ROM Kitchen Utensils

[tjlabais]

When I first attempted to make my own custom ROM, it took me the whole day searching for the stuff I need.
So, I hope this will help noobs: Things you need to know when WM5 ROM Cooking for Hima using mamaich tools:

xda2nbftool.... necessary to decrypt/encrypt ROM file: nk.nbf

Decrypt HIMA ROM

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xda2nbftool nk.nbf nk.nba 0x20040304


[size=1em] [/size]
Encrypt HIMA ROM

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xda2nbftool -c -u NK.nba
xda2nbftool -x NK.nba NK.nbf 0x20040304


[hr] Using IMGFS tools by mamaich:

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prepare_imgfs.exe nk.nba
DelFile.exe filename.ext
AddFile.exe filename.ext
...you may add/delete as many files as you need...
make_imgfs.exe nk.nba

NOTE: To add/delete a file with filename separated by spaces: (i.e. Pocket Plus.lnk)
Addfile.exe Pocket" "Plus.lnk

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prepare_imgfs.exe nk.nba
viewimgfs.exe imgfs_raw_data.bin
...modify "dump" directory as you need...
BuildImgfs.exe
make_imgfs.exe nk.nba

NOTE:
1. Only IMGFS content of nk.nbf will be shown in dump directory. XIP part requires ROM Master.
2. If recmod.exe is present in the same directory as viewimgfs.exe, modules will be converted into files from within the module directories.
3. To manually convert modules into files use

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[b]recmod.exe modulename filename[/b]

4. There is currently no reverse tool as of the moment: converting files into modules.

Special Note: If your desktop PC has limited RAM, there is a tendency for it to be screwed; such that, when you keep on using these tools, it will sometimes generate a defective ROM. To avoid this, simply restart you PC. Better yet, plan all the things you need to modify and place it on a batch file.

You can download and learn more of these tools by mamaich at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthr ... ight=imgfs
[hr] Registry editing tools:

TaskManagerby dotFred
Resco File Explorer with registry plugin
PHM registry editing tool
Note: You can use these tools to edit/import/export PPC registry files

Registry Workshop (info by TomasNM)
Notes:
1. You can use this to do registry comparison before and after installing a .cab file on PPC.
2. You can use this program for editing in conjunction with the attached scripts found in Workshop.zip

default.hv - This is where [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT] and [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE] entries go.
user.hv - This is where [HKEY_CURRENT_USER] entries go.
RGUCOMP - Tool to compile/decompile the PPC registry hive.

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SET _FLATRELEASEDIR=.
RGUCOMP -o default.hv -nologo > boot.rgu

Notes for MS Word editor:
1. Edit boot.rgu with MS Word to preserve registry entries.
2. First line must contain REGEDIT4
3. There should be one entry per line
4. Last line should be an empty line
5. Save file as UNICODE
Notes for Registry Workshop as edtor:
1. decompile registy hive (default.hv / user.hv) using RGUCOMP
2. name the file as ms.reg
3. execute workshop.vbs in the same directory as ms.reg
4. edit ms.reg with Registry Workshop
5. save changes
6. execute bootrgu.vbs in the same directory as ms.reg
7. boot.rgu will be generated
8. compile registry hive using RGUCOMP

* When using Notepad.exe and Wordpad.exe in editing boot.rgu and saving to UNICODE, it sometimes causes two entries in a single line resulting in compilation errors. You can use ansi2unicode to convert your text file to UNICODE or the vbscript contained in NewReg.zip. The vbscript will look for boot.rgu file, it will automatically add REGEDIT4 into first line, and save the boot.rgu into UNICODE.

