Upgrading my Pocket PC's OS... Need some wisdom.

I have an iPaq H3800 (ARM SA1110) that is currently running M$ PPC 3.0

I've done some poking around on the net for a while and I have managed to
thoroughly confuse myself. Since my main machine runs Vista, apparently it
cant sync with the OS that is currently running on my iPaq. I also just
got a 2gb SD card for it, but it only recognizes 1gb. So I'm thinking an
OS upgrade might solve these and some other problems. However, the
documentation on WinCE and/or Windows Mobile is scattered and
convoluted... with the changing in names as well as calling them sometimes
by version number 3.0 and sometimes the year 2005 etc I don't even know
what i need. Then once i discover what i need, i have no idea where to
acquire the software and if it will in the end work with this older device
or just turn it into a paperweight. I've looked into my options regarding
Linux distros that are compatible too. If i can just get windows to work
then i would rather brave that path first.

So please, any and all advice and insight would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Doug
Mon Apr 21 20:45:31 PDT 2008

Hi Jim,

OS upgrades for Pocket PC's are supplied by the manufacturer, in this case
HP. There is no upgrade for your particular device. However it should
connect to Vista. I have one sitting on my desk right now that works just
fine. Have you actually installed the Mobile device center download?

Cheers
Doug Forster

jimmymjb2
Mon Apr 21 22:45:13 PDT 2008

When I initially got this computer with Vista, I installed what i believe
was the Mobile Device center. It informed me that my PPC OS was too old
to be supported, but the older versions of the Sync Center or whatever
they used to call it, was not compatible with vista. That was about a year
ago. I've been using XP since then and just now reinstalled vista to give
it another chance. Maybe i missed something before. I did actually get
this PC the same week Vista was released (not on purpose), so absolutely
nothing worked then.

I'm just confused when i start seeing i have windows v 3.0 but it might be
Pocket PC 2002, which is altogether different from windows mobile? Then if
i want to get Microsoft pocket word to be transfered from Microsoft pocket
PC to Microsoft Vista, it still wont be readable by Microsoft Word or vise
versa, unless i acquire this other syncing Microsoft application that
isn't native to either device and only works with some.I'm hoping its only
a hassle with CE, since its not a true windows OS, unlike the windows
mobile... I think.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I really would like to understand. I'll see if
i can get it to talk to Vista again. Is there any solution for its
inability to recognize more than a single Gig, without some type of
upgrade?

In the off chance it doesn't work with vista or I just get bored... what
kind of native restore functions do these devices have? Like with a PC, so
long as the BIOS is operating and i have a HD, I can fix the computer,
with CD's or easily accessed downloads. With an iPod i could totally
destroy any of its software, format it, install different operating
systems, than simply restore its firmware to its original state. Am i
wrong in getting the feeling that these devices aren't as forgiving? That
would be a shame, because I really enjoy tweaking, customizing and
optimizing my gadgets and what not... its an addiction really.

Gary
Tue Apr 22 00:22:15 PDT 2008

Here is a good place to help you figure out which version is which.
http://pocketpccentral.net/help/which_version_wm.htm


"Jim" <jimmymjb2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OkjNSxApIHA.2636@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> I have an iPaq H3800 (ARM SA1110) that is currently running M$ PPC 3.0
> I've done some poking around on the net for a while and I have managed to
> thoroughly confuse myself. Since my main machine runs Vista, apparently it
> cant sync with the OS that is currently running on my iPaq. I also just
> got a 2gb SD card for it, but it only recognizes 1gb. So I'm thinking an
> OS upgrade might solve these and some other problems. However, the
> documentation on WinCE and/or Windows Mobile is scattered and
> convoluted... with the changing in names as well as calling them sometimes
> by version number 3.0 and sometimes the year 2005 etc I don't even know
> what i need. Then once i discover what i need, i have no idea where to
> acquire the software and if it will in the end work with this older device
> or just turn it into a paperweight. I've looked into my options regarding
> Linux distros that are compatible too. If i can just get windows to work
> then i would rather brave that path first.
>
> So please, any and all advice and insight would be much appreciated.
> Thanks.
>

jimmymjb2
Tue Apr 22 07:06:41 PDT 2008


Thanks, its starting to make a bit more sense now and with the additional
reassurance i got from the link Gary provided... I'm pretty confident as
far as my OS goes now.

I managed to dig up a few files, but none as of yet feel like they really
are going to NOT ruin my iPaq. For instance one is an .ISO - running about
300mb and claims to be a Pocket PC 2003 upgrade for an iPaq 3970. Another
file I have is just an exe that says it is a "Pocket PC 2003 upgrade for
3800" when i run it... even though the filename is '3870.exe' Its official
name is "H3800 ROM Upgrade Utility". That particular file comes in at only
about 30mb.

So... on a scale of 1-10, how dumb would it be to run one or the other? I
wont hold anyone responsible for the damage i do to my own machine, i was
just curious what the risk factor was from more knowledgeable people like
yourselves.

