Can't install ROM-Update on H3970

[Spenser]

My friend has left his ipaq unpowered for several weeks and now you cannot switch it off anymore. Whenever you press the On/Off-Switch a softreset occurs.
My idea now was to do a ROM-Update. But when I try, an error-msg appears: "Invalid model-id. Your ipaq must be a 3900-model or higher..."
It's unnecessary to say that it is one. And a click on settings, system etc reveils that it is one. So the info IS there.
There's certainly something wrong. Can it be repaired ?
Thank you in advance for your help
Jochen

[Don't Panic!]

Check if it's a PPC2002 or WM2003 ROM Update. If you're running WM2003 then the PPC2002 ROM update wouldn't work and if your running PPC2002 OS the WM2003 OS ROM update wouldn't work.

HTH

[Spenser]

Check if it's a PPC2002 or WM2003 ROM Update. If you're running WM2003 then the PPC2002 ROM update wouldn't work and if your running PPC2002 OS the WM2003 OS ROM update wouldn't work.
HTH
on each softreset it shows "Version 4.00". which is Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 if I remember it correctly. But on HPs webpage there is no ROM-Update available. Therefor I tried the "downgrade" to PPC2002 which didn't work.
What can I do?
BTW: it now soft-resets itself every minute on its own.

[Don't Panic!]

I can't think of much you can do as an end user. ROMs are usually created by Microsoft and updated by the company you got your PPC from in this case Compaq. I'll check the usergroups for you but short of sending it somehwere for repairs I'm stumped. Expansys Germany would hav a link to PocketPCtEchs repair options.

[Don't Panic!]

Well I didn't have to go that route a goggle search brought up this post from Anton Tomov at Broghthand from back in 2003;

The problem with the downgrade from PPC2003 to PPC2002 is the fact that the ROM update utility which comes with the PPC 2002 checks the ROM header of the image you're trying to upload to the device and denies the update if you are trying to upload an older ROM. The solution to downgrade to PPC 2002 is simple:

1. Use a hexadecimal editor and remove (cut) the first 32 bytes from the PPC 2002 ROM image (.nbf file)
2. Use the ROM update tool that comes with the PPC 2003 beta to upload the modified ROM image to the device

The ROM update tool that comes with the PPC 2003 uploads raw ROM images (it does not check the header and the version info contained into the header). This is why the first 32 bytes of the PPC 2002 ROM need to be removed. The original ROM updater reads the header (first 32 bytes) and then uploads the rest of the image to the device if the version info is correct.

You have to be extremely careful to remove exactly the first 32 bytes from the image.

Cheers,
Anton


__________________
Anton Tomov
Lead Developer
http://www.antontomov.com
[email protected]

Let us know if this works for you.

[Spenser]

Use the ROM update tool that comes with the PPC 2003 beta...
I haven't got the slightest idea where to find that.
If I remember it well, the ROM-Update had to be bought from HP/Compaq at that time. But my friend lost it/can't find it.
Any ideas?

[Don't Panic!]

Without the disk you're SOL. We can't share ROMs in the Pocket PC Community. It's not legal.

Check his PCs hard drive. if your friend updated the ROM himself instead of purchasing a 3970 with PPC2003 installed the ROM Updater may be on his computer somewhere. Look for a folder called Compaq