First here are the threads with discussions on installation and getting WM5 on your i730. Second, this doesn't take place for either of the other FAQs, this is just a quickly put together thread to give you the most asked "WM5" questions, and information about the install. PLEASE SEARCH and USE THE FAQs to find answers to your other questions. Basically THIS thread is just to get you going on WM5, then use the forum to maintain, tweak, and/or fix your i730. The FAQs can be found in the Stickies at the top of the i730 forum.

WM5 Official VZW Release Thread

Official Windows Mobile 5 Upgrade Available for Download!

WM5: How to downgrade radio stack to fix tethering.

How to upgrade to Official for those that are using the SD WM5 rip

Windows Mobile 5 Install - SDave Version - Install questions ONLY

The old "Official Windows Mobile 5 OS Upgrade Information for the i730 - It's HERE"

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Now let me answer some questions that keep coming up:

1. Where do I download it?

http://dts.vzw.com

Choose the i730 if you haven't already, and check the links at the bottom of the page.

2. What's the difference between "official" WM5 and SD WM5?

Just the phone radio and the fact that the official version has the boot images for MITS and Verizon. The OS versions are identical, the bootloader is identical. If you did the SD version you HAVE the Official version of WM5, you just don't have the boot image photos, and the newest radio version.

Also the difference between the WM5 versions are explained in #9 below.

3. Can I tether with WM5?

Yes and no. This is dependant upon the radio version. With the newest radio version "zb21", it looks like Verizon disabled the ability to tether. This has been reported by everyone that has upgraded to the official version and had both the radio and pda side upgraded. If you still want to tether you can look for a 3rd party solution, or you can downgrade your radio version. You can find that information above in the links. Both the YE05 and YH25 radio versions allow you to tether.

This still holds true. Since the one released on 6/23/06 is the same as the other versions, you won't be able to tether without first paying Verizon $15 for a tethering access using VZ Access, unless you downgrade the radio version, or use some type of third party software like PDANet. So it looks like Verizon is working on making it cost more to be able to tether. So if you still would like to avoid paying a monthly fee, either use the SD method to downgrade your radio from ZB21 to YH25, or use PDANet for a one time fee.

MORE UPDATE

Verizon has updated the VZ Access page to include the i730, here is the information (Note from Verizon and links to the files):

Here is the link to the new drivers:

http://www.vzam.net/download/samsung-4.24drv.zip

And here is the direct link to the VZ Access Software:

http://www.vzam.net/download/VZAccess_5.7.7_MOK.exe

4. Is the "official" release really the OFFICIAL release?

The link that was found really is a link to the official file. Verizon still hasn't announced it "officially", but this is the file that Verizon will be releasing when they do decide to announce it.

This held true and the file Verizon released, matched the file we had previously had the link for. So if you loaded the file that was downloaded from Verizon, it's the same.

5. Should I upgrade from SD WM5 to the Official Release or from the Unofficial Release?

This is up to you. I am going to upgrade to the official release and downgrade the radio version eventually (when I have time to setup the i730 again). I currently have the SD WM5 w/YH25 firmware. Really the only reason I will upgrade and then downgrade the radio portion back to YH25 is because I want to get the boot images. Other than that these are the same versions and you should notice no differences.

Again this still holds true. Your choice. It is not needed to upgrade, especially from the "unofficial official upgrade" since it's the exact same as the one Verizon just released on 6/23/06. So if you have WM5 on your phone and you downloaded and used the Verizon installer, you have the most recent version.

6. Is there a reason I should still follow and do the SD WM5 upgrade?

Not really. The Official release is MUCH easier to do, and requires far less steps. You can also follow the information in the links above to downgrade to the YH25 firmware, or you can just leave it as "official" if you don't plan on tethering.

7. It runs a little slow, is there something I can do to fix this?

Yes. Two things. One, Verizon didn't do a good job with the processor. They don't have the speed stepping working correctly, and since this is the case, SuperDave made a utility to help with it. It's found here: Speed Stepping Utility. You can load it and adjust the processor speed. this will help greatly. Two, install my CAB file. In the WM5 setup guide you can find the MRailing Phone Tools.CAB file. This contains many fixes and files for the i730 and WM5. This helps speed the phone up and tweaks the phone. While you are in the setup guide, I suggest you follow some of the steps to clean and setup the phone, this will help too.

Still holds true. Official release suffers from the same flaw as the previous releases (since it's the same version of WM5), so you will still need SD's Autostep, and possibly the Registry tweaks found in the MRailing Phone Tools.

8. Can I go back to WM2003 after I do the WM5 update?

No, not presently. Once you go to WM5, there is no going back, and after you use it for a bit, you won't want to... trust me, it's worth the upgrade.

Still can't go back, so once you do it, your are WM5 for LIFE!

