ROM sizes - max ROM size / maximum ROM size

[Registerme]

First of all Happy New Year to all of you!

I'm going to cook some roms in the next few days and was wondering what the max working ROM size is. I want to build a ROM with as much apps as possible. Are there any known problems if I use up almost all the ROM space? I remember that there was this "not enough free memory" bug in one of the B&B or Meschle's ROMs. That actually happened although his ROM was extra-small I think.

And talking about the max. size why not talk about all the sizes. I read that the minimum size is a little over 50 MB. In theory there should be 128 MB available, right?


UPDATE: This is what I found out, no need to read the entire thread. I flashed a lot and coud reach a maximum of 65.546 KB, 65802 was too much for it. This ROM included ONLY the OS, I was able to flash a 20 MB Ext. ROM, maybe even larger is possible but doesn't make any sense to me. The RadioROM and the other stuff uses space too, that's the reason why you can't use 128 MB for your ROMs.

[greenleef]

First of all Happy New Year to all of you!

I'm going to cook some roms in the next few days and was wondering what the max working ROM size is. I want to build a ROM with as much apps as possible. Are there any known problems if I use up almost all the ROM space? I remember that there was this "not enough free memory" bug in one of the B&B or Meschle's ROMs. That actually happened although his ROM was extra-small I think.

And talking about the max. size why not talk about all the sizes. I read that the minimum size is a little over 50 MB. In theory there should be 128 MB available, right?


If I'm not mistaken WM5 and 6 use persistent strorage - hence ROM is used for storing apps and data, whereas RAM is used for running apps and 'volatile' data. This was different in WM2003se earlier, as RAM was used for both installing apps and running apps and data. ROM was only used for the OS, and for 'built-in-storage', which was like a RAM drive (or ROM drive !!!).

So if you filled up your ROM (extended ROM) with apps, you'd not be able to install anything as there would be no space left. Correct me if I'm wrong.

PS that's why carrier's extended ROMs are only a couple of megs

[Registerme]

Thanx for that info, but that's what I'm planning to do. Create a ROM with all the apps that I need so I don't need to install anything later.

I was only wondering because most ROMs seem to be about 50 MB in size but there is only 50 MB free space left to use. Doesn't the Artemis have 128 MB ROM?

[greenleef]

Thanx for that info, but that's what I'm planning to do. Create a ROM with all the apps that I need so I don't need to install anything later.

I was only wondering because most ROMs seem to be about 50 MB in size but there is only 50 MB free space left to use. Doesn't the Artemis have 128 MB ROM?


Yeah, the atermis has 64mb ram and 128mb rom. I don't know if other space is reserved for the radio rom and the bootlooder etc. I expect that's the case. Good luck with building your ROM, please let me know how you get on.. my email is greenleef (at) talk21 (dot) com if you get a chance.

I want to build an extended ROM too, put all of my cabs in there. I'm just worried about using up valuable application storage space. But then again I install most larger apps to my storage card. What tools do you use, and do you need to CID unlock it first? I'm running the stock WM6 rom from 02.

[Registerme]

I use Hyper Core Kitchen, Cook-Your-LLT, OK Package Creator 5.4 and BuildDSM. I also use UPX4PPC to shrink the .exe and .dll files on my pda and then copy the shrinked files back to the packages. I'm still working on that. You only need to use CID unlock if you have a CID locked ROM on your device.

I've succesfully created my first ROMs, 65 MB seems to be the maximum for the OS file, I tried a 20 MB extended ROM that worked out kinda ok. I must have made some mistake because the files installed but nothing was there afterwards to use. I think I might unlock the ext rom and use it as storage space, it's easier that way.

[browny]

I tried a 20 MB extended ROM that worked out kinda ok.Interesting, but - what for? If you use ExtROM, you reserve space for installers, and even more valuable storage space would be occupied for installed executables and data files.
Perhaps you can achieve better results installing programs from (and maybe - to) microSD card. At least, easier to manage, than reflashing ExtROM.
Anothe side effect: when I install programs to SD Card, after flashing it is enough to copy several .lnk files - and those programs are ready to use, without running installers.

In my opinion, ExtROM is a place for patching OS or keeping very necessary programs, which you could not inject into OS for some reason. Nothing more.

[Registerme]

That's what I use my ext rom for, I put my system tools and other programs in there that don't fit in the os-rom. Those are tools I always use and that I haven't deleted in years, so I thought it would be a good idea to have them on my device in case my sd card ever dies or I have to do a hard reset.

[greenleef]

That's what I use my ext rom for, I put my system tools and other programs in there that don't fit in the os-rom. Those are tools I always use and that I haven't deleted in years, so I thought it would be a good idea to have them on my device in case my sd card ever dies or I have to do a hard reset.

I like the idea of having apps and cabs in extrom, If I can figure it all out I plan to do it. I still use Cabinstall from 2003se on my Dell axim, as I find CABS going missing after i install them. I use PIM backup for PIM, and SPB backup for cloning my working rom with manually installed apps. All big apps go on storage card, which usually don't need registry keys so they're happy run from there - even TOMTOM6.

As far as my MicroSD giving up on me, I use symantec ghost, take an image of my SD every couple of weeks, and leave the image on my laptop.

One thing I really would like to do - remove all the useless .exes and things from my image... If I can free up 10meg from my ROM, I could unlock the extROM and use it as a storage area like you mention.... I think ROM is a lot faster than SD....