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Do you enjoy flashing your Windows Phones with updated ROMs? If so, I’m sure you’ve experienced the need to reinstall all of your applications and setting up the device the way you want it. Ugh! It’s a time-consuming experience and most of us don’t want to go through the headaches. There are helpful tools out there to lessen the pain and make it much easier to handle.
Some of the ROM developers are using UC, which stands for User Customization. All of the cellular providers use that tool built into the system to install their customizing software, so why can’t you? What it does is automatically install some of the applications onto the device when it’s been hard reset. I have used it in the past, but it had some limitations. I had to write scripts to copy files where I wanted them put and it wasn’t easy. I then checked out Sashimi.
Sashimi is very easy to use and simple to set up. You only really need to set it up once and then let it go. You can download Sashimi here. You must be a registered member of their forum to download the file. Get Version 8.0 for the 480×800 devices.
There are a few things you need to gather together before you get started. The main thing is to gather your CAB files for reinstallation. The next thing is to gather your registry entries that you want to reinstall. That can be the tricky part, but it’s not that difficult. Some people have already created REG files for you to edit and import. Some are easy to save using a CE Registry application on your PC.
Download and install CE Registry Editor on your PC. With your phone connected, you can connect and edit and back up the registry from your device. You will only need to back up certain keys and not the whole registry. It is recommended you do this on your current device before you flash to a new ROM. That way, you are backing up your current settings for the new ROM.
There are dozens of places in the Registry you can back up, so there is no way I can list them all here, but I will go over some of the main ones. You can easily add more later for when you flash your device again.
Now, not everything is a registry entry that can be backed up. Some things have to be created in XML format and then imported. You’ll see the difference below. Let’s start with a few registry keys first. Every time you do a hard reset, you always have to enter your owner information, device identification information, voice mail settings, weather location, and a few others perhaps. We can make your life a little easier.
Start out by creating a folder on your PC to begin saving these files. Open up the CE Registry Editor and go to the following keys:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Ident <- save the entire key. This is the name of your device for ActiveSync
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Vmail <- save the entire key. This is the phone number that is dialed when you call your voice mail. Hint: behind your phone number, add a P followed by your access code, then a # sign and then P1. This will pause, enter your code, pause again and then play the first new message automatically. Enter that information within the quotes. Add a second P if one pause is not long enough.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\HTC\Manila <- save the entire key. This is your weather settings in TouchFlo 3D. It contains your cities and all information as well as any hidden pages. For example, I don’t show my Stock page, so it’s hidden. I don’t care for the people page either, so it’s gone.
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Owner <- Owner information
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\Timeouts <- Power Settings
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Volume <- Volume SettingsThe following are all mail settings:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ActiveSync
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Inbox\Attachments
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Inbox\Settings
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Inbox\SMIME\Exchange
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Notifications\{A877D65A-239C-47a7-9304-0D347F580408}
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Security\Software\Microsoft\ActiveSync
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Inbox\Settings
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Inbox\SVCYou can easily edit and combine those backups into one big REG file by using NotePad on your PC. Personally, I have a REG file for each of the individual settings, plus one big one for my email settings. There are plenty more registry keys you can back up, but it depends on your applications you use.
Now, what about the other stuff? How do I back up my email accounts and stuff like that? Don’t panic! It’s easy!
It’s time to install Sashimi on your current device. Be sure to install it on your storage card. It won’t do much good if you put it in your main memory. Don’t forget, that’s about to be wiped when you install a new ROM! After Sashimi is installed, you’ll see a new folder in your Start Menu. Open Sashimi and check out these videos on YouTube.
There are tools inside Sashimi that will make it a lot easier to backup. Click on TOOLS (double-click or highlight and click the OK at the bottom).
Registry Tools will let you back up Owner information or the whole registry or just parts. Unless you know where to find everything, I recommend using the steps above or finding which key to backup online.
