yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] JVH3:
WinStart 2.1 - excellent Start menu solution.

Excellent Start menu Replacement - WinStart 2.1

It is not free, but is very responsive, saves memory, has great transition graphics, customizable, and has a most recent apps section.

I am now using this as my start menu.

I am getting better memory savings with this than using the Panel Start menu.

But it is way more responsive.

I think it is even more responsive than the original start menu.

Perfect for our memory starved Rhodiums.

But, better than the original start menu, so it is good for all devices.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] cajunflavoredbob:
I've been using WinStart for some time now. I swap back and forth between it and CSM. I like them both, but I use my zoom bar as a d-pad, so I prefer CSM over WinStart. For those of you who like the normal look of the Start menu, but would rather save some RAM, this is indeed a wonderful app to try out. I mentioned to NRG that he cook it in as an option a while back as well.

It recently became a paid app, but is very much worth the money. I still have the older versions if anyone wants to test it out. Keep in mind that the older versions have some bugs that have been rectified in the final version for sale.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] wmg316:
Thanks JVH3...ok...my next obvious question...how to make this default? I installed and soft reset and after rebooting, CSM was still my default menu. I did not see option in WinStart to make my default start menu.

Also, how to make XDA_UC friendly (install, key in settings - username/PW, make default start menu).

I figured since you've been at this for 30 more minutes than I have, you probably have all the answers!! ;)

EDIT:

I also do not see where this install is put anywhere in the Start Menu (\Windows\Start Menu) so that I can "turn it on". I had to migrate to Program Files\WinStart to initiate the app.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] jakfish:
I'm playing with the system font and have successfully bold-ed most fonts by modifying the following:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\GDI\SYSFNT]

"HT"=dword:384

"WT"=dword:190

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\GWE\Menu\BarFnt]

"HT"=dword:320

"WT"=dword:1F4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\GWE\Menu\PopFnt]

"HT"=dword:3E8

"WT"=dword:2BC

BUT is there a way to bold the font under the icons of the Start Page? I realize that's probably part of Sense, but am hoping that someone can point me to another section of the registry.

Thanks,

Jake
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Joe Bleau:
Re: Winstart 2.1 Free Version

Thanks for the pointer.

I just tried the free version WinStartV2.1Free.cab on my spare Tilt 2 after a hard reset with no extra app or settings modifications nor SIM and with both Sense & Windows Default (Sense stopped), it's not faster than the Panel start menu layout & consumes about 20 MB more memory. :confused:
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] wmg316:
The "free" version does not have the option to disable the Start Menu...so you won't see any RAM savings on the "free" version.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] SyNRGz:
WinStart

Hello Joe - I purchased the full version as JVH3 recommended. It is fast and uses no more memory than the CSM. Check out the progress @ Excellent Start menu Replacement - WinStart 2.1
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] JVH3:
I haven't fully read your posts in that thread, but it looks like you've been getting responses from its creator, so I assume you've gotten most of this figured out.

I first reset to normal windows start menu.

Then soft reset.

Then installed. Entered name and password.

Selected to disable normal start menu.

Then soft reset.

Then waited for everything to fully load. (waited for contact quicklinks to show pictures)

Then, it just worked.

First time pressing was still faster than slower, but after that, it was speedy.

I have noticed that the physical start button was not launching it.

Using options, then unchecking it and checking it and pressing save seems to have corrected that. I always use the on screen button anyway.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] hefman:
As wmg stated, the free version does not have disable start menu option.

Also, it opens much faster after the first time you open it. I think it has to cache the icons on first run. Also, you can turn off the animations to get more speed.

I'm liking it much better than panel start or compact so far...
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] aichemist:
Hey

Just using the rom for a week now. How do you turn off the notification that says

"Warning, you have roaming charges" or something. It comes up quite often and i'm not sure where in the setting to change this, I tried looking everywhere =P.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Joe Bleau:
Re: Winstart 2.1 Free Version + Free Start Menu Remover cab

Edit: see this new post with a new Start menu remover cab & tested with Sense running instead of Titanium: WinStartV2.1Free.cab Bugs + Start menu Remover FIXED w/ Memory Freed.

