Axim ROM update went very smoothly

[Andante]

After reading a bunch of messages on several Axim boards, I took the plunge to update my Axim advanced ROM. Happy to report that it worked great. Here are some observations I would make:

1) I did NOT do any hard reset before beginning the upgrade. Not sure, but it would seem that might blow up the active sync connection you need in order to do the upgrade.

2) Prior to applying the upgrade, I did a total backup of the system with ActiveSync... in just a few weeks I had a ton of stuff set up I didn't want any part of re-finding and re-installing.

3) Prior to the upgrade I did follow some advice to turn off all power-saving so the axim wouldn't shut down in the middle of it.

4) After the upgrade was totally complete, I did the set up stuff (like the pointer positioning), and then launched ActiveSync. It asks if you want to set up a 'standard' relationship, or a 'guest' - I think that was the terminology used. You can't set up a standard and use the same name - because it will say there is already a relationship by that name. Just set up a GUEST relationship. This will get them synched up together.

5) Then I did the restore backup thing - it will ask you which device the backup you want to restore is attached to - that's when I picked the original one - Pocket_PC. It completed the restore without a hitch. I then took it out of the cradle and did a SOFT reset, and reconnected.

6) Next time I tried to sync, with all software restored, it did know that it was Pocket_PC, and all syncing was back just right. I chose the option to replace with what is on my desktop.

7) My conclusion is that it is overkill to have to blow off everything and reinstall from scratch. And my Axim is a LOT faster - with the identical software having being backed up to it. Many have said they didn't notice much speed difference... but I can say on mine it has been VERY noticeable. In fact, when I first got the thing a couple weeks ago, I was struck by how slow many screens loaded... not anymore. Even surfing with a wireless web card is much quicker.

Hope this is helpful to folks who are hesitant to plunge into the upgrade like I was...

Jan

P.S. You have to go to "Settings" - "System" and click on "Navigator Button" to get the center of the D button to act like an enter key.

[RommelS]

Check to see if you have a PXA255 Processor
You can find that out from the System Information
If you do have it, the you have the latest processor.

[dfilias]

Originally posted by Andante@Apr 10 2003, 08:21 PM
5) Then I did the restore backup thing - it will ask you which device the backup you want to restore is attached to - that's when I picked the original one - Pocket_PC. It completed the restore without a hitch. I then took it out of the cradle and did a SOFT reset, and reconnected.

Why does the restore backup take sooooooooooooooooooooooooo long? I backed up via Activesync.

[Computer Ninja]

Because, it's sloooowwww as hell.

[geoffb]

Sloooowww is not the word for it. It took so much longer to restore the backup than to install the ROM upgrade.

Anyway, I upgraded according to the instructions although I did just use a USB synch/charging cable), and have not had a problem yet.

If you want speedier backups/restores, I purchased Pocket Backup Plus from Sprite Software (www.SpriteSoftware.com) which allows you to backup to a local SD/CF card or your PC. It lets you choose exactly what you want to backup/restore, like BackupExec running on our network and is a whole magnitude quicker than the utility supplied with ActiveSynch

[dfilias]

I would say that my upgrade went semi-smoothly, venturing into the realm of badly. Here's why:

Obviously, it took a looooooooooooooooooooong time to restore the backup... perhaps 30-45 minutes. Damn! And these things are supposed to make you life more efficient?

I had a hiccup with Intellisync. Yes, I'm one of those losers that is forced to use Lotus Notes at work (I despise Lotus Notes).

In the middle of the Intellisync "syncing", my MS Activesync just decided to bug out (it has done this a couple times in the few days I've owned it), and Intellisync gave me an error: "You suck human. Connection closed."

Then, I tried loading up Activesync manually, with no luck. At this point, I usually reboot, but rebooting my machine takes forever due to shared drives, active directory, and domain controller over a Nokia VPN switch. I hate rebooting my work computer.

So this time, I tried the task manager approach: I just went into task manager and killed everything with WinCE. Miraculously, I was then was able to fire up Activesync.

I soft reset the Axim and connected, then waited (I hate waitng and I hate syncing) while Avantgo wasted my time.

I ran Intellisync and this time no errors, but I had new entries X 4 on all several of my Lotus Addresses... and they carried over to the Axim. Uggg! Did I mention that I detest Lotus Notes? :angry: :angry:

I got rid of the duplicates, and resynched via Intellisync. It synched well.

Now, I'm trying to figure out why new calendar entries in the Axim aren't synchronizing with my Lotus Calendar (I hate Lotus Notes so much that if it were human, I'd slap the taste out of its mouth).

Was the upgrade worth it? I'm not sure yet. I now get the added feature of an "enter" button. Big woop. I never use those buttons anyway, other than to play games.

Would I do the upgrade if I knew the time and the grief involved, for an enter button, and a few other features that don't really add value to my life? Probably not.

The ROM upgrade will probably benefit those with the new processor. I'd probably be happier with my upgrade if I was able to utilize the newer processor.

So those with A1 or B2 stepping, think long and hard before you upgrade.

Wisemen say: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That applies to every possible aspect of life (ask me about "upgrading" my headlights my Jeep... a 7.5 minute job that ended up taking 4 hours because of a snapped bolt).

[Computer Ninja]

At least you "learn" during the process, right?

[Alex]

My Rom update went fine, but I discovered it was very sensitive to the regional setting :

I bought my Axim 300 in US on Dec02 but I'm french and use with "French" regional settings :

1. the rom update refused to install saying "language not compatible"
2. After changing to "English" the regional settings on my axim it worked anyway
3. the "restore" of my system through Activesync refuse to go until i've changed it back to "French" again (activesync "help" was very clear and appropriate : it cannot restore with different languages)

Everything is fine now and even if I have the oldest PXA250 Stepping B1, the task I'm using 20 times a day (checking task "done" on Today's page with taskplus freeware) is much faster (it was incredibly long, it is instant now). It may just come from the "cleaning" or from the update....
I hope the "back-up battery" indicator will not be crazy anymore.

[RommelS]

Alex, thanks for that great information