Upgrading Axim X50v to to Windows Mobile 5.0 with Dell CD

At the very least, I would confirm that the CD contains the latest wm5
version before beginning.

In addition, and especially if you are a ppc beginner, would suggest
that you wait to upgrade until you have a specific need for a wm5
feature that you don't currently have... there have been a large raft of
problem posts along with a long list of known problems and omissions
with everything from activesync to the loss of options such as drawing
within pword.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Duster,

There is no product key associated with the upgrade CD. The install process
will determine if indeed you are installing it on an X50v and will go from
there - that's the security to prevent people from installing it on other
devices essentially.

As Clint pointed out, there are a lot of good threads out there on
upgrading, especially AximSite.

Regards,

--
Clinton Fitch [MVP-Mobile Devices]
Principle
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!
http://www.clintonfitch.com


"Duster" <none.DeleteThis@listed.com> wrote in message
news:c1bos117be8v2g54f7f91esfn08aekdqph@4ax.com...
>I got a used Axim X50v with the preinstalled WinMobile 2003 SE. It
> also came with the Dell install disk for WinMobile 5. I see no Product
> Key for the WM5 and don't know whether I have been shorted or whether
> the upgrade install does not require a Procuct Key.
>
> I am hesitant to initiate an install where I could be asked for a Key
> I don't have and be left with a half-installed OS. There is no
> dedicated disk for the factory-installed WinMobile 2003 SE. If the
> "Companion CD" has a reinstall I have not found it, so I have no
> fallback in case of problems.
>
> Any help apprecitated.
>
> Duster

Don't do it. Throw away the WM5 CD. Your Axim will turn into a
doorstop.

There have been many many reported problems with the WM5 upgrade and the
X50v. The forums at Aximsite.com have more details but what I've seen:

* Frequently lose WIFI for no reason
* MS Reader frequently loses both its activation and the *.LIT file being
currently read.
* general slowness
* "White Screen of Death", requiring a hard reset.

A google search will confirm that many others have experienced what I
have. It should be noted that this seems to be a QC issue with Dell, and
not a problem with MS.

Dell has issued a downgrade utility which will revert back to WM2003SE.
It doesn't look like Dell is being too useful in finding a resolution for
those who are calling for one:
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=112846



Duster <none.RemoveThis@listed.com> wrote in
news:c1bos117be8v2g54f7f91esfn08aekdqph@4ax.com:

> I got a used Axim X50v with the preinstalled WinMobile 2003 SE. It
> also came with the Dell install disk for WinMobile 5. I see no Product
> Key for the WM5 and don't know whether I have been shorted or whether
> the upgrade install does not require a Procuct Key.
>
> I am hesitant to initiate an install where I could be asked for a Key
> I don't have and be left with a half-installed OS. There is no
> dedicated disk for the factory-installed WinMobile 2003 SE. If the
> "Companion CD" has a reinstall I have not found it, so I have no
> fallback in case of problems.
>
> Any help apprecitated.
>
> Duster

Erik,

Hmm.... I've not experienced these issues with any regularity

* WiFi has never failed - here at home, at Starbucks, at other places -
works like a champ
* Been using Reader since the WM5 version came out a few months ago with no
issues - did you upgrade to that version?
* Slowness at times yes - usually when I've got the unit cradled and
syncing. When not connected to ActiveSync, works wonderful
* Had this one time but didn't require a hard reset. Turn the WiFi off
before shutting down - that will save you from the WSOD
* Others have a downgrade option as well, not just Dell.

I'm not saying that everyone hasn't had issues - clearly some have. Give
though that I've been using WM5 for several months now on my x50v, I have a
hard time with a blanket statement "Doorstop".

