windows mobile custom rom
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How To: Load a Custom ROM onto Your Windows Mobile Phone

September 13, 2009 in Featured, How To's, HTC Touch HD2/Leo How To's, Video, Windows Phone How To's

Want to get Windows 6.5 on your phone? Or just want to flash a custom ROM for faster performance, to unlock Wifi Tethering, load themes, load TouchFlo, Sony Panes, etc. or any of the other great benefits of custom ROMs? Here’s how…

First off, loading a Windows Mobile ROM consists of 3 main parts; loading the HardSPL, loading the latest Radio, and then loading the ROM itself. All of these steps are done in the same way and must be done HardSPL, THEN RADIO, THEN ROM.
Each HardSPL and ROMs are specific to only ONE SPECIFIC PHONE MODEL, so do not use a HardSPL or ROM for a phone it is not meant to be used on (this includes using the CDMA version on a GSM phone, and visa versa).

Before You Begin…

  • Make sure you have downloaded and installed Windows Mobile Device Center (Vista or higher) OR Windows ActiveSync (XP) and that your device can connect to it without any issue
  • Always remove your memory card and SIM card before beginning

I. Load HardSPL

1. Download the appropriate HardSPL zip file from our Downloads > Windows Mobile Downloads > ROMs section of our site. Select the HardSPL at the start of what phone you have.
2. Plug your phone into your computer via the USB cable.
3. Sync it with Windows Mobile Device Center (or ActiveSync if using Windows XP). *This is important, it must be recognized and sync with Windows Mobile Device Center before continuing.
4. Unzip the HardSPL file and double click on the .exe file inside (while the phone is still plugged in.
5. Follow the programs instructions and let it flash to the phone.
6. The phone should reboot when done. Now you can load a Radio…

II Load a Radio

1. Check to see what Radio version you have by tuning off the phone and turning it back on.
2. On the first load up screen you should see some writing at the bottom of the screen, the number next to the letter R is your radio version (i.e. 3.42.50)
3. Then check to see what the latest Radio is for your phone in our ROMs section. If you already have it or a Radio with a higher number than it, then skip this. If you have a Radio with a lower number, then download the Radio file from that section.
4. Plug your phone into your computer via the USB cable.
5. Sync it with Windows Mobile Device Center (or ActiveSync if using Windows XP). *This is important, it must be recognized and sync with Windows Mobile Device Center before continuing.
6. Unzip the HardSPL file and double click on the .exe file inside (while the phone is still plugged in.
7. Follow the programs instructions and let it flash to the phone.
8. The phone should reboot when done. Now you can load a ROM…

III. Load a Custom ROM

1. Download one of the appropriate Custom ROMs from our Downloads > Windows Mobile Downloads > ROMs section of our site.
2. Plug your phone into your computer via the USB cable.
3. Sync it with Windows Mobile Device Center (or ActiveSync if using Windows XP). *This is important, it must be recognized and sync with Windows Mobile Device Center before continuing.
4. Unzip the HardSPL file and double click on the .exe file inside (while the phone is still plugged in.
5. Follow the programs instructions and let it flash to the phone.
6. The phone will reboot when done, enjoy!

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  • kevin

    can i load the window mobile 6.5 into tmobile g1? It’ll be awsome

  • Ashden Glenn

    Yea i have the same question but for my G2???

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  • David

    I am using windows 7 RC 7100 64 bit. The HardSPL says that it is incompatible with 64 bit operating systems when I double click on it. This is on a mogul. Any sugestions?
    Thank you for this website!!

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Hello David,

      Use the search bar we put at the top of the ROMs page and type in titan HardSPL for 32 bit or something similar and see if it comes up.
      If you find it please let us know here so I can put it up for others :)
      Sorry!

  • David Holman

    Hi, The above looks very simple and you have done a great step by step video. however, do you have the right downloads for a V1605 on the vodafone network. The phone is currently on WM 5 and I would like to upgrade to 6.0 or above. Can you help? Processor shown in settings is a SC32442-400Mhz
    Regards
    Dave
    In UK.

  • kevin

    so can we do that? can we load window mobile rom to g1?

  • Michael

    No, you cant load winm on a android phone. for the unlockr, would this work for loading 6.5 on a tmobile touch pro 2?

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Hello Michael,

      Correct, can’t put WinMo on an Android phone (yet).
      Yes, that is exactly what you can use this for. Just find a Windows 6.5 ROM from our downloads section for the Pro2 and then use that.
      Make sure to get the HardSPL and Radio first before trying to load the ROM.
      Good luck!

  • Sphinx

    Hi There, think i’ve missed your response earlier on.

    Does the htc TYTN II (Kaiser) requires a Radio for the WM6.5 provided by your link?

