PIM V's FULL backup for A12 update, x51v

[Shuei]

Hi,

I'm about to put the A12 rom update into my x51v. I've never attempted this before, and have only just (today) even used active sync for the first time.

The Dell site recomends performing a hard sytem reset after the A12 rom goes in, but warns that reinstalling a complete system backup from the earlier version may disable some of the upgraded features that the new rom version provides.

How much of the system and personal settings are kept if I choose to reinstall only a PIM backup? I'm particularly worried about my network settings and personal user info.

If I choose to reinstall a complete backup from the earlier version, will I simply have to activate the newer features as required or are they permanently disabled and therefore completely useless?

Thanks for any assistance available.

bye,
Shuei.

(P.S. this all came about after trying to use tomtom 6 with the serial GPS receiver attached to a HAICOM 4 in 1 PDA mount. The GPS signal didn't appear to get through to the AXIM's serial connection (com 1?), so, again, I hope I'm on the right path with the upgrade to the rom.)

[Mahstah]

Welcome to AximUsers Shuei. Performing a ROM upgrade effectively does hard reset your system as part of the process. System backups don't work between ROM revisions, only PIM backups (and those are not required because you can sync that data back). Your network settings will be lost and you will have to reenter your WEP key. Let us know how it works!

Mahstah

[Shuei]

Hi,

Thanks MAHSTAH for the reply. I spent some time with my new 8Gb CF card and did a full backup as well as a PIM, just to get the hang of the system - easy enough. I've had great pleasure in deleting them as well. The A12 ROM, and I'm imagining the hard resets (numerous) have cleaned out the system and it is running quite well. I've yet to reinstall tomtom 6 though and get down to business with it.

I'd like to relate my update experience incase it helps other newbies to do it a little more efficiently that I managed to.

After Mahstah's reply I decided to make as full an activesync archive of my system as was possible. Activesync is both a blessing and a curse in the body of this update saga...

The exe from Dell is accompanied by some scant instructions that outline the sequence of events that should follow once the update is innitiated. It would be handy if these had a few more details regarding the HTML popup that launches the first 'handshake' with the axim.

For some reason my desktop machine has both Mozilla-Firefox and IE as browsers. Firefox was default and tries to take control of the process from then on. The issue is that firefox (this incarnation at least) insists on downloading to disc instead of running from site, as is required for the ROM update. O.K change default browsers for the HTML instructions...

After insisting, obviously, that an activesync connection must be established for the update to proceed the instructions say to close all programs on the host computer. It would be good for the instructions to include that this should also apply to activesync. It took 3 goes, with activesync closing by itself partway through the first handshake, and the system reporting a USB error and requiring a 'reset' of the axim (each time back to my old A06 ROM state, with activesync then trying to initiate a firstime sync with my newly reborn old system) and the Host as it has frozen and can't be woken by the presence of a USB connection. At least I cleaned out my desktop and resolved some other hardware issues while searching for a nonexistant host computer issue with the USB.

O.K, when prompted, this time, close all programs including activesync.

Things start to run through quite well with the 10min intervals passing uneventfully, until activesync wakes up again part way through a step and its screen obscures the warning not to use your partly complete system for fear that it will be rendered inoperable... A minor hicup, but could cause some grief unless some more details are provided in a help file.

Side stepping this one the rest of the resets go smoothly and the final screen asking to check the system info on the axim is a welcome sight. Ofcourse you have to go through the innitial setup pages and name your axim (as per the old incarnation) in order to get to the system info section, but it is indeed a welcome sight to see A12 proudly displayed.

Now activesync becomes more the hero and less the villan (my innexperience not withstanding). After renaming the axim to its old name activesync goes to work and puts practically everything back, but in a much more efficient fashion, so there must be less fragmentation or something. I had a small issue with a series of dates and appointments comming across from Outlook 2003, but it is easy enough to edit this on the host, with the axim connected, and it all clears up nicely.

Is there a maintenance utility that can help with this 'defragmenting' of the axim? I didn't realize how clogged my system had become prior to the hard resets.

I use a PDA because I have an issue with a focal distonia that prevents me from writing, but it's easy enough to copy and paste most of the info that is overwritten in the ROM update to a word mobile doc and then sync that to your computer. Network passwords are another story, but we all have our own methods of archiving and rediscovering these, not to mention helpfull IT administrators at work.

