Any Dell Axim owners here? question for you

[nitsuj3580]

I haven't been over to aximsite.com in a few days but surfed that way today. Apparently Dell's ftp server's released a patch for the Mobile 2003 performance issues with the Axim. However, people 'hacked' it and found a way to upgrade their 2002 OS to the new 2003 OS via the patch so they took the patch off the server.

Did anyone d/l this patch? I was just curious if the patch fixed the Mobile 2003 performance issues? From what I read, they are trying to figure out a way to distribute the patch to actual owners with the 2003 OS on their Axims (and yes I've only had my Axim for 3 weeks so it did come with the new 2003 OS) but it'd be nice to be able to get this sooner if it infact does fix the performance problems.

I don't know if this thread is 'legal' but I'm basically trying to find out more about this patch that was supposedly on Dells servers that were going to fix performance issues on the Axim with the new 2003 OS.

PM's are welcome also. Thanks!

 

[MacUser]

I have tryed to do according to directions, and it worked (now 2003).
But at the end gave me a little scare: screen turned blank for a few minutes after final reset, but came back to life just like original v2002.
******************************************************
DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK, I/WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST DATA
AND/OR CORRUPT IMAGE.
THIS PROCEDURE HAS NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED BY DELL
******************************************************
WM2003 Update for Dell Axim X5 with PPC2002

THE INFORMATION BELOW WAS TAKEN FROM A WEBSITE FORUM THREAD THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED, I DO NOT CLAIM RESPONSABILITY FOR COMING UP WITH THIS PATCH OR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR AXIM SHOULD YOU WISH TO ATTEMPT THE UPGRADE. THIS SHOULD ONLY BE ATTEMPTED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ORDERED THE WM2003 UPGRADE CD BUT HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT YET ... FOR LEGAL REASONS.

Files needed: Hex Workshop from www.bpsoft.com
R64365.EXE WM2003 ROM update (which has been pulled from the Dell ftp server)

NOTE: Best to perform a hard reset on your device and remove any SD/compact flash cards in your device before you start

Extract the R64365.EXE file and run the System Update.exe and choose to back-up your ROM image, it will save a copy of your current ROM as an .ris file.

Choose the correct update ROM image for your Axim, P25_NK-H-07170300EN.IMG for Axim Advance (400MHz) or P25_NK-L-07170300EN.IMG for Axim Basic (300MHz) and rename the file extention to .ris

Load up Hex Workshop and open up your backup ROM image and the update ROM image side-by-side. Copy the hex code from offset 106 to 128 from your BACKUP and paste in into the UPDATE at the same position offsets. This is your Axim serial code and is necessary to fool the backup ROM option of the installer into thinking the update ROM is your backup ROM. Save the modified update ROM image.

Run the System Update.exe again to choose to restore a backup ROM image. Select your patched ROM file (P25_NK-H-07170300EN.ris or P25_NK-L-07170300EN.ris) and let it 'restore' your PPC2002 to WM2003. Enjoy!!

PS There has been some discussion whether or not this is the final fixed version or a BETA patch, Dell have confirmed it IS the final version but have pulled it from their ftp server because it's more sucessful to update from PPC2002 than from the buggy WM2003 that it was intended for!!!
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END

 

[AnyMal]

Would someone please explain the advantge of upgrading to 2k3? AFAIK,it did not add any additional functions to PPC, not only that, but quite a few programs will not run 2k3 period.

 

[Ionizer86]

It's supposed to make PPCs a lot faster at tasks, games, etc. It also has an autodetect wireless network thing, and progs developed for the OS aren't able to be run on 2k2, so it may be needed for future programs. Also new are the photo viewer and Jawbreaker game.

Yes, I'd love to try 2k3 but Toshiba's being stupid...(I'm posting on an e740).

 

[nitsuj3580]

glad it worked for you MacUser but I already have 2003 so I'm not trying to upgrade from 2002.

I've been waiting for this patch like everyone else with 2003 because it's supposed to enhance the performance of an Axim running 2003. Does 2003 run nice?

 

[MacUser]

Maybe it's all in my head...but it looks like my Axim 400 runs faster than before, not to mention more network capability. Little enhancement of Word program make it a good upgrade. Too bad i lost all of my contacts: i backed them up using 2002 version of backup, but 2003 refused to restore. So if you upgrade this way, make sure you have outlook running on your desktop with contacts backed up.

 

[Luden]

Bleh.. I was going to patch mine but didn't get the file downloaded, Seen it mirrored? (the patch isnt illegal now is it?)

Luden.

 

[Mday]

www.aximsite.com

jist: some ppl are experience problems with the update. some have gotten it to work, and some reports are that performance is better than 2002.