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SET _FLATRELEASEDIR=.
RGUCOMP -b

Note: This will look for boot.rgu file in UNICODE format and generate boot.hv

You can explore on registry tweaks to fully customize your ROM :)
LOCATION: USER.HV
Setting the default SoftKeys

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[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Today\Keys\113] -> Right
"Open"="\\windows\\FlightMode.exe" -> program
@="FlightMode" -> name to appear
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Today\Keys\112] -> Left
@="Messaging"
"Open"="\\windows\\tmail.exe"

Default Volume Levels

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[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Volume]
"Ringer"=dword:ffffffff --> f-loudest / 9-default / 1-lowest
"Volume"=dword:ffffffff

Backlight Default Levels

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[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\BackLight]
"BrightNess"=dword:00000004
"ACTimeout"=dword:0000003c
"ACTimeoutUnchecked"=dword:00000000
"BatteryTimeoutUnchecked"=dword:00000000
"BatteryTimeout"=dword:0000001e
"OnOff"=dword:00000001
"OnOffAC"=dword:00000001
"OnOffBatt"=dword:00000001
"AutoMode"=dword:00000000
"ACBrightness"=dword:0000000a
"BacklightOnTap"=dword:00000001
"ACBacklightOnTap"=dword:00000001
"DefaultBrightness"=dword:0000000a
"DefaultACBrightness"=dword:0000000a
"MAXBrightnessScale"=dword:0000000a
"MAXACBrightnessScale"=dword:0000000a

*It is best to set the desired levels on you PPC, then export the registry, and copy settings like the above to your custom registry.
Default Ringtone List

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[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Sounds]
"Ringtones"=hex(7):57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,00,20,00,44,00,65,00,\
  66,00,61,00,75,00,6c,00,74,00,20,00,2e,00,77,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,4a,00,69,\
  00,67,00,20,00,2e,00,77,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,4f,00,6c,00,64,00,50,00,68,00,\
  6f,00,6e,00,65,00,20,00,2e,00,77,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,52,00,65,00,77,00,69,\
  00,6e,00,64,00,69,00,6e,00,67,00,20,00,2e,00,77,00,6d,00,61,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00

*It is best to use registry editing software to enter your list then export the key to generate the hex values.

LOCATION: DEFAULT.HV
Disable the Power Battery Icon at system tray

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[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Services\Power]
"Flags"=dword:00000004

Disable the Comm Manager Icon at system tray

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[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Services\WirelessMgr]
"Flags"=dword:00000004

Today Items

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[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Today\Items"Device Lock"]
"Order"=dword:00000003 --> Order in relation to other Today Items
"Enabled"=dword:00000001 --> 1-enabled / 0-disabled

* Other Today items include: "Date", "Owner Info", "Messaging", "Tasks", "Calendar"
Enable/Disable Transcriber

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[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F0034DD0-2AD4-11d1-9CB0-E84BE8000000}\IsSIPInputMethod]
@="1" --> 1-Enable / 0-Disable

Enable/Disable Letter Recognizer

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[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{42429690-ae04-11d0-a4f8-00aa00a749b9}\IsSIPInputMethod]
@="0"

Enable/Disable Block Recognizer

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[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{42429691-ae04-11d0-a4f8-00aa00a749b9}\IsSIPInputMethod]
@="0"

Default Time Zone and Starting Time

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[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\State\DateTime]
"Time"=hex:00,3a,24,af,55,10,c7,01
"Timezone Bias"=dword:fffffe20

*Do the method similar to backlight registry entries.

[hr] Creating link files or PPC shortcuts of programs using any text editor (as shown on Programs window)

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XX#"\path\filename.ext"?"\path\iconfile.ext,n"
where:
XX = no. of characters after #
n = icon offset on iconfile (iconfile is optional)

Note: Save the file as Filename.lnk

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19#"\Windows\pword.exe"

Note: The icon contained in pword.exe will be shown

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25#"\Windows\pword.exe?\Windows\IcoRes.dll,004"

Note: This link file will activate pword.exe, but will show an icon stored in IcoRes.dll offset 004.

