Upgrades from other carriers

Warning

These upgrade procedures could turn your phone into a very expensive brick. By attempting these procedures you take all the risk on yourself. Don't do this unless you know what you're doing. If any of these statements make you frightened or scared, don't do it.

2.07.00WWE obsoletes 2.03 and 2.04

Upgrading to the 2.03 ROM

Credits

This process was worked out by Dan (Luv2Chill from PDAPhoneHome). It was based on postings on xda-developers.

What this gives you

Windows Media Player 10 (WMP10)
Separate icons for data status and phone status
Outlook SMTP Authentication allows setting different username/password than incoming u/p
Having the latest and greatest -- months before your carrier releases it

Known Issues and Bugs

1. Bluetooth is downgraded to 3500.
2. Button mapping inside the Windows Media Player only allows assigning to the directional pad and the keyboard. This means you can assign up, down, left, right, and the middle button, as well as the keyboard... but not the "start menu","messaging","explorer","ok","calendar","contacts", "recording", or "camera" buttons.

The Process

1. Download This zip file to your computer. It is also Mirrored here thanks to bfaber, or from here thanks to hat at sprintpcsinfo.com..
2. Unzip the files into an empty folder
3. Ensure that ONLY these files are in that folder:

EnterBL.exe
GetDeviceData.exe
MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe
nk.nbf
notes.txt
RUU.conf
RUU.dll

Notes.txt is my personal notes on my ugprade. It isn't a required file... and is there for your reference only.

4. BACKUP YOUR POCKET PC use Sprite Backup or Activesync or Xbackup for just contacts/calendar/tasks. Make sure that what you use allows you to restore just those things (or use Permanent Save). Do not restore the registry!!!
5. Place your pocket PC in the cradle and make sure it is connected via activesync
6. Double-click MaUpgradeUt_noid
7. If it reports a country-code problem, let it exit and re-run it
8. Once the upgrade is complete, hard reset your phone (power button down + stylus in reset hole)

Enjoy Windows Media Player 10.

Troubleshooting

This section is here so that when things don't work, you can fix it, quickly, efficiently, and without looking like a moron for not following directions.

The upgrade failed with bad country code:

Don't soft reset. Don't touch anything. Don't disconnect. Just rerun the MaUpgradeUt_noID program

My PC program said it failed but everything works.

Don't worry. Be happy.

I did it all and restored and installed and things aren't working.

Too bad for you. DON'T RESTORE ANYTHING except for contacts, calendar, tasks. Redo the hard reset, and don't redo the restore.

I really think I need to post a new thread or crap on a current thread because I'm unique and my problem is unique.

Reflash the original ROM your PPC came with. You should have paid attention to the warnings at the top of this page.

Upgrade to 2.04.00 ROM

Note: this is a much more difficult process than the 2.03 upgrade because this is not an installer file. Instead it's a ROM dump from someone else's phone.
To use this you have to

Dump your own ROM

Capture the first 416 bytes of your own dump and save them

Replace the new ROM's first 416 bytes with your original ones

Dump that new ROM onto your phone

Credits

This process was worked out by various people from the threads referenced below. It was based on a ROM dump from an xda-developers reader... and lots of hard work by the posters of those threads.

What this gives you

Windows Media Player 10 (WMP10)
Separate icons for data status and phone status
Outlook SMTP Authentication allows setting different username/password than incoming u/p
Bluetooth "3600 stack" which is the 3500 stack with the BtCeStack.dll v1.0.0.3601
Having the latest and greatest -- months before your carrier releases it