Database Develop

initflashfiles.dat -- Help Needed

So I've been playing around for a little while with the intention of creating my own custom ROM. I think I've got everything all figured out - however I'm having a problem that I think is related to the initflashfiles.dat file. Basically, after flashing my new OS ROM, my 8125 hangs at the splash screen with the version numbers on it. As a test, I redid my modified ROM, except I used the original initflashfiles.dat - this worked just fine. Tried it again by building the ROM with my modified initflashfiles.dat - same problem.
Here are the steps I'm going through.
1. Parse out the nk.nbf file using typhoonnbfdecode -x
2. prepare_imgfs 80040000-OS.nb -nosplit
3. viewimgfs imgfs_raw_data.bin
4. Modify contents of dump directory. Basically I've deleted files I don't need and added new ones.
5. Modifiy initflashfiles.dat (which I've attached). After modifying the file I open it in a hex editor and remove the first two bytes - making the first byte 3B (";"). I save it and mark it as read-only.
6. buildimgfs
7. make_imgfs 80040000-OS.nb -nosplit
8. Run nb2nbf_tornado.exe. I do run this correctly, using the correct memory address for the OS .nb file.
9. Put the new nk.nbf into an existing RUU self-extracting archive and run it.
It really seems like it's the initflashfiles.dat file - as I've successfully loaded this ROM with the original file (its really not the original, it's from a summiter ROM that I'm basing mine off).
Any thoughts?

I'm going to bump this once just in case people missed it originally.
I've messed around a bit more, and have pretty much isolated that this is my problem - but for the life of me I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

CameronJ said:
I'm going to bump this once just in case people missed it originally.
I've messed around a bit more, and have pretty much isolated that this is my problem - but for the life of me I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
i see that the file you've attached isn't actually a .DAT file. It is a .dat.TXT that's the same that saying it's a TXT file!!!
If the file you're putting inside your ROM is this very same file (.dat.txt) then you've found your problem: you need a .DAT and NOT a .dat.txt file!!!
Try following this procedure on your PC (i suppose you're using XP or 2003 server):
- open a folder (whichever folder you like, it's not important)
- on the Tools menu click Folder Options.
- click the View tab.
- clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.
- press OK
PS: Here is an illustrated guide on how to show file extensions
Now go to the place where your initflashfiles.dat is. If the file is named 'initflashfiles.dat.TXT' (like the file you uploaded in this forum) then:
- select the file
- press F2 (or right click and choose 'Rename')
- remove the tailing .txt from the name
Finally:
- let us know if it worked
Bye bye

risidoro said:
i see that the file you've attached isn't actually a .DAT file. It is a .dat.TXT that's the same that saying it's a TXT file!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:lol: Thanks for the reply.
I had to add the .txt extension otherwise the forum wouldn't let me upload the file (.dat files are not on the list of available file types for upload).
When I loaded the file I meant to put that explanation in there but forgot before I finished the post.

Hi. I don't know if you're still working on this, but I'd like to share with you my experience last night. I examined your initflashfiles.dat, and it is perfectly ok.
As I see in your initflashfiles.dat, there are a lot of folder customization like:
Directory("\Program Files\Task Manager"):-File("taskmanager.exe","\Windows\taskmanager.exe")
There is nothing wrong with this as we need the file to be in the right location. BTW, THIS FORMAT WORKED FOR ME. Just a thought, you might be editing the default.hv and user.hv (hives) to put in the registry keys of some applications?
My device (Himalaya) did not start out correctly and did not execute the initflashfiles.dat, BUT when I connected my Hima through active sync, you can actually explore the contents. SO, in this non-working state, I experimented in tracing the culprit, by restoring a couple of the original files I edited. I found out that it has something to do with the way I edited the hives.
Steps I made in experimenting:
1. I sync my Hima to my PC.
2. Copied the original default.hv to \windows directory
3. Hard Reset Hima, BUT answer NO to all three boot options
4. My Hima started normally and executed initflashfiles.dat to the detail.
Discovery from experiment:
1. The files were only copied to the directory were we wanted it, BUT the original file is still in the \windows directory. Therefore, we did not save storage memory.
2. We only benefitted from an already installed app built into the ROM.
Hope this gives you some insight.

