Using NX73 CF Driver - day 1

[CliePet]

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Hacking the NX73 CF Driver - day 1

In the spirit of education and exploration, here is my report on tricking the NX73 compact-flash (CF) storage driver to work with my NZ90.

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Warning #1: This is a gray area of piracy. The Sony NX73 CF drivers are copyrighted and AFAIK they have not been officially released by Sony for use in other model CLIEs.

Depending on your interpretation, using such unapproved software may be a violation of your EULA (End User License Agreement). Proceed at your own risk!

Warning #2: Installation is a little tricky, and you can screw up your CLIE. Backup your CLIE first.
You may have to hard-reset your CLIE. If you aren't prepared for that risk, stop right here.

PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK

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EruWare CF driver owners:

You can't have the EruWare driver active at the same time as the Sony NX73 driver. I suggest removing the EruWare driver before installing the NX73 driver for the first time.

Later I will post tricks for how you can switch between them easily (with a single reset).

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What you need for part 1 (vanilla install of NX73 driver)

You will need a memory stick, a NX/NZ CLIE (but not the new NX73/80) and at least one CF storage card.

You need a pirated copy of the NX73 drivers from the web somewhere. I am not providing them, so please don't ask me.

http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18328

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You will also need the 'Filez' app. If this is the first time you've used 'Filez', then this low level installation may be unfamiliar and dangerous, so you may want to rethink going forward.

BTW: The following instructions give general advice for mucking around with drivers using Filez. These techniques are generally useful for many dangerous explorations as well.

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Installing the NX73 driver on an older NX/NZ
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(Disclaimer: I've only tested this myself on an NZ90)

Step #1) Copy files to the memory stick

From the pirated NX73 driver you found somewhere on the web, take the CFSlot.prc and CFStorageLib.prc files and put them on a memory stick.
For example put them in a folder named \PALM\CF_DRIVER

If you don't already have it on your CLIE, copy the Filez program to the memory stick as well (\PALM\LAUNCHER)

WARNING:  If you have to use HotSync to transfer the files, be sure you change the Destination to 'Memory Stick !!!
If you HotSync the drivers normally, they will go into 'Handheld' memory and you will get into trouble.

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Step #2) Install the driver

Put the memory stick into your CLIE.
Run Filez and select the Memory stick from the upper right.
There should be two volumes: 'PalmCard' and the memory stick.
Press the "View and Edit Files" button.

Navigate to the folder with the drivers (\PALM\CF_DRIVER).

Select "CFSlot.prc". Pick "Copy..." from the menu. Copy to "PalmCard" destination. Press "OK".

Select "CFStorageLib.prc" and repeat the copy step.

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Step #3) Test the results

Press the soft reset button, and wait for the CLIE to start up again.
Put a CF storage card in the CF slot. It should beep.

Run Filez again, and look under "PalmCard". You should now see *three* volumes (the PalmCard, the memory stick, and the CF card).

Run CLIE Files (version 1.0.1 or 1.1) and notice you now have two blue memory sticks (the first one is the memory stick, the second one is the compact flash).

You now have a working, albeit limited, CF driver !

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Step #4) Not everything is working

Many of the Sony apps do not work with CF storage cards.
I will call these the 'Banned Apps':

Memory Stick Backup, CLIE Viewer, CLIE Camera, PhotoStand, CLIE Album, Photo Editor, Movie Recorder, Movie Player, Voice Recorder, Clie Memo, Audio Player.

( from this list: http://www.nccl.sony.co.jp/products/peg-nx80v/info1.html )

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Step #5) OPTIONAL: How to uninstall the driver:

The quick answer is a hard-reset, which wipes out all RAM.

The longer and less invasive answer is to use Filez again

Run Filez.
Select the 'PalmCard' and press "View and Edit Files".
Be sure the "ROM" checkbox in the bottom right is *not* checked.
You will see a list of files in RAM.
Scroll down until you see "CFSlot". Press "Details". Then select the "Attributes" tab. Change the "Type" from 'libs' to 'libx'. Press the "Save" button (this is very important).

Press the reset button (a soft reset).

At this point the driver is disabled !

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If you want to remove the CFSlot and CFStorageLib files from your RAM, you must do it from Filez:

Scroll down until you see "CFSlot". Press "Details". Then select the "Attributes" tab. Uncheck "Read Only" and press the "Save" button. Then you can select it again, press "Details" and then "Delete".

