Installing Programs in Extended ROM
 

OK, finally bit the bullet and unlocked/cleared out my Alltel Extended ROM with my last flash to 1.0.2. Love having the extra 9.9MB of storage... I installed a few big programs in there and it all went great.

Now, the question. If I was to reflash 1.0.2 or whatever new version may come out, or just hard reset for that matter, what happens to the programs I installed in Extended ROM? I assume that the files will still be there after a reflash, but I would have to reinstall them from the cabs since none of the registry keys will exist anymore.

Assuming I am right about this, what's the best way to go about it? Do I need to clear out the files first, or can I just reinstall them over the existing files?

Your suppositions are correct about what will happen whenever you hard reset or flash a new CE ROM.

The "hard" way to get around this is to create a custom settings OEM for yourself to include in the ROMs you build. You would then include the reg settings for the programs you installed to the extrom inside your custom OEM, as well as shortcuts to get copied to \Programs for those apps. End result is that whenever you hard reset the reg entries go back in and the shortcuts are re-created. I've been doing this for a while with TomTom, Slingplayer and a couple of other apps with great results.

The "easy" way, as you've said would be to just reinstall the cab files every time you have to hard reset or change ROMs. If you don't have the skills yet to create OEM packages then this is the right way to go, since you'll be sure that the everything gets inserted properly and in the right places. You still benefit from having the extra storage space--it just requres a little more work on your part each time you hard reset.

Oh, and keep in mind (if it wasn't obvious) that you have to unlock your extrom after every hard reset and ROM flash. The bootloader automatically relocks it during a hard reset.

I've not seen the automatic relock chill - and I have done many a hard reset... you SURE? (assuming it's an empty extended rom, that is)

I had re re-hide mine as microsoft has some braindead software (email, live search) that can put its caches on a "storage card" but does not let you pick which - so they go to extended rom... Just a quick regedit to hide/show it, and oddly enough you can still run stuff installed on there, even if hidden.

sorry to hijack, whats the quick hiding regedit?

Thanks!

i second that, whats the regedit?

Lemme dig it out...
hmmm its on my ppc... will post it tomorrow!

Ok here it is
That's the registry key to re-hide it, you'll need a soft reset. You can still access it via total commander

Perfect! Thanks a whole bunch :) To others who might try this, to access the folder in total commander, you've gotta type in \extended_rom in the address bar, it doesn't show in the list.

Thanks!