[Update 6/16] Titan Bootsplash Cooking Tutorial - WIKI

[gc14]

Updated 6/16/08:

-Created bootsplash kitchen along with instructions.
-Included information about flashing via microsd card.

Little background on Titan boot sequence for those who don't know exactly what this kitchen/tutorial does:

Many confuse the term "ROM" with the OS ROM. The term "ROM" has been used so often in conjunction with the OS ROM, that it's become jargon. When one refers to the "ROM" he/she usually is referring to the OS ROM. The ROM is the read only memory that can only be altered with a firmware flash. In actuality, there are 5 parts that make up the total ROM.

1. SPL - Bootloader
2. Radio - GSM or CDMA radio
3. First Splash - Splash screen that shows Protocol, Rom, and Radio versions.
4. Second Splash - Splash screen after the Protocol, Rom, and Radio versions disappear.
5. OS - The OS, a.k.a. what you flash when you cook a rom with dcd's kitchen etc.

This is how we're able to flash the bootloader, radio, OS etc. separately. You notice this more when you flash with the microsd card. When the bootloader loads and checks the image, it tells you exactly what part of the ROM it is. If you're flashing the OS, it says OS. If you're flashing the radio, it says CDMA (type of radio the Titan uses).

The Titan has either 3 or 4 boot splashes depending on whether or not you use a startup animation. The first 2 are part of the ROM. The 3rd and 4th are the startup animation (if included as part of OS ROM) and the welcomehead splash (Windows Mobile splash, which can easily be changed without flashing anything by copying/pasting your image of choice named welcomehead.96.png to \Windows on your phone).

This kitchen cooks the First and Second Splashes of the ROM.

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

Enjoy!

[kashabrown]

Awesome - Thanks GC!!

[NotLutzik]

Nice. Will try later on.

"Below is a guide to cook a tiny ROM which will only flash your bootscreens. Flashing it will cause a hard reset, but will leave your current ROM intact."

So people would read!

[azclown]

Hey GC - This is the same error I got the last time I tried to use this tool.... Hae you seen this, and what does it mean??? I clicked on the nb_image_converter.exe and then these 2 boxes popup.....


Helpppppppp.....

[gc14]

Hey GC - This is the same error I got the last time I tried to use this tool.... Hae you seen this, and what does it mean??? I clicked on the nb_image_converter.exe and then these 2 boxes popup.....


Helpppppppp.....

Whoa wtf... this program has NOTHING to do with BuildOS. Do you have PPCGeeks BuildOS installed or something?

[azclown]

Yes, but why would it look for that?? This program is a simple executable??

[gc14]

No idea... try to completely uninstall PPCGeeks and see if it still pops up.

[azclown]

Thats the damdest thing..... Uninstalling the ppckitchen and the nb tool runs FINE.....

[gc14]

Thats the damdest thing..... Uninstalling the ppckitchen and the nb tool runs FINE.....

Haha, well no real reason to have it now anyway right?

You testing this out? If so let me know how the tutorial was and post up your bootsplash!

That goes for everyone, I'd like to get some feedback on how it goes. It seems like a lot of steps, but once you master it, it takes like a minute tops...screw using ppcgeeks kitchen for this.

Also, if you'd like to share your bootsplash, post it up!

[azclown]

Haha, well no real reason to have it now anyway right?

You testing this out? If so let me know how the tutorial was and post up your bootsplash!

That goes for everyone, I'd like to get some feedback on how it goes. It seems like a lot of steps, but once you master it, it takes like a minute tops...screw using ppcgeeks kitchen for this.

Also, if you'd like to share your bootsplash, post it up!

Ok - Works great.... I did however make a batch file so that it's just easier to click on it instead of using a DOS box, lots of people may have an issue finding the folder they saved the images in, and it autostarts Duttys.... I can AIM it too you GC....

Here's my screen.....

[ranmasaotome510]

GC14, was just wondering... You say that there is no way around the hard reset. Well if i remember correctly, quite a wails back, in the 3.27 Leaked ROM era, when i would flash my mogul with the leaked ROM, was the first time i got that annoying "Test purpose only" Boot screen flash.

Well my attempt to change it was to use the official Rom before this, by doing the SD card method, and only wait for it to say Finish flashing bootscreen, and i would reset the device immediately, to prevent any corruption.

This method indeed changed my boot screen splash, and nothing else, and it didn't hard reset anything.

