aChef ROM Utils ver 0.2.1 (beta) [Archive]

ahlok_hk

16th February 2007, 02:01 PM

Warning to those who don't know what you're doing. Don't to be tempted to attempt this program.

[Introduction]
aChef is a ROM Utility for Hermes and Trinity to convert from OS.nb to imgfs_raw_data.bin and vice versa. (Just like prepare_imgfs.exe and make_imgfs.exe) Then you can use AddFile.exe and DelFile.exe to cook your own ROM.

[Attention]
Currently, this program ONLY designed and tested for supported ROMs (The program will detect automatically). IMGFS generated by the -force option is not tested for the flashing process.

[Usage]
You have to install Java (http://jave.sun.com) to use this program.

To extract to imgfs
==============
java -jar aChef.jar -1 06_OS.nb

To force extract of untested OS to imgfs
==========================================
java -jar aChef.jar -1 06_OS.nb -force

To convert imgfs to 06_OS.nb
=======================
java -jar aChef.jar -2 06_OS.nb

[Change Log]
<0.2.1> (latest)
- fix a bug occurs after delete large files
<0.2.0>
- improve conversion speed
- add support to Trinity OS.nb
- add checking for supported OS.nb
- bug fixes
<0.1.0>
- initial release

[Example]
- Get RUU_signed.nbh from the ROM
C:\test>NBHextract.exe RUU_signed.nbh
C:\test>java -jar aChef.jar -1 06_OS.nb
C:\test>echo 111 > test.txt
C:\test>AddFile.exe test.txt
C:\test>java -jar aChef.jar -2 06_OS.nb
- Flash using Bootloader 1.01 MFG (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=290206)

Please make sure you know what u are doing before your flash the modified ROM to your device. Do it at ur own risk!!!

qooqoo

16th February 2007, 02:55 PM

woowoo！ great work, i'll try it later.

thank y man!

scorpio16v

16th February 2007, 03:27 PM

Hi
The tool works.But it needs an actual Java runtime to work.

trion

16th February 2007, 09:21 PM

Just tried it :) and it seems to work.

Don't know nothing about cooking yet, but it seems okay :)

Tried it without adding something and the new file is exactly the same as the original :)

When adding a file it is a little different, from the look of it it seems to work, but who is willing to try a flash?

ahlok_hk

16th February 2007, 10:33 PM

When adding a file it is a little different, from the look of it it seems to work, but who is willing to try a flash?
I have tried the flashing part for several times already. After add files of 3xxkb and delete a few files, all the changes were exactly what I expected after the flash. :)

lvsw

17th February 2007, 09:11 AM

Whith Hermes RUU_Hermes_HTC_WWE_2.05.xxxx Rom - OK!!!!

But... with Trinity ROMs and old Hermes Roms - Problems!!!

I used your tools for nb-file:
C:\java -jar aChef.jar -1 06_OS.nb
C:\java -jar aChef.jar -2 06_OS.nb

.....after that i got nb file, then I compared this file and original 06_OS.nb. So got many diffrerences between its. Just see my screenshot

http://4pda.ru/forum/uploads/img-28039-untitled.JPG

trion

17th February 2007, 02:24 PM

Whith Hermes RUU_Hermes_HTC_WWE_2.05.xxxx Rom - OK!!!!

But... with Trinity ROMs and old Hermes Roms - Problems!!!

He also said to only use it on the 2.05 rom.

But I don't see this as a problem, it's just his first alpha release, so we can start experimenting with cooking. It's just that I never done it before and I don't want to brick my device by flashing a failed cooked rom :(

Maybe someone more experienced in cooking can make a nice AKA 3.x rom that works better than this test version or even a crossbow version would be possible now :)

5n0rk

17th February 2007, 04:50 PM

can i convert the raw file part of extracted rom in nb flash file?

ahlok_hk

20th February 2007, 05:21 AM

can i convert the raw file part of extracted rom in nb flash file?
This will be possible in future release. :)

ahlok_hk

20th February 2007, 10:45 AM

Whith Hermes RUU_Hermes_HTC_WWE_2.05.xxxx Rom - OK!!!!

But... with Trinity ROMs and old Hermes Roms - Problems!!!

.....after that i got nb file, then I compared this file and original 06_OS.nb. So got many diffrerences between its. Just see my screenshot

It should work with the newly released version 0.2.0 :)

ahlok_hk

20th February 2007, 08:16 PM

aChef version 0.2.1 is released to fix a bug... :)

lvsw

21st February 2007, 01:02 PM

aChef version 0.2.1 is released to fix a bug... :)

Thanks! I create firth custom ROM for Trinity! - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1141089#post1141089

JohanDC

21st February 2007, 02:32 PM

aqeelhaider

21st February 2007, 02:45 PM

Hi,
I am new to this stuff. How can we try this to convert extended rom file like 04_ExtROM.nb. Once its converted to bin how can we open it.
Thanks.

trion

21st February 2007, 02:59 PM

Does this mean that we can start building ROM's for the TyTN from scratch? Or can we only modify existing ones?

