Upgrading x50v from WM2003SE to WM6.1 - Is this the correct way?

[FlexiPack]

Hi,

I going to upgrade my friends x50v to WM6.1. I've been doing lots of reading up and I'd really like to run the proceedure past you guys first to make sure I'm not missing anything.

First off I need to go to WM5 A01, then WM5 A02 and then any of the custom WM6 roms, yeh?

Ok so i've downloaded WM5 A01 & A02 but they are the original dell roms. They are not in nb0 format. But my friend has a USB cable so is it ok to upgrade to WM5 A02 via this method? ..and then upgrade to WM6 via the SD flash method?

I've been looking high and low for the x50 version of IMG2NB0F.exe but I can't find it anywhere. The version I've found here and everywhere else is for the x51 series and just gives me a 0 byte file when I run a x50v rom through it. But I'm hoping I wont need that if I can do it via USB up to WM5 A02?


Thanks for your help,

Gaz

[johnhu_2005]

Well, you are on the right track.

Note: You will void the warranty for that Axim, if it still has any. Lol, I doubt anyone in this world still has warranty.
Note #2: Please do NOT skip any steps. Meaning, do not directly upgrade from WM2003 to WM5 A02. Not that you would be able to anyway....

Current State of that x50v: WM2003 (Unknown Axx)

1. Please backup ALL data. I cannot stress this enough!
2. Use Dell's upgrade utility to go from WM2003 to WM5 A01 (Please read below)
(a) Just wondering, where did you get that upgrade package? Dell does not offer it because it was originally a discontinued CD. The only place I have found it was Rapidshare. If you did not get it from Rapidshare or have the original CD, it is not the correct A01. Please DO NOT continue as you will probably brick your friend's Axim. I will gladly share the link to the upgrade CD's contents via PM.

3. Now use Dell's utility to upgrade from WM5 A01 to WM5 A02.
4. Find the WM6.1 ROM you want to use. I suggest Lenny's A09 Test 2 (I in no way advocate for Lenny. I only like his ROMs. )
5. Use the bootloader to upgrade from WM5 A02 to WM6.1
6. Set everything up and restore
7. You are done!!

~~~~~~
For your convenience, here are the two versions of IMG2NBOF:
Version 1
Version 2
Try both and see which works.
Version 1 requests a "length", use 41943040
~~~~~~
Again, as for the WM2003 to WM5 A01 upgrade CD, I cannot officially post the link from Rapidshare to it. Microsoft's lawyers (*ahem, hungry, drooling pack of dogs) will go after me and send me a Cease and Desist letter. If you need it, I would be happy to share it with you. Just pop in and send me a PM. :)

If you have any questions, be sure to ask!

Best regards,
John

[FlexiPack]

Thanks so much for your detailed reply John! I'm glad I posted now.

I will PM you where I got the WM5 roms from - I don't fancy that pack of drooling dogs either. I will take you up on that offer for the link to the CD upgrade thank you, as although the roms i've got look legit (no pun intended) i'd rather not take any risks.

Currently all I know is this x50v is WM 2003 SE (I don't have it with me atm), does it matter which revision of 2003 SE it is before upgrading to WM5 A01?

Thanks for the recommendation re: Lenny's rom. I was stuck between Lenny's & makuu's VOIP rom.

You've no idea how long I looked for the first version of IMG2NBOF lol. Thanks for that and the number, saved me another job. Is the number '41943040' for the WM5 A01 rom only? From what you've said I don't think I need to use IMG2NBOF now do I? I can use the USB method instead?

Regards,

Gaz

[johnhu_2005]

Interesting, that site has the correct files. For both WM5 A01 and A02. The MD5 Hash matches with my copy. Let's just keep the URL to anyone within Aximsite.com's PM realm, please. I couldn't find it on Google that easily, so I doubt Microsoft would go through all the trouble of doing so.

So, the bottom line is that you can use the two .rar files found on that site for the upgrade. They are legit.

To be safe,
Ignore previous instructions until I tell you to continue with the previous instructions.

First, On the not-to-be-named site, download this :
"Dell x50v WM2003SE A05 Rom - includes bootloader"

When installing the ROM, two possible choices could occur.
(1) It allows you to upgrade to WM2003 A05 ROM, then no problem
(2) It shows this screen. That means you already have WM2003 A05. (Had to block out some personal info. )

Either way, after attempting to upgrade the ROM to WM2003 A05, proceed with the previous instructions (Post #2).

