Where Is The Newbie Guide?

[albertr]

http://devernay.free.fr/hacks/opensimpad/20050620/ looks like a recent build based on its timestamp. I think there're a few different problems here:
1. Like Snappy mentioned, you'll need a handhelds.org bootloader. You can grab one released for 0.9.0-rc1 build. To upgrade the bootloader, you'll need to erase flash and then serload it. To erase flash, you'll need to upgrade to the latest siemen's bootloader first (availabe @ opensimpad.org).

2. I think that 28MB image might be too large. What partitions you have in your flash?
-albertr

[niv]

googled and yahooed and searched handhald.org:

WHERE IS the bootloader 0.9.0-rc1 ?

http://devernay.free.fr/hacks/opensimpad/20050620/ looks like a recent build based on its timestamp. I think there're a few different problems here:
1. Like Snappy mentioned, you'll need a handhelds.org bootloader. You can grab one released for 0.9.0-rc1 build. To upgrade the bootloader, you'll need to erase flash and then serload it. To erase flash, you'll need to upgrade to the latest siemen's bootloader first (availabe @ opensimpad.org).

2. I think that 28MB image might be too large. What partitions you have in your flash?
-albertr
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[Snappy]

googled and yahooed and searched handhald.org:

WHERE IS the bootloader 0.9.0-rc1 ?

hi niv, thought I'll list a few links so that you have everything in one place. And should I miss out something, maybe Albertr or others who are more familar in this can update:

For >= 0.9.0, you need:

1. Bootloader
http://opensimpad.org/bootldr-simpad/blupdater.img

2. Images
0.9.x 22-Jun-2005
http://devernay.free.fr/hacks/opensimpad/2...32.rootfs.jffs2

0.9.0rc1 (older images dated around Jan 08, 2005)
http://opensimpad.org/bootldr-simpad/opens....0rc1_gpe.jffs2
http://opensimpad.org/bootldr-simpad/opens...c1_gpeXXL.jffs2
http://opensimpad.org/bootldr-simpad/opens...0rc1_opie.jffs2
http://opensimpad.org/bootldr-simpad/opens...1_opieXXL.jffs2
http://opensimpad.org/bootldr-simpad/md5sums.txt

See also
http://opensimpad.org/opensimpad-forum/vie...3343404159a3089

Again, note that this would replace the default bootloader and blupdater.img is *NOT* compatible with the siemens images. You will need to restore SL4.rom later if you want to reflash back to siemens images.

Hope this helps.

[albertr]

Just in addition to what Snappy said, here's $.02 worth for flashing with 0.9.0 or later (DOES NOT APPLY TO OLD 0.8.x):

1. Connect SL4 to AC power and to the serial port of your PC.

2. Open up a terminal program on the serial port that Sl4 is connected to.
For siemens bootloader use 38400-8N1, hardware flow control.

3. Reset the device while pressing the most bottom button on the SIMpad
(The one with the rectangle on it that is used to bring up on-screen pickboard in WinCE)

4. You should see the following in your terminal program:

=====================

Monitor:
=====================
Boot from Flash 'f'
Boot from Net 'n'
Power Off 'o'
Erase PSM+Registry'p'
Exit 'q'
Erase Registry 'r'
Erase Flash 'y'
Soft Reset 's'
Print Fab-String 'w'

boot>

4a. If you don't see the menu and a boot prompt, then try to reset again and hit "ESC" in your terminal program as soon as SL4 starts booting up.

4b. If you do see the monitor menu, but don't see "Erase Flash" option in the menu, then you have an older siemens bootloader and you'll need to upgrade to siemens 2.5.3 bootloader first. It's available on opensimpad.org website.

5. Press 'y' to erase the flash. After that finishes, close the terminal program.

6. Close the terminal program, upload the handhelds.org bootloader (blupdater.img) with the serload utility. Serload utility is available on opensimpad.org website.

7. Open terminal program @ 115200-8N1, no hardware flow control. If all you see is garbage, try 115200-8N1, XON/XOFF flow control instead.