If it is the first case then where can I find all files needed to build my own custom ROM and if anyone knows where to find a nice tutorial I would even be more happy. ;-)

A tutorial would be perfect. I have lots of things in mind but just to afraid to brick my device.

With his tool it should be possible to update the 2.05 rom with 2.06 stuff from cingular, withouth the cingular crap. And maybe some new stuf from a crossbow rom i guess? and the widcomm stack into the rom :-)

Maybe someone who know how to do this can write a simple tutorial, or point us to one. Or maybe Lvsw is willing to make one for us? :-)

Some things I like to know is, how do you select the folder a file is placed in with addfile and how do you add the registry settings. I guess when you know this it's just adding the stuff you like and that's it..?

ahlok_hk

21st February 2007, 03:28 PM

...
Some things I like to know is, how do you select the folder a file is placed in with addfile and how do you add the registry settings. I guess when you know this it's just adding the stuff you like and that's it..?
You can follow the example in post #1 to add and delete file in existing rom. All file will be placed in /windows folder.

Maybe also modify (delete then add) the following files
- modify initflashfiles.dat (cut first 2 bytes after edit with notepad)
- modify default.hv and user.hv

See also this thread for more information: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=249836

trion

21st February 2007, 03:51 PM

You can follow the example in post #1 to add and delete file in existing rom. All file will be placed in /windows folder.

Maybe also modify (delete then add) the following files
- modify initflashfiles.dat (remove first 2 bytes edit with notepad)
- modify default.hv and user.hv

See also this thread for more information: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=249836

Thanx, when I have more time I should be able to use this to create a rom with the Widcomm stack in it :)

And some crossbow stuff. (I'm guessing I can delete the programs and replace them with the programs from any crossbow rom? But when I replace the core windows files I guess I get into trouble?)

Is there a way to test the rom is okay? Or is there always the risk of creating trashed NAND?

qooqoo

21st February 2007, 04:18 PM

ahlok_hk

21st February 2007, 04:19 PM

Is there a way to test the rom is okay? Or is there always the risk of creating trashed NAND?
I would say that as long as you just modify the imgfs, the generated OS.nb would be safe to flash to NAND. There was an incidence that the aChef had a bug which created an almost empty IMGFS and I flashed it to my Hermes. But it was easily recovered by just flashing another valid OS.nb back to the device.

Of coz I cannot guarantee that it is 100% safe. But the main point of flashing a ROM is:
- type carefully
- use reliable USB cable(don't use retartable one!)
- reboot the PC before flashing.
- reboot the Hermes before flashing.
- make sure battery is 50% or above
- don't touch anything when flashing.

trion

21st February 2007, 04:24 PM

I would say that as long as you just modify the imgfs, the generated OS.nb would be safe to flash to NAND. There was an incidence that the aChef had a bug which created an almost empty IMGFS and I flashed it to my Hermes. But it was easily recovered by just flashing another valid OS.nb back to the device.

Of coz I cannot guarantee that it is 100% safe. But the main point of flashing a ROM is:
- type carefully
- use reliable USB cable(don't use retartable one!)
- reboot the PC before flashing.
- reboot the Hermes before flashing.
- make sure battery is 50% or above
- don't touch anything when flashing.

Thanx!

When I have the time I will start some experiments, unless someone else already created the perfect rom by then :)

Thanx a lot for your program and the info!

JohanDC

21st February 2007, 04:37 PM

Again can anyone tell me where I can find the source files to build a new ROM from scratch? I would love to start cooking some ROM's, but I guess that someone needs to point me in the right direction.

Thanks for helping me... ;-)

ahlok_hk

21st February 2007, 04:44 PM

why there is no one cook a hermes rom?
i just want to know how many files we can add to the os.nb and the size?(Max ?Mb for all files and Max ?Mb for a single file)

i am chinese and i need to add a font about 4Mb and wince.nls 1M, is it possible?
Size checking is not implemented yet. But when you add too much file, the AddFile.exe will throw an error/exception.

qooqoo

21st February 2007, 04:48 PM

Size checking is not implemented yet. But when you add too much file, the AddFile.exe will throw an error/exception.

many thanks to u ahlok_hk!
at last how i can get java, i have never used it, is it free or not?

piopawlu

21st February 2007, 04:56 PM

http://www.java.com/download/index.jsp, and yes it's free

kyphur

21st February 2007, 09:50 PM

ahlok_hk

21st February 2007, 11:16 PM

Wow this tool is working great (wait 'til you guys see what I'm working on).

