Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Remember when I asked if there were .hv files? :) If the .hv are not present, it is a good indicator that the rom was built with the ppckitchen, and those you can't rebuild and flash using this method. Don't know why, you just can't.

and the 1.12 latti...you can change that, it is in ..\kitchen\tools\vogue_nbh.txt

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

I see. so is there a way for me to import his drivers and stuff into the kitchen ?
maybe import the nbh file and only select what I want?

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Without advanced knowledge, you would have to ask the chef...

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

geeze why is this so difficult for me haha

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Chefs spend many hours developing their techniques, drivers, screens and what not. My experience has come from decompiling and playing around with countless roms since I got the bug, in January of 2008. I am willing to share my knowledge, but your general question about drivers and stuff...That's the whole rom er shall I say the soul of the chef. Keep reading and searching. You'll gain the knowledge soon enough!

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

I have some OEMs (no cabs unfortunately for me) that I'd like to add to No2Chem's latest Titan rom [nueROM 2.2-5770-pre8] but since he has not graced us with a corresponding kitchen as of yet, I have been trying your method but I have not been successful. Do you know if your method should work on No2Chem's roms? Is there hope? He does have an AWESOME program built in that will install OEMs after the rom has already been flashed! But alas, it does not work on all OEMs. I also tried a program called WinCE Cab Manager to try and convert the OEMs to cabs but that did not work either.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

the ROM that you are using may be missing the .rgu file the vogue kitchen tools are not designed to decompile all roms some chefs use different techniques and tools to cook roms

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Great info.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

I just followed your guide and decompliled the voguimg.nbh from the new Bell Rom
The only part I'm worried about is after extracting the original .exe it contains some other files that look important. LaunchPPST.exe, PPST__.CAB, Special_4350_For_BM.NBH, TM31402.prl and maybe UI.dll
Any suggestions as to how to handle these files when rebuilding a new rom.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Those files are not necessary except when you flash the whole package initially. With this tutorial, the only one you really need to be concerned with is the .nbh file out of the release .exe. If there are two .nbh files inside, then select the larger one of the two. I'll check it out as well..

Edit: You want to use VOGUIMG.nbh...Executing the new .EXE will upgrade your radio, prl and rom. Do this before flashing/playing with a custom rom from voguimg.nbh.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

How do you add/edit the startup splash images and startup animation?

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Follow this tutorial by dereknjenny04 to change the boot/splash screens. Doing so will be like hard resetting your device...

You can change the animation by replacing this file: \windows\SPCS_startup.gif using resco file explorer. (this will allow you to overwrite the system file)

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Thanks for the info. I had figured that the radio was the special_4350_for_BM.nbh.
The files refering to ppst were concerning me since I want the ppst available in my new rom.
So I did use the voguimg.nbh and added a few oems and reflashed and as it turned out PPST.exe still installs at the "customization in 3 sec" portion after the flash.

Don't suppose you know what part of the stripped rom contains the after boot customizations?

BTW as I said b4, this tutorial of yours is really good.
Thanks

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Don't have the "Brain" with me, but it should be ..\OEM\OperatorPKG_PT. And thank you for the compliment. I was a complete noob once and wish I had them then...

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Good call. Directory had some of the files that run during "customization" and a config.txt that showed all the programs installed during "customization" including ones not in that directory.
ppst.exe wasn't in there but it shows that it runs from /windows so it's likely in another oem directory. doesn't really matter but it's good to see how the customizations work. I'm thinking that any program that is cabbed and can't be OEM'd easily could likely be added to the config.txt here.
Thanks

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

How do you edit the ROM version shown in the device info screen. I already know how to change the version in the boot screen (Dutty's NBH Tool) but have failed to figure out how to change it in the device information screen.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

set in most Sprint stock roms inside mxipupdate_zzPIED_100.provxml

or in the registry @
HKLM\Software\OEM
"ROMVersion"="RSTG 3.03 v1.04"

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

I know in the Titan ROM's that the 4350 file IS NOT the radio. The radio is merged in the RUU_signed.nbh. It's easily extracted with Dutty's NBH Tool.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

after you run the pkgtool to extract your oem and sys it looks like you are leaving some files behind. might be why a straight recompile breaks some stuff.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Thanks Great post!

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Why thanks! It apparently has become my new mission in life to help everyone learn how to make their own rom! It's definately one of the most semi-affordable hobbies I've ever had... :) And fun...

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

OEM questions.

After you run prepit.bat and fill the SYS folder, are the SYS sub-folders actually OEM's?

I thought I could just copy some OEM's that I wasn't sure about from \SYS\{subfldr} to the OEM folder then have the checkbox option in BuildOS. But that doesn't seem to work.

I also tried to copy the same folders over to PPCKitchen USER_OEM but it didn't see them either.

So, I assume the decompiled SYS sub-folders are not OEM's. Then the question is.... what they hell are they??

Thanks

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Yes, they are OEM's...but they have been partially incorporated into the rom already. Incorporated means they are missing:

1. option.xml (needed by buildos for them checkboxes)
2. initflashfiles.txt (incorporated into initflashfiles.dat)
3. GUID*.RGU (sometimes...) (incorporated into user.hv and default.hv)

So, without those components, their no good really.