9. I am having problems with ActiveSync, where can I find some answers?

Start here, and ask all questions here: ActiveSync 4.1 and Windows Mobile 5 connection issues

10. So is there any difference between SD WM5, Unofficial Official WM5 (UOWM5), and Official WM5 (VZW WM5)?

Yes and no. SD WM5 was taken from a ROM dump on an i730, so it's a generated file to give us a working version. It was taken from a phone with the same Verison of the other two, so it's practically identical. However the SD WM5 file doesn't include any form of Radio Upgrade.

Now UO WM5 and VZW WM5 are the exact same file. We have had the link now for a few weeks and those that have already upgraded to WM5 using the 'unofficial' link did actually have the OFFICIAL file. So there is NO NEED to redownload and redo the whole process.

THE WM5 VERSIONS ARE ALL THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENCE ARE THE RADIO VERSIONS! So unless you want the ZB21 radio, and don't plan on tethering without paying more, or without using PDANet, then stick with a previous radio or downgrade to one after performing the upgrade.

11. What if my phone bricked during the install? What if I want to reload the WM5 build? What if I want to make sure WM5 is really the OFFICIAL one loaded on my device? What if I just want to reload the image to make sure?

Verizon's installer includes an EMERGENCY boot section that bypasses the Version Check, allowing you to reflash your phone without have to load any file, or if you "bricked it". Here is how to do it.

1. Make sure you COMPLETELY remove ANY FORM of Samsung USB Modem drivers. These conflict with the ones used by the Verizon Installer. Leave ActiveSync 4.1 installed on the machine. You can reinstall Samsung USB Modem drivers after the upgrade finishes.

2. Follow the instructions found in the installer PDF file - outlined here:

• Enable Emergency Mode on the Update Utility
• Open the “Samsung_i730_WM5_Upgrade.exe” file using WinZIP (or similar application) and extract the files into a folder on your PC.
• Right-click on “VEU4.exe” and select Create Shortcut
• Right-click on the new shortcut and select Properties
• In the Target field, add the switch /mode=emergency after the quotation marks. The field should now read something like:
• "C: \Samsung_i730_WM5_Upgrade\VEU4.exe" /mode=emergency
• Double-click the new shortcut and follow the on-screen instructions.

This will reload the WM5 (official) on your i730.

12. Does WM5 (any version) contain A2DP?

No. They left it out. Luckily SuperDave hacked A2DP for us, and it's available as an addon. The link is in the SuperDave Sticky or here:

http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/samsu...-a2dp-wm5.html

13. What else do I need to know special before making the upgrade to WM5 from WM2003?

Given the information that Verizon provides is less than adequate at upgrading your i730, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to upgrading your device from WM2003 to WM5.

This upgrade isn't something to take lightly. It does more than just "update" the OS, it completely changes the operating system to a new version. In that process it changes the memory structure (no more loosing your information if you battery dies), you have a dedicated area to store files (in the old safestore area, and the old RAM is just used for running programs), it's a new interface (yes it looks similar but adds lots of functionality and changes), and it's a different OS (which means some software won't work that previously worked).

Now, some of the things to keep in mind. By default, you loose Sprite Backup. Although with WM5 you no longer need it in the event of a power loss (since in WM2003 if your device was without power, your device would basically hard reset itself). So instead of Verizon or Samsung paying the Sprite people to include it, it's no longer free.

Also, old backups from Sprite, or SPB Backup, no longer work in WM5, even if you purchase the new WM5 versions of the software. The memory structure is changed and this changes the way information is stored on the system, and they are incompatible to do a restore. So basically, you need to back everything up manually to your computer before you do the upgrade.

You also are going to have to reinstall EVERYTHING, and resync EVERYTHING. During the WM5 upgrade process you loose everything on the device, it does a hard reset, it changes the memory structure, it "Formats Root" and load WM5 with a fresh install. So make sure you have all of your product keys and serials, as well as the installation files to do the upgrade.

Read, read, read all the information from the WM5 Manual, and the WM5 upgrade instructions from Verizon. Know that there is an EMERGENCY INSTALL in the file and that you can recover a dead i730. Reading the instructions will tell you how to use the device and the new features.

Know that you need ActiveSync 4.1 or higher. You need this to do the upgrade (which any version of 4.1 or higher will work, even though it prompts you it hasn't been tested). You also need this to sync, since WM5 won't sync with any version of ActiveSync lower than 4.1.

So, backup everything manually, do one last sync and make sure your data is stored on your PC, update to AcitveSync 4.1 or higher, and do the upgrade. Once done, know that you device is "FACTORY FRESH" and you need to reinstall your third party software, setup your device, install your skins, install your dial pads, install tweaks, etc. (for a way to do this, read the WM2003 and WM5 setup guides to help you "tweak" your device).

__________________
-Michael
Need help setting up your i730/i830 or other WM2003/WM5 Phone, as well as the other hacks I have done, check out the MRailing Guides and Links