8. Format CF card as vfat (or Windows FAT). Copy root fs jffs2 image to CF card.

9. Insert the card into SL4 using PCMCIA-CF adapter.

10. If you don't see a boot prompt in the terminal program, then reset SL4 and hit "ESC" in your terminal program as fast as you can to get to the boot prompt.

11. Once in a boot ptompt, type the following commands:

boot> pcmcia insert 0
boot> vfat mount /
boot> copy hda1:/simpad-rootfs.jffs2 root

That should start flashing root fylesystem on SL4. You can see the progres in your terminal program.

12. After flashing finished, type

boot> boot

to re-boot SL4.

Standard desclaimer: ALL YOU DO IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. IT'S POSSIBLE TO BRICK SIMPAD BY OVERWRITING ITS BOOTLOADER, IN THIS CASE DON'T BLAME ANYONE ELSE EXCEPT YOURSELF.

-albertr

[Snappy]

serload (for windows)
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/simpad/...ad.zip?download

2.5.3 bootloader
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/simpad/...tar.gz?download

both links found in http://opensimpad.org/downloads.0.html

Also, for step 8, if you are using windows, do *NOT* choose FAT32. Choose FAT while formating.

[niv]

just saw your posts.
A lot a thanks ppl for the contirb.

too much work in hand (and tests...)
will test those and post a replay later.

[niv]

ok I am at albertr step 4a.
I DID A LOT SO I have no idea what bootloader I have.

I hold the buttom key while pressing the reset. I dont get a menu in the terminal. So I press ESC at the terminal.

my output reads:

Machine type--> SIMpad           

>> See ht
mach_type  ->00000057/bootldr/ for full li
reset_partitions: partition_table = 0x00000000                           
  flash_size=02000
reset_partitions: flashDescriptor = 0x00031894r key for monitor menuash_address_mask=03FFFFF
define_partition: base 0x00000000ams_eval: prefix_in =bootldr:   
define_partition: partition_table 0x00000000t_show =00000000
C0008008: E1A0             
allocated partition_tablee 0x000400000000         
defining partition: bootldrpartition: partition_table
define_partition: ba                 

probing ram
build_list
Probing bank0 memory size...             
.U3   
@000003
 bank0 memory size=04000000 a

*MTST100 
00000001   
MDCNFG=0000F367ining
00000004n
dram_size_ptr=000328884
00000010       
000
Probing memory size bank=0000000000080 base 0x
0000010032 tag a
00
  dram[0]=040000000400       
00000
  mem_size=04000000defin
00002000on: part
  mem_saves=0800000000x0004000
00010000000(
  mem_size=020000000040000       
000800
  mem_saves=02000000   
00200000       
00
  mem_size=01000000g partit
01000000     
  mem_saves=0100000000000e_by_mac
08000000n
maybe mem_size=04     
20000   
>> Last link date: Sat Nov 20 15:58:14 GMT 2004   
4000E59F       
80000000 
  mem
8000E59F=
>> Contact: bootldr@handhelds.org       
setting flashword=500000

e terms of the GNU General Public License.
>> See http://www.handhelds.org/bootldr/ for full license and sourcesPress Retur
n to start the OS now, any other key for monitor menu

params_eval: prefix_in =bootldr:
params_eval: just_show =00000000
define_partition: base 0x00040000
define_partition: partition_table 0xC1A00014
defining partition: throwaway_bootldr_partition
params_eval_file: tmpPart->base  =00040000
params_eval_file: tmpPart->size  =017C0000
Scanning all of flash for your JFFS2 convenience. Est Time: 6-12 seconds!
build_list: max = 017BFFBC
..
dir entries = 000008CC
frag entries = 000021EE
+4 increments = 00000000
+file_offset increments = 000030E6
find_inode failed for name=params
Failed to find inode
pef: loaded a file of size 00000000
failed to load params file /boot/params ...
partition <throwaway_bootldr_partition> deleted
boot>

I tried to close the Hyperterminal and run >serload blupdater.img
I reset. it didnt run

what boot loader do I have?
what should I do next?

