Hi gang!

I've just put my hands on a SL-5500. It is loaded with what I suppose is an old original Sharp ROM (v.1.5...).

So far I've been reading everything I found about my new little friend but I still have lots of doubts about the basics.

The first thing I would like to know is the easiest / reliable way to connect to my Mac (Powerbook G4 12") so that I can transfer files and flash my Z with a newer Sharp ROM or the OpenZaurus ROM?

Thanks!

lpetroni

The latest ROM is ROM 3.10
The first step is to install the AJZaurusUSB driver on your Mac to access th Z through telnet/FTP/samba/ssh.

The second step is to acquire a CF flash card (plus PCMCIA adapter) to copy files and to Flash the Z-ROM.

A thrid step might be to use a WLAN card.

-- hns

Hi Ipetroni,

there are several ways. I've got the same configuration (PB 12" with OS 10.3.9 and SL5500 with SharpROM 3.13).

The easiest might be to transfer the ROM-Images etc. to a CF-card (via a USB card reader) and then put the cf card in the Zaurus.

A more comfortable but maybe frustrating way might be the USB cradle:

At this site her http://www.lucid-cake.net/osx_zaurus_usb/index_en.html you can download a free USB driver for MacOS X.
In my case the driver works, but I have a regular kernel panic when logging out, rebooting or shutting down my PowerBook - we're working on that problem, there seems to be a conflict with the Apple network drivers...

Have fun with your Z,

best regards

Martin

Thanks hns and Martin,

I've just ordered a USB card reader and will try the CF card option first.
My Z came with a 256MB CF so I will use it for the process.

More newbie questions:

1) I checked ZUG's download section and found two Sharp v3.13 ROMs (Ospack - 14MB and win_update 41MB). Downloaded both but I don't know which files I need to transfer to the root directory of the CF card for the flash process?

2) If I erase the CF card from the Mac will the card be recognized by my Zaurus? Can I erase it with my Zaurus and use it with the Mac?

Thanks in advance and sorry for my english (I'm from Brazil).

lpetroni

Hi Ipetroni,

1) the OSpack is the file you need on your cf card for flashing.
The winupdate-file should be the content of the windows installation cd-rom.
It contains a windows application for flashing the zaurus (not really recommended because it can damage your zaurus if windows crashes while flashing), the PDF manuals, the intellisync-Software for syncing the Zaurus with Windows etc.

If you don't have a PC, you won't have much fun with it - I fear.

2) I think your Mac will be able to read a cd card formatted on the Zaurus.
For the other direction, I don't know.

3) there's nothing wrong with your English!

Greetings from Germany

Martin

I've had problems erasing files on a CF from a Mac. Dragging them to the trash doesn't seem to free space. Since you have a 256MB card, it probably won't be an issue, but it's better to erase the card on the Zaurus.

Felipe

p.s. Outro brasileiro por aqui! Eu acho que ate agora eu era o unico. Abracos.

You can also try to manually erase the CF on the Mac. Open a Terminal, cd to the /Volumes/NAME_OF_THE_CARD mount point. Check (ls -l ; pwd) if you are really there!!! Then, rm -rf *

But in my experience it is not really harmful to have other files on the CF (unless they are called zImage or similar).

-- hns

cd to /Volumes/NAME_OF_THE_CARD ! I know you know, but just to be sure. I didn't want to recommend "rm -rf *", except perhaps on the Zaurus where the damage will be much smaller if anything goes wrong.

Felipe

I think you just have to empty the trash too. Some time since I did it though.

James