So yes they are OEM's, but only Partial OEM's...A search over @ xda-developers and ppcgeeks you might find a whole OEM...

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

When you run BuildOS the following happens to the "stuff" in the OEM and SYS folders of your kitchen:

..\OEM directory:
1. Processes initflashfiles.txt
2. Processes *.RGU
3. copies files into the ROM

..\SYS directory:
1. Copies files into the ROM

A lot more goes on behind the scene, but that's in super-layman's terms. The above is why you want to put new OEM's into the ..\OEM directory, so BuildOS processes it correctly...

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Next question.... :)

I know you can convert a CAB to an OEM but what about converting an EXE to an OEM?

I have a few programs that I want to cook in (Calligrapher, Flexmail, etc.) that install from an EXE. I'm assuming there is no direct way to go from an EXE to an OEM...... BUT, when I install Calligrapher or Flexmail, I see the last step of the install is a display on my Touch something like "copying flexmail.cab to device".

SO, obviously there is a cab file for these programs, but apparently it is temporary, or maybe hidden? I guess the question then is how do I extract the CAB file from the EXE?

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Nope. The sys dir is processed just like the oem dir.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Correct...it's temporary. You have to "catch it in the act". Watch the AS/WMDC directoy, and you'll see the .cab appear and dissapear.

Those types of apps generaly have setup.dlls that are difficult to OEM too.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Hmmmm... sounds like you're saying it might not be worth the trouble... and probably not work.

I did find that the folks at PhatWare were nice enough to offer a CAB install for Calligrapher, but WebIS seems to be restricted to EXE for PocketInformant and Flexmail. Figures. Those are the most complicated apps to setup! :disgust:

Still, cooking my own ROM is going to be a cool way to stay up-to-date without spending a day reconfiguring my device everytime I upgrade.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

PPCKitchen question...

I reallly like using OMJ's ROM but there a couple things I don't need and a few I do. But I really don't want to "re-invent the wheel" here. I know (or think I do) that if someone built there ROM with PPCKitchen then I just need their selections.txt .... and any unique OEM's I assume... but OMJ didn't use PPCKitchen. OMJ already said we could cannibalize his ROM.

Can PPCKitchen "decompile" an nbh like Doguy's kitchen? ... or is it just for building from scratch?

.... um, Mr.President, I have a follow up question....

Can the "decompilation" from Doguy be utilized in PPCKitchen?

Gracias... I'm almost done with my questions (for now) and ready to start cooking!

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Not saying that at all...give it a shot. You'll know rapidly if it's going to be bad. I'm only saying that's a bad omen - developers who do that tend to intentionaly complicate their installs.

pre-made roms blow :)

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

No. Just for building

YES! But I don't think rstoyguy is going to get into that. It's not hard...

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Okay I think I have enough info now that I can do some serious damage. :silent:

Time to go have a lie-down and seriously ask myself "why is it that you want to get into this?" LOL

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

I set up a rom like that way back when the Alltel gps rom first came out...If I remember right you setup the pointer in your selections.txt to point to a directory instead of an archive.

You know, there should be a "how to" forum in the Rom/OS Core Functionality or somewhere dedicated to the ppckitchen. That way we would have a place to discuss tricks like that and whatever else. I'm sure alot of users could use that, and a place to point noobs. I would be interested in knowing how to do this...I was told how back when, but it's buried in the ol' noggin somewhere...

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

something like that. It's a trace more complicated now, but same general prinicple.
Wouldn't that be nice? :)

As we get stuff typed up, you can get it by poking the ppckitchen logo in my signature.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

rstoyguy, thanks for all of the info. I'm a noob when it comes to cooking ROMs and this thread has been very helpful. Let me know if you ever find out why you can't use some previously cooked ROMs as the base for your method. I'd love to use the ROM found here http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=36924 as my base, but like some others here I just get to the second startup screen and it locks up. And I don't see any .hv files in my kitchen directory either...

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

I can tell by the base:

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdm CE OS 5.2.20273 (Build 20273.1.3.3) ROM Version: 3.09.666.1

This rom was made with ppckitchen's Kitchen, these cannot be used with this method. Ask whosdaman for his kitchen, if he'll give them up.

Funny, whodamans using the ppckitchen, yet he kept a "bell" numbering system.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Thanks again, rstoyguy. I guess I'll try the PPCKitchen method for now until I get more comfortable.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

I'm trying to customize WDM's Full ROM, and found that rather than using the OEM folder he used the SYS folder for a lot of his OEMs. What can I do to remove those? They are neatly divided into folders so I know what I will be deleting...

EDIT: nvm, reading the post above me now.

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

Remember, Roms you run prepit.bat on, the user added OEM's will show up in the ..\SYS directory minus the RGU, initflashfiles.txt and option.xml files... :) I'm glad you found it!

Re: How to Customize a Custom Rom: Adding/Removing Programs
 

I have an answer for that....I changed the version number, but it kept the Bell version number instead.....so idk, personally I put my name in my ROM's wherever I can :D, and the version was going to be one of them ;)