OESF Portables Forum
Everything Else => Zaurus Distro Support and Discussion => Distros, Development, and Model Specific Forums => Archived Forums => Angstrom & OpenZaurus => Topic started by: attica on September 29, 2004, 02:42:47 pm
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Hey all - new to the list, longtime Z user.
Decided to try 3.5.1, but had the wrong initrd.bin file on the CF when flashing. Flash process seemed to go as normal, it wasn't until I tried to reset, when I discovered that the unit is completely unresponsive. Then I backtracked and discovered that I had left an old (3.3.5) initrd.bin on the CF with the new zImage (3.5.1).
Am I fscked?
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The C+D upgrader is not being touched when you flash OpenZaurus. You should be able to flash again - this time use the real files.
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Thanks for the fast response.
I'm stumped at this point. I can flash all I want - both OZ and sharp ROMs complete the flash process, but I can't boot the Z after either one. The battery light does not come on when the unit is plugged in either (after flashing, that is).
I'm just using the standard flash method:
insert CF
press/hold C+D
press reset button
Both battery and e-mail light up for about 4 minutes
hit reset again
close battery compartment
click lever to "normal operation"
unit is unresponsive to anything, unless I go through the flash process again. Did this with an older Sharp ROM this last time, and still have the same result. I'll keep messing with it, but it's definitely weird.
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Are you SURE you put the lever back to normal operation?
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VERY.
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I have a simular problem. Try the D + P diag menu and run the key check. The on/off key is defunct on my Z.
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Good luck on this ;-). I can verify that you can flash with the wrong files and still be ok (At least on a C860). I was doing a LOT of experiments with pdaXrom updater.sh with various very patched OZ initrd and kernel files (Was trying, unsucessfully in the end, to get an OZ that has a resized root,home mtd, though I have now proved that you can use the pdaXrom installer with the OZ3.5.1 files).
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Well, I managed to get into the D+P diag menu, but am not sure if any of the messages were telling me something was wrong or not... Some of them (like the key test) I figured out, but a few of the others (like Aging), I didn't really understand what it meant.
Is there a special way to get out of the diag menu, or do I have to re-flash when completed (am trying that right now)?
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I think you need to clear the boot flag and then reset...
you may also need to pull the AC plug for it to take place...
don't do it until someone else confirms these steps as my Z is now on it's deathbed after screwing around in the Diag Menu. (you've been warned)
I've looked and looked and not been able to find any documentation on exactly how to use this menu (or to properly get out of it)
good luck
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on menu one near the bottom there is field that indicates re-boot. If set Z will reboot into diag. Otherwise a reset should result in a normal boot.
Let know - I can experiment as well. You should never have to reflash.
Dan
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I wanted to say i'm having the EXACT same problem trying to flash the qpe version of OZ3.5.1 onto my sl-5500.
Flash goes normaly, I hit reset, replace the bat cover, flip switch, no response from anything afterwards. I can reflash fine, witht he same results, and i can enter and navigate the dp menu, but nothing helps. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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This thread sounds very much like my experience. On getting out of the
D+P menu, I think the way I got out was by using the backspace key.
The difference is that my failure to boot was a result of not charging the battery.
Now, I never did get my machine up after the battery ran out. I just got it back
from Sharp with
Tech Comment: DEFECTIVE MAIN PWB.
Repair Comment: 'REPLACED F813.
What does this mean? Probably that I encountered your problem when I
flashed after damaging my 5500 by using it with a car adapter or the PWB(?)
failing for some other reason, thus confounding my two issues. But I thought I
would mention this for completeness.
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When in the D+P menu and you run the key test does the on/off (cancel) key work properly?
My experience is everything except that key works.
Dan
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I solved it for me today, though I can't promise the same results for anone else of course.
What I did:
download the very latest sharp rom as an Ospack.
Flashed with the complete Ospack (be warned, it's my understanding that flashing with an Ospack updates the boot software, so a bad flash can be fatal, anybody who cares to correct me, be my guest)
Re-flashed with 3.5.1
That's all it took for me. My wild guess would be that if the actual boot loader is updated, then perhaps there is some incompatability between the bootlaoder of whatever sharp rom you and I flashed last and what 3.5.1 needs.
Anyway, give it a try and if it works for you too, then there's a pretty goodcahnce that we've found a real fix, and the real problem.
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When in the D+P menu and you run the key test does the on/off (cancel) key work properly?
My experience is everything except that key works.
Dan
When I did this test, all keys, including the on/off key worked fine. I was hoping it was something simple like this, but no dice...
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I think you need to clear the boot flag and then reset...
you may also need to pull the AC plug for it to take place...
don't do it until someone else confirms these steps as my Z is now on it's deathbed after screwing around in the Diag Menu. (you've been warned)
I've looked and looked and not been able to find any documentation on exactly how to use this menu (or to properly get out of it)
good luck
Haha - yeah, I've been warned ;-) Funny how I did most of my reading about this menu *AFTER* dicking around with it for a while. Who knows - I may have bricked it myself... Ah well, I learn better that way.
I'll look again for a boot flag to clear this afternoon. I saw a post about removing the battery and leaving the unit unplugged for 24 hours, so I'm letting it sit for the moment. If that doesn't work (and I'm not all that hopeful - it seems to easy), then I'll look for the boot flag.
Thanks for the tip.
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on menu one near the bottom there is field that indicates re-boot. If set Z will reboot into diag. Otherwise a reset should result in a normal boot.
Let know - I can experiment as well. You should never have to reflash.
Dan
Cool. Per my previous post, I'll be checking into that this afternoon. I'll let you know how it works out.
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download the very latest sharp rom as an Ospack.
Flashed with the complete Ospack (be warned, it's my understanding that flashing with an Ospack updates the boot software, so a bad flash can be fatal, anybody who cares to correct me, be my guest)
Re-flashed with 3.5.1
That's all it took for me. My wild guess would be that if the actual boot loader is updated, then perhaps there is some incompatability between the bootlaoder of whatever sharp rom you and I flashed last and what 3.5.1 needs.
Anyway, give it a try and if it works for you too, then there's a pretty goodcahnce that we've found a real fix, and the real problem.
Hrm. I tried an older version of Ospack, but not the latest. I'll dig into that after I figure out how to reboot without going into Diag mode. Heh.
Hopefully this works - not just for me, but could provide more insight to this particular problem...