OESF Portables Forum
Everything Else => Sharp Zaurus => Model Specific Forums => Distros, Development, and Model Specific Forums => Archived Forums => 5x00 General discussions => Topic started by: victorhooi on October 19, 2006, 01:08:03 pm
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heya,
I just dug my Z-5500 out of storage after a long hiatus, and flashed it with Qtopia 2.1.2.
Upon starting up, I tapped the screen once to start the setup, then went through the calibration procedure. However, no matter how many times I performed calibration, it simply repeated all over again.
Thinking it was a problem with the ROM, I flashed it again with OZ 3.5.4 as well, with the same result (calibration kept on looping).
This is a very strange error, but hopefully the machine is usable somehow - any suggestions?
Thanks,
Victor
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Mine is doing the same thing. Looping through the calibration screens. I however have been using only the Sharp ROM.
Anyone have an idea what is going on here?
Thanks
Jon
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Mine is doing the same thing. Looping through the calibration screens. I however have been using only the Sharp ROM.
Thanks
Jon
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153357\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Jon,
I don't know why it won't calibrate, but am wondering if your internal memory is full and renderng your Z incapable of registering any new settings?
If your console works, do a 'df' to see how many bytes are left. The System Info tab tells you there's no space left long before it's 100% full, and df is more informative.
I would look for corrupt files that may have gotten oversized. Any memory of what you last did before the problem?
Look in /tmp/ and what ever directories you might have just worked with.
The two things that most frequently whack out my space are tkcMail indices that can get corrupted during a crash, and elvis temp files in /tmp/elv___.
Also, strange things happen if the Zaurus overheats...if it feels hot, put a cold pack on it.
:-)
Victor, I don't know OZ at all. If you just flashed it, memory shouldn't be full unless something is corrupt.
Will your collies work okay otherwise, except for calibration, like if you tap on a big GUI, will it open an app?
sdjf
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When I turn the unit on it goes into the calibration mode and won't come out. I have tried a hard reset and it does the same thing. It will not do anything except cycle through the calibration.
Thanks
Jon
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When I turn the unit on it goes into the calibration mode and won't come out. I have tried a hard reset and it does the same thing. It will not do anything except cycle through the calibration.
Thanks
Jon
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153410\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Have you tried booting into the console instead of going through all the run levels?
You can do that by pressing the slash key during the run level countdown 5 4 3 2 etc. and then choosing, I think it's level a. You need your password if you have one.
That puts you in console and do a df to see your space. I'm hoping it's full and you can enter standard kernel commands to find the corrupted file if there is one and rm it.
Then to get into qtopia, I don't remember, I think you do an exit command.
This can be done in soft reset...but did you say this was with a hard reset? Have you removed all memory cards? They could be doing something whacky I suppose. After a hard reset does not sound good. I hope someone else has some ideas.
I hope it isn't totally broken.
sdjf
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Another thought. What are you using as a power source?
I'm wondering if your internal battery (different than the EA-BL06) might be run down or the EA-BL06 be running down and somehow the Z, even if you're on AC, might not be able to save data?
Just a guess...wish a hardware expert would say something.
If you didn't charge for a huge amount of time, like when you first got it (isn't it like 20 hours for the first charge?) maybe that's a factor.
sdjf
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sdjf
I can press / at the boot and get the menu. I then press a and it asks for a login and then a password. I have never set any of this, do you know what the defaults are?
Jon
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sdjf)
I can press / at the boot and get the menu. I then press a and it asks for a login and then a password. I have never set any of this, do you know what the defaults are?
Jon
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153481\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
I never used the defaults as I had already made a password for authentication at the point I had to use this.
On sl5500 2.38, I think we are root, but I don't know if it will take a blank password. I guess won't hurt to try.
I'm very busy today thru Saturday but I could research further Sunday if no one else has answered. Did you say which ROM you're using? It's different on 3.xx than 2.38.
