Acer M900 Custom Lite ROM

[Daskalos]

Here are the Lite ROMs I cooked. Hope everyone would like them
I basically stripped of some apps and files to make it cleaner,leaner and faster (well those rhymed)

NOTE: Before trying the ROMs below, if you current ROM version is 203 & below,please update your ROM with the OFFICIAL 204 version first before the lite ROMs


DASKALOS' LITE ROMs

New Lite ROM

12/20/09

Here's a new lite ROM stable, no Acer Keyboard bugs (you can now install acer keyboard), complete...http://www.4shared.com/file/17782683...te-stable.html

Merry Christmas

11/23/09
Made a new lite ROM based on the 204 build
with 189Mb free Storage and 54Mb free RAM which goes up t0 64MB after disabling ActiveSync and Acer Shell Trick

What's New:

1. Working GPRS,3G,HSDPA,WiFi
2. 2Mb Page Pool

BUG ALERT!!!!!!

Unfortunately there is a bug (reported by nitestrike) that I confirmed...it will not boot up after you installed ACER SCREEN KEYBOARD and doing on/off or soft reset, and you have to HARD RESET for it to boot up...SO FOR THE MEANTIME,DONT INSTALL ACER SCREEN KEYBOARD

I have no fix for it yet but what I can suggest is to use a third party keyboard like RESCO Keyboard or this nice freeware keyboard called
Finger Keyboard 2.(download it here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=501122)
It's a nice screen keyboard with nice features like vibrate feedback, skins, languages, directional pad etc. And of course it will let the ROM boot up



Removed:

1. Acer Cabs
2. Bubble Breaker/ Solitare
3. Adobe Flash (can be installed in Memory card)
4. Windows Live
5. Welcome Center/Getting Started
6. Search
7. Windows Update
8. Sample Music
9. Office Mobile ('cause there are better Office apps out there that can be installed in the memory card like Softmaker Office)
10. OneNote
11. Sample Pictures
12. Calculator
13. Catalog Stuff
14. Large VGA and QVGA graphics
15 Transcriber
16. Start-up Setup

Installation:

1. Download my New Custom Lite ROM http://www.4shared.com/file/15797571...e_204_ROM.html
2. Unrar and Extract .bin and .exe to a FAT formatted microSD.
3. Backup Data before flashing.
4. Hold power button and record button then reset. Hold until upgrader appears telling to insert SD card.
5. Insert the microSd. Flashing will automatically start. Don't interrupt it.
6. After a successful flash hold power button and reset to boot.
7. This ROM automatically skips Align Screen,Copy/Paste,Time/Date/Location Setup,Security Setup and Email Setup. You can set these later
8. After the Windows Mobile Boot Screen, Acer Customizations will appear. Quickly push and hold the camera button to cancel Acer Customization. Release the camera button if it says so. It may seem to "hang" for some seconds,don't worry, just wait for the today screen to appear and it's done
10. To have more RAM, try the trick below

Install the registry RAM fix by varavut http://www.4winmobile.com/forums/e-t...tml#post242331

Acer 204 cabs are available below..
To optimize device performance and for essential tools and stuff read here:
http://www.4winmobile.com/forums/e-t...tml#post236711 (Acer M900,F900,X960: Tips,Tricks,Tweaks,Developments... Post Here!")

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11/17/09

Daskalos Lite ROM (with issues)

ISSUE:

Cannot connect to GPRS. It must be because of the XIP build I use. If some can help regarding this please do so....
For the meantime you can flash and try the rom or Flash the other lite ROM under miscellaneous or the new ROM above

Here is the list of REMOVED FILES/APPS

1. Acer Cabs
2. Bubble Breaker/ Solitare
3. Adobe Flash (can be installed in Memory card)
4. Windows Live
5. Welcome Center/Getting Started
6. .NET Framework 2.0 (.Net 3.5 can be installed in the memory card)
7.
8. Sample Music
9. Office Mobile ('cause there are better Office apps out there that can be installed in the memory card like Softmaker Office)
10. OneNote
11. Sample Pictures
12. Calculator (removed because it doesn't work anymore because I removed .Net 2.0, but again there are better calculators out there that can be installed in the memory card.
13. Catalog Stuff
14. Large VGA and QVGA graphics

This ROM will give 191Mb Storage and 65Mb RAM on fresh boot

FLASHING HOW TO:

1. Download my Custom ROM http://www.4shared.com/file/15338670..._lite_ROM.html
2. Unrar and Extract .bin and .exe to a FAT formatted microSD.
3. Backup Data before flashing.
4. Hold power button and record button then reset. Hold until upgrader appears telling to insert SD card.
5. Insert the microSd. Flashing will automatically start. Don't interrupt it.
6. After a successful flash hold power button and reset to boot.
7. Align screen, and skip all (or set them if you like).
8. When set up is complete, it will request yo to tap the screen, tap it and quickly push and hold the camera button to cancel Acer Customization.