[hr]initflashfiles.dat is used for putting(copying) files in the right path and/or creating subdirectories during hard reset
* Normally all files added to ROM are placed \Windows folder. You need to modify initflashfiles.dat to define were to put the files, copy and rename the files, and create subdirectories. The initflashfiles.dat will be parsed during a hard reset. So, if your device happen to boot up after a ROM flashing with nothin in the start menu other than Today and/or coldinit; chances are there is a defect in initflashfiles.dat and/or the default.hv You can still access the contents of PPC at this state using ActiveSync though.

To create a sub-directory not at root level

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Directory("\path"):-Directory("new directory")

To create sub-directory at root level

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root:-Directory("new directory")

To copy and rename Filename.Ext to \Program Files directory

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Directory("\Program Files"):-file("Filename2.Ext","\windows\Filename.Ext")

** ASSUMPTION IS MADE THAT \Program Files ALREADY EXIST PRIOR TO COPYING.

Note: After editing initflashfiles.dat using notepad.exe, you need to hex edit the first two entries with a hex editor. You can replace the first two entries as 3B 00; otherwise, the file could not be parsed after hard reset.You may want to use EditPad Lite as suggested by llbasha it's a text editor that easily converts ANSI and UNICODE format without breaking the structure; so, no more hex editing is needed.

[hr]Extracting contents from CAB files

I just found a very nice progy to do CAB extraction, this is called Win CE CAB Analyzer It gives you the ease of looking at both OLD and NEW cab file contents and extraction. It even gives you a report on a per CAB basis so you can do some tracing were files go and what registry entries are added at installation. Best of all its FREEWARE!

Now, if you want to create your own CAB, we can also use this FREEWARE Installation Creator. This is handy for making some patch, or tweaking/modifying your existing CABs to install the way you want it to. (i.e. force to install everything on storage card)

[hr]

Compressing PPC Executable files

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UPX --lzma -9 --strip-relocs=0 --compress-icons=0 filename.ext

where: EXT may be EXE or DLL / -9 maximum compression / -1 least compression

Decompressing the files back to original state

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UPX -d --strip-relocs=0 filename.ext

BIG THANKS to Laszlo Molnar, co-author of UPX.(tu)

[hr]Creating Custom Icons

If you want your programs to have different icons, you can use create links to point to your custom made Icon resource file generated by Librarian from Microangelo Toolset. You can also pick up existing Icons from PHM tools, shell32.dll from Windows XP, and shellres.96.dll from WM5 PPC to be incorporated in your custom resource file.
Note: Currently, these tools could not directly edit and replace the existing icons of the PPC executables.

1. Create a link file named icon.lnk
2. Place the file inside the desired folder
3. Change the file attributes to hidden

[hr]Changing Boot Splash Screens

1. Create a jpeg/bmp file with 240px (w) x 320px (h) @ 72dpi resolution
2. Convert jpeg/bmp file into splash1.nb & splash2.nb using madkat nb_image converter tool
3. Edit the Boot Splash Installer cab file and replace splash1.nb / splash2.nb with your own.
4. Installing the cab file on your HIMA will replace the first two boot splash screens.

The third boot splash screen is named welcomedhead.96.png Simply replace it with an image having 320px (w) x 320px (h) @ 72dpi PNG file. ONLY THE FIRST 240px width are displayed on screen.

Replace blankbanner.96.gif with an image 320px (w) x 60px (h) @ 72dpi

[hr]

To easily create your own Windows Mobile Themes, you can use ThemeGenCE
Read the extensive help file and find out how themes are made; so, you can incorporate it into your ROM.

[hr]

Ramdisk + Program Memory = 128MB You just need to set Program Memory and Ramdisk values first. Pagepool will automatically subtract from Program Memory.
1. You need hex editor capable of editing large files like: UltraEdit, Advanced Hex Editor, etc.
2. Decrypt nk.nbf
3.

128MB Program Memory = 128*1024*1024 = 134217728 (decimal) = 8000000 (hex)
64MB Program Memory = 64*1024*1024 = 67108864 (decimal) = 4000000 (hex)

4. Hex edit nk.nba and locate the following hex entry:

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FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 08 ---> 128MB
FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 04 --->  64MB

* Please note of the reversed order of hex numbers
5.