Regards,

--
Clinton Fitch [MVP-Mobile Devices]
Principle
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!
http://www.clintonfitch.com


"Erik Sojka" <esojka RemoveThis @ms-onenote.net.nospam> wrote in message
news:ezwOl6xGGHA.140@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Don't do it. Throw away the WM5 CD. Your Axim will turn into a
> doorstop.
>
> There have been many many reported problems with the WM5 upgrade and the
> X50v. The forums at Aximsite.com have more details but what I've seen:
>
> * Frequently lose WIFI for no reason
> * MS Reader frequently loses both its activation and the *.LIT file being
> currently read.
> * general slowness
> * "White Screen of Death", requiring a hard reset.
>
> A google search will confirm that many others have experienced what I
> have. It should be noted that this seems to be a QC issue with Dell, and
> not a problem with MS.
>
> Dell has issued a downgrade utility which will revert back to WM2003SE.
> It doesn't look like Dell is being too useful in finding a resolution for
> those who are calling for one:
> http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=112846
>
>
>
> Duster <none RemoveThis @listed.com> wrote in
> news:c1bos117be8v2g54f7f91esfn08aekdqph@4ax.com:
>
>> I got a used Axim X50v with the preinstalled WinMobile 2003 SE. It
>> also came with the Dell install disk for WinMobile 5. I see no Product
>> Key for the WM5 and don't know whether I have been shorted or whether
>> the upgrade install does not require a Procuct Key.
>>
>> I am hesitant to initiate an install where I could be asked for a Key
>> I don't have and be left with a half-installed OS. There is no
>> dedicated disk for the factory-installed WinMobile 2003 SE. If the
>> "Companion CD" has a reinstall I have not found it, so I have no
>> fallback in case of problems.
>>
>> Any help apprecitated.
>>
>> Duster
>

I've been doing very well with my upgraded Axim x50v as well. I have
posted about this before but if you read my posting on my site you can
do away with any lag problems and make your WM5 as fast as WM2003 for
almost everything.

Many, many people have done these registry hacks to improve the
performance of WM5 and they work VERY well. I have been using my Axim
with these hacks for a couple months and it is working great!

http://www.smartmobileassets.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=winmobile,m=1132411511

Darren Humphries
Mobile Technology Solutions Consultant
www.SmartMobileAssets.com

Clinton Fitch [MVP-Mobile Devices] wrote:
> Erik,
>
> Hmm.... I've not experienced these issues with any regularity
>
> * WiFi has never failed - here at home, at Starbucks, at other places -
> works like a champ
> * Been using Reader since the WM5 version came out a few months ago with no
> issues - did you upgrade to that version?
> * Slowness at times yes - usually when I've got the unit cradled and
> syncing. When not connected to ActiveSync, works wonderful
> * Had this one time but didn't require a hard reset. Turn the WiFi off
> before shutting down - that will save you from the WSOD
> * Others have a downgrade option as well, not just Dell.
>
> I'm not saying that everyone hasn't had issues - clearly some have. Give
> though that I've been using WM5 for several months now on my x50v, I have a
> hard time with a blanket statement "Doorstop".
>
> Regards,
>

Good point Darren. I've been using these hacks as well with no ill effects
and good performance.

Thanks for reminding me!


--
Clinton Fitch [MVP-Mobile Devices]
Principle
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!
http://www.clintonfitch.com


"Darren Humphries" <darrenNOSPAM_THANX.DeleteThis@smartmobileassets.com> wrote in
message news:ebC6mY3GGHA.3896@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> I've been doing very well with my upgraded Axim x50v as well. I have
> posted about this before but if you read my posting on my site you can do
> away with any lag problems and make your WM5 as fast as WM2003 for almost
> everything.
>
> Many, many people have done these registry hacks to improve the
> performance of WM5 and they work VERY well. I have been using my Axim
> with these hacks for a couple months and it is working great!
>
> http://www.smartmobileassets.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=winmobile,m=1132411511
>
> Darren Humphries
> Mobile Technology Solutions Consultant
> www.SmartMobileAssets.com
>
> Clinton Fitch [MVP-Mobile Devices] wrote:
>> Erik,
>>
>> Hmm.... I've not experienced these issues with any regularity
>>
>> * WiFi has never failed - here at home, at Starbucks, at other places -
>> works like a champ
>> * Been using Reader since the WM5 version came out a few months ago with
>> no issues - did you upgrade to that version?
>> * Slowness at times yes - usually when I've got the unit cradled and
>> syncing. When not connected to ActiveSync, works wonderful
>> * Had this one time but didn't require a hard reset. Turn the WiFi off
>> before shutting down - that will save you from the WSOD
>> * Others have a downgrade option as well, not just Dell.
>>
>> I'm not saying that everyone hasn't had issues - clearly some have. Give
>> though that I've been using WM5 for several months now on my x50v, I have
>> a hard time with a blanket statement "Doorstop".
>>
>> Regards,
>>

