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

[gelap]

Thanks yudael for your X50 WM5 nb0!!! my X50... it's alive! it's alive!!!

[seby1689]

Hi I also need an X50 rom cause my Axim won't load! Could someone post a file for me please ;-)

[Steven855]

Do a search first! There is another sticky (made by me) that has some premade nb0 files plus better instructions in the X50-X51 section.

[bradmcc17]

Due to pure laziness and not wanting to scan through 37 pages of messages, anyone know the links to get the WM5 OS Image and Bootloader and CRC files? Thanks!

[Steven855]

What axim?

[bradmcc17]

for an x50v

[Steven855]

What WM5 rom?

[bradmcc17]

windows mobile 5

[digiboy]

well!

I've bricked my Axim trying to upgrade to WM5. Now I need to roll back to WM2k3SE because my Axim X50v keeps hanging on the 80% blue screen. Seems like all the links to all X50v wm2k3se roms are dead from these forums and dell's not offering any support for this. Can some please be kind enough to upload the nb0 and crc files on RapidShare or anywhere? Aparently it can be extracted from a "healthy" wm2k3 X50v using this tool... * Free Bootloader Extractor utility for Windows Mobile devices: Backup bootloader before flashing ROM to upgrade OS*by*Tech[dot]Blog

Thanks in Advance! I'm sure many others would greatly appreciate it as

[bradmcc17]

good luck getting those files digiboy... this forum has been dead for a week since I've been trying to get those files...

[yudael]

well!

I've bricked my Axim trying to upgrade to WM5. Now I need to roll back to WM2k3SE because my Axim X50v keeps hanging on the 80% blue screen. Seems like all the links to all X50v wm2k3se roms are dead from these forums and dell's not offering any support for this. Can some please be kind enough to upload the nb0 and crc files on RapidShare or anywhere? Aparently it can be extracted from a "healthy" wm2k3 X50v using this tool... * Free Bootloader Extractor utility for Windows Mobile devices: Backup bootloader before flashing ROM to upgrade OS*by*Tech[dot]Blog

Thanks in Advance! I'm sure many others would greatly appreciate it as

I already uploaded these files a while ago to Mediafire.
Here is the link again: Dell_Axim_x50_nb0_files_for_sd_reflash_WM50_K_A01_ X50_WM5_ENG.zip

[soulsyphon]

Hi,
I've tried looking through most of these posts, but i still can't quite seem to get the info i need. I'm kind of a newb when it comes to doing this upgrade, so some more help would be greatly appreciated.
I have an x50v running wm2003se A05 and i'm trying to upgrade to wm5. I downloaded a .rar containing the following files:
WM50_B_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0 [256kb]
WM50_B_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG_nb0.crc [8bytes]
WM50_K_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG.nb0 [33.7 mb]
WM50_K_A01_X50v_WM5_ENG_nb0.crc [8bytes]

I've tried copying them to a fat32 SD card and using the image loader but nothing happens. all i get is the blue 'sd image loader A01' title bar and a white screen. i think i need to change some file names or something but through much trial and error i haven't gotten anywhere.
thank you

[digiboy]

I already uploaded these files a while ago to Mediafire.
Here is the link again: Dell_Axim_x50_nb0_files_for_sd_reflash_WM50_K_A01_ X50_WM5_ENG.zip

Thanks for your quick response Yudael. That link you posted was the ROM image for WM5 right? I can't load WM5 for some reason because it ALWAYS gets stuck on 80% of the "Erasing storage..." screen. I'm actually looking for the WM2003SE SD Loader ROM. I believe the file name should be named DiMa_K_A05_X50v_WM2K3_ENG.nb0/.crc. If anyone out there has it or can copy off their existing Axim X50v. Please help! That Dell rollback utility is useless to me because my Axim is in a "bricked" state so only the SD Loader ROM is my only hope.

[turbo427]

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:



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...

I followed the direction and I bricked the thing now it won't boot USB doesn't even know something is pluggin when I try the wireless+power+reset, now nothing happens. I was trying to go from 2003 to M5 so I change the file name, everthing looked ok when it was done I did the wireless+power+reset it turned off (like a reboot)never came back on. Any Ideas how to fix a paper wieght, I called PocketPC Tech they said they can redo the ROM to 2003, dose anyone know if this is true.

[turbo427]

I followed the direction everything went ok till the hard reset part came up with
nothing it changed the boot loader i think, PocketPC tech said they can bring it
back. has anyone ever sent a brick to them and did it work.