32MB Ramdisk = 32*1024*1024 = 33554432 (decimal) = 2000000 (hex)
96MB Ramdisk = 96*1024*1024 = 100663296 (decimal) = 6000000 (hex)

6.

2432 - 16MB = 2416*1024*1024 = 2533359616 (dec) = 97000000 (hex) ---> Address of 16MB Ramdisk
2432 - 32MB = 2400*1024*1024 = 2516582400 (dec) = 96000000 (hex) ---> Address of 32MB Ramdisk

7. Change Registry Entries for RAMDISK (sample)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Drivers\BuiltIn\RAMDisk] ---> 16 MB RAMDisk
"Size"=dword:01000000
"Address"=dword:97000000
8. To set Pagepool, hex edit nk.nba at address 0×00404650 and change the following entries:

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64 00 00 00 D8 FF 21 80 01 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 -->  5MB PagePool(Default)
64 00 00 00 D8 FF 21 80 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 --> 16MB PagePool
64 00 00 00 D8 FF 21 80 01 00 00 00 00 00 80 01 --> 24MB PagePool
64 00 00 00 D8 FF 21 80 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 --> 32MB PagePool


[hr]Customization of your DEVICE after a hard reset can be done using Autroun package described by buzz here This stuff will automatically install a custom theme, run some cab installation, execute a ppc program, etc. right after a hard reset.
[hr][size=large]ENJOY ROM COOKING![/size]
I may have missed out some things, please feel free to fill in the details.
Thank you.

[buzz_lightyear]

hi TJ,
thanx for the guide.. (tu)

buzz

[tjlabais]

Your welcome, Buzz.

I was searching for bepe's RGUEDIT.exe It was a handy tool in comparing registries before and after installing stuff. Useful for ROM Cooking as well.

Do you happen to have it?

[TomasNM]

Few months ago,I've started to develop an application,that can use the IMGFS tools more easily via graphics interface. You can try this preview version and say,if I should continue developement or if I should forget about it. See screenshot.
What's your opinion?

Unfortunately,something's wrong with my Avast scanner and he doesn't allow me to compile the exefile and it says,that it is infected with some kind of malware. I really don't understand why,because my notebook is completely virus-clean. Anyway,you can try to compile yourself using Delphi 3 or higher. The "infected" exefile(imgfsGUI.exe) is also in this archive,but don't be afraid. Virus scanner prompts for his deleting immediately while attempt to access.

[TomasNM]

Your welcome, Buzz.

I was searching for bepe's RGUEDIT.exe It was a handy tool in comparing registries before and after installing stuff. Useful for ROM Cooking as well.

Do you happen to have it?

You can use Registry Workshop software also for this purpose. Very useful software for PC,that allows you to do anything with registry. I recommend you.

[tjlabais]

Few months ago,I've started to develop an application,that can use the IMGFS tools more easily via graphics interface. You can try this preview version and say,if I should continue developement or if I should forget about it. See screenshot.
What's your opinion?

Thank you TomasNM I have encountered this thread before. It's a nice pascal interface! God, I missed the TP days. Anyway, your GUI is perfectly okay except the real work done is adding and deleting files to the ROM, file conversion and stuff, and registry editing. Definitely a GUI would speed things up... If it wouldn't be too much on your part developing it to its full potential would be nice.

[tjlabais]

Your welcome, Buzz.

I was searching for bepe's RGUEDIT.exe It was a handy tool in comparing registries before and after installing stuff. Useful for ROM Cooking as well.

Do you happen to have it?

You can use Registry Workshop software also for this purpose. Very useful software for PC,that allows you to do anything with registry. I recommend you.

I have just gone thru a brief encounter with Registry Workshop. Yes, its done its job of comparing registry differences before and after cab installation. This will definitely speed up the process. Thanks alot for the info. X(

I'll also include this in the utensils...

