Mammothrept's Notes On Debricking A C3000

[mammothrept]

Mammothrept's Notes on Debricking an SL-C3000.  The hard way.


Once upon a time (yesterday), I tried to get a KWINS CF card modem working on my Zaurus SL-C3000 but somewhere along the line, it froze.  I could not get it to shut down so I pulled the battery out. Bad move.  When I tried to restart, the Sharp splash screen would come up and hang.  Forever.  No turning it off without pulling the battery again.

I noticed that at the bottom of the Sharp splash screen that there was a little bit of flickering.  On very close inspection, the flickering was actually a rapidly cycling line of text from a Linux kernel panic.  Something about not finding a PCMCIA file.

After reading through the OE Forums and Trisoft's manual I came to the conclusion that the most likely way to get unbrick my Zaurus was to do a factory reset and recustomize everything (and no, of course I did not have a recent usable backup).

So, I set out to reset and reconfigure my Zaurus and to keep detailed notes as I went along as well as assembling a repository of all files I was downloading.  If, someday, disaster strikes again, I want to be able to undig the hole faster.  While these notes are for reconfiguring after a reset, they may also be useful as a distelled set of mini-HOWTOs for common C3000 customizations.

Most of these notes are a rewrite of things I found on Google and the OESF.org forums.  If it looks like something you wrote, it probably is.  If it looks wholely original, I probably screwed something up.

Please post corrections in this thread.  If there is enough interest, I will post a revision of these notes which incorporates corrections.




1.    DOING A FACTORY RESET
2.    CONVERSION TO ENGLISH
3.    KO/PI PIM AND MISC UTILITIES
4.    USB MOUSE
5.    KINO 2 MOVIE PLAYER, MPLAYER AND NEW VIDEO DRIVER
6.    NETWORKING WITH SAMBA
7.    OPERA WEB BROWSER
8.    KISMET WIFI SNIFFER
9.   REMOTE DESKTOP
10.    UNZIP
11.    BATTERYPLUS



1. DOING A FACTORY RESET

See Trisoft's English language manual for the C3000 for detailed and graphical instructions (Page 20-21).

The short version:

Unplug AC power cord from C3000.
Remove battery for about 30 seconds.
Replace battery (replace battery cover, lock cover), and plug in AC power.
Press and hold the "OK" button on the keyboard.
Turn power on.  Japanese language text box will appear with questions.
Select option 3 (Reset)
Select option 1 (Normal)
Select left box (Yes).
Wait as the Zaurus reboots.


2. CONVERSION TO ENGLISH

I need to be retain the Japanese language capabilities of the C3000 so the most common method or converting to English (mcconvert) is out.  I do use mcconvert just briefly at the beginning to set up the initial Internet connection but I delete it once convert.sh is run.

   Install mcconvert from Conics.net for quick and dirty conversion to English.

   Set up wireless card and get online.
   
   Download convert.sh from WBCD.org
   (A much better conversion that leaves the Japanese abilities intact.)

   Uninstall mcconvert

   Reboot


One side effect of using convert.sh for the English conversion is that the Sharp terminal program disappears.  You will regularly need access to the command line so immediately after using convert.sh, install another terminal program from killefiz.de
 


3. KO/PI PIM AND MISC UTILITIES

From http://at.dev.at/resources.html#C3000
download and install/store these files:

zeditor_1.3.5english_arm.ipk     ZEditor - text editor
opie-reader_0.7h_arm.ipk    Opie Reader - eBook reader
treeexplorer_1.6.5.zip    Explorer style file viewer
c3000qse.pdf    C3000 manual by TriSoft
psi4z_0.8.5a-4z_arm.ipk    Required libs for the Zaurus
kaddressbook_1.9.13_arm.ipk    Address Book
kdepim_1.9.13_for_SharpROM.ipk.zip    PIM for Zaurus
kmicrokdelibs_1.9.13_arm.ipk    I think contained in above, but not sure, install!
kopiemail_1.9.13_arm.ipk    Mail client, features SSL. Must install openSSL below.
openssl_0.9.7d_arm.ipk    OpenSSL , mainly for kopiemail. Won't run otherwise.
korganizer_1.9.13_arm.ipk    Organizer
korganizer-alarm_1.9.13_arm.ipk    Organizer alarm plugin
kphone-pi_0.9.8_arm.ipk    IP phone
ktimetracker-pi_0.9.7_arm.ipk    Time Tracker
pimTABicon_1.9.13_arm.ipk    TAB icon editor (untested)
pwmanager_1.9.13_arm.ipk    Password Manager (untested)