You could try entering an 'r' or an 'e' and see if those require a password.
I think there's hope if you can get the console. You also might do searching on your own for the default password...I think the password file is in /etc/password but needs intepreting. If I have time to fetch a copy from my early backups, I'll post it here in case it might help.
Wait...just located email from a friend...if you're on 2.38, select 'a', login as root, and there is no password.
Try that...sdjf
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Hey, I got curious and entered "boot into console" in the search box here, and a bunch of stuff popped up.
No time to read them soon...lemme know which look the best!
sdjf
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I successfully booted into Linux Console, root with no password. I did a df and I believe I have 25 used 19 available with a use % of 57%. The odd way it displays makes it kind of hard to read.
As you can tell I am not very knowledgable about Linux.
It looks like this function is working but I still can't get past the calibration screen.
Any Ideas on what to check next?
Thanks for all your help.
Jon
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Oh I forgot I am using version 2.78.
Jon
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Oh I forgot I am using version 2.78.[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=153517\")
Why don't you install [a href=\"http://www.myzaurus.com/ROMupdate5.asp]version 3.13[/url]
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Oh I forgot I am using version 2.78.[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=153517\")
Why don't you install [a href=\"http://www.myzaurus.com/ROMupdate5.asp]version 3.13[/url]
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153522\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Jon,
Are you sure it's 2.78 and not 2.38?
dougeeebear, can he flash without access to the GUI? I've never flashed so I don't know.
Jon, yeah the display is kind of wierd, but I found it kind of trippy, like the old days when I logged in remote to a mainframe from a terminal.
You can enter simple console commands. To see what you last did after the hard reset before the trouble, enter
history | tail or look at the logs for clues:
more /var/log/dmesg
or
more /var/log/wtmp_
sdjf
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When it boots up it shows the INIT 2.78
Actually I have flashed the 3.13 from the sharp site.
This confuses me.
Is there a list of the commands and what they do for the console(busybox) somewhere?
I think I may try to flash to OZ and see if that works today.
Thanks
Jon
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Wh--en it boots up it shows the INIT 2.78
Actually I have flashed the 3.13 from the sharp site.
This confuses me.
Is there a list of the commands and what they do for the console(busybox) somewhere?
I think I may try to flash to OZ and see if that works today.
Thanks
Jon
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=153603\")
Didn't know there was a 2.78. Hope flashing works for you. You can check your ROM version with:
cat /proc/deviceinfo/revision
Sounds like a good linux tutorial might help. Check out the resources I've listed at [a href=\"http://sdjf.esmartdesign.com/new.html]http://sdjf.esmartdesign.com/new.html[/url], especially the first two. Next thing I would run is fsck but I'm not an expert at using it. It checks the file system and theoretically corrects any errors.
Also, are you on the AC adapter? A low battery could mess things up.
Busybox is really just standard kernel commands and I use the standard man pages I find on the web. Difference is some of the options are missing, but the basics are there.
sdjf
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I checked the version with cat /proc/deviceinfo/revision and I got 3.1
The 2.78 is from the bottom of the screee when it boots up just before I hit / to go into the console mode.
I am using the AC adapter when I try all these items.
I have reflashed the Sharp ROM 3.1 from CF card and that has not helped.
The console function seems to be working fine. I just can't get past the calibration screen on boot up.
Could this be a hardware problem? It does recognize that I have tapped the screen, it clicks and moves to the next position.
Thanks
Jon
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I've noticed on my 5500 that I have to hit the calibration crosshairs right on target, or it just keeps looping around.
I think it's due to the low screen resolution.
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dougeebear
Even when I am very careful about hitting the mark on the crosshairs it keeps cycling.
Thanks for the suggestion though.
Anybody have other ideas on how to get past the calibration screen?
Jon
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I've noticed on my 5500 that I have to hit the calibration crosshairs right on target, or it just keeps going around.
