[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV ROM Development] NightWolf88:
Thanks very much for the help Tim!!! Thanks to all the other people doing great work on these forums!!

Ok so from what I have read so far ( I posted this in the 1.93 ROM thread as well - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=2416200&posted=1#post2416200) I just need some of my noobish questions answered, dont want to ruin my lovely Diamond :):

From what I have read:

1. Backup device - Is there any way I can backup the ROM which is currently on my device (1.37.00.0 WWE)???

2. Upgrade to HardSPL signed as this is a signed ROM- download this file http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=400402 extract, run the .exe file... Follow the RomUpdateUtility.exe (RUU) wizard - SPL will flash and then with any luck get a message saying complete - job is done.

What does "1. do not try to use this SSPL to flash anything else other than an SPL file. it explicitly blocks other flashes anyway. SSPL is *never* a good way to flash OS images" mean... So can I not use this to update the device OS ROM to 1.93. in this thread??? I assume SSPL = Signed Second Program Loader..?

Do I need to use this unsigned version..? http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=400950 - It has overwrite protection..?

Finally - use volume down & soft reset to see that SPL/bootloader has installed/flashed correctly... Then to SAFELY get out of the bootloader softreset again...?

3. Upgrade the OS ROM using the .exe file in post 1 of this thread...

So I download the exe connect my device via active sync then follow the rest of the steps in the RUU.exe wizard, it will give me a progress bar on both the PC and the Diamond, the Diamond will then softreset with the new rom all installed..?

Questions:

Can someone please confirm the above method is correct to install the ROM on this page?

Does the Radio also update itself to 1.00.25.05 when running the exe in the post #1??? I.e. will I get quad band radio support???

Do I need the signed or unsigned SPL what is the best to use???

How do I dump the ROM that is currently on my device to PC/whats the best program? Do I need to do this for warranty etc or if I dont like the new ROM..?

To restore to original SPL I go to http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=2324829&postcount=39 grab my stock SPL and then use the unsigned SPL RUU exe? What is SSPL-manual used for???

Also in the post by cmonex (http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=2324829&postcount=39) he says "if you have signed hardspl, just go ahead and flash with normal RUU process (no overwrite protection in that one, as it is already only accepting htchackers signed files, there was no need for that)."

What is the normal RUU process???

If I use the signed SPL I can just use the RUU.exe that comes with that and copy the stock SPL to replace the .nbh file in the signed Hard-SPL folder and everything should run fine? No need to worry with the unsigned Hard-SPL version right?

As stupid as it may sound I still don’t get all this SPL/SSPL/Hard-SPL stuff, what is on the phone originally? and what changes with hard-spl download packages??? I assume SPL is a boot loader like BIOS on the “PC” or EFI on Intel-Apple Macs..? What is the difference between the stock SPL/bootloader on the phone and signed/unsigned hard-SPL that some of the guys here have made?

Thanks once again :D,

NW