TUTORIAL: The long awaited solution on how to use the SD Image Loader for flashing

[Matthew Dray]

Thanks for the files, really appreciate it!!

[punchbuggy_ca]

thanks youre amazing.

And also because I want to keep these files and I have extra bandwidth,

I have placed them on my webspace for sharing.

Please don't abuse my bandwidth, or I'll take the files offline :approve:

http://randomosity4.us/rfiles.php

[neomatrix2006]

OK, this is finally the solution to how the mysterious SD Image Loader is used.

This tutorial has been tested with the X50v, but I suppose it will work with any X50 or X51.



1. Copy the Windows Mobile 5 OS Image and the corresponding CRC File to a FAT32 formatted SD-Card (Valid Filename for example WM50_K_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0)
2. Copy the Windows Mobile 5 Bootloader and the corresponding CRC File to a FAT32 formatted SD-Card (Valid Filename for example DiMa_B_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0)
3. Insert the SD-Card into your Axim and start the SD Image Loader by Pressing Wireless + Power + Reset
4. The Image Loader will search for flash images on your SD-Card, as there is still the Windows Mobile 2003 Bootloader on your device it will only look for files beginning with "DiMa" and therefore will only display the bootloader image.
5. Press the action key twice, this starts the update process. DANGER: If this process fails your device will be a 300$ paperweight...
6. After the process is finished (takes only a few seconds) you will be asked to hard reset your system. Ignore this message and press Wireless + Power + Reset again.
7. The Image Loader will search for flash images on your SD-Card, as there is now the Windows Mobile 5 Bootloader on your device it will only look for files beginning with "WM50" and therefore will only display the OS image.
8. Press the action key twice, this starts the update process.
9. After the process is finished you will be asked to hard reset your device. Follow this instruction and wait for the OS to load. That's all.


I have uploaded the following images for you to try this tutorial:


X50v Windows Mobile 2003 Revision A05 Englisch
http://www.rapidsharing.com/b75c6f60...a37ad85f5b3703

X50v Windows Mobile 5 Revision A01 Englisch
http://www.rapidsharing.com/3f9b6619...621aedfe742c0e

X50 Windows Mobile 2003 Revision A05 Englisch
http://www.rapidsharing.com/27641c54...aa750911e67214

Remember, if you want to change from WM2003 to WM5 and vice versa you will have to change the prefixes of the bootloader files after extracting... ;-)

BTW...I still need an X51v A06 Rom-Image for testing purposes...

Wireless + power + reset, it asked me if i want to restore factory settings but nothing about any kind of loader, It wont get past about 80% of the boot screen with the dell logo. Any help would be great.

[batmanppc]

Wireless + power + reset, it asked me if i want to restore factory settings but nothing about any kind of loader, It wont get past about 80% of the boot screen with the dell logo. Any help would be great.

I've found the easiest way to get to the SD Image Loader is by holding down power + wireless and then using the stylus and poking the reset button. After pressing the reset button continue to hold the wireless and power buttons.

[neomatrix2006]

Would Any one happen to have an image for an Axim x50v A08 if so I really need it, my email address is wes4988@yahoo.com. Thanks in advance.

[Hank1011]

Just wanted to say "Thank-you" so much for this post. I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out where to go. Without your post, I figure I would have had an expensive paper weight. Again, BZ for taking the time to post this.

Hank
:approve:

[gdw2506]

OK, first let me say I know NOTHING about computers, I have a Dell Axim X50, up 'till now everything has been fine.. the other day it locked up out of the blue.. I tried to soft reset it, nothing so I tried to hard reset it.. same result, the DELL screen comes up & the progress bar ( light blue bar that goes across the bottom ) makes it about 2/3rds of the way thru & STOPS.. ( if you were looking at the unit it goes just about to the right edge of the chrome envelope button ) .. that's it..

can you PLEASE "dumb this process" down & tell someone who doesn't know much about computers how to get the Windows image you refer to ? * I clicked on the links you provided but it takes me to a rapidsharing website & I'm lost !

I do have a SD card & a seperate SD reader so if I can figure out how to get the necessary files I might have a chance of saving this thing.. ( I got it in January 06 so I'm waaaaaay out of the Exg period ) ..

ANY help would be greatly appreciated !!

Gary

OK, this is finally the solution to how the mysterious SD Image Loader is used.

This tutorial has been tested with the X50v, but I suppose it will work with any X50 or X51.

You can find another tutorial of me on how to make your own flash images at http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=112267

DISCLAIMER: I do not take any responsibility for any damage caused to your devices.
This tutorial is only intended for advanced users.

In this tutorial I am going to mention how to use the Loader to reflash your device, a tutorial on how to build your own flash images from a ROM-Image will be posted later.

First I'd like to mention some Basics. The most important thing is to understand, how the Axim's ROM content is built up.
It consists of the bootloader, which is similar to the BIOS in a desktop computer, of the Operating System and of the Built-In Storage in exactly that order.
Currently there are 2 different bootloaders, one for Windows Mobile 2003 and one for Windows Mobile 5. A Windows Mobile 2003 bootloader cannot boot Windows Mobile 5 and vice versa. The bootloader is language independent. As for the OSes there are quite a lot of different images, differing in OS Version, language and revision.

So what do you have to do to flash your Axim with the OS version you like?

First of all you will have to ensure that you have the correct bootloader on your device. After that you can install the OS you like.

If you do not want to change the type of OS (Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows Mobile 5) you do not have to change anything regarding the bootloader.