1- I hard resetted my spare Titlt 2 running Energy.RHODIUM.28244.Sense2.5.Cookie.2.0.Feb.01 w/o any mods nor apps nor SIM. Free memory: 79,428 K.

2- Turning off Sense & CHT with > Start > Settings > Personal > Home > Items > and selecting Windows Default instead of HTC Sense and restarting: 105,404 K free.

3- Installed Winstart 2.1 Free Version & restarted: 104,982 free.

4- Downloaded Arto Start menu Remover wm6.5.x.cab from this thread. Now 129,728 K free, the start soft button is gone but the hardware Start brings to Winstart Start menu which is much more faster & responsive.

I'm trying the above steps but with SPB Mobile Shell 3.5.5 instead @ the present & it's really fluid OC'd @ 748MHz!
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Doo Doo:
You Can Restore The Start Menu Button By Doing This

Restore the X & Start Menu buttons by changing the following registry keys.

[HKLM]\Software\Microsoft\Shell\BubbleTiles\HardwareDoneKeyEnabled=0

[HKLM]\Software\Microsoft\Shell\BubbleTiles\HardwareStartKeyEnabled=0
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] brommau:
for my TouchPro2 I need the latest 21916-GER-Reference-version of NGZ28's Energy-ROM. Can anybody help me?
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] NRGZ28:
Well some kind soul donated their old TP2 to me and I received it yesterday. Let the meyhem begin. (lol!)

Let me know what areas need improvement with the ROM and now I can flash and test it out myself..:)
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Monfro:
Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooddddd!!!

CDMA Rhodium problems:

- CHT2.0 sometimes freeze

- Bluetooth (i don't use it; but i have seen a lot of people complaining)

- ugly dialer in WM6.5.x roms (here another one looking good)
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] mmalka:
NRGZ, please read a few posts back about an application (Winstart 2.1) that replaces/enhances the start menu. It seems that there is a free version with limitations, but those can be circumvented using a few extra tweaks as posted by Joe Bleau and Doo Doo.

Could be a good alternative to further improve the ROM and increase the free RAM.

Also, you may want to apply the patch that corrects the redness on the Contact screen. The solution is at http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=11105368&postcount=33685
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] mmalka:
This forum is for the GSM version. For CDMA go to http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/cdma-tp2-...ma-energy-feb-1-21916-28244-sense-2021-a.html
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] hefman:
Sounds great.

I don't know if you use MSVC, but some of the recent builds don't seem to be playing that well with it. It could be a BT issue, but not sure. Basically, MSVC works for voice dialing for the first try or two, then it won't respond to BT action presses any longer. I have not been able to tie this to free memory problems -- it just seems to stop working right after a couple tries. I'm using JHV's modified installer of 1.6.23562. I have not tried going back to your 21040 version yet, but 23562 was working fine until the last few builds I've tried (most recently 2/6). Hopefully, that's enough info to lead you somewhere... :D

Also, any chance of cooking WinStart in as an option in your Start Menu selector? It's pretty nice.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] xcommun:
Facebook Tab

Hey Guys.

Just updated to sense 2021, Feb 1st release... so far it's great, thanks to the chefs involved who released this.

I have a question in regards to the Facebook tab on this ROM. Is there a way this tab can show wall feeds, pictures people put up, etc (sorta like the facebook app) but having it on this tab instead of the one that just shows peoples status updates?

Or maybe there is a downloadable app that can replace this tab?

Any ideas and answers would be appreciated!
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Joe Bleau:
Re: NRGZ28 Testing on TP2 & ROM Tweaks Suggestion

@ NRGZ28: thanks for your continuing support for the Rhodium, the Feb.01 version works really well! :cool:

The #1 tweak you could do for our RAM starved TP2 & Tilt 2 is to change the default Start menu layout. The free version of Winstart 2.1 needs to be cooked w/ the default Windows Start menu disabled to get any memory gain while the cooked in Panel does the trick out-of-the-box even if it's not as nice & fluid as Winstart 2.1. Advanced users know about that memory hog & how to change the Start menu layout but that tweak would be all benefit for the newbies.

The red background Outlook Contact fix would be great too.

