Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM upgrade for Sprint Mogul

[MattCoddington]

The official Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM upgrade for the Sprint Mogul has been leaked early. Yes, it is the official release, not a beta. It will likely appear on the HTC and Sprint website very soon. Want to be an early bird?! Download the ROM upgrade here (mirror site).

I have already downloaded and installed it, and the upgrade went surprisingly smooth. I will post details about it shortly.

[MattCoddington]

There have been unofficial releases of the WM 6.1 ROM available for a while now, but I chose to wait until an official one was posted. While this "official ROM" has not graced the pages of Sprint.com or HTC.com yet (at the time of this posting), I felt comfortable with the claim that this is the official one - just leaked out a little early.

As with any ROM upgrade, you have to plan for a backup of your data, since the upgrade wipes out everything on the device. I use Spb Backup on my Mogul, and the latest version has a ROM upgrade feature to it, which is a nice addition (I understand Sprite Backup offers the same feature as well now). Previously, a backup from one of these programs would do you no good when upgrading a ROM because the file structure changes, and things wouldn't match up. I'm not savvy on the "behind-the-scenes" workings of these backup programs, but essentially this new ROM upgrade capability does some sort of magic to allow you to restore your data and have it work within the new ROM.

My main concern with backups is to make sure that my personal files, calendar, contacts and items such as that are restored. Apps can always be reinstalled, but it sure makes it easier to have that all restored so you don't have to mess with settings and whatnot!
Before doing my "pre-ROM upgrade backup", I removed some programs that I thought could be easily reinstalled without much effort. I also went through the My Documents folder of my main memory and moved anything that was exceptionally large over to my storage card. I did all this so the backup (and restore) would run a little faster. This is not a requirement, but a personal preference.

The ROM upgrade file for the Mogul is nearly 70MB, but it downloads pretty quickly from the mirror site I provided. Once available on the Sprint and HTC site, I'm sure it will download fairly quickly as well.

I connected to my PC via Active Sync and launched the .exe file. There's always that moment of nervousness when clicking "continue" on the desktop PC, knowing that the upgrade is about to begin and wipe out everything as you know it! Thoughts race through your mind: "Have I thought of everything?" "I sure hope I get all my files back!"

Despite those fleeting thoughts, the upgrade went without a hitch. It took about 11 minutes to complete.

Once the device finished the usual Sprint sofware install/reset, I was ready to perform the restore. The self-extracting backup file was nearly 80MB on my storage card (I wonder how large it would have been with the other items I had removed on there!). Spb Backup detected that a different ROM was on the device, and automatically selected "ROM Upgrade Mode" for the restore.
NOTE: I have found that restores work best if you turn the phone off while doing it. I had a phone call come in during the middle of one restore and it messed things up, requiring me to hard reset and start over again. Theoretically, the program should shut down all services while it is doing it's thing, but it apparently does not stop a phone call from coming in!

The restore took about 5-10 minutes to complete (I wasn't watching that closely). After a soft reset, I checked everything out and all was well! The special ROM upgrade feature worked as advertised! Way to to, Spb!

[MattCoddington]

Okay, it seems that I am having some post-upgrade issues after all. I don't think it has to do with the ROM, but with my restore.

The thing is, Spb Software House states that version 2.x of Spb Backup will restore to an upgraded ROM, but according to the experts at XDA-Developers, they say that you should NEVER use a backup from a previous ROM to restore a device. I can see their point - too many things can be different in a new ROM. What is confusing is the impression that you can do this with Spb Backup - I quote from their manual:

Restoring data on a different device or after a ROM update has not been easier. All what you have to do is to run the backed-up file on the different device or ROM version and select the type of the upgrade mode you wish to perform.

• Normal Mode: If your device does not function correctly after performing a ROM upgrade or device upgrade then restore using the Normal Mode.
• ROM Upgrade Mode: Select to restore data after a ROM upgrade (change the permanent software in your device).
• Device Upgrade Mode: Select to restore data after a device upgrade (change the device hardware). If you perform a device upgrade we recommend you restore only files that you need the most. All other system files and settings may not necessarily function correctly with the newer device hardware.