For this you will need a bootloader image and the corresponding CRC File, which contains a checksum, to make sure the file has been copied to your device correctly.

The filename of the images have to be of the following format: [Prefix] _ [Imagetype] _ [Revision] _ [Description].nb0


I'd like to explain the different elements of the filename the Image Loader expects:

Prefix: Depends on which Bootloader is CURRENTLY installed on your device. For the WM2003 bootloader it has to be DiMa, for the WM5 bootloader it has to be WM50.

Imagetype: Tells the Image Loader which area of the Rom you would like to refresh, for the bootloader it has to be B, for the OS it has to be K.

Revision: The Revision of the image, has to be either A00 (Official Release), or X00 (Developer Release) whereas 00 stands for any numeric digits. The revision can be anything, it is not important for the flashing process.

Description: Anything you like, e.g. X50v_WM2K5_ENG

Some examples for valid filenames:

DiMa_B_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0 --> Bootloader image, to be installed on a device currently running the Windows Mobile 2003 bootloader, if the device is currently running the Windows Mobile 5 bootloader the filename had to be WM50_B_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0

WM50_K_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0 --> Windows Mobile 2005 OS image, Revision A01

As for the corresponding CRC file the filenames would be DiMa_B_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG_nb0.crc and WM50_K_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG_nb0.crc


It is important that you always install the correct bootloader before installing the OS Image.


Now lets assume you'd like to update your device from Windows Mobile 2003 to Windows Mobile 5:

1. Copy the Windows Mobile 5 OS Image and the corresponding CRC File to a FAT32 formatted SD-Card (Valid Filename for example WM50_K_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0)
2. Copy the Windows Mobile 5 Bootloader and the corresponding CRC File to a FAT32 formatted SD-Card (Valid Filename for example DiMa_B_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0)
3. Insert the SD-Card into your Axim and start the SD Image Loader by Pressing Wireless + Power + Reset
4. The Image Loader will search for flash images on your SD-Card, as there is still the Windows Mobile 2003 Bootloader on your device it will only look for files beginning with "DiMa" and therefore will only display the bootloader image.
5. Press the action key twice, this starts the update process. DANGER: If this process fails your device will be a 300$ paperweight...
6. After the process is finished (takes only a few seconds) you will be asked to hard reset your system. Ignore this message and press Wireless + Power + Reset again.
7. The Image Loader will search for flash images on your SD-Card, as there is now the Windows Mobile 5 Bootloader on your device it will only look for files beginning with "WM50" and therefore will only display the OS image.
8. Press the action key twice, this starts the update process.
9. After the process is finished you will be asked to hard reset your device. Follow this instruction and wait for the OS to load. That's all.


I have uploaded the following images for you to try this tutorial:


X50v Windows Mobile 2003 Revision A05 Englisch
http://www.rapidsharing.com/b75c6f60...a37ad85f5b3703

X50v Windows Mobile 5 Revision A01 Englisch
http://www.rapidsharing.com/3f9b6619...621aedfe742c0e

X50 Windows Mobile 2003 Revision A05 Englisch
http://www.rapidsharing.com/27641c54...aa750911e67214

Remember, if you want to change from WM2003 to WM5 and vice versa you will have to change the prefixes of the bootloader files after extracting... ;-)

BTW...I still need an X51v A06 Rom-Image for testing purposes...

[[SV]]

I tried to upgrade my x51v from Dutch A04 to ENG A12 but i think i can not upgrade directly to A12 is that right ?

I skipped the bootloader install because it already got WM2005 on it.

When i start up the flashing progress it tells me it can't find an image.

Anybody that can help me in the right direction ?

Thanks

[[SV]]

Never mind i have done it :p
I used the wrong file names.
http://www.jaml.com/ROMCreation/ this site helped me also for the right crc value.

[notaclue]

Thanks for the great instructions, however, at step 5 (once the image loader starts) my axim completely froze. Now, it will not power on anymore. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[benjesuit]

Thanks for the great instructions, however, at step 5 (once the image loader starts) my axim completely froze. Now, it will not power on anymore. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

1st try Power+Reset. if that doesn't work then...

Try the "Wireless + Power + Reset" combo to get it back. It's tricky here because you won't know when you've got it back until the bootloader screen comes up. There will be no intermediary screens or indications. It make take you a little as a few tries to as many as 30 tries. But I had a similiar situation when I thought I "bricked" the Axim.

Also, make sure you named the files correctly and that the SD card was formatted FAT32.

The best bet is go back to the WM2k3 bootloader. (copy the DiMa_B_A05... file to the SD card). Then try this process again.

[snir]

thats confusing me 2 mcuh....can someone help me? i got 2 devices- x50,x50v both upgraded 2 wm5, iwant 2 rerole them 2 wm2003se,can someone help me & send(give a link) 2 a prepeard files 4 my case?(the links up there doesnt work anymore)

[snir]

ok,after a lot of reading,the x50v is fixed...i cant get a rom+crc 2 the x50....can someone share it?

[Khayyat]

Hi guys,

I have an Axim X50V, and I did encounter the 80% boot up freeze on my WM 5.0 upgraded axim. I donwnloaded the files that Domme posted and copied them over to a fat32 formatted sd card, I was able to access the SD image loader but for some reason it cant find the image on my SD card or the CRC file, can you guys help. I formatted the SD card several times and downloaded the images several times with the same result everytime, I even used 3 different card readers. Please help. I really appreciate all the knowledge you guys are providing.
Thanks

[ktalbot]

The links to the rom files are dead, is there anywhere else I can download them?