Installing pdaXrom through 1.1.0beta3

From OESF

This guide discusses how to install pdaXrom 1.1.0beta1 on a Sharp Zaurus SL-C1000. It should be applicable for other versions of the software, and work on other most other Zaurii, except for the 5x00 models (scroll to the #See Also section), and the SL-C3000 model, for which pdaXrom is not yet available.

This document is based on the installation of pdaXrom page, but is more detailed and aimed at the novice user.

1 Backup First!
2 A Note on Flashing
3 Before You Begin
4 Download The Desired Version
5 Copy Files To Your Card
6 From Powerup to pdaXrom Installer
7 Partition the Internal Flash Memory
- 7.1 Enlarging the flash partition
- 7.2 Resize Your Root Partition
8 Installing pdaXrom
9 Booting into pdaXrom
10 See Also

Backup First!

Installing pdaXrom on your Zaurus will wipe out everything that is there already. If you care about it, back it up now!

A Note on Flashing

"Hardware" is a physical device, and "software" is a program that runs on such a device. "Firmware" is software that is in stored in the hardware. It is often in ROM -- Read Only Memory. It would include boot-up instructions, for example, and possibly even an operating system.

On the Zaurus, the firmware is "flash upgradeable," which means that if a newer version of the firmware comes out, a special process can be invoked where new firmware is written to the "Read Only Memory," and replaces the old firmware. Flash memory can often be written to tens of thousands of times, but there is a possibility that it can wear out, and if you aren't careful (and the power is interrupted, for example), the process might be stopped part way, and there might not be a coherent set of instructions to start up your machine!

pdaXrom, and the other ROM images or distributions for the Zaurus, are, in effect, firmware upgrades made by the community.

I was really scared when I first flashed my Zaurus. Was it risky? What would happen? I'm not really risking a thousand dollar investment, am I? I have since flashed my Z a handful of times, and have not had a problem (which is not to say I wasn't worried a couple of times.) That's why I've written this guide -- so that you know what to expect.

Before You Begin

To perform the installation, you will need:

a FAT formatted SD/MMC or CF card - you need about 50 MB free.
a way to write downloaded files to the card
your Zaurus' power cable
the ability to remove your Zaurus' battery

and of course:

a Sharp Zaurus
an internet connection

Download The Desired Version

Go to the pdaXrom download page. At the time of writing, the current stable version of pdaXrom is 1.1.0beta1. Find your Zaurus model in the list, and download the installation file. Last recomended STABLE version is 1.1.0beta1 (for C7x0-860,5000D-5500,SL6000) and 1.1.0beta3 (for Cxx00). For my C1000, I am downloading the kathrin-1.1.0beta3-akita.zip file.

Copy Files To Your Card

Unzip the file you downloaded. It contains 3 files: initrd.bin, tools.tar, and updater.sh. Copy these files into the root directory or your SD/MMC or CF card. Note that your card must be FAT formatted, or Sharp's flashing utility will not be able to find the files and update the operating system. Fortunately, if you have never formatted your card, it is almost certainly in FAT format. When you have copied the files over, put your card in your Zaurus.

From Powerup to pdaXrom Installer

You'll have to do these steps two, or perhaps three times.

Reboot

The process of running the installer starts at bootup. While the Zaurus boots itself up, you hold down the "OK" button to get to the service menu. The official instructions recommend that you unplug your Zaurus, and remove the battery for five seconds, before re-inserting the battery, plugging the Zaurus back in, and turning the power on again. This ensures that the machine was turned off and is now booting up properly.

However, I don't believe you actually need to do that. If you just reboot your system, you should be fine. Some ROMs have a reboot option on the menu. If not, you can go to a console and enter this command: shutdown -r now. You can also start holding down "OK" before the Z turns off, so that you don't miss the boot-up sequence. [If you do miss it, just reboot again, or take out the battery.]

If you have problems with the rebooting method, removing the battery is foolproof.

Maintenance Menu

Figure 1. C1000 service menu
Main menu screen

If you succeed, you should see the service menu -- in Japanese (see Figure 1). [If the service menu didn't come up, you'll have to reboot again. If you are partway through the start-up process, it'll probably be faster to just unplug the unit and take the battery out for five seconds.]

You'll want to choose option 4, Flash/Update.

Flash/Update

Figure 2. C1000 service menu
Flash ROM from SD or CF card?

Then a Japanese screen will come up asking where you want to install from -- an SD/MMC card or a CF card (see Fig. 2). This screen may appear different on different Zaurii. Choose the appropriate option, and continue.