Personalising ROM's... without Ext_ROM

Okay, there a couple of CAB files I install no matter what ROM I use (Total Commander, Today Screen Speed Dial, MortRing [by .exe], Morphy's Call Filter etc), now that I'm getting to grips with the whole ROM building thing I have a question:
How can I add a program installed via a CAB into a ROM so that it is installed into ROM, I've searched on the forum and can't find much. I know it can be done as ROM's such a TuMa's, Logout's and Ivan's have apps in ROM which aren't there by default...
EDIT: In addition, I overwrite some of the default ROM stuff once I've installed (ETEN M600 Dialler in particular), so again, how can I get the 'bits' out the cab and overwrite the default contents of the ROM, this would make my life much easier...
If this has been posted previously then please point me in the right direction

First extract files, shortcuts and registry entries from the .cab using wince cab manager or similar http://www.ocpsoftware.com/, take note on what directory each file/shortcut is in. (often more reg entries will be stored as a file called 'platformxxx.reg' use these too)
Normal rom edit way: add the contents of the exported .reg files to default.rgu, making sure that you leave a blank line on the end, copy all the files to the \dump directory and edit initflashfiles.dat to copy them to the right directory on first boot. (remeber to remove the first two bytes - ff fe with a hex editor). then build your rom!
Bepe's rom edit way: create a folder '[your software name]' in the oem folder and get yourself a guid from here http://kruithof.xs4all.nl/uuid/uuidgen. create a blank file called '[yourguid].dsm and a blank text file called '[yourguid].rgu'. add the contents of the exported .reg files to '[yourguid].rgu' and make sure you save as unicode. then copy all the other files to the folder and create a blank unicode txt file called 'initflashfiles.txt' and use it like initflashfiles.dat in the first method except there is no need to hex edit out the first two bytes. then build your rom!

midget, you're a star, I thought it may be something simple... I'm off out with the family now for the day, but I'll work on this later, cheers!

initflashfiles.dat missing?

Hey!
I'm new to this stuff, don't be to hard to me!
What i have done yet:
1) Downloaded different Roms and created a dump of it, so i can compare them.
2) After this i, want to great my own Rom based of the German Qtek Rom.
For Comparison i took the "RIsidoro"-Rom.
i created of both the dump folder of the OS.
Now i want to add to the Qtek Rom for example CF2, Minimo and TotalCommander.
What i think i have to do:
-Copy the needed Files to the dump folder
-Edit the initflashfiles.dat
-Create a CAB in the Extended Rom to make the regestry entrys
My Problem is, i cant find a initflashfiles.dat in the Qtek Rom!
What i have done wrong?
Sorry for my bad english, i hope you can understand my problem
Thanks for your reply,
MAPero

Sry guys for post again.
But i haven't found any thing in this forum what could help me!
Everywhere is said, to edit initflashfiles.dat
But there is no initflashfiles.dat.
I have found a second way i think,
Normal rom edit way: add the contents of the exported .reg files to default.rgu, making sure that you leave a blank line on the end, copy all the files to the \dump directory and edit initflashfiles.dat to copy them to the right directory on first boot. (remeber to remove the first two bytes - ff fe with a hex editor). then build your rom!
Bepe's rom edit way: create a folder '[your software name]' in the oem folder and get yourself a guid from here http://kruithof.xs4all.nl/uuid/uuidgen. create a blank file called '[yourguid].dsm and a blank text file called '[yourguid].rgu'. add the contents of the exported .reg files to '[yourguid].rgu' and make sure you save as unicode. then copy all the other files to the folder and create a blank unicode txt file called 'initflashfiles.txt' and use it like initflashfiles.dat in the first method except there is no need to hex edit out the first two bytes. then build your rom!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But i am not sure, what is meant by oem folder!?!? is the dump folder meant?

