Easier way to recover your X50 after you bricked it+premade nb0 files

[Steven855]

I have available for download some nb0 files that work. Also, how to give your X50(mid) life again after you have bricked it (for example, you mistakenly flashed the WM5 A03 rom or any of the WM6 roms designed for the X50v).

Before you do anything, make sure you have at least a 256mb SD card and a card reader (you can get one at a place like Radio Shack or Office Depot). You also need to install winrar (found at http://www.win-rar.com/extlink.php?c...=dl&tag=button). Your SD card must be formated with the FAT32 file system.

To format your SD Card with the FAT32 file system

Step 1: To do this insert the SD Card into the reader and go to "My Computer".
Step 1a: BACKUP YOUR FILES before you start!!
Step 2: Right-click the drive letter of the SD Card reader (differs for each computer, probably either E:\ or F:\ or G:\) and click "Format".
Step 2a: Don't worry about any of the options except for file system, choose "FAT 32"
Step 3: Click "Start" and wait until it is done


If you bricked your X50(mid) with a WM2003 SE rom trying to flash the A05 rom (latest rom for WM2003 SE)

Step 1: Get (OS) rom image at http://www.easy-share.com/1699643079...2k3_A05_EN.rar
Step 2: Extract files to any folder using Winrar
Step 3: Go to the folder where you extrated the files in the RAR archive
Step 4: Find the 2 files that have X50 in the filename (should be 1 (has a filename like DiMa_K_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG) .nb0 file and (same naming conventions) 1 .crc file) and transfer them to the SD Card
Step 5: Take SD Card out of SD Card reader and put it in the axim
Step 6: Hold the power button and the wireless button at the same time, and quickly tap the soft reset button (little hole on back of axim near DELL logo and press it with something like a pencil or pen) 2 or 3 times
Step 6a: Watch screen for SD Card loader (should see the hard reset screen, but wait a few seconds until it shows up)
Step 7: choose the A05 rom image and follow any on-screen directions
Step 8: watch your axim come back to life and enjoy your axim

If you bricked your X50(mid) with a WM2003 SE rom trying to upgrade to WM5 (VIA USB)

Step 1: If the bootloader didn't flash correctly, you're screwed. I can't help you. I have not included the bootloader for certain reasons.
Step 1a:If the bootloader flashed successfully, download the OS file at http://www.easy-share.com/1699650782...id_WM5_A01.rar
Step 2: Extract files to any folder using Winrar
Step 3: Go to the folder where you extrated the files in the RAR archive
Step 4: Find the 2 files that have X50 in the filename (should be 1 (has a filename like WM50_K_A01_X50_WM5_ENG) .nb0 file and (same naming conventions) 1 .crc file) and transfer them to the SD Card
Step 5: Take SD Card out of SD Card reader and put it in the axim
Step 6: Hold the power button and the wireless button at the same time, and quickly tap the soft reset button (little hole on back of axim near DELL logo and press it with something like a pencil or pen) 2 or 3 times
Step 6a: Watch screen for SD Card loader (should see the hard reset screen, but wait a few seconds until it shows up)
Step 7: choose the A01 rom image and follow any on-screen directions
Step 8: watch your axim come back to life and enjoy your axim

If you bricked your X50(mid) with the WM5 A01 rom trying to update the rom to the WM5 A02 rom (or you bricked it trying to flash any WM6 roms not designed for your axim)

Note: Do not try to upgrade directly from WM2003 SE to WM5 A02! You will run into big problems. You must upgrade in steps (WM2003 SE to WM5 A01, then to WM5 A02).
Step 1: A02 uses a different bootloader than A01, so that has to flash successfully before you can update to A02. I have included the bootloader just in case. If you don't need the bootloader, don't worry about it.
Step 1a:If the bootloader flashed successfully, download the OS file at http://www.easy-share.com/1699643083...id_WM5_A02.rar
Step 2: Extract files to any folder using Winrar
Step 3: Go to the folder where you extrated the files in the RAR archive
Step 4: Find the 4 files that have X50 in the filename (should be 1 (has a filename like WM50_K_A02_X50_WM5_ENG) .nb0 file and (same naming conventions) 1 .crc file) and transfer them to the SD Card
Step 4a: Take the bootloader file and it's crc file (should be 1 (has a filename like WM50_B_A02_X50_WM5_ENG) .nb0 file and (same naming conventions) 1 .crc file) and transfer them to the SD Card
Step 5: Take SD Card out of SD Card reader and put it in the axim
Step 6: Hold the power button and the wireless button at the same time, and quickly tap the soft reset button (little hole on back of axim near DELL logo and press it with something like a pencil or pen) 2 or 3 times
Step 6a: Watch screen for SD Card loader (should see the hard reset screen, but wait a few seconds until it shows up)
Step 7: choose the file "WM50_B_A02_X50_WM5_ENG.nb0" and follow any on-screen directions
Step 7a: repeat steps 6 and 6a
Step 7b: choose the file "WM50_K_A02_X50_WM5_ENG.nb0" and follow any on-screen directions
Step 8: watch your axim come back to life and enjoy your axim

