Custom ROM request(s)

[Trident]

I saw alwaysbelieve1 said to post ROM requests and others might have also, so I thought I'd ask for some specifics after trying for a few hours to do this myself- and failing miserably.

I'd like an AKU3.5 ROM, preferably with the minimal Sprint customizations, whatever hacks are available for speed/stability and with the following software included (in order of preference, in case some aren't possible):
WisbarAdvance (not Lite/Desktop)
PocketBreeze
AgendaFusion8
VoiceCommand1.6
PhoneAlarm
iLauncher
MemMaid
LiveSearch
SPBBackup
Resco (FileExplorer/Registry; TotalCommander would be OK, but Resco is preferred.)
CF2
SMS, MMS, PicMail stuff.
Hack to remove the "system tray" on the bottom.

Things I'd like but don't have:
A decent PDF viewer
A game or two. I've got some card games and the OEM stuff, but something like Tetris or BlockBreaker would be OK.
Some WM6 sounds/icons/themes etc.
A working Flash viewer

Items I don't really care either way about:
Anything that makes my 6700 a flashlight/notepad/remote control. I have these items already and don't need to be that converged.
Anything that gives me BT stereo (I'll never get BT stereo headphones and doubt that any car in the near future will need to play anything stored on my phone)
A music player other than WMP. If someone wants to install something other than WMP, I don't care as long as I'm not wasting space with more than one program that does the same thing.
SmartDial.

I have no need for the following, and would like it to be forever gone:
Any voicedial other than MSVC.
ClearStorage
Download Agent
Most of the other OEM junk that I never use.

If anyone needs and of the above software in order to accomplish this, just let me know and I'll do whatever is necessary to get it to you. Retail software will not be sent with keys. <cough, cough>

So far, the closest to my dream ROM is Saridnour's. The Clean & Simple Sprint ROM is a close second for having the stuff removed like I want.

[isamu49]

In the off chance that someone may not fill your request, a reasonable alternative would be to supplement your post with some details as to where you were getting stuck in the build process. There's a much better chance of getting more input or help and many more people who can provide this sort of insight.

[Trident]

Originally Posted by isamu49

In the off chance that someone may not fill your request, a reasonable alternative would be to supplement your post with some details as to where you were getting stuck in the build process. There's a much better chance of getting more input or help and many more people who can provide this sort of insight.

I was using the "Cooking ROM tutorial" and got stuck when trying to transfer registry files from the CAB files using WinCE Cab Manager. Using the trial version wouldn't work... and I'm not willing to spend money on a program just to attempt to make a single ROM. I looked around for another program that might do it, but everyone refers to this one.
I was hoping that a "kitchen" would allow me to just "chop" an existing ROM up to remove and add what I wanted. It seems a bit more complicated than that. I'm not stupid, but working on this stuff makes me feel a bit awkward. I've got a new respect for the people that create these compilations.

[luv2chill]

Yikes.

No offense intended but do you really expect someone to just make this ROM for you? No one around here gets paid to do any of this and folks are nice enough to share the work they do find time for with the community. Think about what would happen if everyone (or even several other people) decided to follow your lead and ask for custom ROMs of their own (and let's face it everyone's got their own idea of what they want installed). It would quickly become a slippery slope.

ROMs take a tremendous amount of time to build and troubleshoot (as you've no doubt discovered), and I have a hard time believing anyone would just want to take requests to build free ROMs for people.

Now if you intend to pay someone for their time to do it, that's another thing, but you'd need to check with wideawake (the admin) to see if that's something he wants to allow here. Involving money in any of this is risky because this whole ROM situation is perched on quasi-legal ground as it is.

I think it's fine to post messages in the various custom ROM threads making small, specific requests for additions/changes (which the developer may or may not be receptive to). But please let's not start a precedent of "can someone build me a ROM with this and this and this".

As the other poster said, if you want help building your own custom ROM then feel free to ask specific questions where you're getting stuck. But if you decide to give up, you may just need to settle for someone else's pre-built and do your own customizations to it post-install.

Again, I don't mean any offense to you or anyone else in the same boat. I know it can be daunting at the beginning. But all the knowledge and help you need exists here for the taking. It simply comes down to whether you are willing to put in the time. Personally I think the reward is well worth it.

Edit: and to answer your question above, there is a free alternative called MSCEInf. The ROM-cooking guide on the wiki here (wiki.ppcgeeks.com) mentions it. Here's a link that should help you obtain it:

http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ind...&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

[Trident]

I don't "expect" anyone to do anything.
A few of the people building the ROMs had mentioned that they were open to input and requests.
I recognize that mine is pretty specific and will take time, but I also think that the configuration that I detailed works well and others might appreciate it. If someone were to build it (or even something close), I would probably not be the only one to benefit. There might be developers out there that like part of what I suggested and want to try something new. (I tried something new using AgendaFusion after having issues with PocketInformant with these new AKUs. I like both, but AF is working better for me now. Same thing with SPB backup vs. Sprite, etc.)

On the other side, if what I've requested isn't reasonable, then the community will express that by not responding. I don't have an issue with that either- no offense taken. But to imply that it's a "slippery slope" to even ask about having a custom ROM built... I'll just agree to disagree.

If payment becomes an issue... I would consider that, although it would take some consideration to determine who pays for what- does the first person who purchases a specific ROM pay all the R&D time? Does that person then own it and get to resell it? I suppose it goes back to what the market will bare. [And, as you mentioned, what the forum/mods will allow.] I certainly recognize that people's time is valuable.

Thanks for the link to the free CAB manager. Unfortunately, it still won't do what WinCE will- WinCE showed me the registry entries for Wisbar but wouldn't import them (in the trial version). MSCEInf doesn't even show them as being there.

I'd be interested to hear from others whether they think I'm being unreasonable or if there is an interest in a thread like this.

[Trident]

I'll take this lack of response as a general agreement with luv2chill.

Was anyone interested in getting paid or negotiating for creating a custom ROM?

I posted a possible alternative to WinCE CAB Mgr in another thread about that specific subject- was just wondering if anyone had looked at it to tell whether it would work?