4. USB MOUSE

To get USB mouse functioning:

Go to http://tbox.jpn.org/wiki/linuzau/wiki.cgi?...HelperApplet#i8

Get latest version of inputhelper.  Currently 1.0.0-1

    * Version 1.0.0 inputhelper_1.0.0-1_arm.ipk



5. KINO 2 MOVIE PLAYER, MPLAYER AND NEW VIDEO DRIVER

From http://my-zaurus.narod.ru/kino.html
Install most recent version of Kino 2: kino2_0.4.2_arm.ipk
Also install mplayer-bvdd_1.0.1-1_arm.ipk   - (New mplayer package)
Also install bvdd_0.1.0-1_arm.ipk - video driver for C3000
Also install sudo:
http://www.zaurususergroup.org/modules.php...q=getit&lid=184
(Your Zaurus will reboot as soon as you finish installing the new video driver.  You should notice
an improvement in USB mouse responsiveness.)



6. . NETWORKING WITH SAMBA

(Note 1. When networking with the home LAN, I use a Buffalo CLT LAN card.  You could use WiFi but
my WiFi access point is built into our cable modem and it is outside my LAN's firewall.)

To get SMB (Samba) file sharing working:

(Note 2.  I could not get the smbmount package from Nayno to work correctly even though it is
supposed to be for the SL-C3000. http://www.areanine.gr.jp/~nyano/archives/...1.1lz1_arm.ipk)

Get smbmount and libncurses from http://www.dasgehtdichnichtsan.de/zaurus/smbmount.html.

http://www.dasgehtdichnichtsan.de/zaurus/s...unt_0.1_arm.ipk
http://www.dasgehtdichnichtsan.de/zaurus/l...ses_5.0_arm.ipk

Open a terminal.  Use SU to get root.  Create a mount point.  
The share I want to mount is //myserver/public so I created a mount point on my Zaurus of:
    /hdd3/Documents/LAN (all future shares will get mounted off of this)
Next, I created:
   /hdd3/Documents/LAN/public

The syntax that works for me is:
   smbmount //myserver/public /hdd3/Documents/LAN/public username=(mysername),workgroup=(myworkgroup)

Your newly mounted share should show up in the Files tab inside the "lan" folder.



7. OPERA WEB BROWSER

I have heard that Opera 7.55 works on the SL-C3000 but I could not get it to do so.  What does
work in part is Opera 7.30.  First, read: http://www014.upp.so-net.ne.jp/boxer-j/opera7.html

Then, from the same page download and install these files:

   opera_sl-5x00-7.30.9965_arm.ipk
   opera-cseries-fix_7.30_arm.ipk

After installing these files, you will discover at least three limitations.  You cannot make Opera run as root.  The second and third problems are that while you can change the home page from the original and create bookmarks, once you close and restart Opera, all of your changes are gone.  I still cannot get bookmarks to save but you can fix the other problems.  

To do this, go to the "Tab Settings" manager in Settings and create a new launcher.  The new icon will settings will be:

Name: Opera
Icon: (browse to the Opera icon)
Program: opera

Save and go over to the Applications tab.  You should now have two launchers for Opera.  The one you just created can now be set to run as root by holding the stylus down on it until an options box comes up.  By setting Opera to run as root, it will now retain homepage settings.  Not secure, but more convenient.



8. KISMET WIFI SNIFFING

Before starting, note that you will need a text editor.  The one that comes with a stock Zaurus is lobotomized so it cannot see system files.  You will need to know how to use a command line text editor like VI or use a real graphical text editor like Zeditor.  See Section 2 above (KO/PI PIM AND MISC UTILITIES) for instructions on downloading Zeditor.

Now to start installing Kismet:


First, read https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showt...=9192&hl=kismet
Pay most attention to Kerensa's post #12.

