Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

Registry Editing 101

Posted by , Dec 11 2005, 02:58 PM in Software and Registry

I am making this breif tutorial for all the Smartphone newbz out there.



Intro:

The Windows Mobile OS, both on PPC's and Smartphones, are controlled by a registry. Just like the registry on your Windows PC, the WM (Windows Mobile) registry is where controls for hardware and sofware are put. Registry keys define how hardware and sofware act. Making edits to the registry can improve performace, enable or disable features, or add them.

What do I need to edit the registry on my WM device?

Well you need a registry editor. I suggest PHM Registry editor for both PPC and Smartphone.

What do I do with the .cab file once I download it?

Simple, hook your phone up to your computer with the data cable. ActiveSync on your computer should start automatically. Then in the ActiveSync window, hit the "Explore" button. A new window will come up, double click on the "Windows Mobile device" (or something to that extent) icon. Now you can browse the file directory of your Smartphone just like you can on your computer. Now you will see a folder called "Temp" double click on it and simply drag and drop the .cab file for PHM Registry editor in to this folder. Now on your phone go to File Manager and go to the /Temp folder. There you will see the .cab file for PHM Registry Editor. Select the .cab file. The installer will come up and install PHM Registry Editor to your device.

Now you should be ready to go to perform registry edits on your device. Remember to be careful, if you make a mistake you will mess up the phone and you will have to perform a hard reset. So make sure you know what your doing before you do it! I take no responsiblty if you hose your phone, this tutorial is for learning purposes only!

Tips:

When you have alot of registry edits to do, do them one by one. Restart the device after every registry edit. I know its tedious but it will save you from potential problems.

If you have alot of edits to perform try out Smartione, its a registry editor that you install on your computer and it connects to your phones registry via ActiveSync, Smartione can make it easier to perform several registry edits quickly.

Scroll trough my blog, you will find a list of registry edits you can try.


Changing the Fonts on Windows Mobile Smartphones.

Posted by , Sep 25 2005, 05:05 PM in Software and Registry

The following is how to setup your phone to use any .ttf font.

Note: The following involves modifing the registry, if you are not familar with the registry or not comfortable making modifications to the registry i'd suggest you familarize yourself before proceeding.

You will need the following:

1. the .ttf font you want to install
2. PHM registry editor. (you can use Smartione but this tutorial is focused on using PHM)


Step One: Putting the font in the correct directory.

Once you get ahold of the .ttf file for the font you want to use you need to install it in the following directory on your computer: \Storage\windows\Fonts in this folder at all times should be Nina.ttf this is nessasary because if the font you choose is corupted or is not compatable for some unknown reason the phone can default back to the nina font. If its not there you may have a big problem when rebooting after performing the registry modifications.

Step Two: Creating the nessasary keys.

On your phone start PHM Registry Editor, then go to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft

Now depending on your ROM the following key may already be in this directory, if it is then skip the step on creating it. Just enter the Value Data. You will have to make the FontPath key however.

Create the FontLink key:

In the directory mentioned above hit Menu, New Key and call it FontLink. Select the new key you created called FontLink and hit the action button. Now hit Menu, New Key and call it SystemLink. So know you have the key FontLink with the key SystemLink. Select SystemLink and hit Values, then hit Menu, New Value, String. A window will come up with the header "Edit String Value", in Value Name: put Nina and in Value Data put \Storage\windows\Fonts\name of the font.ttf, true name of the font.

Example:

Say you want to install Tahoma. So in Value Data: put \Storage\windows\Fonts\Tahoma.ttf, Tahoma

Leave Value Type: like it is.

Creating the FontPath key:

Now it Done, then hit the Back key until you get back to the Micrsoft list of keys. Now hit Menu, New Key and call it FontPath. Select FontPath and hit Values then hit Menu, New Value, String. In Value Name: put FontPath and in Value Data: put \Storage\windows\Fonts.

Hit Done, and hit the Back key until you get back to the list of Microsoft keys. Then check all the entries for FontLink and FontPath and make sure they are correct per my instructions above. Now exit out of PHM Registry Editor and reboot your phone and voila! your new font is shown.


MPx 220 Registry Edits

Posted by , Aug 22 2005, 02:43 PM in Software and Registry

Registry edits for the Motorola MPx 220



Here you will find registry edits for the MPx 220. Take note that these same keys may also be available in other MS Smartphones but not in the same location or may have a different name….if you are not sure then I recommend NOT messing with it until you can confirm that it is the key that you want to edit. I will add more to this list as more are discovered.


Note: Modifying, editing, and just plain messing around with the registry can totally hose your phone. If you do not know what you are doing I highly suggest that you stop what you are doing and go to one of the forums I list to the left and get help on the matter. I am NOT responsible for any damages, loss of functionality, and or any other type of abnormality.


The following are registry edits for the Asian 3.45 ROM, these same keys maybe located on other ROM versions.



Turn on ClearType:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ControlPannel\MainLCD\ClearType

Change from 0 to 1



*For the rest of the document, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE will be represented as HKLM likewise, HKEY_CURRENT_USER will be represented as HKCU*




Improve ClearType quality:



HKLM\System\GDI\ClearType\Quality

Increase this number until you get the look you want on your fonts, you will have to restart the phone each time for the changes to take affect.

Increase\Decrease the brightness of the Main LCD screen (Gamma)

HKLM\System\GDI\Gamma\Gamma Value

I have mine set at 2000, increase this value sparingly. If you increase it to much your screen can turn totally white and you will have to do a hard reset to get it back to normal



Turn on the GPRS Available icon on the icon bar:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\RIL\GPRSNOATTACH

Change to 0



Turn off the Roaming Indicator triangle:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\RIL

You will need to create a New DWORD value. Call it NoRoamInd and set the Value Data to 1, if you want it back on simply change it to 0. Power cycle the phone so that the changes take affect.



Change the phones Start Up and Shut Down screen images:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Splash Screen\

Take note of these three keys: CarrierBitmap, CarrierShutdownBitmap, MSBitmap

In the Value Data field in each key type in the directory to where the image you want to use.

Ex.

Value Data: \Windows\ms_splash.gif



Change the reverse order of adresses in Contacts:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\nls\DefaultLCID

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\nls\SystemLCID

Change from 2052 to 1033

Credit for this key is due to Don't Panic of HowardForums....thanks Don't Panic!

Disabling/Enabling the Moto log when the flip is open on the EXT LCD.

HKCU\Control Pannel\ExternalLCD

FlipLogo

Change from 1 to 0 to disable
Change from 0 to 1 to enable