This is the handbook about the HTC Wizard, the Pocket PC Phone sold as Qtek 9100, I-mate K-JAM, MDA Vario, Orange SPV M3000, O2 XDA Mini S, Dopod 838 and Cingular 8125. It is far from complete now, but in time it will grow into the place where you can find any and all information about your HTC Wizard. We're getting there step by step.
The HTC Wizard is a Pocket PC Phone built by High Tech Computer Corporation from Taiwan. This company has specialised in development of handheld devices running on the Windows Mobile platform, and has built a quite impressive range of devices so far, the HTC Wizard being one of their newer models.
HTC Corporation does not sell under its own name, their devices are available from other manufacterers and from mobile operators under their own brands. This explains why you cannot buy a HTC Wizard, but can buy a Qtek 9110, I-mate K-JAM or a T-Mobile Vario. These devices may all have different names and may all look different, they all are HTC Wizard devices with the same hardware.
These are the main specifications for every HTC Wizard (kindly taken from the howardforums.com wiki):
Platform
Dimension
Processor/Chipset
Memory
LCD Module
GSM/EDGE Function
Keyboard/Button/Switch
Notification
Audio
Camera
Power
Device-to-Device Connectivity
Pocket PC Phone Edition Applications
Like I said, manufacterers and mobile operators sell there own brandings of the HTC Wizard. This means that you can buy the same hardware (the HTC Wizard), with a different look, differently themed Operating System, different value added software, and of course for different prizes. Just remember, regardles of the manufacterer or mobile operator you buy or bought your HTC Wizard from, the hardware is always the same. This means that different available ROM versions and tweaks will work on any device, regardles of the manufacterer. And that is exactely why there is such a lively community of HTC Waizard owners, looking for the best ROMs and the latest tweaks.
A lot of tweaks that are available for the HTC Wizard require that you know the basics of operating your HTC Wizard. These basic operations are described in the manual you got with your HTC Wizard, either in print of as a document on CD-ROM. In this part of the HTC Wizard Handbook we will try to be just a little bit more thourough than the standard manual.
According to my site statistics, a lot of people ended up on the HTC Wizard Blog after entering search terms related to soft resets and hard resets in search engines. Could it be that you don’t know how to perform a soft reset or a hard reset? Or maybe you don’t know when to perform a soft reset or a hard reset? Here is some more information.
Soft reset
A soft reset is comparable to the occasional restart your Windows OS needs after you installed new software or after you changed some configuration settings. In those cases, changes have been made to the registry, which cannot be activated with the OS still running. Hence a restart is necessary. On your HTC Wizard there are two methods to perform a soft reset.
The first method is to put your stylus in the Reset button located on the right side of your HTC Wizard. Just give it a little push, and your HTC Wizard will immediately reset. Be aware that this method causes an immediate reset. Changes you made in the seconds before the reset may not have been written back to your device yet, and may get lost. That’s why people sometimes complain that registry tweaks are not activated after a soft reset.
The second method to perform a soft reset overcomes this problem, and is even simpler. You don’t even need your stylus. Just push and hold the Power button located at the right top of your HTC Wizard for 5 seconds. Your HTC Wizard will prompt you with a message that unsaved data may be lost, but you can just ignore that. In fact, recent changes will be written back to your device. Just confirm that you want to shut down your device, and power your HTC Wizard back on after the screen went black.
Hard reset
A hard reset of your HTC Wizard can be compared with a complete new install of the Operating System. Be aware that all your data and installed software will be erased by performing a hard reset, so make sure you have backups available before performing a hard reset.
Again, there are two methods available to perform a hard reset of your HTC Wizard. The first method is the easiest, but seems to be the least known method:
The first method is only availalbe when your HTC Wizard is functioning correctly. If that is not the case, a second method using only hardware buttons is available:
Installing programs on your HTC Wizard is easy, if you know how to. From the comments I learnt that not everyone knows how to, so here is some explanation. There are three ways to get a program to run on your device, which method to use depends on the type of file you downloaded.
Installation from your desktop PC
The majority of programs are distributed as an executable file with the .exe extention. Those are the easiest to install. To be able to install these programs, you will have to set up a ActiveSync connection. When the ActiveSync connection is active, simply execute the file on your desktop PC, and installation will start. Just follow the directions you'll be prompted with.