The only real issue I'm having is if I edit and replace the initflashfiles.dat then the OS boots but never completes. I've tried simply adding one line or commenting out one line to no avail.

any ideas?

after editing the initflashfiles.dat with notepad, remember to cut the first two bytes of the new file using hex editor.

lvsw

21st February 2007, 11:30 PM

prsnow

22nd February 2007, 06:09 AM

Is there a way to extract files from the extended rom NB file, or to convert it to a imgfs BIN file?

trion

22nd February 2007, 08:06 AM

Is there a way to extract files from the extended rom NB file, or to convert it to a imgfs BIN file?

Try reading the start of this topic!!

ahlok_hk

22nd February 2007, 12:44 PM

Is there a way to extract files from the extended rom NB file, or to convert it to a imgfs BIN file?
Extended ROM conversion/extraction is not my priority now. But if anyone knows the method/algorithm to convert and willing to test, I would be happy to add this function to aChef! :)

sk0t

22nd February 2007, 07:30 PM

I'm too much of a chicken shit to try this out right now, but glad to see we're getting there.

I know one of the issues in the past with ROM cooking with the Hermes was the bad blocks. Is this issue essentially resolved now? (Pardon me if you addressed it, it's very possible I missed it.)

GliTCH82

22nd February 2007, 07:34 PM

Is this a closed source project or would you be willing to share the code so I could learn how it works?

ahlok_hk

22nd February 2007, 07:54 PM

I know one of the issues in the past with ROM cooking with the Hermes was the bad blocks. Is this issue essentially resolved now? (Pardon me if you addressed it, it's very possible I missed it.)
aChef use new conversion method to convert between imgfs file and OS.nb file. It is not 100% guarentee but I have not received any incident report of bad block since I released the program. :D

Olipro

22nd February 2007, 08:01 PM

Is this a closed source project or would you be willing to share the code so I could learn how it works?

it's java... to recover the source code is trivial to say the least.

if you want it... I can get it, but since you don't know how to do it yourself, I'll leave it up to ahlok_hk

Impossible

22nd February 2007, 08:14 PM

Sorry to sound basic,

using this app, I would be able to strip certain parts from the original rom...for example.

"viewimgfs.exe imgfs_raw_data.bin"

look for the files you want to remove. In this case PTTMgr.exe, so I perform this action

"DelFile.exe PTTMgr.exe"

then

"BuildImgfs.exe"

how would I then turn this bin into a .nb file for flashing? Prehaps using make_imgfs.exe?

EDIT - I would use java -jar aChef.jar -2 06_OS.nb
and then flash using mtty.

Does this look right?

Imp

prsnow

23rd February 2007, 12:55 AM

Is there a way to extract files from the extended rom NB file, or to convert it to a imgfs BIN file?

Try reading the start of this topic!!

Uh, Trion, that's exactly what I did. Why do you think I asked the question in the first place? Maybe you should read the start of this topic as well.

sk0t

23rd February 2007, 01:42 AM

aChef use new conversion method to convert between imgfs file and OS.nb file. It is not 100% guarentee but I have not received any incident report of bad block since I released the program. :D

Nice.. I may actually get off my arse and start working on one then.. :)

qooqoo

23rd February 2007, 05:46 AM

anyone know how to delete a file with "space" in file name?

for example, i want to delete Guava Bubbles.tsk
delfile.exe Guava Bubbles.tsk don't work, it says that can't find Guava in the rom.

how can i do ? thanks:confused:

ahlok_hk

23rd February 2007, 06:24 AM

using this app, I would be able to strip certain parts from the original rom...for example.
"viewimgfs.exe imgfs_raw_data.bin"
look for the files you want to remove. In this case PTTMgr.exe, so I perform this action
"DelFile.exe PTTMgr.exe"
then
"BuildImgfs.exe"
how would I then turn this bin into a .nb file for flashing? Prehaps using make_imgfs.exe?