"Duster" <none RemoveThis @listed.com> wrote in message
news:c1bos117be8v2g54f7f91esfn08aekdqph@4ax.com...
> I got a used Axim X50v with the preinstalled WinMobile 2003 SE. It
> also came with the Dell install disk for WinMobile 5. I see no Product
> Key for the WM5 and don't know whether I have been shorted or whether
> the upgrade install does not require a Procuct Key.
>
> I am hesitant to initiate an install where I could be asked for a Key
> I don't have and be left with a half-installed OS. There is no
> dedicated disk for the factory-installed WinMobile 2003 SE. If the
> "Companion CD" has a reinstall I have not found it, so I have no
> fallback in case of problems.

There is no key.

I'd recommend against installing the upgrade. I did, and had nothing but
problems. I finally got the thing to boot so I could revert back to WM
2003se, which worked perfectly before the upgrade.

I'm waiting for one of two things. Either Dell will offer a software update
that will fix these problems, or the upgrade CD will collect dust until I'm
ready to upgrade to a whole new PPC, in which case I'll sell the upgrade CD
with the this PPC. I consider the $50 or so I spent on this 'upgrade' the
cost of a lesson learned, which is to do some research before plunking down
$50 on something I don't really need.

Dell's performance through this has been both good and bad.

The good
-They sent out a replacement unit fairly quickly.
-Their contractors in India had pretty good English skills and tried hard to
be helpful.
-Dell has the software to revert the OS on they're web site, and it works.

The bad
-You can only revert to the old OS if your unit boots completely. If it's
dead, it stays dead. There should be a Safe Mode or other feature that
allows you to fix it if the OS gets corrupted. This may not be Dell's
fault, but they certainly have some influence over Micro$oft.
-The unit was refurbished. What "refurbished" means is a complete mystery
to me, except for the fact that it isn't new. When I bought this thing, I
paid for a new one, and I don't want something with a 'history' that I don't
know about.
-Dell refuses to provide information on whether they're trying to fix the
problems or ignoring them. Although most companies do just this, it doesn't
mean it's an acceptable practice.
-I had to deal with some guys in India. Although they're performance was
outstanding, for obvious reasons it's still a pain. I can't complain about
they're English, attitude, effort in providing information, or speed in
providing a solution. However, I still had to explain my situation a few
times, and for obvious reasons they were unable to provide information on
updated software or where Dell was going with this issue. This is purely
Dell's fault, not the contractors'.
-Dell refused to provide a complete refund for the software. I was told I'd
be hit for a 20% fee if I returned it, even when I asserted that I'd paid
for something that didn't work, that Dell knew may not work, and that I, as
a customer, had every right to expect their products to work as advertised.
This last issue is the most important to me. This would have been their
easiest and most complete opportunity to set things right, and to ensure the
most complete customer satisfaction with the least amount of cost. Just the
fact that they expect me to pay for an issue that's completely under they're
control really ticks me off, especially when Dell was made fully aware of
the issues long before selling me the software.

I like Dell, and will probably still buy they're laptops and PPC's in the
future. I won't buy anything else from them, although in the past I spent a
couple grand on cameras and whatnot from them. They're PC's are overpriced
and hard to upgrade, and they're printers require ink cartridges that can
ONLY be bought through Dell. Need to print right now? Sucks to be you.
And obviously, they're system for selling software is poorly thought out,
and they don't seem to mind that they'll lose thousands of dollars in future
sales because of a few dollars.

I've dealt with Fujitsu, and Epson regarding they're computers, and I must
say it's a huge relief to speak to someone at tech support who can simply
walk to another room, do a little digging, and come back with something
useful. This can't be done when customers are dumped on a contractor on the
other side of the planet. At Fujitsu and Epson, they were able to provide
me with software for long discontinued computers, and they did it with no
charge, even though I'm just a consumer, as opposed to a tech guy and some
huge company who can buy thousands of computers. Epson doesn't even make
computers anymore, and they still helped me, even to the point of reloading
an OS on a hard drive. That impressed the hell out of me, and only cost
them a few minutes in labor. Dell could learn a lot from them.

I think I'll send a copy of this post to Dell.

Pagan