don't.

Gdio53

Well, at least you're making progress. Keep trying, as it may be the format of the CD card itself, I used a new card when I needed to do the flash and can't remember what the default format was, it may have been FAT, but not sure.

At the prices of CF cards, it may be easier to just buy a small card and use it to load the ROM.

Good luck and keep trying.

Gary

as77

There must be a hardware fault. The 40-minute waiting period should not be there. In fact, the ROM flash should start immediately. Also, the "Hardware Device ID" should not be all zeroes. Something is definitely wrong hardware-wise. It's unlikely that a ROM flash will fix this. But of course it's worth trying.

GRiM

OK

Tried new 32MB CF card. Copied .IMG to it and reset.
Waited another 40 minutes..
message as follows-

------------------------------
LCD initialized Ok.!!
P25 EBoot Ver.1206200
SDRAM 64MB cleaned
Dell Axim X5
Hardware Device ID
0000000000000000
Manufacturer Code
00 50 BF E4 5C E5
UUID Method1 Version=1
UUID Method1 Version=8
CF card detected!
Init CF card ok!
Determining Card Type....
Storage Card Found!
Load Image from CD Disk....
!! PLEASE DO NOT TURN OFF !!
FAT16 Partition Found!
PK_NK_H_07170300EN.IMG Found!


DELL Axim X5 image

The Image version: 07170300
Image Language:
English
Axim X5 image found
Flash Unlock...
------------------------------


Can anyone tell me if this is acutally Flashing the ROM?
What messages should I get if it was flashing it?

__________________
Axim X50v 624Mhz/128Mb 512Mb CF 256Mb SD

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary,
and those who don't.

Gdio53

Can't remember how long it took when I had to do it, but it looks like it's doing something!