One last oddity. I found where HP has driver downloads available for the
iPaqs. When i type in "3800", it gives me a list of iPaqs ranging from
3815 to 3875, but no 3800 is listed there. Does that just represent a
specific model line and not necessarily a particular model 3800? If so
then how do I find which drivers to download, since my iPaq is quite clear
about it being simply a 3800?


Sorry for all the questions, I just like to know as much as i can about
the inner workings of all my gadgets. Thanks again for everything so far
everybody. I was really bewildered before i finally ended up here.

William
Tue Apr 22 16:18:42 PDT 2008

On 22 Apr, 15:06, jimmym...@yahoo.com (Jim) wrote:
> One last oddity. I found where HP has driver downloads available for the
> iPaqs. When i type in "3800", it gives me a list of iPaqs ranging from
> 3815 to 3875, but no 3800 is listed there. Does that just represent a
> specific model line and not necessarily a particular model 3800? If so
> then how do I find which drivers to download, since my iPaq is quite clear
> about it being simply a 3800?

As others have written, "3800" is the entire model series. They are
all basically the same, but there are detail differences. E.g.
Bluetooth / No Bluetooth, Large / Small memory, etc.

To determine which exact model yours is, take it out of the case (if
it has one), then look at the back. There is a large stick-on label
with rounded ends. Hold the iPaq with the witing the correct way up,
and in the bottom left-hand corner is the word "Model" with a 4-digit
number below. The number will be 38nn, where nn could be a range of
numbers ending in 0 or 5. That is your exact model number.

As I recall, with that series (and other HPs), the models ending with
a 0 were identical to the models ending with a 5 (but were distributed
through a different channel). Thus a 3830 is the same as a 3835, and a
3870 is identical to a 3875.

--
WH

Werner
Wed Apr 23 06:32:36 PDT 2008

> 3.0 just means the underlying CE OS, which both 2002 and 2003
> have.

It's the Pocket PC (2000) and 2002 OS'es that are based on CE 3.0 - WM2003
is based on 4.2

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Ed Hansberry, MS-MVP/Mobile Devices"
<spamfree-silvernino@hotmail.spambegone.com> wrote in message
news:srdr045skkqulqaotq26c3kdec0h929aoq@4ax.com...
> jimmymjb2@yahoo.com (Jim) wrote:
>
>>
>>I have an iPaq H3800 (ARM SA1110) that is currently running M$ PPC 3.0
>
> 3.0 just means the underlying CE OS, which both 2002 and 2003
> have.
>
>>I've done some poking around on the net for a while and I have managed to
>>thoroughly confuse myself. Since my main machine runs Vista, apparently it
>>cant sync with the OS that is currently running on my iPaq. I also just
>>got a 2gb SD card for it, but it only recognizes 1gb. So I'm thinking an
>>OS upgrade might solve these and some other problems. However, the
>>documentation on WinCE and/or Windows Mobile is scattered and
>>convoluted... with the changing in names as well as calling them sometimes
>>by version number 3.0 and sometimes the year 2005 etc I don't even know
>>what i need. Then once i discover what i need, i have no idea where to
>>acquire the software and if it will in the end work with this older device
>>or just turn it into a paperweight. I've looked into my options regarding
>>Linux distros that are compatible too. If i can just get windows to work
>>then i would rather brave that path first.
>>
>>So please, any and all advice and insight would be much appreciated.
>>Thanks.
>
> The 3800 can be upgraded to Pocket PC 2003 if you can find the
> CD. Might try ebay as HP no longer sells it. You'll need an XP
> machine to do the actual upgrade though as WMDC won't connect to
> the 2002 OS on your iPAQ to start the upgrade.
> --
> __________________________________________________________________________________
> Ed Hansberry (Please do *NOT* email me. Post here for the benefit of all)
> What is on my Pocket PC? http://www.ehansberry.com/
> Microsoft MVP - Mobile Devices www.pocketpc.com
> What is an MVP? - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

Werner
Wed Apr 23 06:34:25 PDT 2008

> OS upgrades for Pocket PC's are supplied by the manufacturer, in this case
> HP. There is no upgrade for your particular device.

Let me disagree - the 38xx series did receive the WM2003 upgrade, as has
also been pointed out by Ed.

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Doug Forster" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:E780832C-3F8C-47C2-A46B-0B3518E1D28D@microsoft.com...
> Hi Jim,
>
> OS upgrades for Pocket PC's are supplied by the manufacturer, in this case
> HP. There is no upgrade for your particular device. However it should
> connect to Vista. I have one sitting on my desk right now that works just
> fine. Have you actually installed the Mobile device center download?
>
> Cheers
> Doug Forster

Doug
Wed Apr 23 13:36:17 PDT 2008


> Let me disagree - the 38xx series did receive the WM2003 upgrade, as has
> also been pointed out by Ed.

Yes, sorry my bad. My one has PPC2003 and its so long ago I thought it had
come natively with that and was thinking of a WM5 upgrade.

Cheers
Doug Forster