[TomasNM]

Few months ago,I've started to develop an application,that can use the IMGFS tools more easily via graphics interface. You can try this preview version and say,if I should continue developement or if I should forget about it. See screenshot.
What's your opinion?

Thank you TomasNM I have encountered this thread before. It's a nice pascal interface! God, I missed the TP days. Anyway, your GUI is perfectly okay except the real work done is adding and deleting files to the ROM, file conversion and stuff, and registry editing. Definitely a GUI would speed things up... If it wouldn't be too much on your part developing it to its full potential would be nice.

Yeeessss!! I remember those days with Pascal...
Okay,I will start the project again(because I have compiling problems with this one:?). I will upload versions here... But I'am not sure,if I can add file conversion(because I don't know actually,what did you mean) and registry editing. There are another tools for this things.

[TomasNM]

Hey tjlabais!
And what's the command of SET _FLATRELEASEDIR... before registry dumping? What's its correct syntax?

Edited>
Yes,I've found it here:
http://buzzdev.net/read.php?64,20759,24248
Its syntax is: "SET _FLATRELEASEDIR=." It needs to be executed before using rgucomp.exe.

Another question:
Is it possible to insert the "REGEDIT4" line to any textfile at the beginning using command line? I am now creating a .bat file for exporting files and complete registries.

[TomasNM]

Well,I've built a .bat file,that completely disassembles the nk.nbf file and creates nk.nba,"dump" folder,hkcu.reg and hklm.reg files.
This is just one half of ROM cooking-points 1..6. For reg editing,I recommend the Registry Workshop software.
I will continue tomorow with nk.nbf assembly way.

In the package is a decode.bat file and Resource folder,which includes all the imgfs tools including one,developed by myself,utility,that inserts the REGEDIT4 text at the beginning of .reg files.
Just copy nk.nbf to the folder with decode.bat and start the .bat file.

[tjlabais]

Hey tjlabais!
And what's the command of SET _FLATRELEASEDIR... before registry dumping? What's its correct syntax?

Edited>
Yes,I've found it here:
http://buzzdev.net/read.php?64,20759,24248
Its syntax is: "SET _FLATRELEASEDIR=." It needs to be executed before using rgucomp.exe.

Another question:
Is it possible to insert the "REGEDIT4" line to any textfile at the beginning using command line? I am now creating a .bat file for exporting files and complete registries.

Hi Tomas,
I inserted my sample REGISTRY.BAT for registry hive extraction. Yes I forgot the SET_FLATRELEASEDIR=. option. It's now in utensils.

As for your REGEDIT4 question. The simplest way to insert it to sample.txt is to have a separate text file with "REGEDIT4" in it and then use the following command line to insert it to sample.txt:

COPY REG.TXT+sample.txt REG.RGU /B

Where REG.TXT contains "REGEDIT4" + CR

[tjlabais]

Well,I've built a .bat file,that completely disassembles the nk.nbf file and creates nk.nba,"dump" folder,hkcu.reg and hklm.reg files.
This is just one half of ROM cooking-points 1..6. For reg editing,I recommend the Registry Workshop software.
I will continue tomorow with nk.nbf assembly way.

In the package is a decode.bat file and Resource folder,which includes all the imgfs tools including one,developed by myself,utility,that inserts the REGEDIT4 text at the beginning of .reg files.
Just copy nk.nbf to the folder with decode.bat and start the .bat file.

I've examined your .bat file and I notice that you had to move the tools to current directory where nk.nbf
may I ask why? I have tried executing it directly from the resources directory in the following syntax

Resources\xda2nbftool nk.nbf nk.nba 0x20040304
Resources\imgfs_prepare.exe nk.nba

and it worked perfectly okay. This will save time copying and deleting files. The only thing that would be missed out though is the generation of files from modules since it will look for recmod.exe in the current directory. BUT this would do no harm because we can always have another tool to recmod the modules into files separately. This will also save time dumping the files.