Building your own kitchen (Part 1)

Xplode has created a really great kitchen for us to play with and have made my custom ROM with this kitchen. I think it’s so easy that everyone is now able to create his own ROM.
However, I would like to go a bit further: Instead of just using the kitchen someone has made, I would like to take any of the ROMs (e.g. Helmi_BA_WM2k5_AKU3.5_v1.4.CF2 R2 by baniaczek) and use that as my kitchen starting point.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the subject and this is what I’ve figured out so far. It is by no means complete (or maybe even correct), but I can certainly use some help to get further. Below information is not something I found out on my own, but is based on what is mentioned in other postings in different forums and websites and picking apart the batch files I’ve found in several kitchens.
My intention of this posting is to make a simple how-to wiki-page so anyone could create his/her own kitchen and from that kitchen create the best possible ROM for their own use: Add the packages they use and leave out the stuff they don’t need. My plan is not that everyone will start publishing the ROM they have created from a decompiled ROM since there would simply be to many chefs
------------------
Step 1: Convert the nbf file to an nba file.
The ROM file that you load on your phone is always called nk.nbf. However, before you can do anything with this file, you’ll need to convert to to nk.nba. For this you use a tool called “xda3nbftool.exe” (yes, the one you used to set the operator with)
The command to do the conversion is: xda3nbftool.exe -x nk.nbf nk.nba 0x20040521
After a minute or so, you’ll have a file called “nk.nba” that is the same size as the original
Step 2: Brake the nk.nba file into separate files.
The nk.nba file consists of 2 parts and need to be split. To do this split, you’ll use the following command:
prepare_imgfs.exe nk.nba
After the program has run, you’ll have 2 files: “imgfs_removed_data.bin” (0.5 mb) and “imgfs_raw_data.bin” (variable size, but e.g. 27 mb)
Obviously, the part we’re interested in is the bigger file of the 2.
Important remark: For other HTC platforms (like HTC Uni), the above command is executed with an extra parameter “-nosplit”. However, if that parameter is added the output is unusable when performed on the Blue Angel ROM.
Step 3: Extract the modules
Now you have the raw image file, you’ll need to extract it and convert it back into modules.
To do this, you’ll first need to place a file called “recmod.exe” in the directory where the imgfs_raw_data.bin file is. The next step is to run this command:
viewimgfs imgfs_raw_data.bin
This command will create a directory called “dump” and it will extract all the files and many directories in this directory. You can have a look in this directory and will probably recognize a lot of the names if you have been building ROMs on someone’s kitchen.
Step 4: Dividing the modules into SYS and OEM
Before you can do anything with these modules, you’ll first need to convert them to packages. To do this, you’ll need a piece of software called “Package Tool” (from Bepe)
Start the program and select the dump folder via “File\Open”. Once selected, it will give some basic information about the dump directory like OS etc.
Now select Tools\Build Packages, but before you start the command, make sure you have the file map.txt in the same directory as the Package Tools application. That way, many of the GUID numbers will be translated to readable names.
This program will just run a few seconds. After it is complete, you’ll now find a SYS and OEM directory in the dump directory. If everything went well, then there will be just 1 file left: initflashfiles.dat. All other files and directories that were there before are now in the SYS or OEM directory.
However, in the real world…. My experience with several ROMs I’ve tried, the Package Tools program is unable to properly complete the process for a, to me, unknown reason and when it has run, the directory is far from empty. Under the section “[Missing Files]” there is the information about files that are missing.
When you look in this file, you’ll see that all the missing files are not really missing but are directories with the same names and extension of the files that where not placed in the correct sub-directories. All is not lost yet. You can manually move the files to the mentioned directories. Once you have completed this job, you should still end up with a virtually empty dump directory.
There is also a chance, like with fake WM6 ROM on this forum, that after you move all the files that are mentioned in the “missing files”-section but still end up with a long list of files in the dump directory. If that’s the case, then obviously something went wrong. However, at this point, I don’t know why this happens. However, it does look like it’s not a good starting point to build your own ROM with.
Remark: The “Missing files” section may also contain entries like this one:
19a7f28b-6bc7-4fe9-b060-76ae3a65ff72
19a7f28b-6bc7-4fe9-b060-76ae3a65ff72.rgu (File)
This indicates that the RGU file is missing. However, this is not a big problem. Just create an empty file with the name in the mentioned directory. Later on, the BuildOS.exe program will use the empty file to place the correct information in the file.
Step 5: Move the 2 directories
Now you have the correct SYS and OEM files, you’re on you way to start cooking. Move the 2 directories to a different directory. (like how it is in Xplode kitchen for example) and remove the dump directory
------------ Now, I’m at this point and here I’m a bit lost ------
Step 6: Adding and removing
Now you are at the part that was the whole point of the exercise: Adding and removing packages. Adding premade packages is not too difficult: With some luck the packages you want to add can be found in a different kitchen or is otherwise available. (Helmi and others wrote some documents on how to create packages, so refer to those).
Take the packages and place them in the OEM directory.
Taking out packages should be as simple as well: Just move the directories of packages you don’t want to a different directory (you could also just delete them, but you might need them again later). When removing packages, there is of course a big chance that you remove something that is essential for a part of the OS that you are not aware of, so removing bit and pieces is more trail, error and a bit of luck.
(continued on the next post)

