Never Flash/tweak again for modifying an Ext ROM

[Victor]

A better way (??)

Why would one want to do this?

1. Extended ROM is (as ITSME has pointed out) a Disk on Chip.
1a. It is totally lockable/unlockable -- and can be deleted/added to if one wants to, as long as one understands a few basic things.

2. When the device is hard resetted, after booting is complete, one automatically runs the CAB files in Extended ROM that "localize" the device in accordance with the Carrier's wishes. This is a good thing, and a bad thing... especially if the SW they install is Caller ID, for example, that eats memory and battery performance. But it is a needed thing for the most part in my opinion.

BUT.....

What if you could do the following:

1. Delete your entire extended Rom (ITSME has shown this to be possible)
2. Take the extended ROM files "as is" from all of the carriers out there -- kind of like ala carte menu choices -- and place them somewhere where upon your choosing, could be installed immediately at one's whim (even with the same parameters and running as if they were still came from the Extended ROM)
3. Never have to worry about flashing your device again, unless there is a significant OS reason to do so.
4. Forget using tools one doesn't need to use.
5. Tweaking a config.txt file -- why bother if ya don't have to.

Sound Good????

In my opinion, the only real reason we have many people out there playing around with flashing ROMS is that they want a "perfectly customized device" every time they hard reset. The REAL, Operating System upgrades and Radio stack upgrades are not needed as often and people are willing to wait until their device OEM gets around to the upgrading themselves.

Bottom line: Hard Reset, install your own programs to your liking, and have your device almost as if you never resetted it up and running in a matter of minutes (2 or 3, not 30) with no risk at all to your ROMS.

If this is what people REALLY would rather have, instead of flashing extended ROMS and risking killing their machines....

In a day or two, I will have a (very) little app made that can do this, and show you the "secret" (though I think this is not a secret -- but could be wrong) do doing this.

This post is sent out to "test the water" on this app/solution I will provide.

((no charge))

Feel free to comment, so I can see if people want it or not -- so I will know if to bother making (have made) /telling how to do this.

Plus, also feel free to comment if my thinking here is completely from Mars

[soperjon]

Excellent idea. Just a simple list of cab files with location, check box to select and parameters if required is all thats needed inmo. You could then store the cab where you want, SD or Extrom, and then after a hard reset just run the app to execute the select cab's

Can't wait, certainly prevent all those deep despare moments when it doesn't go smoothly and you think you've trashed you device !!! :(

[Shadamehr]

Victor...

Give us the application then....

Smiles.

[Victor]

got to have it made first....

[Victor]

Ok, here is the deal: I don't have time today to test all of the in's and out's of this -- but by leveraging the power of this forum, I think it will quickly be all figured out and expanded upon.

1. Most people don't know that if you place a directory called "2577" on an SD Card and place in it a file called "Autorun.exe", the file will run when you place the card in the slot of your device. This works for smartphones, XDA2's and Ipaq's (so I am guessing that it is a WIN CE thing).

2. If you could develop an app whose sole purpose was to execute the cab files in the directory (easy to make, for a dev), you could autoload apps at will.

This means that after a hard reset, if your Ext ROM was empty, you could basically mimmick the loading of the stuff when and how you want to -- without cooking an External ROM.

This leaves tons of possibilities

1. using the EXT ROM area for storage that will not go away on Hard Resets and is larger than the normal persistent storage on our devices.
2. using the EXT ROM area for "private storage" that can be hidden with ITSME's tools.
3. using the SD Card to not only load your preferred files, but also (if someone is really clever and can figure this out) your connection settings and what ever other REG settings you feel like.

I HAVE FOUND ONE "CATCH" HERE...

The autorun.exe will execute upon card removal too, so one will have to probably rename the file while in the device or the directory name to "2577XX" so it will not run again.

if you let your mind wander a bit -- the possibilities are endless here


but again, I have not tested out all of the possibilities nor tested it for problem situations -- so that is where the power of the forum comes in. Seems easy to experiment without nuke-ing your device.

I am going to erase my EXT ROM, make my own version of what I want on the SD card, and use the EXT ROM for storing stuff I don't want to lose ever.

By all means... comment, take this idea and run with it.

I am going to have a little app made that will run all cabs in the 2577 directory in a few days -- but I am dependent upon a DEV resource so the delivery time of this "5 minute application" is not 100% known.

Enjoy!!

[little_frog]

It's a great idea. I do like it very much. I will try to play with the concept. But, let me ask you where to get 'Autorun.exe' and comand line for this program.

Thanks,

Ah! I think I understand now. "Autorun.exe" can be any executable program, just name it "Autorun.exe". Right?

[little_frog]

It work like a charm. I copy a program "Autoconfig.exe" and rename it to "Autorun.exe". Then move it to dir "2577". When I insert SD card into the socket, it stand still, nothing happen. But when I turn off and then on, it execute the said program. Then I Off and On for second time, it won't execute, which is correct. It will execute the program again if I take the SD out from the socket.

I can then play a lot of things with it.

Thanks, Victor

[Victor]

you are right.. any EXE program can be renamed autorunexe. I have not got all the permutations worked out yet as to what can or cannot be done yet, but if time allows I will do more research.

I am expecting my little EXE to be finished today, where it's sole purpose will be to run all CAB files in the directory.

When done, then I will post it here.

If anyone has ideas as to how to re-do the connections / reg settings and place them in a CAB file, like the OEMs do, then you can comletely customize evrything at will, with a power-on.

[madds]

For portugal here are the configs, in a .cab for each portughese mobile operator.
These were made by www.qtek.com.pt
http://www.enev.pt/ppcforum/index.php?act=ST&f=37&t=1492&s=2a02c5df8d4b65cf66ca27e0aadc4817
(portughese language forum, but if interested in any info send me a PM)

[itsme]

when you insert the sdcard the autorun.exe is copied to \windows, and executed as '\windows\autorun.exe install'
when you remove the sdcard, '\windows\autorun.exe uninstall' is executed, and then autorun.exe is deleted from \windows.

[Victor]

So then, in theory, if you manually delete this file before removing the SD card -- it would not run again then, right?

Trying to think of ways to automate the entire Hard Reset issue -- select your Extended ROM programs / settings you want -- and then plug and play. Changing EXT ROMS made to be as simple as selecting which SD card to install after Hard Reset.

Plus, if the last thing you did before the Hard Reset was to perform a backup to a secure area (like the now empty EXT ROM area), you could also have the autorun program look for the back up and do a restore. May be easier than trying to place all settings into CABS and you benefit from having your data again after a Hard Reset -- all in a few sinple steps.

That is the whole purpose of my activities / efforts here. I hard reset at least 2 times a week (I have special reasons for this).

obviously -- some of the ideas presented up to now are simply brainstorming the possibilities. hope to come up with the right and complete idea soon and have it made here. Then post it here for all.