Repeat for "CFStorageLib"

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Coming tomorrow: Part 2 - the 3 bit solution

How to change 3 bits in the NX73 driver and make most of the simple 'banned apps' work for CF cards, including Movie Player.

Not all apps will work
The Audio Player and the camera apps still do not work.

What do you expect for 3 bits ??

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[avega]

Great post!!

If anyone try this in a NX please tell us how it works and what can be done.

Congratulations CliePet! :)

[Lexx]

Seems to work fine on my NX70. I installed the drivers and was able to browse a 64MB CF card. The system automatically created some folders on the CF card for me. Now I need to see how I can make use of this card since not many apps support it. I really do wish Sony would grow up and just release a right and proper FlashROM upgrade for many of their PDA's. :( Sigh! That Tungsten C is so tempting with it's 64MB of memory, but I simply can not go back to a smaller screen, and I bet Sony knows this. Oh well, let me get off my soap box. ;-)

[Mr. Spic]

I just wanted to mention that I am testing out these NX73 drivers on my NX70 and so far so good...I am working with the IBM Microdrive 340mb with no probs. Now patiently waiting for next step of changing bytes!

Great Job so far CliePet!

Cheers!

[ricleo]

Haha, that's a nice one! Keep up the good work!

[soybomb]

Question: Why didn't you copy over the newer CFLib or CFUtility?

[avega]

Originally posted by soybomb
Question: Why didn't you copy over the newer CFLib or CFUtility?

In the other thread I think someone said they were not used

http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18328

Saludos!

 

[Eddy]

wow, that's a very long list, I have to copy & paste it just incase moderators do something about this issue. The forum titiles just rocks the house already, with the word Hacking :D

[Eddy]

nice work CliePet, best forum yet! I'll just have to find time to try this out on my NX70 now, I've everything necessary so... just have to make time. :p

[twisted]

General
I will try adding some to the topic, as I am using the NX73 drivers.
It may not sound useful in the sense of no media as of yet but for me it is great! Any file that you can normally run from your MS can be moved over to the CF card and be ran. I used the Zlauncher move funcation that moved all of my MS applications [mostly games] over to the CF, as they load they get copied back over to the clie which is barely any load time. I even copied over the main prc files of programs that require databases such as Auroria, even though the map files remain on my clie at all times it still saves space. I have not had any glitchs so far, Zlauncher shows both of the memory sticks. Basically, it allowed me to free up my MS stick for music, or media that I may want, in turn being very useful!

Apps info
PowerRun can not read both cards at the same time, yet if you which to use this, you can remove your MS and move whatever you want to your CF and use it-just have to remember to remove your MS, when you are going to be using the applications placed on the CF.

CardBackup, allows you to select what card you want to use, so go ahead use that CF card as a backup storage device.

Anyways, I like it

[mempi]

I installed, or should I say, copy and pasted the drivers over to my NX70V and did the soft reset with everything working great! Now, the only thing I am wondering is... what will I actually use this newly acquired access to my dust collecting C/F collection?

Without sounding ungrateful, (I am so pleased to stumble on this thread), I am now left wondering what good/use is the C/F card when the good programs don’t support it? This post may be in haste because it is my first night and I haven't really thought of other possibilities that I could use C/F cards for.

As of right now, all I know is that I just made a reason to have to carry a c/f card around with me. I don't want to keep the card in all the time and have it suck whatever juice it takes to stay refreshed and lower my battery life. Anybody here want to throw out some uses that I, and/or others, might be missing? Is transferring music and movies quick enough to use it for that? I don’t know if playing “musical files” between cards will be in my near future when two memory sticks are almost as small as a single compact flash card.

~Mempi

“confusious say: man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day long”

[ricleo]

you can store all your digital photos in your compact flash card and run them off acid image or splashphoto! Put your whole collection in there!

[pruss]

Has anyone tried asking Sony for permission to make copies of the driver? (One somehow suspects they'd say "no", but it's worth trying.)

[cliener]

I know nothing about programming or about "hacking" so I am just going to throw this out there and see what happens. Does Sony wish to have this driver(s) hacked? They didn't do anything to protect it? Seems it was pretty easy to get. Could they maybe be putting it out there for some other motive? Maybe some app that they come out with in the future will have some property that will totally fry your clie if it is used with these changed drivers? After the cf slot becoming a usable slot for other than the mspro they just decide, okay, lets release these and they will have limited apps. It just doesn't make sense to me. So does anyone have any inside idea of why Sony wouldn't protect them a little better? It isn't like they don't have the funds or technology to do this?

