ROM flashing FAQ
ROM flashing FAQ:
Q: What is a
ROM?
A: A ROM contains the operating system and often additional software which can be “installed” to your mobile device. Most ROM’s provided by the chefs (people who create cutomized ROM’s) just contain the operating system and additional applications. Shipping ROM’s (ROM’s provided by the manufacturer or official providers) also contain a Radio ROM and a bootloader.
Please notice: A ROM can ONLY be flashed to a device it is made for.
Q: What is a
bootloader?
A: A bootloader contains information about your device. It is quite similar to a computer’s BIOS. Official bootloader also have a security option called CID (Carrier-ID) which allows you just to install ROM’s from the provider of your phone. So, if you want to flash another ROM, you first have to turn off this security option by “CID-unlocking” your device. Check the flashing instructions below on how to do this.
Q: What is a
Radio ROM?
A: The Radio ROM contains the drivers for the communication devices of your phone. Some ROM’s need one or more specific Radio ROM’s to work properly. Usually the chef, who created the ROM recommends a Radio ROM. But don’t mind, if your Radio Rom does not match, you can always flash another without needing to flash the ROM containing the Operating System (OS) again.
You can check the version of your Radio ROM when you click
Start > Settings > System > Device Information or booting your device (there will appear three lines of red text. The Radio ROM version is the number after the
R:.
You can download Radio ROM's at the
xda-developers FTP-Server in the
Uploads/Kaiser/Radio-Folder. Username and password are both 'xda'. To install it, download, extract and execute it. Then follow the instructions on your screen. Flashing a Radio does not delete any files on your device's ROM.
To choose the perfect Radio ROM for you check this
thread.
Q: What means
CID(-unlock)?
A: All known providers add a Carrier ID to their devices. This CID is added to prevent a device being flashed with a ROM which is not from the provider and/or not designed for your device. Be sure to brick your Kaiser, if you try to flash a ROM designed for a Wizard.
To flash other ROM's, you have to unlock the CID. If you flash another ROM on a CID-locked device, the new ROM will not work properly.
Q: What means
SIM-Unlock?
A: Lots of providers want to bind their customers. So they add a SIM-Lock to their devices with only allows to use SIM-Cards using their networks. If you want to use a SIM-Card from another provider, you need to SIM-unlock your device. This can be done by contacting the phone's provider (paid & sometimes free), using a service like
www.imei-check.com, or using
Jockyw2001's Kaiser SIM Unlocker.
Q: Can I
brick my phone by flashing a ROM?
A: To be true… YES. But if you follow all instructions, it is quite implausible that your device bricks.
Q: Does flashing affect the
warranty of my device?
A: Yes, but, as long as your device can be flashed again, you will find some help at jcespi2005's
thread where you can find dumped original ROMs.
Q: What can I do, if i gain problems with the ROM i flashed to my device?
A: First of all you should inform the creator by posting in the ROM's thread
if the problem is not described yet. Then you should wait for an update/fix or, if the issue is a showstopper for you, try another ROM.
Q: Which is the best/fastest/... ROM?
A: Nobody can answer you this properly. There are nearly daily new ROM's here and everybody has different demands to a ROM. If you want to know, which fits best for you, read the ROM description and try the ROM('s). Only you can decide, which ROM is the best (for you).
Q: I own an AT&T Tilt. After flashing another ROM, my hardkeyboard does not work properly.
A: AT&T uses another keyboard layout than HTC. To fix this, install the
tilt keyboard fix.cab. You can download it at
Dutty's Kaiser CAB Collection.
Q: What is the difference between a
hardreset and a
softreset?
A: A softreset reboots your device. A hardreset sets all settings back to the ROM's defaults. All of your data, settings and additionally installed programs will be deleted.
Q: What are
*.CAB-files and/or how do i use them?
A: Cab-files for WINCE-Devices are different to the files you may have seen (e.g. on your Windows Installation CD). They do not only contain files but also installation information similar like a MSI package. To install them, just copy the *.cab to your Mobile Device and run it from there. Most shipped ROMs delete cab-files after executing, most cooked do not. To be sure, check the registry. If
HKLM\Software\apps\Microsoft Application Installer\nDynamicDelete = 0 (DWORD decimal), cab-Files will not be deleted after execution.
Q: I have questions which are not described in this FAQ. What shall i do?
A: First of all
search the forum and the wiki (http://wiki.xda-developers.com). Maybe the question has been already answered. If you don't find an answer, create a new thread. As i know from experience, the community will always try to help you as soon as possible.
