[Venue Pro Windows Phone 7 Development] TheManii:
Background info:

All Dell android devices use 'pkgs' as their method of doing rom updates.

The VP uses FFUs as it's a WP7 device, I believe that pkgs (which are unique to dell devices) are functionally very similar to FFUs (which are used by all WP7 devices(?) )

I am the master maintainer of Dell device pkgs and have the largest collection outside Dell itself. I am in the process of researching VP FFUs in the hopes of being able to mirror and provide guides on restoring back to stock roms.

Unfortunately the biggest difference is that FFUs appear to be internal-use only, as in they're ment for servicing tools used only by dell(?).

PKGs are intended for consumer use, and the OTA ones are available on dell's update-site: mobileupdate.dell.com

If this is true, then FFUs are much less common, and from what I've seen the only FFU available is for 104 (See Dell Venue Pro # Official Roms - XDA wiki for more information, and Dell Venue # Official Roms -XDA wiki for a comparison)

updatewp7.exe is similar to fastboot on android, it allows you to directly upload images to the device's respective partitions(?)

Also: the words 'rom' 'firmware' 'drivers' will be used interchangably here, they all mean the same thing.

Information:

The updates available to you are the same as on dell android OTAs, it depends on your currently installed rom.

Currently the track is:

00 EU/US (unlocked) devices get updates first

31/33 (at&t and tmobile USA respectively) get updates afterwards, which is consistant with the way dell manages their ota updates.

Bar the fact that Dell is contractually obligated to release them in a 'timely' manner, 31/33 devices are usually last to get them as they're carrier branded devices.

When the VP was released the primary region was 33 though so it was by default the target region.

As the VP is available unlocked the 00 region has taken over as the one to recieve them first.

Externally (visible to all users though system:about) there are two major version numbers:

OS version: which is the installed version of WP7

Firmware version: which is the part we're interested in

Internally, it's somewhat different (checkable though EM:phone information)

SW version:

OS version from before

Actual oem version

current lock status (?)

SW build date & time:

Example:

My current rom is OS 7720/FW 219, which would look like:

Externally:

OS version: 7.10.7720.68

Firmware version: 2250.1800.7720.219

Internally:

2250.1800.7720.219

GLEOS2A421933_s

TMO-US

Build date: 20110822 18:33:15

Translated: WP7 7720

Firmware version: 219

Hardware version: 2A4

Region: 33 (TMO-US)

Build date: Aug 22, 2011

General rom update process:

When an update is available, zune downloads the following files:

If available, a delta from <your installed version> to <the current version>

VP driver cab

The first set is an oversimplication, but essentially it is a dozen cabs that comprise the full update.

These are not device specific and are the same for all devices that are eligible to update(?)

The last file is device and carrier specific. These are what sets each individial device and carrier apart from eachother.

What I need from you:

Internal version numbers from EM app

Charastics of your device

Relative age (launch, near launch, very recent, etc)

Side of preinstalled sd card

Original lock condition and current lock condition

How to find internal version numbers:

Turn on device and open up dialer

Dial "##634#" (without the quotation marks)

Select "Phone Information"

Finished

What I hope to come out of this:

More complete list of VP roms (firmware)

Information on the hardware submodel numbers

Possibly a guide for flashing the VP

Currently confirmed submodels and regions:

Submodels:

1A4

2A4

Regions:

00EU - Unlocked EU Retail

00US- Unlocked US Retail

31 - At&t

33 - T-Mobile (USA)

Current OS version:

00EU - 8107

00US - 8107

31 - (?)

33 - 7720