Creating a ROM image

[kingpin83]

Hi all

From some research i've been doing i think i need to create a ROM image but i'll tell you my problem and let you recomend me a solution.

Basically i need to setup 30 PDA's (XDA Argon's running WM5.0) These PDA's will be running a program called service director and also have TOMTOM installed. What i need to be able to do is be able to create an "image" that i can just copy to each PDA to speed up deployment. It would also be useful should there be any problems in the field with the PDA's that they could just be hard reset back to their modified state after deployment. E.g with Service Director and TomTom installed. I have found out that if i create a folder on a memory card with a directory name of 2577 and put my .cabs in there that they will automatically be installed on insertion of the card. This could also be beneficial to me, but i don't think that it would be robust enough, especially if they drop the device and put their memory card back in after its popped out.

So what do you think my best options would be?

Thanks for any help in advance and if you need any info, just let me know.

Thanks
Andy:)

[Midget_1990]

Hi all

From some research i've been doing i think i need to create a ROM image but i'll tell you my problem and let you recomend me a solution.

Basically i need to setup 30 PDA's (XDA Argon's running WM5.0) These PDA's will be running a program called service director and also have TOMTOM installed. What i need to be able to do is be able to create an "image" that i can just copy to each PDA to speed up deployment. It would also be useful should there be any problems in the field with the PDA's that they could just be hard reset back to their modified state after deployment. E.g with Service Director and TomTom installed. I have found out that if i create a folder on a memory card with a directory name of 2577 and put my .cabs in there that they will automatically be installed on insertion of the card. This could also be beneficial to me, but i don't think that it would be robust enough, especially if they drop the device and put their memory card back in after its popped out.

So what do you think my best options would be?

Thanks for any help in advance and if you need any info, just let me know.

Thanks
Andy:)

do the 2577 option but create an autorun program that installs the cab files and then deletes the 2577 folder, thus it wont re-install when the cab is re-inserted :)

[kingpin83]

That's ok, but then the engineer would then have to send the card back to us so that we could set it up again. E.g the card would only allow them to set the software back up once and then they would have to send the PDA back to us for us to reconfigure it should it go wrong again. We can't really afford to do this as they need the PDA to find their next job/update jobs etc and can't really afford to have it sent back to us everytime it goes wrong.

[Midget_1990]

well there is currently no way flashing custom ROM's to the xda argon (HTC Panda?) and wont be until one or more devs get thier hands on one so burining it into the rom isnt an option. the only thing I can think of is to have it ask if you want to install the software when it is inserted rather than doing it automatically.

[kingpin83]

I didnt think it wouldve been available yet. Oh well, looks like i'll have to make it do it via the memory card for the moment. Like all brilliant companies mine just told me, here's what we want, now go and make it happen! Haha!

I take it the card will need to have some kind of .inf file on it to ask you whether you want to install it or not. I would try it, but my company havent even given me the PDA to play with yet.:rolleyes:

All i have is an SPV M500(My own old phone) and knowing my luck, they won't work the same with the software we're using.

[nispen]

In that case, why dont you have the autorun RENAME the folder instead of delete it. Your users should then be able to rename it back in case of need (they should be able to do that!), and do the insert sd card thing.


That's ok, but then the engineer would then have to send the card back to us so that we could set it up again. E.g the card would only allow them to set the software back up once and then they would have to send the PDA back to us for us to reconfigure it should it go wrong again. We can't really afford to do this as they need the PDA to find their next job/update jobs etc and can't really afford to have it sent back to us everytime it goes wrong.

[Firewired]

Why not on original installation have it delete the file from the folder and also have in the same folder a IE web shortcut to the original file on a Company server that would allow them to download the file again into the same folder, assuming they would have an internet connection and the file is not too large to download and you can direct the download to that particular folder?

They could then take out the card and re-insert it to automatically install the program again.

Maybe a poopoo idea, but I guess worth a thought?

Good luck
C

[Midget_1990]

the autorun folder is the same for all devices with wm5/6 so thats fine and you would haev to write a progra to do it, not an inf.

if you cant do it yourself im sure someone else on the forum wouldnt mind for a modest donation ;) (myself included) :P

[lalt]

Basically i need to setup 30 PDA's.
What i need to be able to do is be able to create an "image" that i can just copy to each PDA to speed up deployment.


A software called SPB Clone was specifically designed to meet this need:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/clone/?en

Regards