Ipaq 3800 Remote USB Upgrade?

[gw2k_101]

I am told that if i press and hold button 2, 4 and the power button and do a soft reset I will get into "remote usb upgrade" mode. I do this and I get a screen with a red background and says Compaq, but nothing else ever comes up. Waited about 5 minutes but no remote usb upgrade ever came up. Whats up with that?

[AnswerDude]

Remote usb upgrade mode is when you put the ipaq into debug mode so you can connect your desktop to your ipaq via usb cable and manually perform flash ROM upgrade. You enter this mode when there's a problem with normal ROM upgrade process or when you want to install different OS. Try soft-reset and see if you can get out of this mode.

[gw2k_101]

Yes, thats exactly what I am trying to do, but I can't get into that mode to upgrade my rom to ppc2003. All i get is a screen with a red background and says compaq, it doesnt say remote usb upgrade. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

[AnswerDude]

I think you are in the debug mode, is there word "serial" on the screen? On older models it shows a picture of parrot on later models, it will just show logo, try plug in the cable, and run the rom upgrade on the desktop. Here's instruction on another model;
http://h71025.www7.hp.com/support/reference_library/viewdocument.asp?countrycode=1000&prodid=5689&source=MH030702_CW02.xml&dt=3&docid=19616

[Steve Friel]

I get exactly the same thing. I'm following the upgrade instructions on screen. I get to the point where I have to press buttons 2 and 4 and the power button, then press the reset switch.
I get the IPAQ logo come up, then the screen goes dark, then my normal front screen comes up with details of messages, appointments etc. There is no sign of the Remote USB Upgrade box at all.

[AnswerDude]

You have to push all 3 buttons at the same time. While holding those 2 outer buttons, push the reset button and hold all 3 until the screen fades.

[Steve Friel]

Nope - still no joy. It must be something simple I'm not doing here. The instructions say hold all three buttons (power, button 2 and button 4) and press the reset button but I get the result I put in my first post. I've tried pushing the three buttons, then taking my finger off the power button and holding in the reset button as you seem to suggest but exactly the same result. I then tried holding the two "outer buttons" with the power button instead of 2 and 4 as per your solution and doing a reset but the same thing again. Every time, my Ipaq reverts back to the normal menu screen with no mention of the upgrade box. Help !

[AnswerDude]

NOT power button, I did not mention power button. Just hold the 2 outer buttons and soft reset at the same time.

[Steve Friel]

Wow - thanks for the mega-quick reply.
OK - have done exactly as instructed.
Ignored power button, pressed outer two buttons (1 and 4) instead of 2 and 4 as the upgrade tells me, whilst pressing the reset at exactly the same time. Held all three buttons. Ipaq screen appears, then disappears to be replaced by the normal start screen on the Ipaq ("start" in top left with appointments, messages etc.) Carried on holding the three buttons. No change to the screen. Held buttons for about two minutes. No sign of the USB update box at all.

[1_Gizmo]

Steve,

i have exactly the same problem. No amount or combination of buttons will induce the Ipaq H3850 tot enter the Remote USB update stage. Ikf you find a solution please let me know.

Kind regards 1_Gizmo

[Janset]

Hi guys.

This may help.

The other day I had to replace my battery on my iPAQ 3870. After replacing the battery, I had lost everything on my PDA except for my operating system.

I suspected that it had defaulted back to the 2002 OS, so I decided to re-install the upgrade to the 2003 OS. I followed the instruction just as you guys did and got the same result, the red screen that a short time later went very dark.

I repeated the process several times with the same result. This time I did the 3 finger salute Ctrl+Alt+Del on the PC to see what was happening, only to find that in fact a process was in effect still going on. I closed the 3 finger salute window and let the process run.

Low and behold, some time later, bling, the screen on the PDA re-appeared with the new 2003 OS screen.

So, the bottom line, let the process continue while you go an grad a cup of coffee or something and come back about 20 minutes or so later during which time the chances are that all will be as it should.

Hope this works for you guys also. :D

Regards