I think it's due to the low screen resolution.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153619\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Great thought. Now that I think about it, it has you tap the positions, and then sorta rechecks their accuracy.
If he hits the exact same spots each run through, then maybe the screen is scratched at those spots and he could try purposefully tapping at, say, a mm or two to the side and see what happens.
sdjf
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Ok, I just reset my 5500 and it went through calibration process with no problem.
At this point, I have no idea what could be causing yours to loop.
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Unfortunately it doesn't matter how I tap the screen ti still cycles.
I have tried exactly on target
I have tried various inaccuracies, both smaller than and larger than the target square.
Still no luck.
Thanks for all the suggestions
Don't know what to try next maybe reflash with OZ.
I have tried this but it won't flash can anyone walk me through the "exact" steps required from the download on?
Jon
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I have 3.10 too. Pointer calibration is a test qtopia runs when it first comes up. It should be creating a file /etc/pointercal. Mine looks like this:
21596 0 173612 0 14745 978165 65536
You can log what qtopia is doing by uncommenting the line in /opt/QtPalmtop/qpe.sh
It's my guess that filesystem errors (bad ram) are forcing root mount into read-only. Try creating a file.
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quickening
Your suggestion of a bad ram spot makes sense.
I am not very good at linux can you tell me step by step how I would create a file as you suggest.
I can now get into the linux console just need to know the speciifc commands to do what you are suggesting.
Thanks for the help
Jon
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quickening
Your suggestion of a bad ram spot makes sense.
I am not very good at linux can you tell me step by step how I would create a file as you suggest.
I can now get into the linux console just need to know the speciifc commands to do what you are suggesting.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154106\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
from the console,
cd /etc
ls -l pointercal
If it's not there, do
echo "21596 0 173612 0 14745 978165 65536" > pointercal
If the filesystem is read-only , you will get an error message.
do "ls -l pointercal" again, to verify it updated. exit from console, and it should start up.
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Jon,
to understand the ls command output better, look at this:
http://www.scism.sbu.ac.uk/law/UnixStuff/ls.html (http://www.scism.sbu.ac.uk/law/UnixStuff/ls.html)
My 2.38 shows read and write permission for root for that file.
# ls -l /etc/pointercal
-rw-rw-rw- 1 root root 35 Feb 9 23:39 /etc/pointercal
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quickening
I did thisa part of your seggestion and got nothing
from the console,
cd /etc
ls -l pointercal
I then performed the second part.
If it's not there, do
echo "21596 0 173612 0 14745 978165 65536" > pointercal
If the filesystem is read-only , you will get an error message.
do "ls -l pointercal" again, to verify it updated. exit from console, and it should start up.
And when I exoted the console it started up without the calibration screen.
I can now get to the normal qtopia stuff but obviously the touch screen is way off.
If I go into calibrate it will just cycle through the points like it has been doing. I can cancel out of that and get back to the menues again.
Are those numbers in the command locations on the screen?
If I fiddle with them do you think I can get the touch screen working?
Thanks for the help so far, I hope I can get this resolved I wan't to use my Zaurus at work.
Jon
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I just thought of something. I do have a backup of the system when it was working properly. If I restore to this will it reset my calibration to the settings it had back then?
Jon
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I restored from my back up and the restore worked fine but my calibration is still messed up.
Anyone have any Ideas on this?
Jon
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sdjf
what are the numbers in your pointercal file.
I have tried the ones that quickening gave plus one other I found in this forum and they are not close to what mine needs to work right.
Jon
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I restored from my back up and the restore worked fine but my calibration is still messed up.
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=154254\")
That's the puzzler - I would expect the hardware to stay constant and your pointercal values not to change. However, I looked at my last 3 pointercal's:
21596 0 173612 0 14745 978165 65536
20830 0 674620 0 14951 919510 65536
21541 0 328964 0 15182 766702 65536
I just ran re-calibrate and got this:
21596 0 346380 0 14857 926090 65536
and you can see some of the numbers change quite a lot. There are some clues here about what they represent:
[a href=\"http://lists.arm.linux.org.uk/pipermail/linux-arm/2005-May/009880.html]http://lists.arm.linux.org.uk/pipermail/li...May/009880.html[/url]
Appears to be very sensitive and will keep prompting you to reenter if result is inconsistent.