Installing .cab files
Some programs are distributed as .cab files. If you download these programs to a desktop PC that has Winrar installed you might be prompted with the question if you want to either open the .cab file in Winrar, or save it to disk. Do not open the file with Winrar, save it to disk.
Now you need to get an ActiveSync connection active again. Click the Explore button in ActiveSync, and an explorer window will open on your desktop PC. You can now navigate to the My Documents directory and copy/paste the .cab file onto your HTC Wizard.
All you have to do now is open File Explorer on your device, navigate to My Documents and tap the .cab file. Follow the directions on your screen.
Main Memory or Memory Card?
In theory you should be able to install programs either in Main Memory or on the Memory Card. However, some programs will not run when you install them onto your Memory Card. If you installed a program onto your Memory Card and find that it doesn't run, first de-install and then re-install in Main Memory before you start pulling your hair out.
This .exe file will not run on my desktop PC!
A minority of programs available for your HTC Wizard is distributed as a single .exe file that can be run straight from your device. You will know when you deal with such a program the minute you try to install it using the standard method for .exe files. Your desktop will complain that the file is not a valid Win32 application. That is your cue to put the .exe on your device just like you would do with a .cab file. The difference is that this does not install the program, it justs allows you to run the device straight from the HTC Wizard.
This method has a downside, programs are not available from Programs in the Start Menu. To remedy that you can make a shortcut though, for example with Total Commander.
You probably have been searching for information about your HTC Wizard, and you probably read about the terms ROM and Extended ROM. I will try to explain what a ROM or Extended ROM is, and will try to explain what their relation is and what the differences are.
You, being a human being, want to have a nice interface to control your HTC Wizard. Controlling the hardware inside the HTC Wizard is not something you can do directly, and it is in most cases not even something that the software you install on your HTC Wizard can do directly. You need an interface for controlling the hardware, an interface that translates your actions to calls to the hardware inside your HTC Wizard. That interface is Windows Mobile 5, the operating system built by Microsoft. This operating system is the interface between the HTC Wizard hardware and you and vice versa.
Unlike the available operating systems for your ordinary PC, you can’t just go to a computer store and buy yourself a version of Windows Mobile 5. Microsoft only delivers Windows Mobile 5 to manufacterers of handheld devices, and they put it on these devices. That is where the branding by the different manufacterers begins. Before they put the operating system on their devices, to have the ability to make changes. For example, most manufacterers disabled the option to connect to 802.11g wireless networks, even though the HTC Wizard hardware supports 802.11g.
After the manufacterer made the desired changes, they create a ROM that can be installed on your mobile device. This ROM contains the operating system including the changes the manufacterer made to is.
Then there is the Extended ROM. Do you remember what happened the first time you powered on your new HTC Wizard? It booted, asked you the walk through the screen alignment proces, showed you some basic user operations, and asked you to fill in your owner information. So far, every HTC Wizard will have the same experiences with the first boot of his HTC Wizard.
From that moment on, what you saw happening depends of the brand of your HTC Wizard. That moment was the moment that the Extended ROM on your device got installed. This Extended ROM can be compared to the OEM versions of windows operating systems on your ordinary PC. After the base operating system is installed, software added by the manufacterer gets installed. Which software that is depends on your manufacterer. I-mate for example, added Skype and anti virus software in the Extended ROM in their K-JAM.
Because the hardware on all HTC Wizards is the same, ROMs and Extended ROMs from any HTC Wizard, can be used on any other HTC Wizard. Have a look at the ROMs categorie on this blog. The articles in this categorie will lead you to sites with lots of information about the different ROMs and Extended ROMs out there.
You may have run into the term Radio ROM as well. What, a third kind of ROM? Yes, indeed. The processor in your HTC Wizard is in fact a dual core processor. One of the cores is used for the PDA functionality, the other core is used for the telephony. Just like with any other mobile phone, your HTC Wizard needs software to be able to use the phone related hardware in your device. This software is called the Radio ROM. It enables you to connect to the GSM/GPRS/EDGE network, makes sure that your device rings or vibrates on incoming calls etcetera. Newer versions of the Radio ROM generaly provide better connectivity and better sound quality. Again, the articles in the ROMs categorie will lead you to sites with lots of information about the different Radio ROMs out there.
