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.