Building your own kitchen (Part 2)
(continued from above port)
Step 6a: Changing the registry
After you’ve followed step 1 to 5, you also extracted the default.hv and user.hv and can be found in SYS\Metadata directory. This is the registry that also contain all the bits and pieces of registry files that are in the packages (the .RGU files)
To modify these 2 files, use these commands:
SET _FLATRELEASEDIR=.
rgucomp -o default.hv -nologo > default.txt
rgucomp -o user.hv -nologo > user.txt
Add "REGEDIT4" in the beginning of the files and leave a blank line at the end of the file. Save the file as UTF-16 or Unicode format. (Ultra-Edit is very good editor for this)
After you have made the changes, you will need to covert them back to a format your PPC will understand. Use these commands:
SET _FLATRELEASEDIR=.
copy default.txt boot.rgu
rgucomp -b
ren boot.hv default.hv
copy user.txt boot.rgu
rgucomp -b
ren boot.hv user.hv
---------------
The next steps are basically the reverse from the first 5 steps: After taking the files apart, they now need to be put back into place.
----------------------------------
Step 7: Building the ROM up again.
To start building the ROM now, the first command you execute is BuildOS.exe.
This program will create the dump directory again and will copy the directories and files from SYS and OEM to the directory.
Remark: There are several versions of BuildOS on this forum. Xplode’s kitchen is using a more advanced version where you can easily select the packages you want to be included (instead of moving them in and out the directory). This is a much nicer approach and will make ROM building as simple as installing a regular piece of software on your PC. However, to keep it a bit more simple for this how-to, I’m assuming an older version of BuildOS.exe that will not ask for any user input. (The more advanced version will require you to modify XML files to add packages. It’s not too difficult, but does require a bit more background knowledge)
Step 8: Building the file image system
Now you have all the files and directories that make up the ROM, you’ll need to convert it back into a file image.
For this, you run the program BUILDIMGFS (without any parameters)
Remark: For some reason, but this program is very memory intensive. If you don’t have that much internal memory, or your swap file is too small, this program is never able to completely run. I’ve noticed this problem on more then 1 computer. (I have the source code of this program and tried if I could do something about this. However, the program is heavily relying on a DLL called “cecompr_nt.dll” and I expect that that DLL is the culprit. I’ve been searching for more information on this DLL, but have not found anything on the internet about it)
Important note: If you have added to many modules to your own ROM, the BUILDIMGFS process may crash. So, if this happens, you’ll need to go back to step 6 and remove some of the packages you’ve added. If you go back to step 6, you’ll need to delete the “dump” directory first.
This program will convert the dump directory back in the file “imgfs_raw_data.bin”.
Once the program has run, the file should be something like 27 mb again.
If the program does not crash and runs to completion, there is still a chance that you have added to many packages to your ROM. When the BUILDIMGFS is ready, it will show the number of free sectors at the end of file system image. If it is showing something like ffffef that means that it’s too big, since it should show a small (hexadecimal) number like 1e or something like that.
Since/If you want to add as many packages as possible to the ROM (instead of installing them in RAM) you may need to repeat step 6, 7 and 8 several times. To make your life a bit easier, make a screen shot of the OEM directory and keep track which one worked and which one didn’t). If you go back to step 6, you’ll need to delete the “dump” directory first.
Step 9: Building the nk.nba
To create the nk.nba file again, you need the file you just created in step 8, but also the other file created in step 2: imgfs_removed_data.bin (maybe this file is created by buildimgfs??)
When you have these 2 files in a directory together, run this command:
MAKE_IMGFS nk.nba
Once the program is complete, the nk.nba file should be something 32 mb again.
Important remark: For other HTC platforms (like HTC Uni), the above command is executed with an extra parameter “-nosplit”. However, if that parameter is added the output is unusable when performed on the BA ROM.
Step 10: Convert the nk.nba back into nk.nbf
The final step of the process: creating the file that our BA understands: nk.nbf
This step is into 2 pieces:
A: Update the check-sum of the nk.nha file with this command:
XDA3NBFTOOL -c -u nk.nba
B: Convert the file:
XDA3NBFTOOL -x nk.nba nk.nbf 0x20040521
As you can see, the last parameter is the same as in step 1. This is some sort of password that is needed to encode the file with.
Now, the ROM is complete and you’re ready to flash it on your BA. I assume that you know how to do that part