[albertr]

You have a handhelds.org bootloader.
-albertr

[niv]

Thanks albertr,

Look, I am not that domb. Its just that I have three major tests coming up - and I need to read pdf from the simpad.

in short it means downloading this:  pbl-simpad-1.0.tar.gz

then:
First attach your pad to a serial terminal program (Hyperterm, minicom etc.) with the settings 115200 8N1. Press the reset button on the back of the pad and press any key while the bootldr is initiating. The bootldr should stop at a boot> prompt. Now run the following commands at the prompt:

    * 1. boot> set override=1
    * 2. boot> pflash 0 40000 0
    * 3a. boot> load flash 0
If you install over serial you will upload the simpadXX.rom via ymodem after step three.

[niv]

DID IT!

I press the buttom front key while resetting and I get this:

FlashImage Checksum 0x05040014-0x05061ab0=0x342f5fd8 Bootloader Image OK
Fabdata Flash @0x05061ab4 Ram @0x01f21ab4 FABDATA:
MSC2=0x211954e0 :: MQ200 - Revision ID=2 ...
Initialise PCMCIA Interface... done.
Codec UCB1200 ID:0x1005 Ver.5 Dev.0 Suppl.1 IO 0x00000001
No PCMCIA Card Attached
No serial download request
Boothdr at 0x050a0000 -> 0x00000a09
NO PCMCIA CARD!  -- Use serial IO
Sysinit done
Calling Monitor

=====================
Monitor:
=====================
Boot from Flash   'f'
Boot from Net     'n'
Power Off         'o'
Erase PSM+Registry'p'
Exit              'q'
Erase Registry    'r'
Soft  Reset       's'
Print Fab-String  'w'
->

- no erase flash
gona upload 2.5.3 now:
- sholud I flash:
A: blupdater.img
or
B: bloader-2.5.3-SL4 :loader_bl.alt -> then loader_bl
?

[albertr]

There's a possibility (remote, but still is...) to kill your bootloader, in this case you'll need to wire up jtag cable and do jtag magic to revive your simpad.

I really don';t know what to suggest, since I have no idea what did you do before. How did you get a handhelds.org bootloader running on you Sl4 in the first place?
Did you flash it back to siemens bootloader? If you have a siemens bootloader on your SL4 now, try to follow the instructions posted on this thread.

-albertr

[niv]

YES!!!

while in the PBL V2.4 20.07.2001                  
Booting...          
================================================                                                
Siemens Switzerland Bootloader V2.5.3 10.06.2003

I pressed:
Erase PSM+Registry'p'

then I:

E:\>serload.exe loader_bl
Ready to download file "loader_bl". Press RESET!

PBL V2.4 20.07.2001
Booting...
================================================
Siemens Switzerland Bootloader V2.4 20.07.2001
Running @206Mhz Processor ID 0x6901b118
Press ESC for monitor
Occupied Memory: [0x00004000-0x00008000],[0x01f00014-0x01f74b9c]
Flash Id 0x00000018 at virt adr 0x05000000 Size 0x01000000
No 32Bit Flash detected 0x00000000
FlashImage Checksum 0x05040014-0x05061ab0=0x342f5fd8 Bootloader Image OK
Fabdata Flash @0x05061ab4 Ram @0x01f21ab4 FABDATA:
MSC2=0x211954e0 :: MQ200 - Revision ID=2 ...
Initialise PCMCIA Interface... done.
Codec UCB1200 ID:0x1005 Ver.5 Dev.0 Suppl.1 IO 0x00000001
No PCMCIA Card Attached
☻Setting baud rate to 115200
♠☻Serial download request
NO PCMCIA CARD!  -- Use serial IO
Sysinit done
Booting : (null)
Serial download entered.
☻☻
Base    : 0x8000 Size 107300 entry:0x8014
♠☻[*********************/]   1070086
Load finished with 10kB/sec
Starting Image at 8014 PPCR 0x0000000a
================================================
Siemens Switzerland Bootloader V2.5.3 10.06.2003
Running @206Mhz Processor ID 0x6901b118
Press ESC for monitor
Occupied Memory: [0x00004000-0x00008000],[0x00008014-0x0007500c]
Flash Id 0x00000018 at virt adr 0x05000000 Size 0x01000000
No 32Bit Flash detected 0x00000000
FlashImage Checksum 0x05040014-0x05059f11=0x27a5b05f Image Update, Old Image unc
hecked
Fabdata Flash @0x05061ab4 Ram @0x00021f18 Init Fabdata... Done
[*************************-]
Firmware Update Successfully Finished
Press Button to restart
Firmware Update Successfully Finished

