Tutorial : How to revive a bricked x51(v) using Domme's SD ROM loader tutorial.

[makuu]

You probably all know Domme's tutorial explaining how to flash an x50(v) ROM from a FAt32 formatted SD Card.

This tutorial is also valid on x51(v) devices, however Domme's tutorial explaining how to build an .nb0 ROM for SD Card cannot be used for an x51(v) device.

This tutorial is only valid for an x51(v). (it's not valid for x50(v))

To read first:
In order to boot a PPC needs these two mandatory pieces :
- The BootLoader,
- and the "Rom" ( the OS software part).

These two elements must be in phase (Otherwise the PPC won't boot). Right now there are two differents bootloader on x51(v).
One BootLoader for ROMs in WM5 aku 1.1 and another BootLoader for ROMs in aku 2.3.1. The bootloader is not Language dependent.

Flashing a ROM via SD is a potentialy dangerous and will invalidate your axim warranty.
You should only use this tutorial if a traditional upgrade via USB went wrong and if your axim warranty has expired.
If the upgrade went wrong and if your axim is still under warranty, you should get in touch with DELL technical support.

Proceed like discribed in this tutorial is of your responsibility only. This tutorial has not been tested by myself as I never bricked my axim. However I know for sure that people were successfull to revive EN, IT and CH x51v with 2.3.1 rom. Successfully tested by aid on a x51.

Building an x51(v) .nb0 ROM to flash via SD

Note : At this step, you must select a rom that fits with your bootLoader. If your axim get bricked while upgrading to aku 2.3.1 then if the bootLoader upgrade went fine you probably need an aku 2.3.1 ROM.
Otherwise you will need an aku 1.1 rom

Building an x51(v) .nb0 is quite easy as it's done by a little program made by a clever developper which I was in contact with. So all the credits should go to MarkYoung, the creator of this program.
The program will transform a .IMG rom that is included in any Rom upgrade package ( available at Dell.com download site), it will use it to create an .nb0 Rom (to flash from SD).
To run this program you will need .NET Framework V2.

There is 3 inputs to provide:

1/Select the .IMG file from the ROM you want to flash.
2/provide the .nb0 file length (of the .nb0 you want to build). Right now there is only 2 values you should use:
- 41680896 for the .nb0 file length of a ROM under aku 1.1
- or 41943040 for the .nb0 file length of a ROM under aku 2.3.1.
3/provide the .nb0 file name, the name should be something like DiAd_K_Rom level_comments.nb0 fex: DiAd_K_A12_X51v_WM5_EN.nb0



click OK & wait few seconds for the .nb0 file generation.

Flash the ROM via SD

Just follow Domme's tutorial explaining how to create _nb0.crc file and how to flash the Rom from a SD card.

Some CRC values:

x51v
CRC for English A12: 1468E194
CRC for Italian A04: 32CA85E7
CRC for Spanish A04: 0C5BFF12
CRC for German A04: 67C21549
CRC for French A04: 23E11929
CRC for Brazilian Portuguese A04: 3E63BCF1
CRC for Simplfied Chinese A04: 278BC9E6

x51
CRC for English A12: BCF3A4F4
CRC for Brazilian Portuguese A04: D9AC0C12
CRC for German A04: 383D87C8



Nota :
If after flashing with both 1.1 ROM and 2.3.1 ROM you have not revived your axim then it's probably dead.

Update : I have recently received a newer version of the soft generating nb0 file. It's avalaible here. It will also automatically name the .nb0 file the naming is different but OK. This version will automatically calculate the .nb0 file length.






When nb0 file length is displayed, click OK to continue.

If user and password are requested while downloading the programs use "host" for both.

[bigbop]

Unfortunately, to get the applications, you need to register and log on to a totally French website about PocketPCs.
Is there any way you can post the application here with permission of the author?

[makuu]

Originally Posted by bigbop

Unfortunately, to get the applications, you need to register and log on to a totally French website about PocketPCs.
Is there any way you can post the application here with permission of the author?

