[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro Software Upgrading] veletron:
Hi

I've spent the past few days geeking with my MDA, using the wealth of info from this forum.

I tried the JasJar rom (too much cr@p), and ended up with:

- XDA CE Rom (1.13.48 )

- Radio From O2 Rom (1.04.02)

- Minimal Stuff from XDA/MDA ext roms

Goal was to install with the least cr@p possible.

Step 1 - Flashing The XDA Exec Roms

First flash with O2 XDA Rom, using the info available here: http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=32725

To sumarise the above...

- Get XDA rom from:

ftp://xda:xda@ftp.xda-developers.com/Uploads/Universal/Shipped ROM/Xda_Exec_LaunchROM_v113139.exe

- Unpack the above using winrar.

- Plonk MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe in the folder where you unpacked the O2 rom (you can get this file from the ftp site, in the file: ftp://xda:xda@ftp.xda-developers.com/Uploads/Universal/JASJAR_WWE_11353_137_10402.rar

You only need the one file!

- Disable activesync

- Put MDA in bootloader mode

- Connect to PC via USB, wait for hardware detection

- Run the file MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe from the O2 Rom directory on the PC

- Wait ;-)

- Once it restarts, do the usual CE setup, but do not let the extended rom install (simply soft reset at the prompt). If you have gotten past this stage, just hard reset again, and do the soft reset at the correct point!

Step 2 - Installing Progs From Extended Rom

- You'll now have an MDA with the XDA CE and Radio roms installed. It will need the appropriate patches installing from the XDA and MDA extended roms.

- To start, DL both extended roms:

XDA:

ftp://xda:xda@ftp.xda-developers.com/Uploads/Universal/Extended ROMs/O2_XDA_Exec_Extended_ROM.zip

MDA:

ftp://xda:xda@ftp.xda-developers.com/Uploads/Universal/Extended ROMs/mda_pro_eng_uk_extrom.zip

- For info on what each of these roms contain, look at the following threads:

MDA: http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=32839

XDA: http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=32527

- You dont need all that ****e, I installed the following:

XDA:

Signed_SSD_BTUR_Patch_For_BT_Cannot_Initial.sa.CAB (bluetooth patch)

MDA:

CAB-Customization-TMUK-Universal-01-03-04Aug05.CAB (Adds MMS Server Settings)

CAB-Shorcut-TMOENU-08Aug05.CAB (Adds MMS to outlook + installs some shortcuts which you can remove later)

Enable_VT_RTPlugin_0727_2_signed.CAB (Enables Video Calling)

Signed_UNI_TMO_Connection_112100.CAB (Adds 'T-Mobile Internet' and 'T-Mobile Internet CS' for GPRS/3G connection)

Stage 3 - Cleanup

- The CAB CAB-Shorcut-TMOENU-08Aug05.CAB also installs a links. If you dont install the cab TMO_UK_UI_0727_signed.CAB then these will be dead llinks. The 'clearvue pdf' reader is a part of this cab (but if you install it, you'll get all the other sh1te it contains also. I was not interested in the PDF reader, so I just trashed the dead links.

- There are two dead links in Programs (they'll be obvous by their icons. I seem to remember them being 'clearvue PDF' and 'EmailWiz' In Explorer, browse to /windows/start menu/programs and trash them.

- Several shortcuts are installed in /windows/startup. Trash the elatepushservice (I dont know what this does, but I dont appear to be missing anything!), sddeamon (this causes the prompt 'view pics on card' when you insert a card containing jpgs from digicam etc). DONT trash 'poutlook' as otherwise the MMS folders wont appear in pocket outlook.

- Install Pocket Mechanic, and use it to ditch bad registy keys and cleanup the notification que.

- Could also install the ext rom unlocker & Total Commander so that you can shove only the cabs you want into the ext rom (or use the space for somet more useful) See Here: http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=33638 (Cheers Buzz!)

Registry Hacks

Goto: http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Universal_Registry and pick some registry hacks to install. I did 'keys on today screen', 'disable start menu animation', 'change pocket ie', 'change fonts', 'change glyph cache' and 'change web hardware button' - to 'about:blank'

Goto:

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=33515 and make the suggested changes to the cache settings. I found that this did speed stuff up, but since its only cache settings, it will only speed up stuff the second time you try and do it!

Soft Reset

Install Your Progs

I installed

In Internal Mem

Resco Explorer (+regedit +ftp) to replace the MS sh1te

Resco Pic Viewer (to replace the MS App)

Pocket Informant (case the built in stuff is useless)

Resco Audio Recorder

Resco Pocket Radio

TCMP Media player

Net Remote (to control my HTPC)

SPB GPRS Monitor (from MDA CDROM)

Zimmermann Pocket Hosts (essential for VPN use)

Small menu (so I can ruddy well close open apps!)

IPConfig

Pocket Putty (SSH)

On CF Card

Total Commander (to get to the ext rom)

WiFiFoFum (for free email on the move ;-)

Pocket Mechanic

Concluding

Machine is now both fast, stable and not full of bloat-ware. Have 22MB free storage, and 27MB free program memory.

Main Issue left is the time that machine takes to respond to an incomming call when its switched off. On the original MDA rom, I had 4 rings before machine actually rang. Now I have about 2.5.

Time for sleep! I'll read through this tomorrow and correct any errors...

Nigel