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Explanations if you do not understand:
To be on the safe side, the WM2003 A05 installer was used. This was to make sure you have WM2003 A05 before attempting to upgrade to A05
~~~~~~~~~~~~

You do not need the IMG2NB0F. The reason is because you are using Dell's upgrade utility, not the bootloader. The links are just preventative measure if you cannot upgrade using Dell's utility for some reason.

As for Lenny's A09 Test 2 vs. Makuu's VOIP ROM. Take a look at this thread by me: here. I know it is for Axim x51v, but the ROMs between the x51v and x50v are similar. I hate to hurt someone's feelings but my personal bias is toward LennySh.

[cybera]

Hi Everyone, i am unable to update the ROM.
i tried 2 methods:

1) Cradle
after it has loaded the image, at the point where there is DELL AXIM SYSTEM UPDATE
After reset the device and windows mobile logo shows on your device, click continue to proceed with next update process.

I can't click continue... can only exit.


2) use SD card
upload 4 files on the sd card for the wm5 a01 files.
renamed the bootloader files.
reset by pressing wifi+power+reset.

(it doesnt load the boot loader), it loaded the first time jst now before i renamed. but i reset since i dind't know that i needed to rename.

what shld i do now?

thanks!

[cybera]

i manage to get the rom to boot by pressing the buttons in the right sequence.

1) the power, then wireless, then reset.
2) the rest has to be pressed a couple of times.


It loaded, it boot, and i pressed action button twice...and it restarted.

Now all i have is a dead blank screen. anyone knows why?
I tested the memory diagnosis thing, doesnt work...
I tested removing the battery for more than 30mins... doesnt work...

any other great ideas?

[johnhu_2005]

Please start your own thread instead of hijacking this one. I will gladly respond to that new thread once you have created it.

[ice_maan]

i manage to get the rom to boot by pressing the buttons in the right sequence.

1) the power, then wireless, then reset.
2) the rest has to be pressed a couple of times.


It loaded, it boot, and i pressed action button twice...and it restarted.

Now all i have is a dead blank screen. anyone knows why?
I tested the memory diagnosis thing, doesnt work...
I tested removing the battery for more than 30mins... doesnt work...

any other great ideas?

you need to conect your device to cradle or power cable, then enter mem diagnostics ... Pwr+Record+reset, let device do mem test ...after that you should be able to get back into boot loader.

[FlexiPack]

Ugh it's gone horribly wrong somwhere John.

All was fine until going from WM5_A01 to WM5_A02. The update completed but when my friend did the reset it just went dead.

We've tried

power+reset
wifi+power+reset
record+power+reset
record+reset

all several times. Nothing happens other than a brief flashing light at the top. No diagnostics menu comes up or anything. Is there any hope?

What about the recovery method Steven855's recovery method?

One thing, the A02 update on the site I linked you too wasn't the A02 update after all. It was to roll back to WM 2003 SE. But i found the A02 update on XDA forums but I'm just hoping it wasn't a duffer. It all seemed to be fine until the end though. I'll PM you a link to it.

If the above recovery method is worth a try i'd really appreciate your help on converting the rom images to nb0 format please. Or if you have a link to premade nb0's then even better.

Regards,


Gaz

[cybera]

Hi John, sorry i hijacked this thread. Since i solved my problem ytd, I will help gaz.

What you need to do is to reboot the device and re-load the image that you're stuck with.
Press Power and Wifi (Hold).....
Then press Reset (still holding the power and wifi)....
Let go reset (still holding the power and wifi)....
Hold.... and wait till you see something..

what do you get now?

[johnhu_2005]

3. Now use Dell's utility to upgrade from WM5 A01 to WM5 A02.

The problem occurred here. So let's try an alternative method (bootloader) to see if you can un-brick that Axim.

Cybera in post #10 showed you how to get to the bootloader. If his/her instruction did not work, here is a more detailed instruction by me.

I originally uploaded WM5 A02 for another user. But it is the same files, use this link.

Extract the .zip and you will receive two files and a .txt:
DiAd_K_AximX50v_WM5_A02EN.nb0
DiAd_K_AximX50v_WM5_A02EN_nb0.crc

Again, continue to use my instructions on how to flash from the bootloader.

See how it works out for you.

[FlexiPack]

thank you both,

We have managed to get a screen up saying:

Sd image update A02

Sd Update

No suitable image found


then after that, the following:

Update Failed

Image update failed ed. Please try again!

and that keeps flashing on and off

using the power+wifi+reset didn't work. We can only get this screen up by using power+wifi. I don't understand why that is, slightly dodgy reset button perhaps? It must be a good sign that we're getting this screen up though.


Here's what we did

formatted 1gb sd card to FAT 32
copied the two files:
DiAd_K_AximX50v_WM5_A02EN.nb0
DiAd_K_AximX50v_WM5_A02EN_nb0.crc

did the power+wifi thing and got the above message.

One thing occured to me. Is it possible we need to flash bootloader files first? The above files are image files aren't they? denoted by the 'K'. Do we need the ones with 'B' in the file name first?


Regards,

Gaz

[johnhu_2005]

Updating from WM5 A01 to A02, you do not need the bootloader. Only from WM2003-->WM5.

Try this-
Here are you current file names:
DiAd_K_AximX50v_WM5_A02EN.nb0
DiAd_K_AximX50v_WM5_A02EN_nb0.crc

Change them to this:
WM50_K_AximX50v_WM5_A02EN.nb0
WM50_K_AximX50v_WM5_A02EN_nb0.crc

And then try flashing again.