Upgrading the ROM on your HTC Wizard is a relatively simple task, but there a few things you should do before attempting to do so.
When you upgrade your ROM, your device will be completely wiped. That includes all software, all data, and all settings. If any of those are valuable to you, you should make sure that you save it in a safe location.
The easiest way to save your calendar items, contacts etc., is to sync them to your desktop PC. You can simply set up a fresh sync relationship after the ROM upgrade to get the data back on your device.
Software and settings are a different story. To be able to backup and restore those, you need special backup software. Pointers to good backup software would be appreciated. Please be aware that restoration of backups made on a pre-AKU2 ROM may not be possible on a device loaded with an AKU2 ROM version.
Now that you have all your valuable date stored in a safe place you can start upgrading the ROM. If you try to upgrade for the first time, go for an upgrade with a RUU version. This an executable file that you can simply start from your desktop PC while having an ActiveSync connection active. Just follow the directions on your screen and you'll be good. All ROMs currently available here on the HTC Wizard Web are of this type.
Please note that you should CID unlock your device if you want to use a ROM that was not released by your devices manufacterer.
When you want to upgrade, please make sure that your battery is fully charged. A failed ROM upgrade can be remedied but that takes a lot more effort, so you don't want your battery to give up on you at 50% of the upgrade proces.
The total upgrade proces should take about 10 minutes, and might appear to stop a few times. Don't worry unless the process takes well over these 10 minutes.
Furthermore, some Windows Mobile 5 settings are very wanted by many, but few know where to find them. The same goes for some actions Windows Mobile 5 can perform. You know it is possible, but don't exactly how.
In this part of the HTC Wizard Handbook you will find tips and tricks to tailor Windows Mobile 5 to your needs simply by using its built-in configuration options, and tips about how to perform those powerfull actions. So, no tweaking of the registry in this part of the handbook, just click around.
Your HTC Wizard came with a basic set of programs pre-installed. They are either part of Windows Mobile 5, or were added to the Extended ROM by the manufacterer.
In this part of the handbook we gather what members have written about additional software they installed and use. Their experience can be positive as well as negative, that does not influence wether their writings end up here in the handbook.
If you are a member of the HTC Wizard Web and have written an article about some piece of software that you think should be in the handbook, please send me a private message. I or one of the other contributing members will review your article and either add it to the handbook or ask you to make the changes that we feel are necessary before adding your article to the handbook.
Navigate to where you saved the MarioKart ROM to (From Step 4). Click Ok in upper right hand corner.
Now click the “Run” icon on the emulator’s interface.
Game will Load! Your wizard should display something that looks like this...
Emulator view set to full screen:
6. This is just an extra tip that I’ve done to simplify navigating to the GameBoy emulator executable through your file browser, just simply create a short cut to GameBoy Advance and put it in your “\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Games\” folder and your GameBoy Advance emulator will now show up there from now on.
Happy Video Gaming!
-LeIf someone steals your device, they probably want to either change the name of the owner, or cold boot it altogether. Either way, with IIWPO installed the device detects that the owner name doesn't contain the name that you have set at the next wakeup, and sends one or more SMS messages to a number you have set. In the best case, the new 'owner' provided address and all other relevant information. If he/she didn't, at least you have the new phone number of your device.Installing and configuring IIWPO takes a little effort, and a little extra effort is needed to nicely hide IIWPO in Extended ROM. But hey, it will give you the phone number and/or address of the thief if your HTC Wizard ever gets stolen. You can find the instructions at the aforementioned link. Do mind that your Extended ROM may not be accesible for you. The Extended ROM in older ROM versions could be accessed with Total Commander by navigating to \Extended_ROM\. In newer ROM versions you will still be able to navigate to the Extended ROM, but you will not be able to make changes to it. Bummer... Registered members of the HTC Wizard Web will find IIWPO attached at the bottom of this article. [adsense:468x15:3:3]
One of the great things about the HTC Wizard is that you can tweak settings in the registry. This allows you to change settings that are not accessible throught the configuration menu, or apply parameters to settings that are not available in the regular configuration options.