So shouldn't anyone be able to just place the .nbh file into a SD card, and let it just flash the boot screen that way?

I'm only saying.. i actually haven't tried it, since i did it the long way anyway.

[gc14]

GC14, was just wondering... You say that there is no way around the hard reset. Well if i remember correctly, quite a wails back, in the 3.27 Leaked ROM era, when i would flash my mogul with the leaked ROM, was the first time i got that annoying "Test purpose only" Boot screen flash.

Well my attempt to change it was to use the official Rom before this, by doing the SD card method, and only wait for it to say Finish flashing bootscreen, and i would reset the device immediately, to prevent any corruption.

This method indeed changed my boot screen splash, and nothing else, and it didn't hard reset anything.

So shouldn't anyone be able to just place the .nbh file into a SD card, and let it just flash the boot screen that way?

I'm only saying.. i actually haven't tried it, since i did it the long way anyway.

I've never tried it. I simply said there's no way around the hard reset if you use the RUU. First and foremost, if people are going to try it, they have to rename RUU_signed.nbh to TITAIMG.nbh. If you want to try it and let me know, go for it.

[blueglide]

Thanks gc14 (aka gcincotta :) ) for the tutorial. Worked great...now to play with some different splash screens!

[the 0ne]

Just to be clear this will hard reset the phone but will not erase the ROM. This means all contacts, programs, settings, etc... will be left intact?

[Underfunded]

great tutorial! worked like a champ! Thanks!

[gc14]

Updated 6/16

[azclown]

Great change brother..... I see you liked the batch file idea!!! Yours is pretty close to mine.... but better.... lol ;) Nice job...

[Underfunded]

Updated 6/16

Does the microsd flash have the same issue as others where it has to be a smaller card? Sorry for not being more specific. I haven't looked too much into that issue as I don't have a smaller card, I'm a 4gb microsd.

[gc14]

Does the microsd flash have the same issue as others where it has to be a smaller card? Sorry for not being more specific. I haven't looked too much into that issue as I don't have a smaller card, I'm a 4gb microsd.

Flashing via the microsd card is the same whether flashing rom, radio, or bootsplashes. Non microsdhc card, formatted to FAT32, with cluster size less than 4k.

[Cycomachead]

Which splash screen is this? The Windows one or the (on DCD Verizon) the white verizon screen?

[gc14]

Which splash screen is this? The Windows one or the (on DCD Verizon) the white verizon screen?

See first post.

[Cycomachead]

thanks. I'll try it in a couple of days when I get my replacement phone and when the PC comes back.

[Underfunded]

Flashing via the microsd card is the same whether flashing rom, radio, or bootsplashes. Non microsdhc card, formatted to FAT32, with cluster size less than 4k.

thank you for the clarification!

[kashabrown]

GC - I feel really REALLY stupid asking this, but I really wanted to use the animated Verizon screen shown in Post #51 Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=379822&highlight=Splash+Screens&page=6
I try to save that image, but the animation is gone when I save it to my computer - I know there must be an incredibly easy answer to this - but I will be darned if I know what it is.

By the way, your wiki was extremely well thought out and worked like a charm - thank-you AGAIN for this and all you do.

Thanks.

[gc14]

GC - I feel really REALLY stupid asking this, but I really wanted to use the animated Verizon screen shown in Post #51 Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...Screens&page=6
I try to save that image, but the animation is gone when I save it to my computer - I know there must be an incredibly easy answer to this - but I will be darned if I know what it is.

By the way, your wiki was extremely well thought out and worked like a charm - thank-you AGAIN for this and all you do.

Thanks.

Haha yeah...there is an incredibly easy answer. Can't use animated gifs for the boot splashes...only Startup Animation.

You're welcome, glad it was helpful.

[kashabrown]

I understand - the startup animation is the 2nd of three things that happen when the titan starts right? How can I utilize that startup animation screen that I pointed out in the last reply? Also, how come when I save that .gif, it doesn't animate like it does in that post?

[gc14]

I understand - the startup animation is the 2nd of three things that happen when the titan starts right? How can I utilize that startup animation screen that I pointed out in the last reply? Also, how come when I save that .gif, it doesn't animate like it does in that post?

No. The startup animation is the 3rd of 4 splashes when the titan starts.

First: First ROM boot splash
Second: Second ROM boot splash
Third: Startup Animation
Fourth: Welcomehead splash

In order for you to use this, you need to have Startup Animation cooked into your rom from the kitchen. Then you need to rename the gif to htc_startup.gif and place it in your \Windows directory.

