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!
Tricky said on March 31, 2010
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 said on April 17, 2010
can this be done with a sprint samsung moment. i dont know what to pick
Ashour said on May 2, 2010
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 said on May 3, 2010
Never mind. I got help from XDA Developers:) Thanks.
Ariel said on May 15, 2010
How do get my T Mobile htc touch pro 2 back to the stock?
Michael said on May 26, 2010
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 said on May 26, 2010
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 said on June 8, 2010
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 said on June 29, 2010
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 said on September 5, 2010
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 said on October 14, 2010
Hi
You got any SPL and ROM update for HTC Shift WM6?
BR
/ThaGob
Eric said on December 6, 2010
ok i did what u said but i have a problem. my phone…htc mogul… is stuck on the red, green, and blue screen. i have tried hard resetting it and nothing happens i dont know what to do, i need help please!!!!
TheUnlockr said on December 6, 2010
Take out the battery and put it back in.
El_rican said on January 23, 2011
i dnt find anything on the tilt 2?
ParadoxElite said on February 2, 2011
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 said on February 3, 2011
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 said on February 4, 2011
error 262 update error on htc ppc6800?? any instructions?
Mbewepenias said on February 10, 2011
If am using a c6 nokia, how do i down load any video from youtube, what do i do in order to download?
Wajahat Mehdi said on March 5, 2011
thanks alot man. This is a fantastic tutorial….
Ronaldo B said on June 27, 2011
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
Knezevic Milos said on August 1, 2011
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..