How about a nicer Action screen consistent with the other icons used in the ROM?

It's a minor aesthetics tweak but your are welcome to use the cab in this post: Sliderbox Fix.

Cooking-in these nice & useful apps: WiMoSpeed to overclock

and Whip2Snap as originally sugested in this thread by JVH3 here. It works great to make screen captures on the TP2 & your ROMs & has nice configuration options like file naming & ability to save to memory card for example.

Maybe add a few non-NRG branded themes & some plain backgrounds for a cleaner UI look.

As many North-Americans sell their TP2 & Tilt 2 to get newer toys, many of them endup here in Latin America so a Spanish version would be really appreciated.

*****
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] wmg316:
WinStart 2.2

'Petititi' has released an update to WinStart in Post #18 of the WinStart thread. This update has fixed the issue of the Start Menu not working with the CHT 2.0 Softkey Start Menu as well as fixing the bug with the hardware key start menu....they both work with v2.2!

EDIT: This revised v2.2 may be the "paid" version as 'Joe Bleau' stated that once installed it asked for an e-mail address and password. I did not realize this as I have already paid the $5.00 USD for the full version...and installing v2.2 did not ask me to re-enter my credentials. I assume 'Petititi' will release a fixed "free" version sometime tomorrow per my discussion with him.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Joe Bleau:
Re: WinStart Free Version Update & Bug Fixes

Thanks for the pointer. :cool:

How's the memory usage compared to the Panel start menu layout?

Edit: Oups, that's NOT a free version as it's asking for an email address & password. @ wmg316: maybe you could mention this in your post so cheapo users like me don't waste their time. ;)
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] I burn water:
winstart

I am seeing 85mb free with winstart.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] wmg316:
Sorry. I didn't realize this was not the "free" version in Petititi's post #18. I have edited my post.

I will post a comparison of RAM readings in a separate post.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Joe Bleau:
WinStartV2.2Free.cab + Start menu Remover FIXED w/ Memory Freed

Thanks to Doo Doo's tip, I edited Arto Start menu Remover wm6.5.x.cab and now both Start & X buttons remains after removing the default Windows Start menu layout with a major benefit: gain at least 20MB of free RAM memory.

Edited to work with the new WinStartV2.2Free version (27-02-2011). I joined the chorus & got the paid version of Winstart because the author is quite active in his thread & the extra options are useful (wallpaper, 3, 4 or 5 columns, etc). This said, you can try/use the free version with this cab to get the

same memory savings

as the paid version.

I hard resetted my spare Titlt 2 running NRG ROM w/o any mods nor apps nor SIM. Free memory: 79,428 K.

Installed the current Winstart 2.2 Free Version & restarted: ArkSwitch reports 79,804 K free. Make sure you are using the NRG default memory hog "normal" start menu layout (> Start > Settings > Personal > Start Menu Layout Switch).

Install the modified Arto's cab with Doo Doo's tip & attached it to this post: Arto Start menu Remover wm6.5.x JB.cab. Install that cab to

the Device

from the memory card with Total Commander & restart phone. 107,396 K free. :)

Notes:

A- Just one minor glitch, tapping X when in WinStartV2.2Free's Start menu will not close that tab. Just click on > Menu > Quit or tap the soft Start button or the Start hardware button. But I keep on tapping the X to no avail by habit. :)

B- You can delete and/or move app icons to folders like Tools, Games, etc by closing the Winstart free Start menu tab and using Total Commander > Windows > Start Menu > Programs > select app & move to the folder of your choice inside Programs.

C- > Home > Menu > Set Wallpaper > All Tabs will NOT change the wallpaper of WinStartV2.2Free (nor does it modify the Lockscreen background) and there is no such option in the Menu of that Start menu version. A workaround is to rename your favorite wallpaper exactly to stwater_480_800.jpg and copy it to Windows with Total Commander OR run one of the stwater_480_800 cabs attached to this message (Black is pure black & only 17.9KB). It will also change your default Lockscreen background as well as the splash screen #4 when booting the phone on some ROM versions.

To revert to NRG's default

, just uninstall the unwanted cabs & restart the phone.

