A12 ROM Update (AKU 2.3.1) Available for Dell Axim X51/X51v

[Darius Wey]

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060704-X51v.jpg" /><br /><br />Dell has released the A12 ROM update for the Dell Axim X51/X51v, and it includes the following enhancements and fixes:<br /><br />• Windows Mobile 5.0 Adaptation Kit Update 2.3.1 enhancement.<br />• Audio driver change (headset output gain adjustment) due to French audio regulation.<br />• Fix system can't wake up with CF card installed.<br />• Enhance CF I/O card performance.<br />• Fix CF serial modem port Open/Close issue.<br />• Support ActiveSync serial connection switcher.<br /><br />And for all you X50/X50v users with the Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade (like myself), note that this ROM update cannot be used. Well, uh, back to using that buggy ROM then, eh? :roll:<br /><br /><b>Download:</b> A12 ROM Update for <a href="http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R129273&SystemID=PDA_AXIM_X51&os=PPM&osl=en&deviceid=7638&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=3&formatcnt=1&libid=7&fileid=172105">Dell Axim X51</a> and <a href="http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R129272&SystemID=PDA_AXIM_X51&os=PPM&osl=en&deviceid=7643&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=3&formatcnt=1&libid=7&fileid=172104">Dell Axim X51v</a>

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Needless to say, I'm thrilled :-)

I always love the smell of a fresh ROM in the morning... So far so good. I just have to reinstall all my crap now :?

[alex_kac]

Why can't any of the OEMs do what Palm did on the Treo 700w? We upgraded those to AKU2 without any loss of apps, settings or data.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

In the end, I can live with it, though. Clears out the bit rot and stuff...

[Patrick Y.]

Why can't any of the OEMs do what Palm did on the Treo 700w? We upgraded those to AKU2 without any loss of apps, settings or data.

It's stated in the upgrade that user can use the built-in backup/restore utility to restore from the previous backup.

I just upgraded my x51v... So far so good despite the messy restore using sprite. :oops:

[Mitch D]

I am beginning to think this will be the last device I buy from Dell, I still have two or three months of regular warranty left and it appears Dell has abandoned all the loyal X50v users by not dealing with the issues it is having when running under WM5. I keep feeling that I just wasted my money on the upgrade.... Once burned, twice shy...

[Patrick Y.]

I am beginning to think this will be the last device I buy from Dell, I still have two or three months of regular warranty left and it appears Dell has abandoned all the loyal X50v users by not dealing with the issues it is having when running under WM5. I keep feeling that I just wasted my money on the upgrade.... Once burned, twice shy...
Hmm... You might want to consider this: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=124633
That's what most people with WM5 x50v did....

Good luck!!

Edited: posted the wrong link earlier. Sorry... :oops:

[surfer]

It's a great update. The update worked without problem for me. :D

[DaViD_BRaNDoN]

Pardon me for my ignorant but what's new in A12 ROM's "Windows Mobile V5.0 Adaptation Kit Update 2.3.1 enhancement" from my current A05 ROM (Axim X51)? :| I do know it has something to do with enhanced Bluetooth profile, right?

Gonna be upgrading mine over the weekend :mrgreen:

[Darius Wey]

Pardon me for my ignorant but what's new in A12 ROM's "Windows Mobile V5.0 Adaptation Kit Update 2.3.1 enhancement" from my current A05 ROM (Axim X51)? :| I do know it has something to do with enhanced Bluetooth profile, right?

Unfortunately, Microsoft has never publicly released a history with each Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU, but know that AKU 2.3 contains a whole collection of bug fixes and enhancements that are worth having. AKU 2.x also adds support for A2DP (for stereo audio over Bluetooth) via the Microsoft Bluetooth stack, but the downside here is that the vendor has the option of removing it. Whether Dell removed it in A12 is something I'm unsure of, since I don't have an X51/X51v to test it out. If anyone gets around to checking, please let us know! :)

[DaViD_BRaNDoN]

Thanks for the info :wink:

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Things I've noticed since the upgrade:

White screen of death when dropping the Axim into the cradle is gone.

CF card no longer disappears.

WiFi is significantly faster to connect and smoother and more reliable once on.

Overall performance has improved.

Screens redraw quicker.

Resco File Explorer seems to browse both the local filesystem and network shares faster.

That's all anecdotal, of course, but the point is if you have an X51v (YAY!), do the upgrade. It's totally worth the effort.

[Patrick Y.]

Pardon me for my ignorant but what's new in A12 ROM's "Windows Mobile V5.0 Adaptation Kit Update 2.3.1 enhancement" from my current A05 ROM (Axim X51)? :| I do know it has something to do with enhanced Bluetooth profile, right?

