Some New Dash Tips & Tricks for WM6 - Tip 1 Restore Your Alert Sounds!
Written by Karl L. Gechlik | AskTheAdmin.com on July 5, 2007 – 9:29 am -I’m not sure if it was T-Mobile, HTC, or Microsoft, but someone missed something with profiles (and given the Home Screen reset, I’m saying T-Mobile). The problem is that if you have reminders set to play sound on your Normal profile and then switch to the Vibrate or Silent profiles, you’d lose your reminder sounds on all profiles. It would still vibrate for you, but no volume. Which I’m sure the majority of my cube-mates have loved since it’s been quieter in the workplace. But even so: it’s a bug.
The bug is a part of the Normal profile file: where Vibrate and Silent turn off the sound, Normal simply never turns it back on. I’ve tried mucking with the Normal.def.prof.xml that is in the \Windows directory, but that seemed to make the phone unhappy… but I found another workaround.
Read on for more - update: it’s been looking like Vista has been persisting the System attribute flag for this file where as XP and 2003 have been losing it. I’ve added two more steps to this list that should help out.
Here’s the short story on these .def.prof.xml files… they are there for defaults [duh] and they are baked into the ROM. When you modify your profile settings in Settings app WM6 reads in a copy of this file, modifies it based on your settings, and stores this new copy in:
\Application Data\Profiles
So here’s the workaround, and because of the new security for OS files in Vista, you might have to jump through some hoops - you will have to change your Folder Options (via Control Panel) and uncheck “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)”. Also the XML file comes over as System/Read Only/Hidden so you might have to attrib it as well.
Step 1: Make a change to your Normal profile. Raise the volume of some alert or something. Change something to get the device to create the following file: \Application Data\Profiles\Normal.prof.xml
Step 2: Connect via ActiveSync on XP or WMDC on Vista and copy this file to your desktop.
Step 3: Edit this XML file - add the following blurb to the SoundCategories section (Sorry for the image - script wouldn’t take - thanks Bruce!):
Step 4: Save this file on your PC.
Step 5: Set the System flag on this file. You can do this with a right click on the file and setting the properties or via a command prompt: attrib +s normal.prof.xml.
Step 6: Now copy it back to \Application Data\Profiles
That’s it. I’ve switched to and from Vibrate mode both via menu and by holding the # key - both have been fine. I’ve also had Reminders with sound since making this change and across reboots.
One thing to note: I want my Reminder alerts to vibrate and play sound (hence the Script setting of v0p) as well as playing at level 4 volume. I know that InitVol can be values from 0-5. I would guess that v0 would be “voice only” but I don’t know for certain - you can certainly play with Alarm settings via the UI and see what the values are before making those changes…
— And as always: Of course as this is a registry change to your phone, please use it at your own risk and don’t yell at me if you tap something wrong or don’t work with other handsets! I used it on a Dash - use at your own risk on your Blackjack, Q, Windows Mobile Professional, or Windows Mobile Standard phone. I’m just passing on what I’ve learned from other WM users in the hope that I help someone else out! —
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- Nov 3, 2008: Fixing Alarm Problems in Windows Mobile Devices: Additional Tips
By Bruce Keener on Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Karl,
Bruce Keener here, of the Keener Living site (http://www.dkeener.com/keenstuff/blog/)
I tried this and it did not work for me. Not sure if I read the instructions wrong. Also, I was unable to set the system attribute on the file, which may be the cause of it not working. It would not reset because it is classified as a hidden file.
Also, could you verify for me that the value for script is v0p ? That is v, as in victor, the numeral 0, and p as in paul ? I may be misinterpreting the image shown.
By ninjaAdmin on Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
It looks like the Admin was using vista as his os.
Here’s what you need to do, if you have XP.
1. Download and install Total Commander if you don’t already have it. You can find a link in the tip2 post.
2. On your Dash, go to settings, profiles, highlight the NORMAL profile, hit menu and EDIT. Change ANY of the settings, and hit DONE.
3. Open Total Commander, navigate to the ApplicationData\Profiles area, highlight the Normal.prof.xml file and hit FILE and EDIT.
4. Right below the line that says “Sound Categories”, enter in the above code, word for word, letter for letter. I actually took out a few spare spaces in the code above, but I don’t know if it’s necessary or not, just the spaces after the ” at the end of the PARM NAME lines. I also tabbed everything over so it was even with the other fields below and above.
5. When finished, hit “FILE”, and save, then restart your device.
6. When restarted, go back into your profiles, highlight NORMAL, and hit Menu and EDIT. All the new fields are there, and you can adjust them as you see fit now!
let us know if that helps you Bruce
By Karl L. Gechlik on Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Yes you got it right sorry for the graphic the script would not print for the life of me! And Ninja Admin hit it on the head Vista Plays nicer with the dash then xp.
I’m also not 100% sure if the code needs those spaces removed, but this has worked ever since we did it via Total Commander. After trying it the other way, the only thing we couldn’t fix was the System file setting, and I still have not figured out how to do it.
By JohnBlaze on Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
http://www.omnisoft.com/downloads/OMNISOFT_Dash_WM6_ReminderFix.CAB
Here is the link to a cab file that will fix your reminder issue
By Karl L. Gechlik on Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
I just checked out that cab file its cool and it looks like it works. But we dont have a dash that hasnt been modded yet.
Leave us your feedback!
By Bruce on Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Thanks guys. I’ll follow through with either Total Commander, the cab file, or both :)
By Bruce on Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Just an update: I blew away the xml file, installed the cab, reset, and now I have alarms! Glory.
Good work fellas. Also, I’ve noticed you have posted a lot of good articles today. I’ll definitely write a post linking to you.
By Karl L. Gechlik on Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
We are very happy it worked out for you! Tell you friends thats all we ask!
By William Warshauer on Jul 31, 2007 | Reply
I can NOT thank you enough for that CAB file!!!!!! it worked perfectly on my Dash that I had “upgraded” to WM 6.0. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
By Larry on Oct 18, 2007 | Reply
The cab won’t work on mine. It doesn’t have sufficient system permissions. Am I missing something?
By Karl L. Gechlik on Oct 18, 2007 | Reply
@Larry you need to app unlock before running unsigned apps! once you do that you will be golden.
By amol on Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Gr888.. the cab file provided works like charm…it resolved my issue….. Thanks a ton…. !!! :-)
Karl L. Gechlik | AskTheAdmin.com Reply:
August 19th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Glad we could help Amol!