If you use AddFile.exe or DelFile.exe, you don't have to dump the files viewimgfs.exe. Coz AddFile and DelFile will just modify imgfs_raw_data.bin

anyone know how to delete a file with "space" in file name?
for example, i want to delete Guava Bubbles.tsk
delfile.exe Guava Bubbles.tsk don't work, it says that can't find Guava in the rom.
delfile.exe "Guava Bubbles.tsk"

futureshock

27th February 2007, 12:13 AM

Hi, there...

have a OS.nb File of an Crossbow rom... i want to look inside.... but when using the achef program i always geht an error... os.nb is not valid OS file...

what cani do??

problem also occurs when using -force switch..

steve

ahlok_hk

27th February 2007, 12:28 AM

have a OS.nb File of an Crossbow rom... i want to look inside.... but when using the achef program i always geht an error... os.nb is not valid OS file...

aChef supports Hermes and Trinity ROM. I guess your Crossbow ROM may not be one of them.

If it is for Hermes or Trinity please let me know. Thanks.

qooqoo

28th February 2007, 06:17 PM

hi man i have another question.
with ur tools i have successfully cooked a rom based on HTC 2.05 WWE test, but when i want cook the WM6 Vanilla ROM, this is what i did:

E:\ROM\WM6>java -jar aChef.jar -1 06_OS.nb
aChef Version 0.2.1
===================
By ahlok_hk
===================
Generate IMGFS...
..................
done!

E:\ROM\WM6>delfile.exe default.hv
Error! Cannot map file.
E:\ROM\WM6>addfile.exe sunglobe.ttf
Unable to map file!

can u tell me why? thanks in advance.

ahlok_hk

28th February 2007, 06:30 PM

qooqoo

28th February 2007, 07:07 PM

I cannot reproduce the problem. Would anyone try the case?

BTW, the Vanilla ROM should generate 02_OS.nb using NBHExtract.exe

"Error! Cannot map file." means there is no imgfs_raw_data.bin so please double check this.

And please report your result. Thanks.

thanks for your so speedy replies!
i've changed 02_OS.nb to 06_OS.nb.

but when restart my computer it works well again! :confused: ;)
thank. good night if u r from HongKong!

futureshock

28th February 2007, 08:17 PM

Hi, there....

you have to made an imgfs_raw_data.bin file.... with java -jar aChef.jar -1 xxx.nb (in your case 06_OS.nb)...

after that you have that file and then you can add delete files....

or you just extract the hole content of the raw file... with the viewimfs tool... then it creat a folder named "dump" there is all in... there you can delete add and then reconvert to raw ... reconvert to nb and than flash with 1.01 bootloader...

all stands on first page...

my question is how i can edit the registry in that raw files???

hope anyone can help... also postet this in xdalive rom thread but there you'll never find you post back in 5 minutes...

steve

pof

28th February 2007, 08:38 PM

my question is how i can edit the registry in that raw files???

Dump default.hv and user.hv, use rgucomp.exe to convert them to .reg, modify the registry and convert them back to .hv.

It's explained in more detail in the wiki:

http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Hermes_ROM_kitchen

futureshock

28th February 2007, 08:50 PM

Hi pof, thx 4 that info...

when did you add the info in wiki :) searched for long time... everywhere ;)

now cooking can really begin ;)

i wan't to cook an german aku 3.3 rom... eventually a wm6 german...

also i work on an special german website where i want to collect all infos for thus how can't read only the basics of english ...

thx...

Sleuth255

5th March 2007, 12:38 AM

Nice tools! Your addfile.exe tool doesn't seem to be able to add a system module though (created as a folder by viewimgfs & converted to dll by recmod.exe). See this (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1156152#post1156152) post for the test I tried...

edit: problem solved. remove the module with delfile, add the dll output from recmod.exe with addfile.... Interestingly, it took two tries to get a good dll size in the resultant os.nb. My kitchen is still somewhat under construction though...

RichTJ99

11th March 2007, 10:06 PM

Can 02_OS.nb be extracted into the actual WM6 files for tranfer onto other devices?

lyerx

13th March 2007, 08:26 AM

pretty good
very useful

futureshock

8th May 2007, 01:11 PM

konker

2nd June 2007, 02:09 PM

Hi, there...

just played today with the aChef Rom Utils...

i can extract an breeze os.nb file...

but with a excalibur one it won't work...

is there another way to extract the excalibur nb files?? because i need the excaliburs tmobile wm6 rom for cooking a breeze wm6 ...

Hi...i'm new here.
If I'm not mistaken, the Breeze runs on Samsung CPU while Excalibur runs TI OMAP.
So, the rom files u extract would not work for the Breeze.
I thought of this too but since mine's a Breeze cousin aka Dopod 595 aka HTC MTeor, I'm at the mercies of Dopod to issue a WM6 upgrade.
However, since the HTC Cavalier runs on Samsung's CPU at 400 MHz, i think we might have a chance.
I'm trying to extract the WM6 ROM for Dash to put into the Portable CE project for WM6.
Anyone got clues?