Upgrading your iPAQ H3600 to Pocket PC 2002 software

Most users of the original iPAQ H3600 and H3100 Pocket PC have been waiting impatiently for Compaq to release the ROM upgrade to the new Pocket PC 2002 OS and applications. A review of these is available at www.pocketpcmag.com/jan02/2002os.asp. I was quite excited when I received my new iPAQ 3650 upgrade CD in the mail. Was it worth the wait? You decide for yourself, as I go over the install process for your new OS.

Installing the Pocket PC 2002 OS and applications on your iPAQ

You need to connect your iPAQ to your desktop PC and put the CD in your desktop's CD player. If the "Start Here" screen doesn't pop up automatically, you have to use the desktop's File Explorer to find and run the Setup program found on the CD. The software takes you through the step-by-step process of installing the upgrade on your iPAQ. The first step is to install the latest version of ActiveSync. Since I already had ActiveSync 3.5, I skipped that and went to H3600 Pocket PC 2002 upgrade.

You are presented with a couple of introductory screens. One asks you if you have rightfully obtained the upgrade software from Compaq. After you check the box indicating that you have, you will be prompted with a warning that the upgrade will delete everything on your iPAQ and you need to backup before proceeding. The next screen asks you to select the type of connection you have between your Pocket PC and desktop PC (USB or serial). A final screen tells you that the upgrade will take four minutes and describes what's going to happen during the upgrade process. Click on "Next" to proceed with the upgrade. An upgrade progress bar is displayed on both your desktop PC and your iPAQ.

Presto! My upgrade actually completed in 3.5 minutes. When the upgrade is completed, a final series of screens come up on your desktop PC, describing the final few steps you need to take to complete the upgrade process and re-establish a partnership between your iPAQ and desktop PC.

I liked what Compaq has done here with the upgrade process—transitions are smooth, and step-by-step instructions guide you through the process. Many people had problems with earlier ROM upgrades, primarily because they turned off their iPAQ in the middle of the upgrade. There were plenty of warnings against this, but I'll say it again: Keep your iPAQ connected to its AC power adapter while the upgrade is in process, and don't turn off the iPAQ until you're finished with the upgrade.

Some programs installed in RAM

Because the H3600 series only has 16 Mb of flashROM, Microsoft Reader and Microsoft Media Player don't fit in ROM. You can optionally install them in RAM. Due to size limitations of the ROM, the Contacts Backup application was removed and this functionality does not exist in the upgrade.

The CD also comes with user-installable versions of iPresentation Mobile Converter, Compaq Dashboard, Pocket Streets, and the AvantGo client. One thing that is installed in flashROM is iTask, a utility that replaces QMenu, QStart, and QUtilities found on the original iPAQ Pocket PC. A more complete look at these programs is found in my review of the H3800 series.