After that, you can change the wallpaper for the Lockscreen only with any file 480x800 bmp, png or jpg with any name with Home > Slider to Settings > Personalize > Lockscreen wallpaper & it will not affect the background of the WinStart Start menu.

No worries, that's what I guessed that you had the paid version. ;)

BTW, could you try the Windows default start menu remover cab & report if there are any free memory gains or bugs/benefits?
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] wmg316:
RAM with Different Start Menus

I have compiled these free RAM numbers after going through the following processes:

Change to respective Start Menu (Normal, CSM, Panel)

Soft Reset

Upon reboot and after home screen appears, wait 40 seconds and check RAM in ArkSwitch

Migrate to People tab...sit for 3 seconds

Migrate to Messages tab; select/read one SMS message thread; close SMS message

Migrate to Mail tab; select/read one e-mail; close e-mail

Migrate to Calendar tab (Day view)

Migrate to Call History tab...sit for 2 seconds

Migrate to Internet tab; start browser and view home page; close browser

Migrate to Weather tab; update weather

Migrate to Photo/Video tab; thumb through 4 pics

Migrate to Music tab; let album searcher refresh album

Migrate to Twitter tab...sit for 3 seconds

Migrate to FaceBook tab...sit for 3 seconds

Migrate to Settings tab...sit for 3 seconds

Migrate back to home tab

Lock Device...sit for 3 seconds

Unlock device...sit for 3 seconds

Open Start Menu; start Total Commander; Close Total Commander

Sit on Home page for 40 seconds

Check free RAM via ArkSwitch

RAM readings 1st (#3 above) then last (#21 above):

Normal: 64,200 free; 53,400 free

Panel: 90,700 free; 78,800 free

CSM: 90,200 free; 76,900 free

Next, switched back to Normal start menu, soft reset. Then installed WinStart. Went to home screen and started the WinStart Start Menu. Chose Menu, Options, checked "disable start menu". (NOTE: my version it the full paid version for $5.00 USD...this option not available on the "free" version. Joe Bleau posted options of how to "kill" the Normal Start Menu here when using the "free" version), soft reset.

Went through same processes mentioned above. Free RAM readings were:

WinStart: 90,600 free; 74,700 free

You will not realize these RAM readings with WinStart without the Normal start menu disabled.

EDIT: After sitting for a couple of minutes, free RAM with WinStart is now at 75,800

EDIT2: I wanted to add that these test are on Energy.RHODIUM.28244.Sense2.5.Cookie.2.0.Feb.01 with MULTIPLE addons that I add when flashing. I would expect that on a clean install of Energy.RHODIUM.28244.Sense2.5.Cookie.2.0.Feb.01 with no addons that the results would be higher, proportionally.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] jezi:
Here you go, Don't forget to push my "Thanks" button :)
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] wmg316:
Sure.

Process:

Go to WinStart Start menu, select menu, options, uncheck "disable normal start menu" (this activates the normal start menu)

Uninstalled WinStart; soft reset

Checked start menu...back to normal start menu

installed Joe's cab: "Arto Start menu Remover wm6.5.x JB.cab" located in this post

Soft Reset

Once device settled on home screen, the free RAM per ArkSwitch read 91,500

I tested start menu softkey: no response

I tested start menu hardware key: no response

I installed WinStart; soft reset; let device settle on home screen. Free RAM read 91,700.

I tried uninstalling Joe's cab and got an error message that it wasn't completely removed. I uninstalled WinStart. Soft reset. Normal start menu was back and working after soft reset.

EDIT: I wanted to add that this test was on Energy.RHODIUM.28244.Sense2.5.Cookie.2.0.Feb.01 with MULTIPLE addons that I add when flashing. I would expect that on a clean install of Energy.RHODIUM.28244.Sense2.5.Cookie.2.0.Feb.01 with no addons that the results would be higher.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Joe Bleau:
Re: Start Menu Remover cab vs Paid WinStart Test

Thank you. :cool:

The Start menu remover cab removes it and installing Winstart installs one and you mentioned that the paid version has a switch to kill the Windows Start menu so I'm not surprised that you got an error uninstalling the remover cab while Winstart was running. BTW sometimes when a cab won't uninstall properly, a workaround is to install it again & then uninstall it again.

