Problems with X50v downgrade WM5-WM2003SE

sar840t2 · 02-10-06, 12:02 PM

I have read all the "downgrade" threads I could find, but so far have been unable to fix my problem.

About a week ago I downgraded my X50v from WM5 back to WM2003SE using the downgrade utility on Dell's web site. This took it to A05.

However, the problem I'm seeing is that, when I Exit all Programs in switcher bar, often (about 80% of the time) the PDA stops responding to taps and button presses. The only way out is a soft reset.

Currently I have a small subset of the programs I used to successfully run under WM2003SE, so I don't think any of them is the culprit.

Thinking the A05 ROM in the downgrade might be the culprit, I tried re-applying the A05 ROM from a file that I saved during one of my previous ROM upgrades. This has not helped.

I see a couple more things I can try, can anyone comment on the expected result of trying these?

1) Apply the A04 ROM then re-upgrade to A05 (since there are hard resets as part of these upgrades which should clean everything out, I don't have much hope for this helping).

2) Uninstall ActivSync 4.1 and re-install ActiveSync 3.8 (maybe AS 4.1 is doing something to my configuration that AS 3.8 didn't?). Does AS 4.1 uninstall cleanly, or do I need to go in and clean up all the turds it leaves around in the registry?

Other than this, I'm quite happy with my downgrade.

Thanks ... Mike

sar840t2 · 02-12-06, 11:59 AM

Update ...

1) - did not fix the problem. A hard reset and a ROM re-flash should blow away any junk left around by WM5, right?

2) - I can't revert to ActiveSync 3.8 - when I do so, it doesn't sync (and the window won't maximize when I double-click the tray icon). The only response I can get from ActiveSync is when I right-click the tray icon and choose "Explore" it says "a critical communications mumble-mumble is missing", with no clue as to what. A Google search for the exact text of the error message wasn't helpful. So apparently ActiveSync 4.1 doesn't uninstall cleanly enough to allow 3.8 to be installed afterwards.

Also I notice the X50v turns itself on for a few seconds periodically when out of the cradle (maybe every 20-60 minutes, not really sure). I verified that ActiveSync is not running on the X50v when this happens (since this behavior is a WM5 'feature' I'm used to checking for that).

Anybody have a suggestion as to what might be going on? What is the likelihood this is caused by ActiveSync 4.1 modifying what's installed on the X50v (remember, it's been reverted to WM2003SE)?

If necessary I will try setting up the X50v to another PC that has not had any ActiveSync installed, and hard-reset the X50v, but I'm hoping to avoid that.

Thanks ... Mike

l0l · 02-12-06, 01:03 PM

Hi Mike,

To remove/uninstall ActiveSync, in addition to what you've done, do also:

1. Delete the partnership from desktop.

2. Remove AS from desktop using Add/Remove program.

3. Use desktop Task Manager (ctrl+alt+del) to terminate AS process, Windows CE services, etc if its there.

4. Use desktop Regedit to remove references to AS; also look for device id or name (your Axim).

5. Check desktop \Program Files\ActiveSync and delete all files.

6. Check \Documents & Settings, depending where you keep your AS settings if any. Delete references to AS.

7. Delete your_device_name My Document folder. Remember to copy whatever you need before deleting.

8. In your Axim, use a tool to kill AS process & services.

9. Use a registry editor to delete references to AS.

10. Delete \Windows\ActiveSync. You might want to use a tool to change the file attributes before deleting.

Worst case scenario, hard reset. Have fun.

sar840t2 · 02-12-06, 09:22 PM

Thanks, I'll give this a try in the next few days and report back.

Mike

sar840t2 · 02-13-06, 02:24 AM

I tried this tonight and was not successful. I did finally get ActiveSync 3.8 to work a little better by deleting C:\WINDOWS\system32\rapi.dll after removing ActiveSync 4.1 (this particular file is in use during the uninstall and does not get scheduled for removal after a reboot; ActiveSync 3.8 then refuses to overwrite it with an older version).

However, no matter what I tried, ActiveSync 3.8 would only let me connect as Guest. It would not prompt to set up a new partnership.

I finally gave up and went back to ActiveSync 4.1 which was quite happy to let me set up a partnership.

So I'm back in the same boat I was in before all this.

Mike