TUTORIAL: The long awaited solution on how to use the SD Image Loader for flashing - Page 29

wdenny · 01-19-07, 01:19 AM

I have bricked my x50v trieing to go from WM50 A02 to 2003. stops at 80%. Is there anywhere to get the files that isn't dead. need them very badly. Thanks for any help you can give.

kond · 01-20-07, 02:04 PM

Hi,
Can i do the same proccess with compact flash disk ?
i have tried to do this with compact flash but it didnt work. i mean pressing Wireless + Power + Reset didnt work. any suggestions ??

thanxxx

kond · 01-24-07, 02:19 PM

hi

Wireless + Power + Reset didnt work. any suggestions ??

pdrtor · 01-24-07, 02:57 PM

kond, press wireless+power+reset, then let go of wireless+power and countinue to press on reset until the screen changes

daspiceman · 01-31-07, 10:44 PM

Itried to download the image from your link but it took me to some site where I couldn't find anything useful to download. Did I miss something?

Originally Posted by domme

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...

jchonc · 02-02-07, 12:35 PM

Help! I bricked my x50v after step 6, any idea? It won' t even get into bootloader anymore. I am using the files from http://operation.nt.free.fr/Dell%20Axim%20X50v/... :'(

Flagmax · 02-02-07, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by jchonc

Help! I bricked my x50v after step 6, any idea? It won' t even get into bootloader anymore. I am using the files from http://operation.nt.free.fr/Dell%20Axim%20X50v/... :'(

Have you tried:
Press POWER + WIRELESS, then tap the RESET twice and keep the other two buttons pressed.

jchonc · 02-04-07, 12:07 PM

Yes tried all the combination I have read everywhere, but still no sign of life... guess have to give up. Or does anyone know where can I send to get fixed?

daspiceman · 02-06-07, 03:52 PM

I can't find a copy of the image with the links you provided.

jchonc · 02-06-07, 06:15 PM

Howcome? I just click the link myself and get to the folder....It's sort of the folder/ftp type of interface. Are you sure you don't have it. ? can you download the file: http://operation.nt.free.fr/Dell%20A...Bootloader.nb0 ? there are four files there. they are:
http://operation.nt.free.fr/Dell%20A...Bootloader.nb0
http://operation.nt.free.fr/Dell%20A...loader_nb0.crc
http://operation.nt.free.fr/Dell%20A...0v_WM50_EN.nb0
http://operation.nt.free.fr/Dell%20A...M50_EN_nb0.crc

Zelucifer · 02-09-07, 11:56 PM

Is there a difference between the x50v and the x50 image? can't find anything but the x50v...

rmeira · 02-13-07, 04:10 PM

Sucessfully flashed a Brazilian Portuguese A04 to a English A12 ;-) !! !much happier now ...!!!!
Tnks a lot guys !!!!!

skyplay · 02-21-07, 02:27 AM

After I have upgraded my X50v from WM2003se to WM5 by using the upgrade CD, and then hard reset, my X50v still shows WM2003se. The orginal ROM version is A03 and the upgrade CD says it's for ROM A01. Is the ROM difference that makes my upgrade failed? Is it possible to upgrade my X50v from WM2003se to WM5 by using the SD Image Loader? Many thanks.

brujo · 02-22-07, 04:47 AM

Hi
sorry about my english
my 50v is dead, she do nothing
i press any combination of buttons and do nothing
what can i do?

marco02 · 02-22-07, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by skyplay

After I have upgraded my X50v from WM2003se to WM5 by using the upgrade CD, and then hard reset, my X50v still shows WM2003se. The orginal ROM version is A03 and the upgrade CD says it's for ROM A01. Is the ROM difference that makes my upgrade failed? Is it possible to upgrade my X50v from WM2003se to WM5 by using the SD Image Loader? Many thanks.

retry, the same problem upgrade WM5 A00 to A02 and the upgrade failed i retry and all its ok