[HD2 Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM Development] pellaud:
Lessons learnt – A practical experience

I came to the post-40 ROMS with number 41,which I installed with the pre-40 valid approach. As pointed out by Sternas, a no-go proposition. Then I went over to the svc guidelines (see below). In a first attempt, instead of svc’s Step 4, I elected to install HTC’s stock ROM 3.14 from the PC through ActiveSync as instructed by HTC; this was followed by svc’ subsequent steps. This worked, BUT the device was then affected by the “low programme memory” issue that made the HTC sluggish and unusable for running large programmes (a problem encountered by many other Artemis users). In a second attempt, when on svc’s Step 4, I got entangled, installation of the stock ROM did not complete and the device hung up. A hard reset showed that SPL 3.03 had been properly loaded, but his was followed by the dreaded triangle “Software Update Failed”. This was the end of the process. The Swiss HTC repair shop brought the ROM back to life, erasing it and loading stock ROM 3.14, at no cost.

Having burned my fingers, I need some guidance from the smart Artemis community before coming back to Artemis.

Before anything else, svc should add some elementary initial steps to his list:

a) First to advise more than 90% battery level at the start (As I discovered, once one gets caught in a boot loader vicious cycle, there is no way to charge the battery).

b) Second, repeat the not-so-obvious, namely that there are three ways to communicate with the device. - On the one hand, by getting access to the boot loader through the VolumeUp+ button, in which case the source material (e.g. the new ROM to be installed) is placed in the inserted microSD card. - On the other hand, through the USB connection, under ActiveSync, under WM on the HTC, by running the installing programme from the PC, as done for all non-CAB programmes, in which case the source material (e.g. the new ROM) is then found on the PC, in the form of the executable file itself. - Lastly, in a combination mode, namely through the USB connection, by running an executable file on the PC with the HTC in boot loader status showing the USB word on the HTC screen (thus, without ActiveSync and WM running on the HTC). This last option is the basis of svc’s guidelines.

Now, two questions:

A. Svc’ Step 4 suggests that the process should be done in a “boot loader mode” on the HTC, with info coming NOT from the microcard, but from the PC (last option above under b). The letters USB at the bottom of the boot loader screen would indicate that the HTC is ready to receive info from the PC. Is it so? Subsidiary questions: Access to the boot loader: should it be done before or after connecting the USB? Thereafter, obviously, the process can only be launched from the PC. How? By simply launching the executable file (this implying that that file will find the USB connection by itself) or by “copying” the file to the USB connection?

Is the following re-writing of svc’s Step 4 correct?

Connect the USB cable. Boot the HTC to bootloader (VolDown+PowerOn) and when it shows "USB", launch the matching “RUU_Leo_S_HTC_XXX_3.14.XXX_Radio_15.42.50.11U_2.15 .50.14_LEO_S_Ship.exe” on the PC.

B. In my case Stock ROM 3.14 and SPL 3.03 are already installed. Does it mean that I can skip the first six steps in svc’s list? Is the following re-writing of svc’s Step 7 correct:

7. HTC: YOU HAVE TO BE ON WM HOME SCREEN, NOT BOOTLOADER, with ActiveSync running. Place the SSPL_RUU.exe file together with the Artemis v4X RUU_Signed_XXXX.nbh file in the same PC folder. Run SSPL_RUU.exe file on the PC, the file located in that common PC folder. The loading is thus done through the USB, through ActiveSync. If this doesn't work (hangs on black screen for more than 2 min or stays at 0%), remove the battery and try again. If still doesn't work - try solutions in NOTE below.

I would hope that Sternas would include a detailed installation annex to his excellent PDF guide, using and expanding on svc’s contribution.

That’s all. Looking forward with thanks.

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FIRST TIME FLASH – original, according to SVC

1. Remove SD (and remove Application Data and Program Files folders from it using SD card reader)

2. Remove HSPL with HSPL2_RUN.exe (flash SPL 1.66.0000 with HSPL2_RUN.exe)

3. PowerOff the phone

4. Boot to bootloader (VolDown+PowerOn) and when it shows "USB" flash stock ROM by running matching RUU_Leo_S_HTC_XXX_3.14.XXX_Radio_15.42.50.11U_2.15 .50.14_LEO_S_Ship.exe (get yours HERE or for Orange UK/FR HERE)

5. Hard Reset (when phone starts booting after step 4, remove the battery, insert it back press VolUp+VolDown and still holding both press PowerOn and follow the instructions)

6. Boot to homescreen.

7. Run SSPL_RUU.exe with Artemis v4X RUU_Signed_XXXX.nbh in the same folder - YOU HAVE TO BE ON HOME SCREEN, NOT BOOTLOADER (this took me 3 tries until succeded - yes - nerve wrecking, but works). If it doesn't work (hangs on black screen for more than 2min or stays at 0%) remove the battery and try again. If still doesn't work - try solutions in NOTE below.

8. Hard reset (instructions in step 5)

9. When on homescreen – Soft reset.

10. Insert SD