Here are some of the things I am experiencing - most of which began happening last night:

• VERY slow reponse on nearly everything, whether it involves a screen tap or the press of a hardware button. This happens randomly, not all the time. For example, I might tap on my email icon, and it takes over a minute for the app to finally appear! Start Menu will still respond, but everything else on the screen slows to a crawl.
• Device freezing up at random times, requiring hard reset.
• This one is really weird: When I began troubleshooting the slowness, I decided to uninstall anything I had installed post-upgrade. One of those things was Spb Pocket Plus. I uninstalled it, and later I did a soft reset and the app was back! To make sure I wasn't crazy, I uninstalled it again, then immediately did a soft-reset... the app came back AGAIN! I've never seen that happen with Pocket Plus or any app for that matter!

An interesting twist: a co-worker just did his ROM upgrade to his Sprint Touch last night and he too, restored from Spb Backup. He brought his device to my desk to show me, and I played around with his device for a few minutes. It was amazing to see how fast the graphics were on that thing! Spb Mobile Shell was zipping along faster than I had ever seen it on my Mogul since I've had the app! Other apps such as Messaging were blazingly fast to open - practically instananeous. Even before this ROM upgrade, that was not my experience with the Mogul...

I am going to reinstall the ROM and start from absolute scratch with apps this weekend (fun, fun). After doing that, I will report back. Just wanted to share this experience since my previous posting touted the convenience of Spb Backup and a ROM upgrade. For my friend Kevin, it appears (so far) that it worked well. For me, not so much.

[MattCoddington]

An update on the latest:

I backed up my calendar and contacts to my PC (which took a LONG time since I don't usually use ActiveSync to syncronize those things anymore), then I did a hard reset. I then got my contacts and calendar info synced back over and installed the apps that I consider must-have. So far, so good. Things appear a lot more stable and fast.

I also sought out some registry tweaks which increase speed as well as improve battery life. Thought it wouldn't hurt to do those too...

I will run it through it's paces and report back!

[Darkknight]

I installed this with no prob, the ONLY thing I've seen that's bugging me is, some of my icons keep losing their cover and I have to go in and re-add their cover. I find this to happened after a soft reboot, and I don't know if it's the 3rd party apps I'm using .....
I have:

1. Spb Pocket Plus 4.0.2
2. Spb Time 2.2.2
3. Spb Weather
4. Spb Diary 2.5
5. Photo Contacts Pro Ver 5.08
6. PDAnet
7. Pocket Tunes
8. Sirius WM5
9. PM Cleaner
10. Bejeweled 2 (love this game )

Other than that it works fine for me. Now, I do get a crash notice sometimes that tells me something could not load or crashed & try to start something and ask if I want to send this info to Microsoft...... but overall I like to new updates they did to it

[MattCoddington]

Hey Darkknight! Welcome to the forum!
Glad to hear that your install went relatively well, despite the few errors you are seeing.

I'm not familiar with that one app you mention - PM Cleaner. Where is that located (URL) and what does it do? Is it a memory utility like Oxios Memory?

I always like seeing the combination of apps that others have on their device! Thanks for sharing! Curious what your free program memory looks like right after a soft-reset, before you launch anything. Mine is in the 19-20MB range after a fresh soft reset. I am using the built-in Task Manager (which Sprint ever-so-conveniently hid - more on that in a moment!), and my top resource users (right after a soft reset - nothing launched manually) are:

• device.exe = 4.83MB
• filesys.exe = 3.93MB
• gwes.exe = 2.03MB
• MobileShell.exe = 1.57MB
• cprog.exe = 1.19MB
• services.exe = 1.14MB

It is very enlightening to see which processes are running - not sure why Sprint hid the (good) Task Manager app. BTW, you can find the TaskMgr.exe file in the Windows directory. I copied and placed a shortcut to it in my Windows/Start Menu/Programs folder, and have it mapped to one of my hardware buttons.



