25 replies to this topic

[PaulOBrien]

The past day or so I have been playing with the ROM on my Touch, using a few of the publicly available ROM tools in ways I hadn't used them before. I made some very interesting discoveries...

- The ROM is poorly set up, and there is 7MB of wasted (imgfs) space that cannot easily be reclaimed
- The ROM can be easily read using pdocread from itsutils
- The ROM can be easily extracted, edited and rebuilt using imgfstools and scoter's tools
- The ROM can be successfully flashed back onto the device via pdocwrite
- This is very dangerous, particularly until such time as a HTC Touch RUU (official flash) appears

The 7MB of space I mention is similar to the situation with a lot of devices (e.g. the M700 that I described fixing), but on the Touch it's a particular shame as space is at such a premium. Unfortunately, the method I described in the M700 topic won't work to reclaim the space on the Touch, because there is no bootloader that allows unsigned code to be flashed.

HOWEVER, the fact ROMs can be reconstructed and flashed using pdocwrite (albeit rather dangerously), means that this 7MB can be 'filled up' with things to go in ROM, so at least then it's not wasted.

For example, I extracted the ROM, added Windows Live Search and a couple of my other favourite programs, rebuilt the ROM, flashed it back to the device and sure enough - after a hard reset, there they are, and I still have the same 'post hard reset space' I had before.

Neat eh?



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[PaulOBrien]

Does anyone want a guide?

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[jim.mason]

Paul (MVP), on Jun 20 2007, 12:40, said:

Does anyone want a guide?

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Would definately be interested in a guide for this.  Haven't bit the bullet yet, still debating on what phone/contract to get

[Shuflie]

Paul (MVP), on Jun 20 2007, 12:40, said:

Does anyone want a guide?

P

I don't have a Touch yet but it will most likely be my next device when my contract is up in October, anything that would improve it would be a gret benefit. When you were poking around in the ROM did you happen to notice if Voice command was in there but not activated, it is a WM6 device after all. If its not there do you think there would be enough space to pre install it?

[PaulOBrien]

Voice command isn't in ROM, but yes, there would definitely be enough space to drop it in.

I should point out this would definitely not a guide for the faint hearted, and definitely comes with a high bricking-risk factor

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[Shuflie]

That shouldn't really be a problem in the first few days/weeks of contract. It a bit cheeky but all you need to do is tell T or O that it just stopped working.

[chucky.egg]

Quote

a bit cheeky but all you need to do is tell T or O that it just stopped working.

This is where it gets delicate.
The official term for "a bit cheeky" is "fraud" - you're lying to the network to get something you are not really entitled to.

That said, if you're messing with the ROM from your device (rather than "cheekily sharing" ROMs and software), and you are prepared to take the risk then fair play to you.

I doubt it's something I'd do.  Official ROM updates are nail-biting enough for me right now, and I have plenty of space on my Blackjack.

Now, if there was a demo on "soldering for beginners: memory upgrades in WM5 devices" then I might sign up

[PaulOBrien]

Very well put chucky.egg.

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[FrankyG]

...and to think that I got an official warning for even mentioning XDA forums in the past   ... how things change...

[PaulOBrien]

Eh?

What has this topic got to do with that forum?

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[wwaveydave]

Paul (MVP), on Jun 20 2007, 12:40, said:

Does anyone want a guide?

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I'd be interested in a guide mate.

I'll beta test it for you if you like too.

[PaulOBrien]

Beta test away Dave

http://www.modaco.co...ze-t256280.html

That's the first one, pagepool editing...

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[madds]

Paul (MVP), on Jun 22 2007, 11:36, said:

That's the first one, pagepool editing...

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Hi, and cid unlock???
That's what i'm looking for...
dopod has released a rom that fixes some stuff, including the shortage of memory... i would give it a go if i could...

[PaulOBrien]

Dopod haven't released any updates AFAIK, there IS a Dopod RUU out and about, but it's the same version as the HTC shipping version IIRC.

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[madds]

hi Paul,

i have this upgrade on my computer:
RUU_Elf_DOPODASIA_WWE_1.11.707.1B_4.1.13.42_02.93.90_Ship.exe

dopod ships with the 1.11.405 and they released this one to adress memory leaks.

I know in a few days the cid and sim unlock will be out to the touch!

[eskasi]

madds, on Jun 26 2007, 10:13, said:

I know in a few days the cid and sim unlock will be out to the touch!

Dude, I think I speak for MANY people here.....we are waiting for this news.....please update us folks asap. Never done a CID unlock before and desperate to do one.

[cng]

CID unlock is still not here yet, not for free. =(

By the way Paul, can you please make a guide for the process and tools involved in cooking a Touch ROM? Thanks.

[Parre]

wohooo with +4Mb extra program memory and a Cpu running at 286Mhz the HTC Touch is nothing but unbeatable
I luv it!!!!

[vinodb]

I am sorry its  not Paul  , but Vic ,please avise me if there is NT UPDATE ON THE UNLOCKING OF THE htc TOUCH

madds, on Jun 26 2007, 10:13, said:

hi Paul,

i have this upgrade on my computer:

dopod ships with the 1.11.405 and they released this one to adress memory leaks.

I know in a few days the cid and sim unlock will be out to the touch!

[vinodb]

vinodb, on Jul 31 2007, 20:04, said:

I am sorry its not Paul , but Vic ,please avise me if there is NT UPDATE ON THE UNLOCKING OF THE htc TOUCH

Yes there is a solution