[MDA Compact II ROM Development] ridingshark:
Hello everybody.

I had installed "TouchFLO Charmer WM6_GER ver. 2.8 BETA by mschmitz" over an WM5 T-Mobile MDA compact II (Charmer) and everything worked great.

see link: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=331142

Now i cooked my own ROM (Charmer WM6) with some improvements and correct working German Input methods.

see Link: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=2075053#post2075053

As there are several "how-to" here but all are spread around this forum, i will try to give a checklist how you probably not kill your device.

Print this checklist and search the forum for the how-to's.

Prerequisitions:

If something goes wrong, be sure to have a ROM of your Phoneprovider (e.g. T-Mobile WM 5 AKU 2.2 for a T-Mobile device).

If you sdo not have an original ROM, you can use this one to flash back to WM5 (i used this, do not worry that it is english): http://www.tm-phonedownloads.com/files/RUU_Compact ll_2060227_20602110_021921_T-MobileUK_Ship.exe

Backup your data! All will be lost after upgrading, or if anything goes wrong. You can use Sprite Backup (the only tool that allows upgrading from different WM versions - eg. from WM5 to WM6 - but you wil loose SMS. Use PPCPIMBackup Freeware to backup SMS).

Always use the corrrect ROM (do not use e.g. a MDA III ROM on an MDA II)

I also recommend to delete your Active Sync Partnership after upgrade (Active Sync/File/Delete Mobile Device) and let Active Sync setup a new one (otherwise you may have problems with File sync, sometimes an error pops up).

If you have problems to sync with outlook, it might be a problem with the restored data of SPRITE BACKUP as WM5 has a different database than WM6.

In case you geet an error "Error 8007000e" or similar do the following:

1) Hard Reset

2) Do NOT connect to Active Sync !!!

3) Restore your personal data (If you use Sprite backup select Merge, Level 1 but do NOT select "Migration Data" whern you get the filetree)

4) On your PocketPC start the program "Active Sync" (still NOT connected to PC)!

5) Go to Menu/Options and DELETE the partnership (e.g. "Windows PC").

All Syncroniced data will be deleted on the PocketPC (Contacts, Appointments, etc..), but they are still available in OUTLOOK on your PC.

6) Thereafter delete your Partnership also on the PC (Active Sync - File/elete Mobile Device).

7) Now connect your PocketPC to the Desktop PC and the Outlook data will be syncronized again without error.

You can try to start at point 4) maybe you do not need a hardreset/backup again, try....

After upgrading you should always delete the partnerships....

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Now the upgrading steps. Make sure to check them all!

1) Unlock your device (CID and SIM). You have to CID unlock your device, or otherwise you cannot install a ROM that is e.g. not T-Mobile on an T-Mobile MDA.

How?

First of all you have to check what device (G3 or G4) and what Bootloaderversion (IPL/SPL) 1.x or > 2.x you have.

SOFT reset your device and note the red numbers that come.

If you have something like

IPL: 1.12 (or 1.12.000)

SPL 1.12.0000

you have an G3 device.

If IPL or SPL ends with 1 (e.g. 1.12.0001), you have an G4 device.

(0 is G3, 1 is G4)

Now check the first number.

1.12.xx is an Bootloader version 1 and 2.12.xx is 2, and so on.

I had an G3/Bootloader V1.x device, so I CANNOT say if it works for other devices.

For a G3 device you have to use Lockiwiz2b to SIM/CID unlock your device (http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=249474).

For a G4 device you have to use Lockiwiz3 to SIM/CID unlock (dont know if it works)

Its easier to unlock an 1.xx. device, so unlock before upgrading (even with an official ROM)

You will NOT loose your data as no HARD reset is necessary. Lockiwiz will not harm your system (if you do the right thing).

2) Now that you have CID unlocked your device, check your Bootloader Version. WM6 can only be installed with an V2 Bootloader (IPL/SPL 2.x.xxx) or higher!!.

So if you have e.g. IPL/SPL 1.12.xx, you first have to upgrade your device with a more recent WM5. I installed T-Mobile WM5 AKU 2.2 and thereafter i had 2.20.xx

3) WM6 cannot be installed over WM6 !!!

If you allready have a WM6 on your Charmer, DOWNGRADE to WM5, thereafter install the new or updated WM6!

4) Install ROM and enjoy.

If soething went wrong, you can save your device by going to Bootloader mode (push and hold camera button and reset with stylus. When you see the 3 colored Screen, release Camera Button. Then you are in bootloader mode and you can flash the original ROM vie your PC and ActiveSync (thats why you should have a WM5 ROM by the hand)

Summary:

1) Check what device you have (G3/G4)

2) Check what Bootloader Version you have (1.xx.xx or > 2.xx.xx)

3) Unlock CID (and SIM) with Lockiwiz02 (G3) or Lockiwiz03 (G4)

If this did not work, STOP here and forget it, nothing is lost until here! If your device is not CID unlocked you will kill your device with a "non vendor" ROM

4) If your bootloader (IPL/SIP) is 1.xx.xx, first upgrade to 2.xx.xx via an official WM5 ROM upgrade (or check XDA-Developers ROMs), otherwise device is dead

5) If you allready have an WM6 on your device, downgrade to WM5 first!

6) Install WM6 and enjoy.

Regards

Ridingshark