A06>A12 Step-by-Step

[edtech2000]

Please bear with me for asking this question here. I just got a brand new x51v. What is the current OS build? What is the current ROM version, and where should I look for it?
Thanks.

[PPPP]

Go to Windows icon -> Settings -> System -> System Information to see the ROM version

[V7Goose]

Ok,

I attempted the X51 A06->A12 update, and have a problem (and I could have 300 of these updates to do )

Like others, I now can not hard-reset the device (it just skips by the screen and does a soft reset). I initially tried the update with MS Active Sync 4.1, updated to 4.2 and re-tried, but the same result.

Right after the update files transfer over to the X51, it prompts for the hard-reset, which I do with the handheld in the cradle. It then skips by the hard-reset prompt and boots normally into the existing handheld, and the update program just sits there waiting, waiting, waiting. Active Sync recognizes the handheld (guest) but the update never continues, and I can not hard-reset the device.

Is it time for a warranty replacement?

And hi everyone!

I just did this upgrade on my X51 (before finding this thread), and I had the identical problem with the hard reset - just jumped by the prompt, and when it booted, the system clock was back to day 1, but all my data still on the machine. After trying the reset at least ten times, I took the battery out and went to bed (thinking this would force a real hard reset after the internal backup fully drained). Wrong. I know now that the data is in flash ROM, so you will never loose anything but the clock if left without a battery.

Anyway, my problem was that after the hard reset, not only was my data still there (which convinced me something was wrong), but the device never reconnected to ActiveSync. Besides that, the Upgrade window telling me to do the hard reset did not have any cancel or continue buttons, so I couldn't do anything but stare at it.

After reading the original post here and seeing the comment about not to worry on the lack of reset prompt, I started trying to figure out why my device was not reconnecting. I finally fixed this by changing the USB cable to a DIFFERENT USB CONTROLLER in the same machine (not just a different USB port, but one on a completely different controller. I guess I am lucky this machine was old enough to have the original USB 1.1 controller on the MB, plus the add-on USB 2.0 controller. For whatever reason, this upgrade caused my USB 2.0 controller to completely stop working (even with a different PPC). This controller started working fine again after a reboot.

Anyway, as soon as I plugged the X51 into the USB 1.1 port, it connected and synced (my device ID was still there). The Upgrade window changed and allowed me to continue, so I just left it connected and pressed on. After it flashed the ROM, the X51 screen told me to do another hard reset. This one did not even flash the prompt, but it truly did a full hard reset and put me back at the initial setup with a fully wiped X51 at A12. Just for kicks, I did another hard reset, and it worked just like normal, giving me the prompt window like it should.

One last note - I did not use a cradle for this upgrade, just a stand-alone third-party USB sync/charge cable (no power supply). Good luck.

[V7Goose]

I backed up my PIM files from my X51 running Mobile 5 at A02. After I completed the upgrade and successfully synced the device, I decided to try to restore the PIM backup. I got an error message stating the backup had been made with Windows Mobile 2003! The message stated that the Mobile 5 restore program could only restore My Document files from a backup made with a previous version. I verified the date on the file as 1/16/2007, so there seems to have been a significant change in the backup program.

I'm at A06 right now, and have no problems. What exactly are the benefits with this ROM version? Thinking of upgrading, but so far the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is stuck in my head.

[john_mccoy]

Where can I download it? I have an Axim X51V I bought from a site member that I should see this week.

[scarpad]

I'm at A06 right now, and have no problems. What exactly are the benefits with this ROM version? Thinking of upgrading, but so far the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is stuck in my head.

Your in the Exact same boat as I am. I finally have my A06 axim keeping the CF and SD cards without them disappearing, not sure I want to have that undone possibly. I understand A12 is faster, is there enough of a benefit to do the update?

And also, if we don't like this upgrade, can we downgrade?

[brucemc]

I can't figure out how to mark this thread for subscription, so I will simply state that I also, out of my own complete ignorance over my new AXIM x51v, would like to know of the benefits of upgrading to the A12, whatever the heck that is...

[ultrasoul240]

Can anyone confirm that it is possible to upgrade to A12 without having to reinstall any programs (i.e. restore the backup)? I have too much programs to reinstall each and every one. Thanks

[mzel]

Can anyone confirm that it is possible to upgrade to A12 without having to reinstall any programs (i.e. restore the backup)? I have too much programs to reinstall each and every one. Thanks

No, you will loose everything if you upgrade. It is as much destructive as a hard reset. No, the backup does not work either.

[AlbaJoe]

Personally I wish I had stuck on A06. I was chasing the reported performance improvements but personally didn't notice anything major. I did introduce other issues though. I think the majority of people went ok but in retrospect I would have stuck on A06.

[brucemc]

Thanks AlbaJoe-

As no one has told us "slow folks" out here the merits of chasing this A12, presumably BIOS, upgrade, it's nice to know not to bother anyway...

[brian4e]

Thanks to all for very useful discussions. I'll probably stick to A06 for now.

[shootmeplz]

hey,thanks for this great tutorial,I just successed update my x51v from a06 to a12.

thank you!