** Can I use Notepad to edit and save ???
I got error here. When I try to do
To modify these 2 files, use these commands:
SET _FLATRELEASEDIR=.
rgucomp -o default.hv -nologo > default.txt
rgucomp -o user.hv -nologo > user.txt
Add "REGEDIT4" in the beginning of the files and leave a blank line at the end of the file. Save the file as UTF-16 or Unicode format. (Ultra-Edit is very good editor for this)
After you have made the changes, you will need to covert them back to a format your PPC will understand. Use these commands:
SET _FLATRELEASEDIR=.
copy default.txt boot.rgu
rgucomp -b
ren boot.hv default.hv
copy user.txt boot.rgu
rgucomp -b
ren boot.hv user.hv
************************************************************
C:\Scoter Kitchen\Utilities\TOOLS>rgucomp -b
Microsoft (R) RGUComp Version 1.0.000
Registry file processor and hive builder.
Copyright (C) 2004 Microsoft Corporation All Rights Reserved.
built: Nov 19 2004 15:17:13
importing registry file ".\boot.rgu"...
InitRegistry FAILED in file ".\boot.rgu" within a few lines of line 1.
BuildBootHive: (RGUComp) !ERROR failed importing ".\boot.rgu"
wmain: (RGUComp) !ERROR failed building BOOT hive
****************************************************
Now, I got errors on line 3 of default.rgu and line 154 of user.rgu ...
I didn't edit those line at all .. Why errors !!
I put REGEDIT4 in the first line of both default.txt, and user.txt and leave 1 blank line at the end.
I saved it into unicode.

Thank you for the info, will sure to give it a try when I have time later on...

Thank you very much! Will try to localize ROM using OEM Packages.

How to localize WWE ROM to other language?