[lostether]

Since we're on the subject of conspiracy theories, I have one that makes just a little more sense than the 'exploding clie' theory, heh.
I'm sure Sony was quite aware that these drivers were compatible with the current NX/NZ, and probably fully expected them to be used this way. It makes perfect sense, as it is an alternative to the commercial CF driver, and at no cost. They could well be hoping that people will choose this limited function driver over one they must pay for, thus ensuring highly profitable MS sales to the end of time.
Why you may ask, would they not just release these drivers? A couple reasons. Many Clie buyers, probably most, don't have the interest or skills to deal with things of this nature and it may well be a reason for them to upgrade. It would also appear to the general public that they were reacting to the Eruware driver, and how could a big important world dominating corporation like Sony be expected to recognize the existence of something so minuscule (in their eyes) as Eruware, when they barely seem to realize there is such a thing as an intelligent end user.
And as final point, Sony may feel that once a user has gotten over their grief caused by lack of multimedia functionality, they well may come to except the limitations, learn to live with them, and shut the hell up about it.

[*YellowRose*]

Well, 'historically speaking', Sony's never made it known that they had issues with programs being 'out there' or being used one PDA to another.

I remember when the NX first came out, and lots of NR users put the full screen apps (like address, memo pad, etc.) from the NX onto the NR . . . they won't always work on the various PDAs (like the NX apps on an N760, for example), obviously. To me, so far, it doesn't seem like they care. It's not like they don't already have our (MY) money. I paid full price for both my N760 and my NX70v.

[G.]

Just waiting for the day 2 post...

I really appreciate these tips Cliepet.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
Well, 'historically speaking', Sony's never made it known that they had issues with programs being 'out there' or being used one PDA to another.

I remember when the NX first came out, and lots of NR users put the full screen apps (like address, memo pad, etc.) from the NX onto the NR . . . they won't always work on the various PDAs (like the NX apps on an N760, for example), obviously. To me, so far, it doesn't seem like they care. It's not like they don't already have our (MY) money. I paid full price for both my N760 and my NX70v.

IMHO, ClieSource has been inconsistent in the application of it's moderation. Picsel was one example and that thread got deleted and so were the links. I can't fathom any developer reading this actually liking what is being bantered about here. I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but I can only imagine EruWare feeling like the rug was just yanked from underneath them! I feel kind of sad for them. I too, like other users have traded Clie apps and sure I have spent a lot on Sony products. It just seems to me that this thread has become overly blatant and a slap at the developers!

[lostether]

Originally posted by n2ifp


IMHO, ClieSource has been inconsistent in the application of it's moderation. Picsel was one example and that thread got deleted and so were the links. I can't fathom any developer reading this actually liking what is being bantered about here. I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but I can only imagine EruWare feeling like the rug was just yanked from underneath them! I feel kind of sad for them. I too, like other users have traded Clie apps and sure I have spent a lot on Sony products. It just seems to me that this thread has become overly blatant and a slap at the developers!


Well, and I know this is a fine line, but picsel, I believe, is a 3rd party app, even if it wasn't available retail in most places. The clie cf drivers could reasonably be considered a feature, as they will never be sold, just included in the rom of some models.

Many high end users tend to be hackers, in the positive sense of the word, and will constantly tweak their devices, endlessly curious and trying to get every ounce of functionality from them. Of course people will use all the tools at their disposal to accomplish this.

As far as Eruware goes, Sony actually did the yanking by producing this driver. I mean it would be silly to be so sensitive to the needs of a small company like Eruware that we thought of what was best for ourselves as secondary. For a number of reasons I have decided against the Eruware driver, and having made this decision my using the Sony drivers doesn't effect them at all. I hope Eruware succeeds and continues to create inovative products, of which I may well be a customer in the future. What's the life of the product in the marketplace anyway? As far as PDA's go it is something like 6 months, which gives a rather short window of opportunity to developers of hardware specific products.

You know, I wonder how many people will ACTUALLY rethink their decision to buy the Eruware driver and choose this one instead. I would imagine the number would be small indeed. We should start a poll, or maybe not....

[ddsmith]

I have and will purchase the apps that I use. I don't have any issue using the sony driver. It opens the capability that sony put in the NX to start with. I have considered the euroware driver but to be honest I hear more complaints about it than compliments. Lately there has been alot of crashing going on.