Second, install Kismet,Kismet-qt, libpcap, and libstdc++.  Use these versions:

   http://zaurususergroup.com/feed/kismet_3.0...0031228_arm.ipk
   http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/kismet-...t_1.4.0_arm.ipk
   http://bryandeluca.com/cacko/feed/libstdc+...95.4-16_arm.ipk
   http://members.cox.net/skoorb/libpcap0_0.7.2_arm.ipk

Third, setup a network connection

   Name: AdHoc for Kismet
   Config
      ESS-ID: any
      Network type: Ad-Hoc

      TCP/IP
      Select 'Specify' IP Address: 10.1.0.2
      Subnet Mask: 255.0.0.0
      Gateway: 10.1.0.1
      DNS 10.1.0.1

Fourth, use a text editor (running as root) to edit this file:
   /usr/local/etc/kismet.conf
   
Make sure the source line looks like this:

   source=prism2,wlan0,prism2source

* This source works for my Buffalo WiFi card but you may need to select a different source line depending on which WiFi card you use.  A number of commonly used source lines are already in the kismet.conf file.  To enable one, remove the # character at the beginning of the line.  If you are changing the source line from one to another, make sure that you comment out the first one (i.e. add the # character).  You can only use one source line at a time.

Fifth, make kismet_qt run as root.  
To do this, open a terminal and use SU to get root.  Then type:

    chmod 4755 /usr/bin/kismet_qt

Sixth, connect to the network service you created and then launch kismet



9. REMOTE DESKTOP

Remote desktop application for the C3000.

First, read https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=9301

 qtrdesktop_1.2.0_arm.ipk ( 37.78k )

Download from https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?act=A...ype=post&id=172
It installs but have not tested yet.  Looks like portrait mode only.



10. UNZIP

Unzip for the zaurus console.
Download and install http://zaurus.spy.org/feeds/docs-zaurus-co...ip_5.24_arm.ipk



11. BATTERYPLUS

Batteryplus is an applet that gives more information about your battery status than the stock Sharp applet and also lets you change some settings.  Download from bottom of page at:

   http://www.piro.hopto.org/~piro/pukiwiki/p...php?BatteryPlus

The page is all in Japanese but the applet is in English.

   http://www.piro.hopto.org/~piro/zaurus/etc...s_1.1.3_arm.ipk


END
******************************************

[loopy29]

Very nice howto mammothrept. Not only useful for unbricking, but it also contains nice app suggestions.

For a more secure way of running opera, look here:

http://www.ubiquitouscomputing.org/node/58

Best regards,
Jan

[loopy29]

Maybe you should also add that at the end of step 1 you have to tap the screen. (In japanese it says something about tapping the screen to see if it works.) Then you are asked to calibrate the screen. Just hit the crosshairs. Then you can do the rest of the actions.

[mammothrept]

Yep, missed that.  There is also a problem with the Japanese dictionaries that I did not notice earlier.  When I start Translate or Zdict, it cannot locate the Japanese dictionaries.  I'll have to figure out why this sequence doesn't work and change it.

Maybe you should also add that at the end of step 1 you have to tap the screen. (In japanese it says something about tapping the screen to see if it works.) Then you are asked to calibrate the screen. Just hit the crosshairs. Then you can do the rest of the actions.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=68778\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

[jpmatrix]

i've just tried qtrdesktop and it works great !

about "Looks like portrait mode only." , don't worry, just long-click on the qtrdesktop icon and unselect "magnified" as usual

[daemon1]

Thank you Mammothrept!!!

My (one week old) Z crashed out on me

it was flashing at high speeds

grep: /var/lib/pcmcia/stab: No such file or directory.

a CTRL-C would reboot it and same thing again and again!

Just got it back into factory reset mode and now converting everything over back to english.

[kahm]

Yep, missed that.  There is also a problem with the Japanese dictionaries that I did not notice earlier.  When I start Translate or Zdict, it cannot locate the Japanese dictionaries.  I'll have to figure out why this sequence doesn't work and change it.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=68793\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Kind of late, but the datafiles for the dictionaries are large, and not included in the rom image. You have to load the files off the cds that came with the Z.