I now see:

=====================
Monitor:
=====================
Boot from Flash   'f'
Boot from Net     'n'
Power Off         'o'
Erase PSM+Registry'p'
Exit              'q'
Erase Registry    'r'
Erase Flash       'y'
Soft  Reset       's'
Print Fab-String  'w'

OK!

[niv]

I tried to >serload.exe blupdater.img

but it stops shortly.
After erasing flsh, then ereasing registry+PSM - I managed to flash it all the way

Sysinit done
☻Setting baud rate to 115200
♠☻Serial download request
Booting : <NULL>
Serial download entered.
☻☻
Base    : 0xc0208000 Size 2800404 entry:0xc0208000
♠☻[*********************-]  28001286
Load finished ♠
Burn Image with entry at c0208000
Write File to Flash

This image is different in 673213 longwords
Reading Flash ID at 0x08000000...
Write changed blocks to Flash with ID: 0x0018 [0x05080000-0x0532bb28]
+---------+---------+-
**********************

Successfully written !
Done with 128kB/sec
PLEASE RESTART TARGET

but it still loads siemens bootloader :-(

Niv

[albertr]

I don't believe you need to erase registry, it's for WinCE. Erasing flash should take care of it.

After serloading handhelds.org bootloader, try hard reset.
-albertr

[Snappy]

After serloading the handhelds.org bootloader, you can flash in the 0.9.x images with your CF instead of using serial cable again.

*copied from bkaiser at opensimpad forum*
1. run a Flash Erase
2. serload blupdater.img
3. if you got a CF-Card, simply format it as vfat (for Windows FAT)
4. Place the jffs2-Image in the root-directoy of the card
5. rename the jffs2-File to simpad-rootfs.jffs2
6. insert the (CF) card into your simpad
7. Power on and wait

The above steps you have taken leads you to step 2.

Copy the image to your CF card that was formatted in FAT(or FAT16, NOT FAT32).

For step 7, either power on or reset (or hard reset). Only reset when you are absolutely sure that you have successfully flashed in your new bootloader. Otherwise you are boot! (dun mind me the pun!)

Upon resetting, you need your HyperTerminal to connect with a new settings 115200 8N1, *XON/OFF*

You should see the terminal show the boot up sequence of the new bootloader. Once it starts (which is very quick!), press esc at HT and it should drop to prompt "boot> "

If you do not get to the boot prompt, try again with the reset. If it still shows the earlier menu options, it means you did not manage to flash in the correct bootloader and may still have the Siemens bootloader. This is not right, retry "serload blupdater.img" at step 2. above again. Make sure you set back your HT settings to 38400,8N1, hardware (not sure if XON/OFF works here). The good news is that you have not bricked your SL4 yet!

ok, once you reach the "boot> " prompt, type the following at the HT:

boot> copy hda1:/simpad-rootfs.jffs2 root

This assumes you did the earlier steps of renaming your image file to simpad-rootfs.jffs2 and have it at the root of a FAT(16) CF card in the SL4 when resetting.

This should start the flashing sequence and after its done, you should reboot and get the new image booting up to a touchscreen calibration sequence.

If you feel like reverting to Siemens image again , reset your SL4 with HT connected as above, and press ESC to drop to " boot> ".

Type these at HT:

boot> set override=1
boot> pflash 0 40000 1
boot> copy hda1:/simpadXX.rom bootldr

assuming you have the *old* SL4 rom copied to your CF card.

if you are using SL4, it would be simpadSL.rom, if its a CL or sinus pad or something (32MB), it would be simpadCL.rom.

Hope this helps.