My using the sony driver is not taking money out of anybody's pocket.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by n2ifp
IMHO, ClieSource has been inconsistent in the application of it's moderation. Picsel was one example and that thread got deleted and so were the links. I can't fathom any developer reading this actually liking what is being bantered about here. As lostether pointed out, Picsel was a 3rd party app that was eventually released by the developer FOR SALE. You're comparing apples and oranges here.

Originally posted by n2ifp
I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but I can only imagine EruWare feeling like the rug was just yanked from underneath them! I feel kind of sad for them. I too, like other users have traded Clie apps and sure I have spent a lot on Sony products. It just seems to me that this thread has become overly blatant and a slap at the developers! How can it be a slap at Eruware? It's not their app being discussed/modified/etc . . . is choosing SilverScreen a slap at ZLauncher? No, I think not. It's a personal choice, dictated by a person's NX usage, and you know as well as I do, that competition usually causes the 'competing' apps to improve...

If I listened to MP3s, or watched movies on my NX, then I'd certainly want the Eruware driver. I don't use my NX in that way . . . Eruware's not lost money from those of us utilizing the 'other' driver (and from what I'm reading, some use both). It would have been overkill for my very basic, simple needs (books & pictures), and I wouldn't have purchased it regardless (unless I'd been chosen as a beta tester . . . I can't resist beta testing new apps!).

Am I making any sense here? I hope so, and I certainly hope the Eruware team doesn't feel slighted in any way ~ they shouldn't. They're doing a terrific job on their app!

[CliePet]

My $.02->

I like having the option of both the EruWare and Sony driver. This is part of my 'day 3' summary (not yet posted).

I use the EruWare driver for cases where app compatibility matters. I use the Sony driver where a basic CF driver is enough.

I'm an equal opportunity complainer - there are limitations of both options.
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I assume the EruWare driver will get better with time, in speed and stability, and the all important movie camera app.

I don't think they will rest on their laurels as being the first CF driver. Having a little competition is usually a good thing.

EruWare will continue to have features that make it the only option where you need masquerading and dual MS features.

These features will be attractive to NX73/80 owners too.

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Regarding lost revenue: speaking only for myself - I paid for my EruWare driver. I've paid for a CLIE or two. I like what I've seen of the NX73/80 series, so it helps sell another CLIE.

[CliePet]

> IMHO, ClieSource has been inconsistent in the application of it's moderation.

I would agree, a little strange.

Someone changed the title from "Hacking" to "Using"

FWIW: I view it as a hack not for general users. If they can wade through the length instructions (and dire warnings), they are probably not a newbie.

[wr6969]

Not wanting to take sides here, but here's my $0.02...

"Hacking" is a word that traditionally has had many negative connotations, and in the US I believe that you can be sued for just having this word on your website. I'm outside of the US, so I wouldn't know the intricacies of having such words in your website. I do know from reading in the press that the US is a rather litiguous society and there are many frivolous lawsuits out there with absolutely no legal basis whatsoever. I think the moderators and owners of this forum wishes to avoid this possible scenario.

CliePet, I, for one at least, do sincerely appreciate and value all the time and effort that you have unilaterally taken into researching this and publishing this for the community. As you have so rightly mentioned in your postings, getting the driver can be a grey area, and members should know what they are doing and be responsible for their actions. That should be sufficient warning for people who may want to try this. Well done, and I check this forum regularly to keep updated on your progress and further instructions on "using" the driver...and of course once it appears, I copy and paste it, lest the entire post disappears should the site receive a nicely worded letter from Sony's overpaid legal army...:rolleyes:

Keep up the good work, CliePet...you have at least one admirer in me...:D

[williepalm]

make it 2.

[Unregistered]

Certainly agree about the inconsistency. The AOL app is another example esp since a Mod promoted it on the news page.

[Eddy]

Originally posted by yellowRose
I paid full price for both my N760 and my NX70v.
YES, I am in the exact same case, with the 2 exact Clie models too! :p
Originally posted by CliePet
Someone changed the title from "Hacking" to "Using"
hmm.... I didn't even realize that until I came across your statement, it was just too minor that I overlooked this. Wow, so it is strange indeed.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by Unregistered
The AOL app is another example esp since a Mod promoted it on the news page. They did write and ask CS to remove all references-d/l's to the app. We complied.