Thanks for letting me rave on about my first up ROM update. If I've missed any threads that deal with this I'm sorry to have taken up so much space.

Let's see if it has helped with the tomtom 6 issue, or if there is some USB thing here I need help in comming to terms with.

bye,
Shuei.

[Mahstah]

Good rant about the A12 upgrade, Shuei. I made one too that you might enjoy...

03-07-06 New Rom's For X51 Series

[Shuei]

Hi,

Thanks for the thread link, Mastah. I'd have been absolutely terrified at starting the process had I found it via the site prior to your reply.

Its all a 'fun' shared experience now, laughing after the fact sure helps!

I hope Dell views these posts though, and responds with a safer more resilient system that can accomodate more variants on the 'Host' computers. Roll on 'Vista' and subsequent 'improvements' to the AXIM wm5 line.

I've located a fix for the innitial issue as well. It was on the site all along and I just needed more time to explore.

Happy 4th birthday to all at AXIMUSERS. Keep up the forum threads. They are the best support system of all.

x51v and HAICOM 4 in 1 PDA mount

Credits for the fix for the tomtom issues from the thread above quoted in the body of my last post in that thread.

Happy New Year.

bye,
Shuei.

[USABlue]

Oh buggar you guys are scaring me to death, I'm beginning to think I mad a horrible mistake buying one of these. What is the A12 and what does it do?
Perhaps my best plan of attack here is wait till I get the device and see what I have.
Scary.

[Shuei]

Hi USABlue,

A12 is a ROM version. My AXIM is probably older than yours and had A06 as its ROM version.

Don't panic about the ROM. If you are purchasing a very new AXIM it will all be pre-loaded with a stable operating system.

Windows Mobile 5 is the OS and the ROM takes care of all the additional bits of Dell interface, so if something doesn't work as well as it could and its issue is rooted in the hardware and its interaction with the OS then the ROM gets a rewrite by the Dell engineers to fix it.

While my description, above, may not be completely accurate the ROM is used to get the machine functioning in its first boot state. It is reset to this state after each 'hard reset'. When my first attempt to change the rom didn't work the system 'hard reset' to its 'out of the box' settings and no real grief was caused.

Sync regularly, then dive in! You can't overly wreck anything unless you get into the registry, and unless you've got software for that task its safe enough to fiddle.

Make sure you access the user forums before you remove any functions.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your AXIM.

bye,
Shuei.

[USABlue]

Originally Posted by Mahstah

Welcome to AximUsers Shuei. Performing a ROM upgrade effectively does hard reset your system as part of the process. System backups don't work between ROM revisions, only PIM backups (and those are not required because you can sync that data back). Your network settings will be lost and you will have to reenter your WEP key. Let us know how it works!

Mahstah

What's a WEP key? And a PIM.
Is there a glossary for us noobs heh heh

[USABlue]

Originally Posted by Shuei

Hi USABlue,

A12 is a ROM version. My AXIM is probably older than yours and had A06 as its ROM version.

Don't panic about the ROM. If you are purchasing a very new AXIM it will all be pre-loaded with a stable operating system.

Windows Mobile 5 is the OS and the ROM takes care of all the additional bits of Dell interface, so if something doesn't work as well as it could and its issue is rooted in the hardware and its interaction with the OS then the ROM gets a rewrite by the Dell engineers to fix it.

While my description, above, may not be completely accurate the ROM is used to get the machine functioning in its first boot state. It is reset to this state after each 'hard reset'. When my first attempt to change the rom didn't work the system 'hard reset' to its 'out of the box' settings and no real grief was caused.

Sync regularly, then dive in! You can't overly wreck anything unless you get into the registry, and unless you've got software for that task its safe enough to fiddle.

Make sure you access the user forums before you remove any functions.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your AXIM.

bye,
Shuei.

Thanks Shuei for the encouragement. Mine is actually used and it came with A01. I have no programs on there that I am concerned about keeping, I fact if this thing reverts back to out of the box I may be happier. The bloke that had it before has stuff on I can't seem to get off (Chinese stuff) So a littl emore playing and studying and I'll be trying it.

[Mahstah]

Hi USABlue-

You can find most any acronym here: http://www.acronymfinder.com/

PIM=personal information manager (data from Outlook)
WEP=wired equivalent privacy