One might ask,"If this is a lite ROM, why cancel Acer Customization?". It's because I have deleted something in the system that gives some error if you continue Acer Customization. Though the error is not fatal and will not affect the system, it is quite annoying. So better cancel Acer Customization. Don't worry 'cause the error will not show up anymore after a successful setup

If you fail to cancel customization, just soft reset, and after passing the Windows Mobile screen, quickly press and hold the camera button until it's ok to let go.

HOW TO HAVE 65MB AVAILABLE FREE RAM

Well this one is very easy, and it will just make you scratch your head telling yourself, "That's it?!?"

The thing that gobbles up our RAM is also the one that can give us extra RAM...it's ACER SHELL

Yup it's ironic, but it seems installing Acer Shell modifies the system to boot up with more RAM and releases some extra RAM for use (which is revealed in the registry).

I tried to "unlock" it's secrets by unpacking Acer Shell and analyzing it's files, but unfortunately most of the files seemed encrypted, bearing an unknown file type (the same reason why I can't extract the Music Player too)

Manually editing the registry won't work so the easiest way to have more RAM is

1. Install the latest Acer Launcher and Acer Shell...you can get the cabs here:http://www.4shared.com/file/15013254..._204_Cabs.html .You can install Acer Shell in your memory card by the way.
2. After installing, launch Acer Shell and after Launching, Unload it.
3. Now you should get that extra RAM.
4. If you don't to use Acer Shell, just delete it by going to sdmmc\program files and delete shell folder.


Hope you like this ROM feedbacks are welcome....

The REPLACEMENTS:

1. Calculator- here's a nice freeware calculator that works great http://www.filek.com/koolcalc
2. Office apps- well it's not freeware but works better than default mobile office http://www.softmaker.com/english/of_en.htm. But searching the web will give you other free office apps.


MISCELLANEOUS

My other Lite ROM (only removed acer cabs)
http://www.4shared.com/file/15014887..._204_Lite.html

[Daskalos]

I cooked another one and stripped some additional things:

9. Office Mobile ('cause there are better Office apps out there that can be installed in the memory card like Softmaker Office)
10. OneNote
11. Sample Pictures
12. Calculator (removed because it doesn't work anymore because I removed .Net 2.0, but again there are better calculators out there that can be installed in the memory card.

It gives 189.58Mb Storage and 65.31Mb RAM

The ROM is stable and because it much lighter, it's noticeably faster...I'll keep testing though....

But I think the ROM is stable enough to be distributed, if you want to try this ROM, Ill be uploading it later

[casouzaj]

Hi Daskalos,

I'm very interested in your custom ROM, but I need Word Mobile. So, if possible, give us a link the alternative Pocket Office which would work with the M900. Besides, please, give us a good calculator application, too.

Thanks for your work. You're really awesome!

Cheers!
Carlos

[jm012a9749]

I'd be very happy to flash this ROM to my device, however, could you provide the standard calculator as a separate cab?

Phil

[Daskalos]

Originally Posted by jm012a9749

I'd be very happy to flash this ROM to my device, however, could you provide the standard calculator as a separate cab?

Phil

Ok....The rom's ready by the way...see first post

[dzynio]

everything works great! 191mb of free storage and 63mb of free ram! great work daskalos!

[Ben!]

This is what we've been waiting for! Downloading and flashing now.

[Ben!]

Thats so strange! 64mb free memory! (No acer shell, I use spb anyway). Congratz on this! This device can no be said to have no memory problems! Surely?

Thanks, Ben.

[dzynio]

Daskalos, i've got problem with my gprs authentication settings. I want to tick CHAP and when i click ok and turn phone settings again gprs authentication is changed to PAP and when its pap i dont have my data connection, why its that?

[casouzaj]

Originally Posted by Daskalos

Ok....The rom's ready by the way...see first post

Two more questions:

1 - those usual files in the extended ROM which normally must be installed afterwards we flash a Lite ROM, like the video call cabs (and another one I don't remeber what for), are already cooked in the ROM?

2 - the normal 'Notes' application (which I happen to need) has been kept?

Already downloading it, anyway...

Cheers!
Carlos