Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten into the world of modifying stock Windows Mobile ROMs to include/exclude programs which typical users need. For example, who really needs the business card reader program common to Windows Mobile platforms? Why not remove it to save on some valuable storage space? That’s exactly the aim of the art of “cooking ROMs.” Here’s how you go about installing new ROMs on a Samsung Omnia smartphone.

If this is the first time you’ll be flashing, you need to download the UMDL software (which will allow you to upload the ROM to the Omnia) and upgrade your phone to the CF03 ROM provided by Verizon.

Keep in mind that flashing a ROM will erase most things which aren’t on your storage card (programs, system settings, etc.) Follow these steps using a Windows XP box which has ActiveSync installed:

1. Set ActiveSync to “not allow USB connections” on your computer.
2. On the Omnia, go to Settings -> Connections -> USB Connection, and toggle “Mass Storage” as the USB function. Then turn your phone off (hold down the power button) and plug it into the computer.
3. Open the UMDL program you downloaded earlier.
4. Select “Unified Image File (*img) on the left column and search for the CF03 ROM you downloaded earlier.
5. Select “Detect” in the lower left part of the UMDL program, and then turn your phone on. Cross your fingers. A dialog box in the bottom left should say that a PDA device was detected. The ROM will automatically be uploaded to the phone, and upon finishing, the Omnia will restart. Don’t bother restoring your system preferences at this point.
6. Choose one of the third party ROMs available for the Samsung Omnia i910 (remember, i900 ROMs are not compatible with the i910). I use Blazingwolf’s WM 6.5 ROM.
7. Simply turn your Omnia off and connect it to the computer, download the ROM file, open up the UMDL software, click on “PDA” at the top left (instead of unified image loader as you did earlier), navigate to the ROM’s location, click on “Detect” on the bottom left, and turn the Omnia back on. Just as before, the ROM will automatically upload itself and the phone will restart upon completion.
8. Before reconfiguring your phone’s settings, go to Start -> Settings -> Personal -> Phone -> Services Tab -> Highlight GPS and click “Change Settings” -> Toggle “Location On”
9. Next, dial *228 and hit option 1. This will reprogram the phone. Then dial *228 again and hit option 2 to update the preferred roaming list.
10. Enjoy adding applications, themes, and whatever else you want.