IPAQ 2210 ROM Update?

[maikii]

I have an IPAQ 2210, purchased when they first came out, still with the original OS that came on it? (Is there an update for it to WM2003 SE? If so, I haven't seen it. Any advantages to SE for it?)

I looked at the page of downloadable updates for this unit:

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/HandheldiPAQ/us/locate/105_5721.html


Some of these I have already installed, such as the SDIO update, and I think the BT update. (Although there are a couple different BT updates listed, I'm not sure I already installed all of them.)

One of them, however is a ROM update:

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/HandheldiPAQ/us/download/20498.html

Description:

HP iPAQ Pocket PC h2200 Series ROM Update
version 1.10 (30 Apr 04)


It is a 16.8 MB download. The information on this page includes the following note:

Important Note!

---------
This update utility is designed to replace the current ROM image and erase the partnership and all user data and programs on your iPAQ Pocket PC. It is important for you to read and understand the information in the Readme file included with this update.
-----------

Well, that's a little scary! Installing it completely wipes out everything on the PPC? That's not usually the case with ROM updates, is it? All documents, applications I installed, etc.? Well, I would take out my memory cards before doing it, so it wouldn't wipe out the info on those. If an application was installed to a memory card, however, although the files would still be on the card, would the app not be installed any more? How about the IPAQ File Store? Are the contents of that wiped out as well?

I guess one could do a Backup with ActiveSync right before doing the ROM update? If one did so, and then did a Restore right after doing the ROM update, would that restore all apps, data, etc., so that everything worked the same as before the update, with the exception of the new ROM? Or would the restore not work with a different ROM than was present at backup time?

If that backup and restore did not work, this could be a great hassle, to have to reinstall all apps, etc. Is it worth it? What value does this ROM update have? What does it fix? What does it improve?

Thank you for your input.

[Don Tolson]

The safest would be to do a PIM backup (Contacts, Email, Tasks, Calendar) using iPAQ backup or Sprite Backup -- something that won't be ROM specific. The backup provided with Activesync is really for disaster recovery only, since it only backs up and restores the whole machine.

What I did was -- a) take a full system backup with Sprite Backup to a CF card; b) download and install the ROM update; c) restore from the Sprite Backup.

Everything worked fine, although it wasn't exactly what they said to do.

HOWEVER, to 'follow the book', you should a) Do a PIM db backup using Sprite Backup (or IPAQ Backup) to CF or SD card; b) Download and install the ROM update; c) After it does the hard reset, do a soft reset to make sure you have everything nice and clean; d) Restore the PIM dbs from the backup; e) Re-install your other 3rd party apps again from your PC. This will ensure everything is cleanly installed and not falling all over each other.

[maikii]

Well, that is a hassle, if you have to re-install all your third party apps. Are they all wiped out? What if they are located on memory cards, which are taken out for the ROM update? What about the IPAQ File Store?

Does the backup not include installed apps?

Is PIM backup really necessary, since all the PIM info is in Outlook on the host PC? Wouldn't an ActiveSync synchronization afterwards restore all PIM info? I'm more considered with settings, apps, etc. Having to configure everything all over again could take hours.

Is it worth it? What benefit does that ROM update provide?


The safest would be to do a PIM backup (Contacts, Email, Tasks, Calendar) using iPAQ backup or Sprite Backup -- something that won't be ROM specific. The backup provided with Activesync is really for disaster recovery only, since it only backs up and restores the whole machine.

What I did was -- a) take a full system backup with Sprite Backup to a CF card; b) download and install the ROM update; c) restore from the Sprite Backup.

Everything worked fine, although it wasn't exactly what they said to do.

HOWEVER, to 'follow the book', you should a) Do a PIM db backup using Sprite Backup (or IPAQ Backup) to CF or SD card; b) Download and install the ROM update; c) After it does the hard reset, do a soft reset to make sure you have everything nice and clean; d) Restore the PIM dbs from the backup; e) Re-install your other 3rd party apps again from your PC. This will ensure everything is cleanly installed and not falling all over each other.

[griph]

Well, that is a hassle, if you have to re-install all your third party apps. Are they all wiped out? What if they are located on memory cards, which are taken out for the ROM update? What about the IPAQ File Store?

Does the backup not include installed apps?

Is PIM backup really necessary, since all the PIM info is in Outlook on the host PC? Wouldn't an ActiveSync synchronization afterwards restore all PIM info? I'm more considered with settings, apps, etc. Having to configure everything all over again could take hours.

Is it worth it? What benefit does that ROM update provide?

I believe that after most ROM image updates it was necessary to reload the applications rather than use a previous backup - mainly because the backup is of the entire RAM including some system files that could cause problems with an updated ROM. Getting the apps back on isn't that difficult because they are still shown on Activesynch - its just a matter of re-ticking each App in the Add/Remove software and re-inputting the reg codes etc. The resynch with PC will reload the rest of the data. Its a 'bit' of a hassle - but not that much!