Modded Cappackage.pxp Files

So I thought it would be worthwhile to create a thread focusing on modified "cappackage.pxp" files. These are the files which control the default carrier specific configurations. In my case, I am running the Aussie "Three" WM6 OS, however I wanted some, but not all, of the ATT customizations. For example, I wanted the proxy tool, the logos and the certs . . . Attached is a modified version of the ATT cappackage.pxp file. I had difficulty configuring WindowsMobileLive.cab and the HTC task manager to automatically install as part of this new file so I will post those cab files as well for convenience (for those who may want it).
If you have a customized cappackage.pxp, please post it in this thread and describe how it has been modified so everyone can decide which they may want to use.
Here are the changes I made to the cappackage.pxp file. Note, all of these .cab files should be possible to install directly simply by extracting from original ATT WM6 cappackage.pxp in case you happen to need one of them:
delete getgood.cab
delete getmail.cab
delete realplayer.cab
delete getmobitv.cab
delete cmradio.cab
delete attmallandmusic.cab
delete musicid.cab
delete jarguarrm.cab
delete gettelenav.cab
alter "Att_Settings.prov.xml" to remove messaging and Windows Mobile Live registry customizations
add install of new devstate.dll (exists in 3AUS cappackage.pxp and also in ROW 2.23 cappackage.pxp)
ABS
EDITED 12-30-2007: Note - this altered cappackage.pxp file is based off the "leaked" ATT WM6 ROM.

abs99 said:
So I thought it would be worthwhile to create a thread focusing on modified "cappackage.pxp" files. These are the files which control the default carrier specific configurations. In my case, I am running the Aussie "Three" WM6 OS, however I wanted some, but not all, of the ATT customizations. For example, I wanted the proxy tool, the logos and the certs . . . Attached is a modified version of the ATT cappackage.pxp file. I had difficulty configuring WindowsMobileLive.cab and the HTC task manager to automatically install as part of this new file so I will post those cab files as well for convenience (for those who may want it).
If you have a customized cappackage.pxp, please post it in this thread and describe how it has been modified so everyone can decide which they may want to use.
Here are the changes I made to the cappackage.pxp file. Note, all of these .cab files should be possible to install directly simply by extracting from original ATT WM6 cappackage.pxp in case you happen to need one of them:
delete getgood.cab
delete getmail.cab
delete realplayer.cab
delete getmobitv.cab
delete cmradio.cab
delete attmallandmusic.cab
delete musicid.cab
delete jarguarrm.cab
delete gettelenav.cab
alter "Att_Settings.prov.xml" to remove messaging and Windows Mobile Live registry customizations
add install of new devstate.dll (exists in 3AUS cappackage.pxp and also in ROW 2.23 cappackage.pxp)
ABS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, any idea if we can add another carrier in the carrier_db file that isn't there?

john_99 said:
Thanks, any idea if we can add another carrier in the carrier_db file that isn't there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly do not know. Sorry. You might ask Olipro as he seems to be very knowledgeable.

abs99, what tool did you use to repackage your PXP file. I've tried several archive tools to .ZIP and rename, but no joy. I've looked, but can't find any info on PXP file creation. Surely, I'm missing something simple here.
TIA

I found that "winrar" can handle the files without a problem. I had also noticed that the date stamps were the same for all the files in the original package, so I also use a tool called "stamp it" to set all the dates on all the files in the new package to the same original date.