Since doing a hard reset and manually reinstalling all of my apps on Saturday, my Mogul is definitely running much faster and more stable. Haven't seen error one (knock on wood!). Here is what I have re-installed:

• Spb Mobile Shell
• Ilium Software eWallet
• GooSync
• GSPlayer
• Microsoft Live Search
• Ilium Software NewsBreak
• Ilium Software Screen Capture (free app!)
• Skyfire Browser
• Spb Finance
• Spb Phone Suite
• SOTI Pocket Controller
• Resco Explorer/FTP add-in/Registry add-in
• Ilium Software ListPro
• TCPMP (The Core Pocket Media Player)
• Oxios Memory

I held off on installing Spb Pocket Plus for now. I LOVE the app, but I am trying to conserve Program Memory and being very choosy at what will occupy that memory so I can have as much as possible for speed! With the built-in Task Manager mapped to a hardware button, I am able to close apps easily, and I found a small battery utility called Ariel Battery Monitor which lets me see my battery status at all times (see screenshot above - the utility sits right over the Windows icon!). I know there are numerous other features of Pocket Plus that I am missing out on, but for now, I am surviving without it installed. Give me a few days and ask me again!
Mobile Shell is a MUST for me, however. I'll accept what memory IT uses, because I just love the interface. It has changed how I operate my device.

[Darkknight]

PM Clean clears up stuff from your Temp Files,IE Cache,IE History and if you have AvantGo it clears it's cache, as well as some Notifications. It's FREEWARE too

pmClean v1.07 Description:

Simple cleanup tool to improve free memory and fix the Notification bug in Windows Mobile 2003 / WM 5.0 that causes slowdowns and alarm problems.

Features:

• Remove all duplicate and stale system Notifications, improving system stability and alarm reliability!
• Remove all Temporary files.
• Empty Internet Explorer cache.
• Empty Internet Explorer History.
• Cleanup AvantGo cache.
• Command-line for automatic cleanup -n, -t, -c, -h, -a.

You can get it here.
Just click on the FREEWARE link on the left, the Cab file in on the right side of the page
I forgot that I have Skyfire too LOL

[MattCoddington]

Ahh, what a difference a space makes! I was searching for "pm cleaner", and it's actually pmClean! Cool little app! Looks very handy!

I use the (free) Oxios Memory app, which doesn't do all of the cache clearing, but it frees up "lost" program memory. Unfortunately, despite claims that WM 6.1 was going to bring memory improvement, I still find that I need to use this app every once in a while to ensure I have all of my memory available.

This morning, after having numerous things open and closed, I checked my memory. It said I had 12.9MB of free Program memory available, and that was with nothing open. Paltry at best...
I ran Oxios Memory and it brought me back to 17.2MB - nearly a full 5MB of Program memory released that was apparently leaked by something! Not sure what is behind it (I need to do some investigating and see if I can pinpoint it), but it's unfortunate that I have to resort to using something like Oxios to gain memory capacity that is somehow lost...
And Oxios doesn't always get it all, either. After getting back to the 17.2MB, I then did a soft reset, and I was back up to 21.2MB! And additional 4MB gained!

How many times do you think a user soft-resets an iPhone to regain performance???!!! I have no idea, but I'll bet they don't have to do it very often...!

[Darkknight]

I think the icon prob is part of how Spb Pocket Plus handles the icons under windows mobile 6.1 on the todays main window, because in the MAIN programs window everything is fine there, I'm going to send a email to them to see if there's a update for windows mobile 6.1 or if there's a thing I need to do to keep my icons losing their cover, because other than that, the app's still work even in that state

[Darkknight]

ok I just checked there's a bug with Spb Pocket Plus 4.0.2 and windows mobile 6.1....... it's NOT just me thats having the prob, but they are working on a fix for it and as soon as they come out with a fix I'll let you know