Some apps on a SD/MMC/CF might work provided that they didn't require a Reg entry or a file saved in the internal memory in order to work.

I cant recall whether the Ipaq File Store was reformatted as part of the updated ROM process - I believe it was.

[maikii]

Well--no one has yet stated what benefit (if any) the ROM update provides. Anyone know?


Well, that is a hassle, if you have to re-install all your third party apps. Are they all wiped out? What if they are located on memory cards, which are taken out for the ROM update? What about the IPAQ File Store?

Does the backup not include installed apps?

Is PIM backup really necessary, since all the PIM info is in Outlook on the host PC? Wouldn't an ActiveSync synchronization afterwards restore all PIM info? I'm more considered with settings, apps, etc. Having to configure everything all over again could take hours.

Is it worth it? What benefit does that ROM update provide?

I believe that after most ROM image updates it was necessary to reload the applications rather than use a previous backup - mainly because the backup is of the entire RAM including some system files that could cause problems with an updated ROM. Getting the apps back on isn't that difficult because they are still shown on Activesynch - its just a matter of re-ticking each App in the Add/Remove software and re-inputting the reg codes etc. The resynch with PC will reload the rest of the data. Its a 'bit' of a hassle - but not that much!

Some apps on a SD/MMC/CF might work provided that they didn't require a Reg entry or a file saved in the internal memory in order to work.

I cant recall whether the Ipaq File Store was reformatted as part of the updated ROM process - I believe it was.

[ChunkyMonkey]

If it isn't broke don't fix it!!!

Unless you find a problem that you are having with the device that is corrected with the ROM update....leave it alone! They should list on HP's site what is corrected with each release.

My people update with each new ROM. Almost all are successful, some are unhappy with performance or etc., and some even toast their device (which is NOT covered under warrenty, I believe).

I'm still running 1.00 and haven't had any complaints.

[griph]

Well--no one has yet stated what benefit (if any) the ROM update provides. Anyone know?


Well you could always check - a rudementary search finds the HP Update page for v1.10 Rom Update!http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/HandheldiPAQ/us/download/20498.html

Fixes
Corrects the Sleep Mode SD power drain.
Updates the BlueTooth driver to resolve Bluetooth lockup issue.
Corrects iPAQ Backup shutdown after 10 seconds when a backup is scheduled.
Connectivity: Connectivity bubble displays GPRS status correctly when connected through proxy
Connectivity: JavaScript event handler fires correctly
Connectivity: pIE correctly encodes URLs with "&lang" references
Contacts: Removes duplicate radio telephone number from Contacts List view
Inbox: Short messages are not duplicated
Inbox: SMS messages with alphanumeric address are parsed correctly
Localization: Errant character no longer inserted by Action button on KOR
Settings: Device properly returns to power off state after an alarm has fired

Enhancements
Adds Self-test.
Adds support for the Extended Battery.
Adds Support for "Wake on Ring" (NOTE: this requires 3rd party software to function)
Connectivity: Accept header for pIE is configurable
Connectivity: Can connect with 802.1x to Windows 2003 Server with PEAP fast reconnect enabled
Connectivity: pIE uses cached pages when offline even for a local server
Connectivity: Improves wireless technologies
Contacts: Contacts are sorted according to the Country selected in Regional Settings
Feature request: Wireless Protected Access
Inbox: Clarification of location of SMS inbox
Instant Messenger: IM signs in
Localization: Ability to enter full IP address for DNS entry in Spanish
Localization: Able to save contacts with Far East characters in both first and last name
Localization: Can use partial Cyrillic name to find contacts
Localization: KOR keyboard allows for the ‘~’ character
Settings: CHT owner info can be shown on power-on
Shell: Alarms and meeting reminders use high-quality MIDI playback
Shell: Improves data integrity when file system is nearly full
Sync: Improves USB reliability

Sounds pretty useful to me!

[griph]

If it isn't broke don't fix it!!!

Unless you find a problem that you are having with the device that is corrected with the ROM update....leave it alone! They should list on HP's site what is corrected with each release.

HP do list the enhancements and fixes and Rom v1.10 wasn't exactly a trivial one! See my previous message.
I guess some might have problems - but anyone with a reasonable level of competance and common sense (me included) will have no difficulty with the upgrade. Its a matter of choice - but having an upgradeable ROM is very useful and I do take all offerings. I've had no problems so far following ROM upgrades of 3600, 3800, XDA and 2210.

[taxus]

I upgraded my 2210's ROM last weekend. Everything worked fine, except for the Bluetooth connection with my PC.

And I had upgraded mostly for the fixes to Bluetooth!

The new Bluetooth driver with ROM 1.10 is version 1.4.1. My D-Link DBT-120 Bluetooth USB dongle came with version 1.2, and I think that was my problem. Upgrading my PC Bluetooth driver to Widcomm Bluetooth version 1.4 fixed it.