SL-5500 with no gui

[tracyl1884]

I have perused the forums for the last couple of hours and seem to have a unique problem. I have a Zaurus SL-5500 that has no gui on it at all-only a minimal root filesystem. I bought it used and whoever had it before me apparently botched an upgrade or something as it boots to a command line but only gets to this point:

mounting jffs2 partition please wait...
mount: Mounting /dev/mtdblock5 on /home failed: No such device
Error mount /home jff2 partition

#_

I am able to browse the filesystem at the root prompt but there is no gui nor does one appear to even be installed. The Zaurus does not have a CF card which, from what I\'ve read, will be needed to flash a new ROM image in that has the gui.

My questions are:

1) Can a flash be done when the Zaurus does not have a gui installed in it or if the ROM image is somehow corrupted
2) if so, do standard instructions for flashing the ROM apply or are there special considerations (software that has to be installed in the Zaurus that is not currently installed)?
3) if special software is needed, how would I go about getting it in there?

If anybody can help me shed some light on this, I would be most thankful. I spoke with Sharp Tech Support and the guy I spoke with didn\'t seem too sure of what to do so I\'m asking for help.

Thanks

[ChanSecodina]

1) Can a flash be done when the Zaurus does not have a gui installed in it or if the ROM image is somehow corrupted

Yup, Reflashing ROM is handled by the Zaurus\' equivalent of the PC\'s BIOS.  Someone will probably pop up and correct the analogy I\'m using but that\'s ok.

2) if so, do standard instructions for flashing the ROM apply or are there special considerations (software that has to be installed in the Zaurus that is not currently installed)?

Nope, no special considerations at all.  The code that is responsible for reflashing ROM isn\'t usually updated during a flash.  Since your Zaurus actually boots at all, that means the software needed to reflash is still intact.

3) if special software is needed, how would I go about getting it in there?

Again, no special software needed.

To get this working I\'d recomend just breaking down and getting a small compact flash card, 32MB or so, and a compactflash card reader for your PC.  Just follow the instructions to install your ROM of choice.  It should flash no problem, and you\'ll be all set.

-John

[VeeDubb]

Chan, your analogy is great.  

Tracy,chan\'s right, get a CF card and a reader for your PC.  You\'ll want one anyway.  Get one of the multi-car readers.  I have a lexar one that supports SD, MMC, SM, MS CFI and CFII

THey don\'t cost much and to repeat my montra, you\'ll want one anyway.

[Xaser]

If may this helpyou, do the following...
1) Download a ROM,  the Proto\'s TKC rom 1.0 is one that is may be the best available(?) (are around 11 flavors...), anyway is nice and stable. use this link:
http://www.zaurususergroup.com/modules.php...q=getit&lid=111

2) Unpack the files and put then in a compact flash memory card (you need a minimun size, one of 32mb is very fine if is borrowed, but if you buy it,try to get a largest one, because will be very helpfull with your Z)

3) In the file are the instructions to follow, but in short, put the card, toggle the back switch, remove the battery cover (dont remove the battery), plug your ac adapter to your Z, and pres at the same time the letters C and D and the Reset button inside the battery bay.  If all is fine  the red and green lights turn on and remains on for 3 to 6 minutes...

4)  After they turn off, press the reset button again, put the battery cover and turn on your Z... the rest of the install process is automatic.

5) I put the lines above as a VERY GENERALcomment, PLEASE READ COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE START...

Good luck and Happy Flashing!

[tracyl1884]

OK cool, thanks for the help. I just ordered the CF card so when it comes in I\'ll do it. one last question. is there any limit on flashing? I would like to do some experimenting and have heard of devices that lose the ability to flash over time. would the 5500 be victim of this at some point?

[ChanSecodina]

I\'m not 100% sure but  it should stand up to a couple thousand flashes minimum.  I wouldn\'t worry too much.  

-Chan

[lardman]

I posted a link to the spec sheet for the ROM chip on the devnet forum. I presume it\'ll be there somewhere (in the mirror). If I remember correctly it was quite a few cycles (hundreds of thousands).


Si

[tracyl1884]

great! thanks for the help. hopefully, one day I\'ll be able to return the favor once I get everything working the way I want it to..

again, many thanks

[Anonymous]

OK, glad to help...    About reflashing....  the tuesday of the past week Im reflashing my Z500 around 12 times while testing what was the best option for install some apps, with the newest roms.... no worries and no troubles...  If you got your Z because someone could not finish fine a rom flash and you got it cheap, Im think that you had very good luck!     (only for comment, the rom that I choose the last week was the alpha version 3 of the TKC rom, the same kind that I put on my previous messague, but in the stable version 1, because may be you prefer to start with some more stable...)  good luck and please post when you get your Z working...