thanks. I found that 7-zip is working too.
Now, the next step, I'm trying to mod the capdata.xml file and for whatever reason the device will not recognize it after my mods.
Here's my version of an ATT config file:
Code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
- <Varnish xmlns="http://www.ephox.com/product/editliveforxml/document/Untitled20062026011007629">
<Version />
<Notes />
<UpgradePath>always|</UpgradePath>
- <PolA>
- <Certificates>
<File>CingularCert.prov.xml</File>
</Certificates>
- <Certificates>
<File>Class3_PCA_G2_v2.xml</File>
</Certificates>
- <Certificates>
<File>entrust_gssl_ca.prov.xml</File>
</Certificates>
- <Certificates>
<File>RSA1024RootCA.prov.xml</File>
</Certificates>
- <Certificates>
<File>RSA2048RootCA.prov.xml</File>
</Certificates>
- <Certificates>
<File>VeriSign_C3_PCA_G3v2.prov.xml</File>
</Certificates>
- <Ringtone>
<File>AT&T Tone.wav</File>
</Ringtone>
- <ProvXML>
<File>ATT_Settings.prov.xml</File>
</ProvXML>
- <ProvXML>
<File>MSFPHeartbeat.prov.xml</File>
</ProvXML>
- <ProvXML>
<File>ResetRequired.prov.xml</File>
</ProvXML>
- <InstallApp>
<File>WindowsLive.CAB</File>
</InstallApp>
- <InstallApp>
<File>ATT_Theme.CAB</File>
</InstallApp>
- <InstallApp>
<File>ProxyManager.CAB</File>
</InstallApp>
- <InstallApp>
<File>ATT_Content.cab</File>
</InstallApp>
- <ExtractZip>
<From>DevState.zip</From>
<To>\Windows</To>
</ExtractZip>
</PolA>
- <Welcome>
<WaitImage>E_PolishImage.bmp</WaitImage>
</Welcome>
- <Sweatshop>
<AccountName>GEN</AccountName>
<VarnishName>ENG</VarnishName>
<BuildName>005</BuildName>
<User>[email protected]</User>
<Environment>Sweatshop QA Staging</Environment>
<CoreVersion>1.9.9</CoreVersion>
<Treo750Version>3.0.0</Treo750Version>
<DateStamp>Wed Aug 22 6:10:15 PDT 2007</DateStamp>
</Sweatshop>
</Varnish>
Any thoughts? This is just a basic mod and plan to get more detailed configs in there once I figure out what I'm doing wrong.
TIA

The issue with this file may be that editor you are using is adding "white space". I found that some editors caused this to occur. I ended up the file in notepad to avoid the problem as it was a real mess to deal with any other way. You should open the original unedited file and your new edited file in notepad and compare both. For whatever reason, the OS does not like to deal with a properly formatted .xml file!

Thanks mate, the white space and file size were the culprit. Was trying to cheat and use MS xmlnotepad - very easy to use, but it added the whitespace as it made it pretty to look at. I also was trying to cram too much into my archive; the extracted archives need to fit in the 8.4mb along with the archive itself.
Attached is a custom CapPackage.PXP with the following (based from ATT 2.25 ROW, CapPackage.PXP):
ATT Theme
Regional Settings: US, - 5 EST
ExtROM mount and rename
Custom ringtone
Custom Sounds Settings
Delete poutlook.lnk from startup
Set Hello to ATT
Disable CAB security policy
Removed all ATT applications (CV, real, win live, etc)
TODO: Incorporate RegHacks of additional settings customization and tweaks (lots of typing...), right now I install and merge the apps I want after initial setup completes.
Cheers

HOW TO
***always a good idea to backup existing files before attempting any modification***
1. mount your extended rom (search for the cabs and instructions on this site)
2. copy the CapPackage.PXP from ExtendedROM\Partition to your PC
3. extract the contents to a folder named CapPackage on your PC (any ZIP compliant archive tool will do)
4. remove/add the *signed* cab files your desire (unsigned cab files simply get passed over)
5. open capdata.xml in epcEDIT or notepad.
6. add/remove the configuration information as desired - this is where some trial and error comes in trying to determine what commands control what function.
7. ZIP (no other archive format seems to work) the CapPackage folder to CapPackage.PXP (or rename .zip to .pxp).
8. copy to ExtendedROM and hardreset.
TODO:
-Hope to be able to post a list of commands for the XML to enable configure of most if not all device "settings"
-Hope to figure out a way to get unsigned cabs to install (present workaround is a zip extract and registry commands if the app isn't too complex (e.g. lots and lots of typing required)
--Not sure yet if reg hack setting "HKLM\Security\Policies\Policies' valuename '0000101a' to dword:1" will resolve this during initial setup