Makisu will be found under MY CUSTOM TOOLS. This is the real magic here. Here is where you create your email accounts and wireless information as well as Exchange Servers if you use one. Just go through the prompts as if you’re setting up a new account. After you have gone through all of the steps, you need to select XML OPERATIONS from the menu and build the file. It will create an XML file that you’ll be able to save for import. Be sure to save the file where you can find it. You’ll want to add that to your folder a little later.
Okay, now you have some of the stuff you’ll need to proceed. If you look on your device using File Manager or ActiveSync, you’ll find a folder called Sashimi located in the \Storage Card directory. Inside you will find several folders:
- Auto
- Backups
- Manual
- Program
Let’s start with the AUTO folder. That is where you’ll put most of your stuff anyway. Inside that folder, you’ll find:
- CAB
- CERT
- EXE
- REG
- ROOT
- SCRIPTS
- XML
Drop your CAB files you want to automatically install into the CAB folder. If it’s an application you want installed on the Storage Card, drop it inside the SC folder inside the CAB folder.
Drop any Email Certificates into the CERT folder (only needed for SSL Encrypted email)
Drop your REG files into the REG folder (Note: These files should start out with either REGEDIT4 at the top or Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00. They are basic text files. No special formatting.)
Drop your XML file that was created by Makisu in the XML folder.
Okay … we’re almost done. What about shortcuts and custom ringtones? This is where the ROOT folder comes in. Read carefully and you’ll get the idea rather quickly. On my device, I pareviously copied my ringtones and a few other files back to my device every time I did a reset. This method with Sashimi makes it so much easier. Inside the ROOT folder, create a subfolder with the same name where the file usually goes. For example, I like the ‘Excuse me boss…you have a text message’ sound file. It goes inside the \Windows folder on my device. So, I have a folder called Windows, and inside that is the single sound file. But, also inside the Windows folder is my RINGS folder with all of my custom ring tones. I also have a folder called START MENU. Inside that, you’ll find PROGRAMS. Inside that, you’ll find the shortcuts to the apps I have installed on my STORAGE CARD that will run using just the shortcuts. Those are apps that don’t have to be reinstalled every time. Just keep the directory the same as it is on the device (\windows\start menu\programs\games or \windows\rings)
You can do this for any folder you wish. It’s just a quick and simple way of putting certain files back into main memory after a hard reset.
You will notice there is a MANUAL folder inside Sashimi as well. It’s the same file layout, but it’s only used if you select the MANUAL install rather than AUTO.
Okay, now you’ve got the basics. There are more features to this program, but I’m only hitting the ones that I use all the time. Read the forums if you want to learn more, but this will get you started.
One last thing - after you’ve done your hard reset and flashed your phone, you need to get the application rolling. Just open up File Explorer and go to your Storage Card. Click on Sashimi and the Program folder. Open the BIN folder and click on Sashimi. You will see two files by the same name. One is a script and the other is the file. Click on the one that is 194K in size. It will run through the installer and put the icons back in your start menu on your newly flashed device. Once it’s done, Sashimi will run and you just need to double-click on AUTO. It will start the process of installing everything you copied to the AUTO folder.
Note: Some applications require a click on the screen to proceed. Resco is one of those. You may have some interaction that is required, so keep an eye on the screen. Some apps don’t like to be installed automatically and may not work properly using this method. Just keep that in mind, but this will save you an hour or more of work after resetting your device. After it’s done, a big YES or NO will come up on the screen. Select YES and it will reboot. It will do it automatically if you’re not watching.
Now you can do your activesync connection and restore your contacts.
If you have special ringtones for several of your contacts, get a copy of Keep My Tones from XDA Developers and run it before you flash your device. Back up your ring tones and then use the program to restore them after your contacts have been restored. It does say it is saving the file in XML format, but it’s not really. You cannot use the file generated to import using Sashimi. You must use Keep My Tones to restore that file. Just install the app on the Storage Card and save the file it generates as well. Add the shortcut to your \SASHIMI\AUTO\ROOT\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS folder and it will be there when you reset after the Sashimi installation.
Enjoy! Once you have Sashimi set up, flashing a new ROM will be a snap!