Assistance Needed

[gazman86]

Well over a year ago I bought the MDA-Vario and back then promptly flashed the rom to remove T-Mobile default. I installed MR.Clean Rom, after a few months of medium usage I completely forgot about the device and never used it.

Found it again the other day and came back here so I could upgrade/flash it so I can use the device as SatNav on the latest rom/build.

I can confirm that my device is G4:

WIZARD SERVICE TOOL REPORT
Wizard Service Tool v4.2.2
13/07/08 18:24:16

CPU: Texas Instruments - OMAP850
MODEL: Wizard
IMEI: *************

=> Bootloaders:
IPL: 2.21.0001 (G4 device)
SPL: 2.21.0001 (G4 device)
Built on Mar 9 2006 at 13:52:14
Copyright (c) 2003 High Tech Computer Corporation

=> Firmware:
OS: 5.1.xxx (Build 14955.2.3.0)
ROM: 2.24
Registry AKU: .2.3.0
Radio: 02.25.11
Protocol: 4.1.13.12

=>Extended_ROM:
Version: 2.24a Mr. Clean
Name: Extended_ROM
Status: hidden

=> Drives and partitions:
|--Handle--|---Size---|
0e9e4332 - 9.99M (0x9fd800)
aea9c13a - 43.24M (0x2b3e000)
cfb25f96 - 50.95M (0x32f4000)
4fb25f42 - 2.94M (0x2f0000)
0fb25fba - 3.06M (0x30fc00)

=> DOC chip unique ID:
00000000f23102052b35008f13050698
Key Index: 57

Now, I am having great difficulty searching these forums because after not being around here for so long I don't even know what I'm searching for.

I have been reading different posts/guides since last night pretty thoroughly and I haven't gotten any closer to figuring out what I need to do etc.

I would like a fast/simple/clean G4 WM6 Rom, so far I have been unable to find one on these forums aswell (Why? Read the 2 previous paragraphs.. I honestly do not know what I'm looking for regarding compatibility with my device etc)

I understand I probably have to revert my rom to the T-Mobile original and start from there.

Please can somebody link me to the files I need, including roms/programs/guides.

Better still add me to MSN cr0sis at hot*mail d0t c0 d0t uk *(Not bothered about having this email listed publically, I never use it as email at all)*

[zabardast_1]

Well,its not that hard to find what you are looking for,To upgrade read and follow either 'SoftSPL' or 'HardSPL' posted as stickies on the top of this thread.
To get a rom of your choice,look in the 'Wizard Mobile6' forum,all the latest custom build wm6 or 6.1 roms are safe for flashing a G4 phone.

[gazman86]

I managed to figure out Shelltool (despite a ton of broken download links etc)
and successfully flashed TNT 19213. I was getting too many errors (on first boot "Timesomething not working" blah blah, then a lot of programs it claimed to have installed simply did not work (No icons in program viewer or anything).

Anyway, not here to complain about a specific rom not working, so I'll just get on with trying another. Shelltool seems to be the only working flash tool out there, and since last night I have tried a lot of different methods to the exact guide instructions.

I need to go through a list of the roms I can find which ARE successfully linked to still (Again, so many broken links on here it's unreal!). I'll report back when I've cracked it and got a rom I can actually use.

----

Ok, I fucked up during a flash. Won't go into detail of how/what I did but basically, I need the original MDA-Vario Rom for T-Mobile or I can't continue, Anyone know a working link please??

[Genesis3]

SoftSPL works. You do need a ROM that boots tho - if whatever you try to load DOESN'T boot you're screwed and left on the tricolor screen, and need an ORIGINAL load for that device (with the proper CID) to recover.

DO NOT screw around with loading things on a G4 unit without a proper CARRIER ORIGINAL firmware file you can use to recover with if something goes wrong.

Guess why I know this.....

[gazman86]

Hehe Hmm, I wonder.

Well, yeah, I know this too now. But I wasn't screwing around I just had really bad luck because less than 20 seconds after starting shelltools I had a power surge followed by a brief power cut, effectively "Removing the USB cable during this operation" which of course we all know full well not to do :)

So I can use SoftSPL even when stuck in bootloader/RGB screen? I'll need a little help on how because I get "unable to copy files, try again?" dialogue. Gone into Activesync, told it not to accept USB connections, Killed activesyncs exe file in running processes in task manager and still no joy. Then again, do I really need to use SoftSPL if what I'm doing now is only putting on my carriers original rom (Yes, I found it.. Eventually! The rapishite links weren't working for me at the time, strange that suddenly they all started to late last night)

[Genesis3]

No, you need to get a copy of a valid firmware file for the unit and carrier you have, and flash that - then, once you've done that and its running again, use SoftSPL again.

SoftSPL will NOT work from the tricolor screen.

[gazman86]

Ok this is going to sound really dumb but:

Stuck in bootloader completely
I have my devices original rom
Extracted the nk.bf file
Ran shelltools, it froze
Ran RUU, Errors (Possibly wrong .dll version, I'm not sure?)

I am following all the wrong guides because not one is telling me how to flash when stuck in bootloader, with what program or version.

My head is fried

[Genesis3]

If you have an ORIGINAL carrier ROM (which is an EXE, self-extracts and then runs the RUU that is in it) you can run that from the tri-color screen and it will flash successfully.

Don't try to extract anything or get cute with the carrier ROM - just run the loader (the EXE) and it should self-extract and execute.

You CANNOT flash a cooked rom from the tricolor screen on a G4 phone. It won't work - the loader will complain about being an invalid file or device and quit.

You need an ORIGINAL carrier ROM load for that phone - not a cooked one. Load it, go through the startup (screen cal, etc) and then use SoftSPL again.

[gazman86]

Ok well I thought I had the correct original Rom for this device, but after 3 times trying to flash it to my device by just running the .exe I get

Error[294] Invalid Vender ID
This update cannot be used for your PDA phone. Please check your update utility

----

Nevermind, seems I was linked to the G3 version in a G4 thread. Goddamnit.
I can't find the G4 version so I'm going to try and flash Wizard_Love rom.

[mestrini]

In the days of SoftSpl and HardSPL, messing with RAPI tools like Shelltool is really risky. You should have taken more time with the wikis and guides.

Now you must use an official RUU (from your provider) or you won't be able to recover your phone (since it's G4 and it's CID locked)

[gazman86]

Ok Brightrom installed, no panic anymore :)
Easier than I was first led to believe after spending a little more time figuring out the guides.

[mestrini]

Ok Brightrom installed, no panic anymore :)
Easier than I was first led to believe after spending a little more time figuring out the guides.


THUMBS UP :D

[gazman86]

And today after a greatly anticipated arrival of my new miniSD card, my device completely destroyed it! I switched off the wizard, plugged the card in, switched on, noticed the card was really hot within a matter of seconds.. card wasn't readable in the Wizard/PC/Card reader/Digital Camera/Second phone...

I already stuck it in my Card reader after unpacking it just to be sure it was working...

:(

Anyway, I'll buy two more lol. Could just be that I bought a shitty card.

Anyone know where to get the latest TomTom + UK map?