editing windows ce files

[TLSS_N]

Hey, I have a windows ce file here in my possession that I am trying to replace an image internally. I can't seem to find a resource hacker type of utility, does anyone know of something I can use to do this?

Thanks,
TLSS_N

 

[FAST6191]

Windows CE should just use but a minor tweak on the standard PE format that you otherwise probably know as exe (and dll and sys).
http://upx.sourceforge.net/ should then be able to handle it.

How it is ultimately packed into the file remains to be seen but that is the fun of "ROM" hacking.

 

[TLSS_N]

Windows CE should just use but a minor tweak on the standard PE format that you otherwise probably know as exe (and dll and sys).
http://upx.sourceforge.net/ should then be able to handle it.

How it is ultimately packed into the file remains to be seen but that is the fun of "ROM" hacking.

Appreciate it fast! I was looking into editing a boot file for a gps unit I got for christmas, and I was really pulling my hair out, google wasn't really helping.

edit: Well, I got the chance to look into it just now and I am having no luck with the program you suggested. :/ Do you know of any other way to unpack and edit it? I would host the file somewhere, but I am not exactly sure if it's the right file so I am going one at a time.

 

[FAST6191]

Sorry wrong link (that one was more for programmers working on things), http://www.heaventools.com/overview.htm should be something that works

 

[Foxi4]

What is the device you'll be working with? Perhaps there are dedicated tools for it?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Hey, I have a windows ce file here in my possession that I am trying to replace an image internally. I can't seem to find a resource hacker type of utility, does anyone know of something I can use to do this?

Thanks,
TLSS_N

I've always used Resource Hacker for this on windows. If Windows CE uses the PE format as FAST6191 said, it might work for that too. I've only used the original ResHacker, but there is a successor to it here that is probably better: http://rammichael.com/resource-hacker-fx
There is also XN Resource Editor, that the ResHacker author himself recommended, and it seems to have a built in image editor so you don't need to use an external application: http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d10resourceeditor.htm

 

[TLSS_N]

Sorry wrong link (that one was more for programmers working on things), http://www.heaventools.com/overview.htm should be something that works

Thanks, I'll look into it in a bit, I am a bit busy atm... either way, I'll get back to you.

What is the device you'll be working with? Perhaps there are dedicated tools for it?

It's a no name chinese gps unit I got for christmas, my parents thought I could use my own gps unit, and I was planning on moving myself in the not to distant future. I've been trying to edit the boot/splash screen because it's along the lines of a "for dummies" type of device. Not my preference, but with third party apps, I can use different maps like the ones from the gps unit they have.

I've always used Resource Hacker for this on windows. If Windows CE uses the PE format as FAST6191 said, it might work for that too. I've only used the original ResHacker, but there is a successor to it here that is probably better: http://rammichael.com/resource-hacker-fx
There is also XN Resource Editor, that the ResHacker author himself recommended, and it seems to have a built in image editor so you don't need to use an external application: http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d10resourceeditor.htm

Hmm, I hadn't heard of any successors, If the link fast provided doesn't pan out, I'll get back to this program and check it out, thanks again!

 

[Foxi4]

It's a no name chinese gps unit I got for christmas, my parents thought I could use my own gps unit, and I was planning on moving myself in the not to distant future. I've been trying to edit the boot/splash screen because it's along the lines of a "for dummies" type of device. Not my preference, but with third party apps, I can use different maps like the ones from the gps unit they have.

It's going to be quite diffucult to establish what you'll need to do since WinCE is, more often than not, packed in a specific way depending on the device. I'd suggest googling the device up - where there are custom ROM's, there are tools as well.

Last time I did that sort of thing, I was modding the software for my Mio A701 (Win CE5-based Windows Mobile PNE, pretty neat) so I may be a bit rusty, but this much I'm sure of - look for dedicated software before trying to re-invent the wheel.

 

[TLSS_N]

It's going to be quite diffucult to establish what you'll need to do since WinCE is, more often than not, packed in a specific way depending on the device. I'd suggest googling the device up - where there are custom ROM's, there are tools as well.

Last time I did that sort of thing, I was modding the software for my Mio A701 (Win CE5-based Windows Mobile PNE, pretty neat) so I may be a bit rusty, but this much I'm sure of - look for dedicated software before trying to re-invent the wheel.

Actually, miopocket is what I was going to try and use, I already have it installed. But, YFshell isn't anywhere in the windows directory, so I have a feeling it's buried somewhere within one of the executable. I attempted to seek help previously, but really that didn't go very far. I seriously doubt that a complete software replacement is available for the device I have. It wasn't very popular, even though it sold for literally ~2x dollars at drugs stores at time.

 

[Foxi4]

Actually, miopocket is what I was going to try and use, I already have it installed. But, YFshell isn't anywhere in the windows directory, so I have a feeling it's buried somewhere within one of the executable. I attempted to seek help previously, but really that didn't go very far. I seriously doubt that a complete software replacement is available for the device I have. It wasn't very popular, even though it sold for literally ~2x dollars at drugs stores at time.

It's highly-probable that if it's a mass-produced chinese "poo-poo" device, it may very well be built on the same blueprint as millions of other chinese "poo-poo" devices.

 

[TLSS_N]

It's highly-probable that if it's a mass-produced chinese "poo-poo" device, it may very well be built on the same blueprint as millions of other chinese "poo-poo" devices.

I looked before, really nothing came up (I spent several nights googling for similar ideas, hoping to find a device like it to launch from that point forward). My best bet is to look for the image and move from that point forward.

 

[Foxi4]

I looked before, really nothing came up (I spent several nights googling for similar ideas, hoping to find a device like it to launch from that point forward). My best bet is to look for the image and move from that point forward.

Oh, I realize that - it'd just help us in helping you if we had some background info about the device itself in order to help you - maybe someone here has it too.

 

[TLSS_N]

Oh, I realize that - it'd just help us in helping you if we had some background info about the device itself in order to help you - maybe someone here has it too.

Well, here is the devices home page and I supposed I could get the processors name from windows ce, but really I don't know what else to provide besides possibly a whole nand image dump I made a while back.

 

[Foxi4]

Okay, can you test something for me TLSS_N?

After some Google'ing I found out that you can boot directly into WinCE by creating a file called "YFgo2CE.bld" on the SD Card - it can contain any kind of padding, it just has to be at least 1 byte big. Once you're done with that, reboot the device and check what happens. This method is said to work on a lot of Chinese PNA's, including the FD-220.

If it boots WinCE, it should initialize standard Windows background processes rather than the "For Dummies" menu. From there, you can connect the device via USB and edit the registery using CeRegEdit - just make sure to have backup copies etc.

EDIT: Yes, I realize this doesn't help you in swapping images. What it does help you in though is disabling the Autostart of the "Dummies" shell - you can swap it to Explorer.exe via regedit, clean up the ResidentFlash and bam - you'll have clean WinCE. I assume this is what you ultimately want, right?