Okay, after getting my questions about how this all works and saves the space on the phone, I took the plunge and upgraded from 2.23ROW to 2.25ATT. Went smooth as butter, and I have a "decrapified" phone with the official, supported ATT release (just in case I have any problems and need support).
Of course, being a hacker, now I'm totally intrigued by this cappackage customization, and want to play with it myself. So, Tim et. al., two questions:
Does the capdata.xml file have to match the contents of the archive? Or, if something's missing, it's just ignored? I'd like to be able to delete some more stuff and remake the PXP file without having to hassle with the XML file and run into the problems you have (workable, but I just don't want to waste time on whitespace issues if I don't have to).
Does the carrierDB file need to stay in the extended ROM for any reason after install and setup? I'd like to archive it on my PC, and delete it from the extrom so I can use that space for general storage.

microsoft word has a wonderful xml file editor. rather than try and keep everything straight in that jumbled up mess you get out of notepad or some other editor, word indents all the xml, and makes it look like it should. it was a snap to edit. I used Winrar and opened the PXP file. I never extracted the contents. Just the capdata file. I edited it, and then put the edited version back into winrar. using winrar I deleted the files I didn't want. saved the archive and moved it back to the device.

dwallersv said:
Does the capdata.xml file have to match the contents of the archive? Or, if something's missing, it's just ignored? I'd like to be able to delete some more stuff and remake the PXP file without having to hassle with the XML file and run into the problems you have (workable, but I just don't want to waste time on whitespace issues if I don't have to).
Does the carrierDB file need to stay in the extended ROM for any reason after install and setup? I'd like to archive it on my PC, and delete it from the extrom so I can use that space for general storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. The XML will bypass anything it can't actually do.
2. I have tried it both ways and feel like I've had no issues, but I have seen some reports of strange behavior without it. I currently have it in my ExtROM since I hard reset my device often as I test apps and config settings. If you don't hard reset very often then once the device is hard reset you may delete and gain an additional 1.45mb.
The thing I intend to work on next is creating a provisioning XML to call an external XML (outside of the cappackage). I'm hoping this way I will be able to strip even more out of the cappackage (literally everything but the capdata.xml) and hav an on the fly configuration capability and call installations and configuration from the SD card. Haven't had much time to play with it though.

Can someone help point me in the right direction to get start loading the cappackage. I can't seem to find how to mount the extended ROM. I did a search for it and everything that came up didn't explain it (or at least I didn't understand it if it did).

Hmm, I can't seem to find the original thread either. Really just registry entries, but the cab's make it easier.
See attached...
Run each in order, then soft reset
Cheers
FYI: You can use my cappackage (see pg 1) as a starting/reference point for building the extROM mount into the initial config process after hard reset...

Try this. ...............
sodak said:
Can someone help point me in the right direction to get start loading the cappackage. I can't seem to find how to mount the extended ROM. I did a search for it and everything that came up didn't explain it (or at least I didn't understand it if it did).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thanks to both of you for the quick response

I don't know whether it is because of this or because of something else. But I started modding this CapPackage file, and all of a sudden my treo just started acting weird. I had to hard reset it several times throughout the day. Then I upgraded to the 2.25 WM6. And that is where **** really hit the fan (I upgraded and put my own CapPackage version in it). And after that I've had nothing but trouble. Soft resets didn't work anymore, it just crashed on the boot screen. Hard resets work, but really slow, takes about 20min. So now I'm re-upgrading to 2.25 and just leaving that CapPackage file alone for now .
The tale away message: Don mess with this unless you know what you're doing, which isn't me
-Robert