Accessing the registry
The registry is not accessible with the standard File Explorer that comes pre-installed with Windows Mobile 5. You'll have to install an alternative file explorer to be able to get into the registry. The two most widely used alternative file explorers for Windows Mobile 5 are Total Commander and Resco Explorer. The latter is non-free software, registered members of the HTC Wizard Web will find two versions of Total Commander attached to the bottom of this article.
The attached executable can be installed over ActiveSync from your desktop PC. The .cab version is available for those of us who are having problems with ActiveSync (for example because they use a Mac, just kidding). They can put it on their device and execute it.
Total Commander is a perfect file manager, not just because it gives you access to the registry. For example, Total Commander allows you to create shortcuts, which is a great way to have programs run at startup. Just put a shortcut in \Windows\StartUp.
To access the registry you should navigate to \\\registry (yep, that’s 3 backslashes). You will find yourself at the top of the registriy hierarchy. From there on you can navigate to any place in the registry to change settings, add settings or remove settings.
Soft reset required
Changes to the registry require a soft reset of your HTC Wizard to be activated. Please use the second method to perform a soft reset that is described on www.htcwizardweb.net/node/116. As explained in that article, the "standard" method with the stylus sometimes prevents the changes to be written back to your device before it resets, making it look like the changes you made were reverted.
In this part of the HTC Wizard Handbook you'll find registry tweaks that change settings in various networking options that can not be achieved through te Settings menu.
The HTC Wizard notifies you that it successfully sent an SMS message by default, which you may find annoying. The following registry tweak disables the feature:
For those of you with access to EDGE networks, it is nice to have an icon showing that you are connected to an EDGE network. That can be achieved with this tweak:
When your plan with your operator includes flat rate GPRS service, it is conveniant to always be connected to GPRS. This saves you a few hands full of seconds every time you go online and let's face it, you want your HTC Wizard to be online! You can achieve this with the following tweak:
People have been asking wether having GPRS always on would affect the ability to use WIFI. Don't worry, WIFI connectivity prevails over GPRS or EDGE, so whenever you have a wireless connection available GPRS will be shut down.
The HTC Wizard has WIFI built-in, which in itself is wonderful. However, some manufacturers have decided not to enable 802.11g connectivity by default. More and more people own wireless network equipment based on the 802.11g standard and want to connect with their HTC Wizard.
Please take a look at this topic on the XDA Developers Forum for more information. In this topic people discuss a .cab file that tweaks some more settings on your HTC Wizard than just the enabling of 802.11g, but I’ll discuss those in a future post.
To enable 802.11g capability to your HTC Wizard make the following changes in the registry:
Those of you who don't feel comfortable editing the registry can download the attached .cab file, put it on their HTC Wizard, execute and soft reset. The attached file is visible to registered members of the HTC Wizard Web only.
In this part of the HTC Wizard Book you'll find tweaks that have better performance of your HTC Wizard as a main goal.
When you move around throught the menu on your HTC Wizard, you will notice that the menu’s are animated. That looks nice, but the menu animations use valuable memory resources and slow down operations. You can disable menu animations with the following registry tweak:
The following registry tweaks will increase the operating speed of your HTC Wizard:
These changes give you extra speed at the cost of some extra memory usage on your HTC Wizard.
In this part of the HTC Wizard Handbook you'll find tweaks that change the default behaviour of Windows Mobile 5, or add new functionality or features to Windows Mobile 5
One of the best features of the HTC Wizard is its extractable keyboard. However, using the Shift and Symbol key can be quite confusing because it is not always obvious what the status of these buttons is. Here is the solution:
From now on when you extract the keyboard, a keyboard status indicator will be visible. A C indicates that the Shift key is active, a dot indicates that the Symbol key is active.
Cleartype is a technique that smooths out the strong aliasing effect when displaying small, high-contrast graphic elements such as text on computer displays. Cleartype is available on your HTC Wizard in the Settings menu. You can enable ClearType to enhance readability on your HTC Wizard as follows:
Even if you enabled Cleartype using the method above, ClearType will not be enabled in landscape mode. Your HTC Wizard screen's LCD red/green/blue ordering required for proper ClearType display is only correct for Portrait display. You may or may not prefer to leave ClearType in Landscape mode disabled. If you want to give it a try anyway, you can use the following registry tweak: