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

[Drifter]

3 JULY 2006

Dell release new rom versions for the x51 series.

As before, 2 seperate ROM versions are issued, both appear to be titled A012 ( what happened to A07-A011 ??)

For the X51 http://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R129273.EXE
and
For the x51V http://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R129272.EXE

Dell advise the following fixes/enhansements
1. Windows Mobile V5.0 Adaptation Kit Update 2.3.1 enhancement.
2. Audio driver change (headset output gain adjustment) due to French audio regulation
3. Fix system can't wake up with CF card installed.
4. Enhance CF I/O card performance.
5. Fix CF serial modem port Open/Close issue.
6. Support Activesync serial connection switcher.

Whilst this is a recommended update, it may not fix all known bugs.

SORRY X50 owners, their is still no sign of improvements to the WM5 roms for these units..

[Mahstah]

I performed the X51v A12 ROM upgrade today. While the upgrade was successful, there were a few bugs other users should be aware of when upgrading their Axims.

First, while not a bug, the installation procedure was full of grammar errors. Dell must have solely used outsourced programmers when developing the upgrade. This is indicative of very poor quality control. The first thing you get when launching the upgrade is an html document with instructions and an install button. The directions are poorly worded and the following dialog boxes throughout the process are worse.

Second, after the install button is pressed and you choose 'run' from the run/save/cancel options, a 400+ KB file is copied to the Axim to start off the upgrade process. You are then instructed to hard reset the device. After 10 tries I was not able to hard reset the Axim. The screen asking to press contacts to continue or mail to cancel would flash by and pressing contacts would not continue to a hard reset. I tried it on and off the cradle and pressing reset/power for extended periods. Finally I continued without hard resetting against the instructions of the upgrade.

Third, the first time the ROM image was copying to the device the copy failed. I had to soft reset and launch the upgrade again.

After the image copied over, the device instructed a hard reset. This time it worked and the system is now at A12.

While the upgrade was successful, I had more problems with this one than any other Axim ROM upgrade for the X51, X30, or the X5.

Upgrading your ROM is highly recommended to any Axim owner. Despite the problems in the procedure the upgrade is suggested just as any other. Aximusers, feel free to post your thoughts on the upgrade as well.

[k2jsv]

I had similar issues last night with my upgrade. Took the better part of 2 hours to get it all done. The kicker on mine was the fact that the backup I took before I started barfed when doing the restore. Told me the version of the backup was not compatible with the current platform. I made it go anyway and it put a couple of my files back but nothing else. I lost my entire calendar and contacts with this upgrade.

Luckily I sync with Outlook so it wasn't much of disaster. Just an annoyance... especially I have to re-install all my programs.

[Emrol Ed]

I saw the two-stage update, and while it looked odd, it just needed two resets to finish. What annoys me now is that I cannot connect to my wireless network. As before, I'll probably have to play with the wireless settings for a couple of days until it decides to work. It may not mean anything, but three normally weak signals in my neighborhood now show a signal strength of "Best", as does my own network.

[Mahstah]

I connected to my WEP wireless instantly. I think it took less taps to get my BT GPS configured as well. All my programs are reinstalled. The longest part is registering all the ones with keys...

There's a new option in the connections folder called 'USB to PC' to enable/disable advanced network functionality to make Activesync connect more easily too. No info on what exactly it does yet.

[MountainXBGL]

Well, I did the upgrade and I also backed up the data only to have it tell me the backup was no good. Now, I cant get the dell to sync any longer....Everything was fine before hand, now, Im back frustrated.

Is it possible to just go back to A06?

[Emrol Ed]

I usually connect to the router's wirless link, but I also have a wireless access point. It gave the Axim an IP, so it is now working on that connection. Maybe the router needs a reset.

[ThomasPSmith]

Hi there - an interesting (at the moment, it will be frustrating soon) problem occurred while attempting the update.

I followed the instructions up to the first hard reset, then entered the twilight zone. When the Axim (x51v) reset, the "reset option" screen flashed by, then the device booted into what almost looked like my usual today screen - the time was reset to 12:00, my appointments and tasks were missing, but the today wallpaper was still there, as were most of my programs.

Activesync (4.1.0) started to try and sync to the device, but wasn't able to. After about 30 minutes, I tried a hard reset again, this time off the cradle, and nothing was different.

The "Programs" menu item doesn't work, though I can start some of them via resco explrorer. Active sync on the device won't start, which is probably why my computer cannot sync to it. I can kindof use the device as is, but it is defintiely in some weird in between state, so if anyone has any idea how to either go back to A06, or forward to A12, I would be very interested to hear it

Thanks

Tom

[adam.woloszyn]

Hello,
I am having some problems with the firmware upgrade as well. For two or three pocket pcs I have upgraded it worked fine. But when I tried it on another, it rebooted my computer during the second step. I thought that was strange, so I tried it again. It rebooted at the same point. I tried hard resetting the pocket pc when it was running normally, and it just flashes past the screen that asks you if you want to restore factory defaults. Any thoughts?? Any alternative ways to hard resetting the ppc? Thanks
Adam

[MountainXBGL]

Well, I finally got activesync to work but I honestly dont know that I did anything to make it happen. I hard reset several times, rebooted the pc several times, and finally, for whatever reason, it just started working.

Also, if you have the Dell navigation software, I found out from tech support, to get it back on your ppc, you have to uninstall the software from your pc then re-install it...there is no way to install it to the ppc except for when you initially install it on your pc. Crazy!

I honestly am not very happy about the whole upgrade thing....seems to be causing more problems than what the new version is supposed to correct.