The file animates fine for me when I download it. What are you viewing it in? Try opening it with Internet Explorer and see if it animates.

[gbenj]

if its not overwritten, it stays from a previous rom...thats what i have now, since i overwrote a ppcgeeks kitchen that i used just for the boot screens.

i didnt select htcstartupanimation from dcds kitchen. so it kept what was on there before.

[kashabrown]

Thanks guys - I appreciate the answers - I will try it when the newest rom from DCD is released - using an older rom from Vetvito - it is a vista decorated (icon sets and the like) based upon dcds 3.0.9 OS - it seems to hold my ram the best of the lot out there right now with the software mix I have installed.

Again, I know shortly DCD and GC are going to release the newest one here and I will do it at that point - thanks again guys!

EDIT: Did exactly what you said GC when I flashed the new DCD 3.1.6 ROM - worked PERFECTLY!! Again - Thanks!!

[alraune]

Ok i used the software worked wonders. But one problem is i used a animated gif. I followed all the steps got it onto my phone and found that the animation didnt run. Anyway to fix this?

[gc14]

Ok i used the software worked wonders. But one problem is i used a animated gif. I followed all the steps got it onto my phone and found that the animation didnt run. Anyway to fix this?

Please read....this was JUST answered 5 posts ago...AND it's in the first post....

[maniakx]

i dont think this was covered in this thread, but what about just changing the windows splash? I was searching the kitchen for the green windows splash and found something similar, but im not sure thats it.

[alraune]

This program is not needed for that. That slpash is a .png file located in the Windows Directory

Replace /Windows/Welcomehead.96.png

With another file named Welcomehead.69.png

Image size needs to be 320X280 or it will look wrong.

[gc14]

i dont think this was covered in this thread, but what about just changing the windows splash? I was searching the kitchen for the green windows splash and found something similar, but im not sure thats it.

Not sure how much you actually read in this thread, but it clearly states exactly how to do this right in my first post...

"The Titan has either 3 or 4 boot splashes depending on whether or not you use a startup animation. The first 2 are part of the ROM. The 3rd and 4th are the startup animation (if included as part of OS ROM) and the welcomehead splash (Windows Mobile splash, which can easily be changed without flashing anything by copying/pasting your image of choice named welcomehead.96.png to \Windows on your phone)."

[maniakx]

Not sure how much you actually read in this thread, but it clearly states exactly how to do this right in my first post...

"The Titan has either 3 or 4 boot splashes depending on whether or not you use a startup animation. The first 2 are part of the ROM. The 3rd and 4th are the startup animation (if included as part of OS ROM) and the welcomehead splash (Windows Mobile splash, which can easily be changed without flashing anything by copying/pasting your image of choice named welcomehead.96.png to \Windows on your phone)."

yeah i totally missed that one. thanks for repeating your self .

[the 0ne]

This program is not needed for that. That slpash is a .png file located in the Windows Directory

Replace /Windows/Welcomehead.96.png

With another file named Welcomehead.69.png

Image size needs to be 320X280 or it will look wrong.

I've had nothing but bad luck trying to Copy/Move to overwrite the file Welcomehead.96.png in the Windows directory using Total Commander. I recently made the below registry change which worked perfectly.

Change the following registry entries to point to the splash screen of your choice. By default, it's \Windows\welcomehaed.96.png. I highly recommend storing the image in the Windows directory and I take no responsibility for any damage you cause to your device.


HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Splash Screen/CarrierBitmap
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Splash Screen/MSBitmap.

[m_reyna_16]

for some reason, i did this and everything went fine. now, i try to do this, just a lil different, and for some reason, in the bottom where the information of the rom version and radio come out, i still see my other bootscreen!!! the only thing i did different was use a different splash screen for the second image, and that worked out great! its just that my images come out like i wanted them to (first image the one i wanted and the second the DIFFERENT image i wanted), the only thing is that my image comes out with the bottom part of the screen with the previous image i had! how can i fix this?

[deeznuts2]

I had flashed back to the stock rom and re-locked my phone....tried the bootsplash kitchen without success until I remembered the phone was locked...

Anyway, which bootloader should I use with a stock rom if I just want to flash the boot screens? Since I'm not flashing any custom rom I would imagine it shouldnt matter which bootloader I use, but wanted to make sure first.