We can also shortcut the process
RGUCOMP -o default.hv -nologo > boot.rgu INTO RGUCOMP -o default.hv -nologo > hklm.reg
(to eliminate one more process of renaming)

Other than this, the .bat is PERFECT!

[tjlabais]

Yeeessss!! I remember those days with Pascal...
Okay,I will start the project again(because I have compiling problems with this one:?). I will upload versions here... But I'am not sure,if I can add file conversion(because I don't know actually,what did you mean) and registry editing. There are another tools for this things.

Your GUI could contain tools to UPX, generate/edit link files automatically with icon options, and simplify initflashfiles.dat editing. These are just some of the files that are cumbersome to do by hand. Of course, the GUI you would be making would be just a portal of the existing tools.

[TomasNM]

Hello again.

1. Your copy command(for REGEDIT4) is working prefectly. Thanks. But the CR isn't needed after REGEDIT4 string,because dumped registry already contains CR at the beginning of the file.
2. I don't know exactly the reason,why I did a copy of the tool files. Maybe no need for experiments...? Now is it so,as you recommend.
3. I don't know,what is "recmod.exe". Can you explain? Edited> Now I know the purpose of this exefile. But how to use it? I can't convert module directory to file,even the recmod.exe is in the Resources dir. I've tried already anything,that I've found at xda-dev.
4. rgucomp.exe -o default.hv -nologo > hklm.txt solved,but I need to use another filename as output(HKLM.txt),because I need the current hklm.reg free for copy command. Txt is deleted after inserting REGEDIT4.
5. What is UPX and initflashfiles.dat?

This is just my beginning with ROM editing,therefore I don't know some issues yet.

[tjlabais]

Hello again.

1. Your copy command(for REGEDIT4) is working prefectly. Thanks. But the CR isn't needed after REGEDIT4 string,because dumped registry already contains CR at the beginning of the file.
2. I don't know exactly the reason,why I did a copy of the tool files. Maybe no need for experiments...? Now is it so,as you recommend.
3. I don't know,what is "recmod.exe". Can you explain? Edited> Now I know the purpose of this exefile. But how to use it? I can't convert module directory to file,even the recmod.exe is in the Resources dir. I've tried already anything,that I've found at xda-dev.
4. rgucomp.exe -o default.hv -nologo > hklm.txt solved,but I need to use another filename as output(HKLM.txt),because I need the current hklm.reg free for copy command. Txt is deleted after inserting REGEDIT4.
5. What is UPX and initflashfiles.dat?

This is just my beginning with ROM editing,therefore I don't know some issues yet.

To manually convert module directory to files: recmod path\directory.name filename.ext
ex: recmod dump\pxl.exe pxl.exe
where the first occurence of pxl.exe is the directory name while the second is the desired filename.

Mamaich dump command viewimgfs was programmed in such a way that when recmod.exe is present in the same directory as nk.nba, automatically, modules are also dump as files from within the the module subdirectories. You can try this one.

UPX is the ultimate packing software for executables. When one desires to create more space in ROM to accommodate more files to be added, you have the option to UPX the exe files. UPX was designed in such a way to have in place decompression with high speed extraction. You can read more on it at http://upx.sourceforge.net A very good example is Powerpoint Mobile which the exe file has 2.2MB when UPX will have approximately 789kb. A substantial savings. Also there are other executables which can also be UPX. That's why there was a version of the ROM AKU2.3 UPX version, wherein dlls and executables were compressed gaining a total of 15MB more space. There were some drawbacks which I fail to recall; however, right now, I am using a ROM that has been UPX and so far, there has been no problem with regard to daily usage.

As for initflashfiles.dat, it is a file parsed by WM5 after the registry hive. This is where a series of instructions are listed in creating the subdirectories and the copying of files into their proper locations. As we all know, all files added to the ROM are automatically placed in the \windows folder. The command structure is described in my utensils above.