Figure 3. C1000 service menu
You must plug your Zaurus in to AC power!

If you get this image (Fig. 3), it is an error message telling you that your Zaurus is not plugged in. It will not flash if you are not plugged into AC power, because if the power is interrupted, the flash may be incomplete and leave you with a damaged system.

Pressing OK will take you back to the previous screen. Make sure you plug your Z in before continuing.

Figure 4. C1000 service menu
Are you sure you want to wipe everything out?

Next, you get a warning screen (Fig 4). It likely says something to the effect of:

Warning: Flashing will erase everything on your Zaurus. Make sure you've backed up first and you know what you're doing. Are you certain you want to do this?

If you are certain, press "Y" to continue.

The pdaXrom Installer Main Menu

The screen goes blank. Then you see a Sharp logo in red, and then the installer comes up.

Figure 5. pdaXrom 1.1.0beta1 installer main menu

After a moment, you are greeted with a menu like this (Fig. 5):


pdaXrom Installer (SL-C1000 123904/0)

Choose what do you like:
1. Install new ROM.
2. Upgrade previous pdaXrom (>=1.1.0)
3. NAND Flash Utils
4. Run console shell
5. pdaXrom general disclaimer
6. Reboot

< OK >  < Cancel >

Partition the Internal Flash Memory

If you have not run the installation process #From Powerup to pdaXrom Installer), do so now. You should now be at the pdaXrom installer's main menu.

Select 3. NAND Flash Utils.

A submenu comes up:


NAND Flash utils

Menu:

1. Resize root partition
2. Format user partition
3. Fix loader 64MB limit (for SL-C760/C860/C1000/C3100)
4. Back to main menu

< OK >  < Cancel >

You need to decide how large you want the root partition to be. If you are using an SL-C700/750, the official instructions recommend a 30 MB partition. Skip to #Resize Your Root Partition.

If you are using a SL-C760/C860/C1000/C3100, the official instructions recommend a 50 MB partition. If you want it up to 57 MB, then skip to #Resize Your Root Partition.

Enlarging the flash partition

However, if you have a SL-C760/C860/C1000/C3100 and want a larger partition (which will let you install more software, and most pdaXrom users recommend doing this):

Choose 3. Fix loader 64MB limit (for SL-C760/C860/C1000/C3100). After a little bit of processing, you'll get a message saying:


pdaXrom installer

Sharp loader patches, max size for root
partition now is 121MB.
You will need to run installer after rebooting.
Press the [ENTER] for reboot.

< OK >

The system then starts rebooting. Get ready to hold down the "OK" button, and work your way back through the service menus (following the #From Powerup to pdaXrom Installer instructions), and from the installer's main menu, choose 3, to go to the Nand flash utils menu again.

Resize Your Root Partition

Now you are ready to resize your root partition.

Choose option 1. Resize root partition

You will see a dialog like:


pdaXrom installer

Enter new root partition size
in MB (58 is recommending, 121 is maximal):

The numbers it displays may be different. Enter the number you decided in the last couple of steps.

After a moment, you'll get a message saying:


pdaXrom installer

Repartition finished.
you will need reflash your ROM after rebooting.  Press the [ENTER] for reboot.

The system will then reboot. Get ready with that "OK" button, and follow the #From Powerup to pdaXrom Installer instructions to get back to the pdaXrom installer's main menu.

Installing pdaXrom

This time choose 1. Install new ROM.

The installer will then proceed to flash the memory. You'll see several screens and progress bars. When it is done, it will return to the installer's main menu.

Choose 6. Reboot, and don't hold down "OK" this time.

It will now boot up into pdaXrom!

Booting into pdaXrom

Figure 6. pdaXrom booting up
log in and start X windows!

The screen will have a penguin at the top, and a bunch of text as linux loads up (Fig. 6). It may take five minutes to boot up the first time. Fortunately, you boot up very rarely, and subsequent boots are faster.

Finally, it will say,


pdaXrom 1.1.0beta1 "Kathrin"
zaurus login:

Type in "root" at the flashing cursor.

You will get a # mark. Type in "startx"

You will then be asked to calibrate the touch screen. The instructions are straightforward.

Figure 7. Your first glimpse of pdaXrom!

After a screen of text, and a grey screen with a cursor on it, you will come to a screen with icons along the top, a bar along the bottom, and purple Xs in the background (Fig. 7)

Welcome to pdaXrom!