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Hello Sphinx,

      If there isn’t one in the Downloads section then it is most likely not necessary.

  • Sphinx

    Thanks for replying. I’ve downloaded the files. Many Thanks. How about my files, sms & etc? i’ll need to back them up right?

  • luis

    does my tmobile touch pro 2 have to be unlocked in order to download the roms? thx

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Hello Luis,

      No. Just do this procedure and you are all set.

  • Abernus

    Please can someone tell me what ROM etc I need to use. I am on T-Mobile and my fphopne is an MDA Touch Plus. I don’t want to brick it by putting the wrong thing on.

    Thanks.

  • Madhusudhan

    Can I flash wm6.5 rom w/TouchFlo 2.6 for “Leo” on my Gigabyte Gsmart i20?

  • http://www.theunlockr.com KARLOS

    Hi, Im new to this flashing of smartphones I have a TP2 with T-MOBILE,but doesn’t mean I haven’t read some posts. I have many but I still can’t flash hardspl. I keep on coming upon issues like: 1)0% after waiting 5 minutes,2)This package is not intended for your device type high chance of bricking!!,3)ERROR [262] THE ROM UPDATE UTILITY HAS ENCOUNTERED COMMUNICATION ERRORS DURING THE UPDATE PROCESS… Help please..

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Karlos,

      Use our custom search at the bottom of the post and type “TMobile Pro2 Hard SPL” and see if that gives you a link to a better SPL for you, then follow the procedure using that SPL.

  • Roman

    hi again. whenever i try to flash my rom by downloading it through google chrome, i keep opening it and it opens in a new blank tab, and downloads again, and when i click on that, it opens in a new tab again and downloads and this keeps happening. could u please help?

  • linda

    i have a htc 8525 and new to update pls tell me which rom works on the phone

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Linda,

      your phone is called the TyTn, search for that name on our Windows Mobile ROMs section of our site or type Tytn ROM into the search bar at the top of the Windows Mobile ROMs section.

  • Chino

    I am trying to flash my att tilt and every time my phone screen goes grey and it wont reconnect via activesync so I can finish flashing the hard spl….Help

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Chris,

      You need to make sure you have the drivers installed correctly.
      If you have any other issues please post in the technical support forums.

  • Chino

    When the tri color screen is supposed to come up it just turns grey and freezes like that….Att tilt…trying to flash hard spl

  • Kegan

    I’m also having the same problem with KARLOS, except that my phone is on AT&T.

  • Shonan

    Unlockr , PLEEEEASE help man ? Do I have to be connected to the internet to load the hard spl for the TP2 for tmobile ?

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Shonan,

      Correct, your computer needs to be connected to the internet, but your phone doesnt.

  • Shonan

    Unlockr , everytime i try to load the hard spl i get to the screen that says “device not responding ” please help man ?

  • unicorn

    Hey Unlockr,

    I’ve to send my phone back for insurance…
    Is it possible to set the original SE X1 WM6.1 back on the phone??
    Thanks in advance!

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Unicorn,

      Yes, just use the search on our site in the Windows ROMs section and search for stock x1 ROM.

  • Matthew

    Im trying to load a rom and none of them work. I get to where it gives the insturctions but then it says ERROR[240]: FILE OPEN, ive tried about 10 of them and they all turn out the same way. Please help.

  • faraz

    i need a little bit of help if i update my htc 8925 unlocked from windows 6.0 to 6.5 will it locked it again ???sorry for the noob question.

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Faraz,

      Not a noob question, that is a good question and the answer is a theoretical no lol It shouldn’t relock it because the baseband isn’t being changed so you should be fine. If anything, do you have the unlock code still? You can always reuse it to unlock the phone again if for some odd reason it locks again (but again it shouldnt)

  • unicorn

    Hey unlockr,

    When i’ve installed a rom following your procedure. It works great. Thank you so much
    Now i’ve found an other rom, do i have to install the radio and hardspl again or can i just load this rom like show’n in the last steps…?
    thanks

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Unicorn,

      Your welcome! No, just install the new ROM, you only needed to install the radio and HardSPL once.
      Good luck!

  • Vidhu

    OK so i have an HTC touch 2, so wat rom should i use?
    Can i use rom for like touch, tourch pro, touch pro 2?

  • Sola

    What about the HARDSPL for a Tmobile Wing? I want to Load windows 6.5 Pro. on a Tmobile Wing. Please Help Me.

  • carva

    i have a sprint touch pro 2 what HARDSPL do i use

  • Roman

    hi, i wanted to ask why i cant hard spl my touch pro 2(tilt 2). every time i try, it tells me a “fatal error” and sating i have to have my radio turned on and retry. my radio is on and it tells me to turn it on. i cant to a manual or automatic flash. can u please help?