Unfortunately, Microsoft has never publicly released a history with each Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU, but know that AKU 2.3 contains a whole collection of bug fixes and enhancements that are worth having. AKU 2.x also adds support for A2DP (for stereo audio over Bluetooth) via the Microsoft Bluetooth stack, but the downside here is that the vendor has the option of removing it. Whether Dell removed it in A12 is something I'm unsure of, since I don't have an X51/X51v to test it out. If anyone gets around to checking, please let us know! :)

It's reported that the new ROM supports A2DP...

[Sven Johannsen]

It's reported that the new ROM supports A2DP...What does that mean exactly? It was reported that AKU2 supported A2DP too. Do you have one and can confirm you have connected to a BT Stereo Headphone? Are there users that have? AximSite?

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Lots of people on Aximsite are reporting success with this ROM and the Motorola HT 820's. I may sneak a pair at work and see how they go...

[Atticus]

That's what most people with WM5 x50v did....

Good luck!!

Actually, no one with X50v did this. Someone claims that he managed to do the upgrade. But a quick scan of the forum will show you that others failed trying the same trick.

[bluevolume]

I am beginning to think this will be the last device I buy from Dell, I still have two or three months of regular warranty left and it appears Dell has abandoned all the loyal X50v users by not dealing with the issues it is having when running under WM5. I keep feeling that I just wasted my money on the upgrade.... Once burned, twice shy...
Hmm... You might want to consider this: http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=131246&amp;page=11
That's what most people with WM5 x50v did....

Good luck!!

Not true at all -- the referenced Aximsite post was from someone who is extremely confused or just a liar.

[Patrick Y.]

That's what most people with WM5 x50v did....

Good luck!!

Actually, no one with X50v did this. Someone claims that he managed to do the upgrade. But a quick scan of the forum will show you that others failed trying the same trick.

Sorry, :oops: I posted the wrong link. I meant to post this link, a thread started by me.
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=124633

[Clint Neufeld]

That's what most people with WM5 x50v did....

Good luck!!

Actually, no one with X50v did this. Someone claims that he managed to do the upgrade. But a quick scan of the forum will show you that others failed trying the same trick.

Are you saying that nobody's managed to get a new Axim X51v in exchange for their X50v, as a result of poor WM5 compatability? If so, I have done that very same upgrade. My posts are on page 3 and 4 of that thread. It took 1 phone call, followed by 3 days of waiting. It appears they're getting easier to convince, if you read the later postings on the thread.

I'm not sure if we're talking about the same link to the Aximsite forums, as the person who posted it originally appears to have changed the link.

Clint

[Patrick Y.]

Are you saying that nobody's managed to get a new Axim X51v in exchange for their X50v, as a result of poor WM5 compatability? If so, I have done that very same upgrade. My posts are on page 3 and 4 of that thread. It took 1 phone call, followed by 3 days of waiting. It appears they're getting easier to convince, if you read the later postings on the thread.

I'm not sure if we're talking about the same link to the Aximsite forums, as the person who posted it originally appears to have changed the link.

Clint

I did post the wrong link earlier, the thread regarding people putting x51v ROM on x50v. I usually have about 10-12 tabs open at the same time using firefox. Anyway, I mixed up the link of the two threads... :oops:

[mclark]

I am trying to apply the new ROM. The update process applies the start-up section update, and then says to hard reset to continue. I hold down power button and press the reset button for a couple of seconds. When it comes back a window flashes about resetting to factory defaults, but it is gone very quickly and I cannot press the contact button as it says. The device then comes back to the normal today screen, with nothing reset. The update utility does not then go any further, as it says it will. I have deleted the partnership in ActiveSync and nothing changes. What can I try to get this to continue to actually update the ROM?

Thanks.

[Patrick Y.]

Just let the device boot normally. Then, after it's connected to ActiveSync, the update utility will proceed.

[mclark]

Ok, then, I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

1) I have ActiveSync 4.1 installed
2) I have an Axim x51v with A06
3) I downloaded A12 and I am running the AximUpdate.exe program
4) I follow the steps, up to where it copies the "Startup Section Update" and tells me to hard reset. I hold down power, then press the reset indent for 2 seconds or more, then let go of reset, then let go of power. I do this while the device is still in the cradle. The device reboots to the normal today screen, does not hard reset.
5) ActiveSync reconnects, and asks me to set up a partnership (FYI: I have deleted the partnership in ActiveSync and changed the device name temporarily to get this to happen). I select "Cancel", then switch back to the Dell Axim Update Utility.
6) Nothing has changed on the utility window. I see no buttons, or anything. It is sitting at the same spot, telling me to hard reset.

Please help!!!

UPDATE: Resolved!!

Thanks to a post on AximSite, this is fixed! Someone posted a thread saying to try the update on another machine. I did this and it worked!

FYI, for anyone else who may encounter this...

[Menneisyys]

I announce it here too: I'll come up with a complete hack that makes it possible to restore earlier backups under the new ROM version. Stay tuned :)

[Patrick Y.]

I announce it here too: I'll come up with a complete hack that makes it possible to restore earlier backups under the new ROM version. Stay tuned :)

You are certainly very busy recently. 8O