Anyway, thanks for the test so it seems that the cab has no benefit for the paid version of Winstart?

Edit: as described in my post above, I installed the Windows Start menu remover cab BEFORE installing Winstart free version and as just tested, the Arto Start menu Remover wm6.5.x JB.cab removed fine with Winstart free version still installed & it's back to more than 20MB of memory gobbled up instantly. :(

I reinstalled the remover cab & all is kosher now with 105,604 K free. Maybe the free version has more free RAM memory because it has less features (including no animations) and NO email/password test vs the paid one?
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] wmg316:
I haven't seen this mentioned since the 2/1 ROM...but 28244 is MUCH BETTER on my battery life than was 29007...
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] JVH3:
I've examined the Arto Start menu Remover wm6.5.x JB.cab

It replaces 6 cbr files with 0k version of the files:

StartMenu_Global_480x800.cpr

StartMenu_Global_800x480.cpr

StartMenu_GridScene_480x800.cpr

StartMenu_GridScene_800x480.cpr

StartMenuCust_480x800.cpr

StartMenuCust_800x480.cpr

It sets these registry entries:

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\BubbleTiles]

Enabled=1

hardwaredonekeyenabled=0

hardwarestartkeyenabled=0

textmodeenabled=1

The paid version of WinStart sets the cpr files to nearly 0K files.

Actually 4 spaces in the paid version (not sure why)

But, it modifes 4 additional files for VGA devices:

StartMenuCust_800x480.cpr

StartMenu_Global_480x800.cpr

StartMenu_Global_800x480.cpr

StartMenu_GridScene_480x800.cpr

StartMenu_GridScene_800x480.cpr

StartMenuCust_480x800.cpr

StartMenuCust_480x640.cpr

StartMenuCust_640x480.cpr

StartMenu_GridScene_480x640.cpr

StartMenu_GridScene_640x480.cpr

And WinStart sets these registry entries

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\BubbleTiles]

Enabled=1

TextModeEnabled=1

So, WinStart does not set

hardwaredonekeyenabled=0

hardwarestartkeyenabled=0

I had not installed the cab before setting up WinStart.

Installing the cab does add the 2 entries

And the case of

TextModeEnabled is not changed to textmodeenabled.

Essentially, the app does exactly what the cab does to disable the start menu, so there should be no difference in memory usage

I don't know if

. hardwaredonekeyenabled=0

. hardwarestartkeyenabled=0

will actually do anything, since the old start menu never is launched.

Arto is a free way to disable the old start menu though.

Since WinStart modifies the values of the registry and the files in the Windows folder that the cab modifies, the cab will not be able to uninstall, since the files it needs to replace are no longer the files that it supplied.

If you install again, and then uninstall, you probably will end up with the files that were there just before reinstalling.

Arto uninstalls fine if installed after WinStart, provided that you do not change those settings in WinStart.

My guess is that the memory savings come from no caching.

The amount of caching is configurable in the paid version

All,

In my opinion, the app is well worth $5 and it is important to support development work when you are able. Our devices are aging, and there is not much, if any, commercial development being done for it. Supporting when able keeps developers mootivated.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] wmg316:
Totally Agree!
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] osiedacz:
I third that vote. Best money i've spent on the phone since my last NRG donation. The other plus is that the app is actively being developed.
[Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile ROM Development] Joe Bleau:
Re: Start Menu Remover cab vs Paid WinStart

Thanks for the analysis.

As mentioned in previous posts:

. hardwaredonekeyenabled=1 and hardwarestartkeyenabled=1 removed the soft Start button & X buttons when running that cab on default NRG w/o Winstart 2.1 free in my case.

My point was to be able to test Winstart with the free version & help the author with some feedback as that free version is attached to the post #1 in his thread.

In my case it's a question of $5 for that Start menu layout or the SPB Mobile Shell for $30. It comes with a 30 days full feature free trial and with that, no need for Winstart but I agree that it's a nice alternative to the Panel or whatnot Start menus in the context of the Sense NRG's ROMs.

Maybe Winstart free should be cooked in future NRG ROMs for Rhodium with the option to donate or upgrade to the paid version.