If you bricked your X50(mid) with a WM5 rom trying to downgrade to WM2003 SE

Step 1: Your procedure is similiar to the updating 2003 SE rom one
Step 1a:Get os and bootloader rom image at http://www.easy-share.com/1699643079...2k3_A05_EN.rar
Step 2: Extract files to any folder using Winrar
Step 3: Go to the folder where you extrated the files in the RAR archive
Step 4: Find the 4 files that have X50 in the filename (should be 1 (has a filename like DiMa_K_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG) .nb0 file and (same naming conventions) 1 .crc file) and transfer them to the SD Card
Step 4a: Take the bootloader file and it's crc file (should be 1 (has a filename like DiMa_B_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG) .nb0 file and (same naming conventions) 1 .crc file) and transfer them to the SD Card
Step 4b: Rename the bootloader file (on the SD card) from "DiMa_B_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG.nb0" to "WM50_B_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG.nb0"
Step 4c: Rename the bootloader crc file (on SD Card) from "DiMa_B_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG_nb0.crc" to "WM50_B_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG_nb0.crc"
Step 5: Take SD Card out of SD Card reader and put it in the axim
Step 6: Hold the power button and the wireless button at the same time, and quickly tap the soft reset button (little hole on back of axim near DELL logo and press it with something like a pencil or pen) 2 or 3 times
Step 6a: Watch screen for SD Card loader (should see the hard reset screen, but wait a few seconds until it shows up)
Step 7: choose the file "WM50_B_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG.nb0" and follow any on-screen directions
Step 7a: repeat steps 6 and 6a
Step 7b: choose the file "DiMa_K_A05_X50_WM2k3_ENG.nb0" and follow any on-screen directions
Step 8: watch your axim come back to life and enjoy your axim


You can also use this tutorial with the X50(low) and X50v too, just substitute the X50(low) or X50v image in place of the X50(mid) one. I have posted links to those roms as well.

Important: If you try to upgrade directly from the X50v WM2003 SE rom to the X50v WM6/6.1 rom, you will have problems and the consequences may include permanently bricking your axim. You must upgrade in steps (WM2003 SE to WM5 A01 to WM5 A02 to WM6/6.1) The same goes for when I release my updated X50(mid) rom.

X50(low) WM5 A01 rom: http://www.easy-share.com/1699650824...ow_WM5_A01.rar
X50v WM2003 SE A05 rom: http://www.easy-share.com/1699643131...2k3_A05_EN.rar
X50v WM5 A01 rom: http://www.easy-share.com/1699651196/X50v_WM5_A01.rar

Any questions, just post or PM me. I plan on having X50(low) rom images available soon (WM5 images at first and WM2003 SE images if I can find some, if you want to experiment and use the X50(mid) WM2003SE images in the meantime, I don't recommend it unless you're desperate.

Update (8-26-09): I have found time to upload the final piece of the puzzle, the Windows Mobile 5 upgrade cd. Unfortunately, after talking with the forum admins, I am not allowed to directly give out the link to the upgrade cd. So therefore, if you want the Upgrade CD, you will have to PM either me or Johnhu (once I give him the link). If a forum admin can override the decision on the link posting, please let me know. I have also updated the rom links to give you more "direct" access to them. I am heading off to college tomorrow, so rom development will be slowed (since I won't have access to the computer that I store my roms on for a long while).

[Eric12341]

watch out this thread might get closed or deleted

[Steven855]

Don't worry, I didn't include the bootloader for the WM5 A01 rom. I thought this through so people still have to buy the WM5 upgrade. Only the OS file is included in the WM5 A01 rom pack.

[kenneth11414]

steven ur awesome man, ahh if i still had my old x50v this would of been a perfect to get it back to life lol. i say this should be a sticky =]

[Steven855]

Hopefully, it will become a sticky.

my rom is now AO2
very very thanks friend..

[Steven855]

There has got to be some more people that need this than what I am getting.

[spunker88]

Sticky!, sticky!

Everything is always for the v series, its nice to see something for us mid users.

[bernardm]

Holy Crap.

What a goldmine. You did a really good job of clearly composing instructions for a step by step process in an organized manner.

You deserve a medal, my friend.

All that's missing is a process for the poor sap that bricked his X50V by dropping it in the toilet. :)

[Steven855]

In reality, this could (almost) replace the tutorial that Domme made and you can use this tutorial for an X50v too, just find the nb0 files for X50v and use that in place of the X50(mid) nb0 files. I made this tutorial so even the non-tech person who bricked his or her axim could have a clear and easy-to-use guide to get the axim up and running again.

[Steven855]

Sticky!, sticky!

Everything is always for the v series, its nice to see something for us mid users.

If you and all the other X50(mid) users be good, I might be inclined to start making an updated rom for the X50(mid).

[kenneth11414]

ooo trust me steve i think people are blind not to see this thread its a true blessing man to have this i give you a lot of credit to make this truly do. Where the moderator when you need one to make this a sticky lol

[Julie]

alright already!

[Steven855]

Holy Crap.

What a goldmine. You did a really good job of clearly composing instructions for a step by step process in an organized manner.

You deserve a medal, my friend.

All that's missing is a process for the poor sap that bricked his X50V by dropping it in the toilet. :)

lol
I can't help ya there, my friend.

[Steven855]

alright already!

Thanks a bunch! Now it's easier to find this information when you need it.