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I was thinking about just playing with the numbers to see what works better.
When I interupt the initialization cycle and go to the console as root I can change the file. If I try to change the file through terminal program in qtopia it won't let me. How do I log into root through terminal?
Another thing that I don't understand is why it works if I manually infut a pointcal file but if I do a hard reset in gets locked in the calibrate cycle again.
Oh well if I could find a pointcal file that worked everything should be usable again until I have to hard reset.
Thanks for all the help
Jon
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How do I log into root through terminal?[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154288\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
su
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To become root in the terminal in Qtopia type the command "su". If you set up a root password it will prompt you for it, otherwise you go straight to root.
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Jon,
I have a blog post up at wordpress that shows how to extract just a single file from your backups from the command line. You could grab all your /etc/pointercal files and try them out.
The example is for tkcMail index files, but I would hope it is clear enough that you can do it for /etc/pointercal instead.
I don't have the exact URL right now but it should be on the front page at http://sdjf.wordpress.com (http://sdjf.wordpress.com)
I hope it helps. sdjf
EDIT: The exact url for how to extract a single file from Sharp's backup is:
http://sdjf.wordpress.com/2007/01/11/extract (http://sdjf.wordpress.com/2007/01/11/extract)
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I have tried various numbers in the pointercal file and it does not seem to make a lot of difference to the touch screen. It does change but not in a logical manner that I can figure out.
I am begining to wonder if my digitizer is messed up?
I am assuming that my restore from backup should have replaced the pointercal file with the original. If this is true then I believe my digitizer has a problem.
How hard/expensive is this to replace?
Thanks for everyones help
Jon
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Jon,
I don't know anything about prices, but I looked at the article Quickening mentioned, and also the article it referred to: http://www.embedded.com/story/OEG20020529S0046 (http://www.embedded.com/story/OEG20020529S0046) and the calibration algorithms are complicated math. I don't think there is anything easy to guess about a pattern any more than you can figure out why changing one character of a file will result in a totally different md5sum.
Are there applications you can use with it that don't require using the touchscreen in the meantime? Many apps have keyboard alternatives to tapping the screen. For example, on my 2.38, I can press the up arrow, press another key, and I'll get a dropdown menu of options I can click on with either the center or the ok button, depending on how the apps have been coded.
sdjf
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sdjf
There are some that work well without the touch screen and some that don't.
Right now I am trying to decide what I want to do.
If I go to the time and expense of replacing the digitizer I am afraid it iether won't solve my problem or will cause others.
Maybe I should just buy another PDA.
Jon
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sdjf
There are some that work well without the touch screen and some that don't.
Right now I am trying to decide what I want to do.
If I go to the time and expense of replacing the digitizer I am afraid it iether won't solve my problem or will cause others.
Maybe I should just buy another PDA.
Jon
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154658\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
I see what you mean. But first, before that expense, are you sure there aren't other apps that would take the place of the ones that you need which require the touch screen?
Which ones are essential that don't work? We may know of suitable substitutes...unless you need handwriting recognition or sketching ability, or the games.
If you get another PDA, if you can get one that will open up tar files on SD or CF, then you could at least transfer some non-proprietary data to the new machine.
I guess whatever you end up doing will still be a lot of work. :-(
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Below are the numbers in my pointercal files for my machines.
67795 0 25 0 69744 82992 65536 for a 3200
-8351 0 32614250 0 -11259 44389992 65536 for a 6000
66646 0 33346 0 70915 -586860 65536 for an 860
21114 213618 0 15360 552960 65536 for a 5500 which might be of some value to the original poster.