[Eddy]

I'm currently using the eruware driver, but what the heck, thought I'd give this NX73 CF driver a try, & final results feels like having all the functions of Eruware's driver but without the driver installed...?! :p
Feels like Dual mode but without the driver at all...

*I will still stick with Eruware's driver, because it'll get better through time, & I'm very much satisified with what it has to offer me thus far. a happy customer, simply put! :D

[cliener]

This is an interesting development. I think if I were to give Eruware any advice in this matter it would be. You did a great thing giving the initial driver, now you have competition so sit back and see what comes of it. If it seems to run its course and you think you can really give something more on this project then do so. If you don't see it as something you can improve upon, then move on to the next great thing and ride that to the end.

[Eddy]

yeah, I second that, very interesting indeed. :)
Actually Eruware were going to move on to another driver for the new NX73/80, but now that everythings in the clear, with another poster figuring out a way to use eruware's driver on the NX73(with the help of CliePet's concept). What else is there? in time....

[CliePet]

wr6969 wrote:
> and in the US I believe that you can be sued for just having (hack) on your website.

Fortunately, it isn't that bad ( aibohack.com !)

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regarding legality -- that's why I posted a patch program, not a patched driver.

Covering the legal bases: Everything is my own creation (ie. free speech), contain no copyrighted material, doesn't expose trade secrets (like DeCSS did), and doesn't have anything to do with copy protection (ie. no DMCA). So all the legal bases are covered except one, EULAs.

EULAs prohibit things like reverse engineering and other modifications. EULAs are written to be overly broad.

For example: download one of the official released drivers (say the WL100 WiFi driver) and email it to your friend who owns that card. You've just violated the EULA ! (and copyright too)

That's why I say it is clearly this is a 'gray area'. Some people care more than others, and it depends on your interpretation.

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Regarding other sites (in Russia or China) posting the .prc files.

I think it is a safe conclusion that Sony doesn't care enough to stop it with technology. They don't sell drivers.
Otherwise they would put in a copy protection check (they have done that before, with AIBO). BTW: If they put in a copy protection check (even a bogus one), then their lawyers can evoke the DMCA.

Sony obviously *does* care about the apps that differentiate the CLIE from other Palms (camera, audio player) hence the list of the 'banned apps' as I call them. They do sell CLIEs, and these apps don't work in other Palm devices.

=======
cliener wrote:
> I think if I were to give Eruware any advice in this matter it would be. You did a great thing giving the initial driver, now you have competition so sit back and see what comes of it.

My suggestion/advice as an existing EruWare customer:

The 1.2 EruWare driver still needs to be finished (sticky settings, stability and the movie camera app at a minimum). After that I'd feel I got my $27 worth. I'm not expecting a lifetime of updates.

IMHO: A driver with the stability and the speed of the Sony driver, and the ability to work with all the apps like the EruWare driver (including the movie camera) would be worth $27, even for NX73/80 owners.
The largest market is for people who don't want to play around with Filez and manually installing low level drivers.

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and a somewhat related comment by n2ifp:
> but I can only imagine EruWare feeling like the rug was just yanked from underneath them...

I don't know the EruWare guys personally, but I give them a little more savvy than that.

Sony eventually releasing a CF driver must have been part of their business plan. They may not have planned for it to happen so soon, but it was bound to happen.

[Smith]

Thats everything fine, but please DO day 2 :-) pleaseeeee

[n2ifp]

There is a day 2 a few threads down the list in the forum.

[Eddy]

Yeah, and then some.... day 3 & day 4 then out of the blue.... day 5??? ??? :D

[CliePet]

Index of related articles:

Day 1 - using the driver : http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18469
Day 2 - installing the 3 bit hack : http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18553
Day 3 - swapping with EruWare driver : http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18696
Day 4 - enabling AudioPlayer - http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18731

--- other articles (not started by me) ---
(Day 5) - Patches for AudioPlayer and MovieRecorder: http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18794
Getting the EruWare driver to work on the newer NX73/80: http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18498
Earlier Free Driver thread: http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18328
Original thread that started it all: http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17424

[Eddy]

CliePet, a completely full list you just leave me with one word.... speechless! :D

[wr6969]

Originally posted by Eddy
CliePet, a completely full list you just leave me with one word.... speechless! :D

In the UK, they would call this "gob-smacked"! :D

The directions that this group of related threads is going continues to amaze me. If I were some high ranking Sony official (which I'm not, unfortunately) I would recruit the people involved who made this happen part of the R&D team...

[Eddy]

R&D, I like that... :D