Sorry, I forget to check that please log as username: host , password: host

[holuan]

Great JOB!!!! My axim x51v is back live, i have flashed a12 rom and it is working perfectly fine! well done again!!

[dvmed]

I hope they make this thread a sticky. Very nice and simple explanation. Will come in handy just in case the rom updates bricks my x51v. Thank you so much.

[amo77]

Bravo! Brilliant!
Was able to reflash my Dell x51v to Eng ROM. Thanks a lot.
BTW, crc code for A12 Eng ROM is 1468E194

[amo77]

Some instructions:

- Enter to SD bootloader mode:

1. Press and hold Wi-fi button (wait for 1 sec?)
2. While pressing W-Fi, press and hold Power button (again, wait for 2 sec)
3. Briefly press and release reset button, keep holding Wifi and Power until SD loader screen appears.

- Create CRC file:
1. in text editor (eg. Notepad) create new text file following this rule:

-if img file name is blah_blah.nb0 then crc file name will be blah_blah_nb0.crc

2. inside the file type some 8 chars (eg. 12345678). File size should be 8 bytes.
3. Copy .nb0 and .crc files on previously FAT 32 re-formatted SD card.
4. Inser SD card into Axim and Start SD boot loader.
5. Start image loading proccess by clicking twice on action button
6. Process will start and continue for about 5-10 mins. Then error message will pop saying that CRC is incorrect and programme will give you correct CRC number for the image, consisting of 8 chars (eg 1468E194).
7. Type thouse chars instead of dummy ones in .crc file.

Good luck, and don't forget, you are doing it on your own risk and no one is taking responsibility if something went wrong with your pocket pc and it wont be covered by Dell waranty.

[Awesoft]

Thank you very much!

[i6bazar]

It worked for too !

Thanks !!!

(Can we get the sourcecode ??)

[aid]

Worked on 'my' X51 A12 ROM.
CRC BCF3A4F4

Excellent .... Thanks

[ath25]

Thanks, you saved my axim. I had a failing rom upgrade which ruined my Hard reset and now it's fixed.

[voip]

Can somebody please post a detailed description on how to change the language froam english A12 to any other language using this method? Thanks in advance!

[gm2573]

This is great and I am now in A12. Thank you a thousand fold (for each time I tried to reset the axim) But I have one question. Although I now have A12 loaded I still cannot do a hard reset. That screen flashes by. Is there anything I can do to be able to do a hard reset? Thanks

Originally Posted by amo77

Some instructions:

- Enter to SD bootloader mode:

1. Press and hold Wi-fi button (wait for 1 sec?)
2. While pressing W-Fi, press and hold Power button (again, wait for 2 sec)
3. Briefly press and release reset button, keep holding Wifi and Power until SD loader screen appears.

- Create CRC file:
1. in text editor (eg. Notepad) create new text file following this rule:

-if img file name is blah_blah.nb0 then crc file name will be blah_blah_nb0.crc

2. inside the file type some 8 chars (eg. 12345678). File size should be 8 bytes.
3. Copy .nb0 and .crc files on previously FAT 32 re-formatted SD card.
4. Inser SD card into Axim and Start SD boot loader.
5. Start image loading proccess by clicking twice on action button
6. Process will start and continue for about 5-10 mins. Then error message will pop saying that CRC is incorrect and programme will give you correct CRC number for the image, consisting of 8 chars (eg 1468E194).
7. Type thouse chars instead of dummy ones in .crc file.

Good luck, and don't forget, you are doing it on your own risk and no one is taking responsibility if something went wrong with your pocket pc and it wont be covered by Dell waranty.

[DrivinWest]

This looks like my ticket for changing my German X51v to English!

A few questions: I don't really understand the aku 1.1 vs. aku 2.3.1. What's the difference? Which should I use for an A12 English ROM (though isn't it langauge independant?)?

Many thanks to Mark Young and makuu!

[DrivinWest]

Hey guys,

I'm doing this just as instructed but when I hit the action button (twice) to do the SD boot I get the following message:

Image checksum file not found.

Any ideas?