  • http://theunlockr fred simmons

    i”m trying to load custom rom to my touch pro 2 (gsm) but winrar nor 7zip will let me open the .exe file it’s says unexpected end to archive.

    • http://www.theunlockr.com TheUnlockr

      Fred Simmons,

      Try redownloading it, it might have gotten corrupted.

  • http://theunlockr fred simmons

    i’ve tried to redownload numerous time i dont know what the issue is even the .exe file from other sites won’t work smh.

  • anand

    hello,

    i dwnlded the hrdspl files for the htc td2 when i click on it nothing happens gives an error msg saying you dont have rights to use this file. secondly whn i run the radio update it disconnects the phone from the computer and stops the update process…. pls guide

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  • Tricky

    Unlocker please help me and carva we both have the sprint touchpro 2 which hardspl and radio do we need to use? Also is there any rom u recommend for us sprint tp2 users. Thx

  • mrsmom

    can this be done with a sprint samsung moment. i dont know what to pick

  • Ashour

    Hello Unlockr,

    I have TP2 GSM (Tmobile). when i try to install the Touch Pro 2 GSM hardspl,the phone turns off by itself. which means the Sync connection fails, and the installation progress bar stays at 0%, and i get a message that talks about Connection Error/Failed (because the phone turned off by itself and then ofcourse lost connection with my PC). any suggestions? by the way the phone still not bricked and ok:)

  • Ashour

    Never mind. I got help from XDA Developers:) Thanks.

  • Ariel

    How do get my T Mobile htc touch pro 2 back to the stock?

  • Michael

    I noticed one post about the need for a radio for the HTC Tilt (TyTn II). Is this still the case? It appears as though you do the hard SPL, then the ROM without installing a new radio, is this correct? Thanks for the help and your excellent website. IMO, it’s a little easier for a semi-noob to navigate.

  • Michael

    Actually, the lack of a need for the radio is what I should’ve said, sorry. Do I not need a new radio or install a new one when I flash a new ROM?

  • marc

    i have a htc mogul from sprint… can u tell me what exact files i need to upgrade to 6.5 pleeeeeease… isu8023@yahoo.com.

  • Muham

    just wanna know shud i do this all procedure in bootloader screen or just normally i ve to open the phone do this all u dint show it in the vdo how to do first step ?? so plz tell how to do first step ??

  • Al

    After I open Windows Mobile Device Center and verify that I have connectivity. I run the DFT HSPL2 for HTC Leo shortly there after Windows Mobile Device Center shuts down then i get a critical error from the HSPL2 that says Flow;00000005 Error Code:00000005 Description: Bad SPL Version

  • ThaGob

    Hi

    You got any SPL and ROM update for HTC Shift WM6?

    BR
    /ThaGob

  • http://TheUnlockr.com TheUnlockr

    Take out the battery and put it back in.

  • El_rican

    i dnt find anything on the tilt 2?

  • ParadoxElite

    Hi there downloaded all the proper files for my htc touch hd plugged in usb to sync it came up with my device unzipped the hardspl clicked it followed the instructions it recognised the image file i had and what it would be updated to clicked again started to update the comes up with the error (202) please make sure your phone is connected but it is connected any help on this one

  • The Rhino Rogue

    To get out bootloader(red,green and blue) just hooked your usb -make sure the box in the mobile device center -connection ,thats says- allow usb connections is unchecked and run a mobile 6 or 6.1 rom -thats made for your carrier -and when its done and your phone reboots -it’ll be restored

  • JIMBO

    error 262 update error on htc ppc6800?? any instructions?

  • Mbewepenias

    If am using a c6 nokia, how do i down load any video from youtube, what do i do in order to download?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XGOWPMUXTAVJUEU6HUR4B24KT4 Wajahat Mehdi

    thanks alot man. This is a fantastic tutorial….

  • Ronaldo B

    what a great stuff!!! Thanks

    I was trying to find some way to have the  Remote Tracker app on a custom ROM so if you cell was stolen and someone hard reset it you will still be able to track it

    the Remote Tracker site shows a tool to generate a DLL file for this purpose (RTRegGenerator). 

    I don’t know how to insert that and generate a custom WM ROM.

    I am currently using the WM 6.5 running on a samsung B7320L smartphone.

    If you are not able to do that, could you please give me some idea how to customize a WM???

    thanks in advance 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Knezevic-Milos/1053494099 Knezevic Milos

    I have a big problem with my wm phone. I tried to install wm6.5 and it started just fine… then, in the middle of installation it showed an error… installation stopped, I restarted my phone and I couldn’t turn it on since… Now I can’t install it again because the software doesn’t detect my phone conected… When I turn it on, it stopps on she first screen… Please help..