Need Help Flashing My 5500

[Zub]

Hi,

I recently got a Zaurus 5500 with a 64 MB CF card.
I want to wipe everything on it and flash it with a new ROM. I'm only just getting started with the Zaurus so I don't really mind which ROM I install to start with, OpenZaurus or Sharp (though knowledge on how to do both would be great!).


At the moment, I am trying to flash it with the latest Sharp ROM. I have copied the Ospack file to the root of the CF card (there are no other files on it), put it in the zaurus, did the C+D reset.

The mail and battery lights then just proceeded to flash constantly and nothing ever happened.

I'm not sure if the CF card is the problem as it can be read in the Zaurus and on my PC via my card reader.

Current Setup:

Opie veriosn 1.2.0
Linux Kernel version 2.4.18-rmk7-pxa3-embedix-3.5.3
OpenZaurus 3.5.3

Although OpenZaurus is installed, there is almost no room left on the Zaurus for additional software - is there a way to strip down or reinstall the OS to minimum so I can get more space?

Please can anyone help me with these issues?

Thanks and my apologies that these questions probably appear very stupid!

[chal]

I think that the procedure for flashing is different for OSpack, than for ROMs with the "initrid.bin, zimage. I can't seem to find the documentation for it, but maybe someone will come along. I have flashed many times with the initrid.bin, zimage procedure, but never wanted to go back to a standard Sharp ROM, so I'm not familiar with the procedure, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it is a different procedure and easier to mess up than the initrid.bin, zimage procedure. I finally settled on tKc ROM 1.0, with the Cacko kernel update.

[Cresho]

fat16 partition... not ext.  it wont work with any other partition.

[Zub]

Thanks for your input guys,

I will try flashing using the latest openzaurus files.

Does anyone know the shortcut for entering the maintenance menu on the Zaurus 5500? I tried the OK + Cancel at powerup but it just boots in normally.

Also, when formatting my flash card in windows, I get the option to format at FAT or FAT32, not specifically 16. Is this a problem? If so, how would I go about formatting as FAT 16?

Thanks,

[chal]

Thanks for your input guys,

I will try flashing using the latest openzaurus files.

Does anyone know the shortcut for entering the maintenance menu on the Zaurus 5500? I tried the OK + Cancel at powerup but it just boots in normally.

Also, when formatting my flash card in windows, I get the option to format at FAT or FAT32, not specifically 16. Is this a problem? If so, how would I go about formatting as FAT 16?

Thanks,
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Not sure how to get into the maintanance menu, but "fat," is  fat 16 in Windows.

[Zub]

ok guys -

I formatted my CF card to FAT format in windows

I then followed the instructions on the oepnzaurus website for flashing...

-I downloaded the Linux Kernel and opie-imagr files from the OZ website

-I then renamed them to zImage.bin and initrd.bin and copied them to the root of my CF card via windows explorer and my CF card reader.


I then proceeded to try the C+D reset again but got the same 2 blinking lights!!!!

Do you guys think it is a problem with the CF card format? file structure or the Zaurus itself?

[lardman]

I then renamed them to zImage.bin and initrd.bin and copied them to the root of my CF card via windows explorer and my CF card reader.

For the 5500, the names should be zImage (no extension!) and initrd.bin


Si

[Zub]

Thanks Si,  I renamed the zImage file but still get the flashing lights problem...

[tombraider]

Try a different CF card if you can...

ok guys -

I formatted my CF card to FAT format in windows

I then followed the instructions on the oepnzaurus website for flashing...

-I downloaded the Linux Kernel and opie-imagr files from the OZ website

-I then renamed them to zImage.bin and initrd.bin and copied them to the root of my CF card via windows explorer and my CF card reader.


I then proceeded to try the C+D reset again but got the same 2 blinking lights!!!!

Do you guys think it is a problem with the CF card format? file structure or the Zaurus itself?
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[Zub]

unfortunately I don't have another CF card - a friend of mine has an SD card which he uses in his camera, but I have read SD cards cannot be used to flash the Zaurus.

Does the flashing lights problem always indicate a CF card problem?

[lardman]

You're right, an SD card can't be used to flash the 5500 (or 5000D), but it can be used to flash the other Zaurus models.

I'm not sure about the exact meaning on the flashing I'm afraid.

First of all I'd check the md5sums of the files. If that doesn't fix things, try removing the existing partition and then re-creating it and re-formatting it, but if that doesn't work, you'll need to get hold of another CF card I'm afraid.

Si

[Zub]

Thanks for the info Si,

Could you please tell me how I would go about deleting the exisitng CF partition? Can it be done in windows or does it have to be done on the Zaurus?

Thanks,

[lardman]

Easiest to do it on the Zaurus (though you'll need to install fdisk).

It may be possible on Windows (XP - the only one I have in front of me) using Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management.

It appears to give the option to delete partitions. I guess you'll have to umount the disk though, and I'm not sure how to do that in Windows.


Si

[Zub]

I have installed fdisk on my Zaurus- Could you tell me the commands I would need to use in order to delete the current partition and reformat?

thanks,

[Zub]

I attempted to follow the tutorial on

https://www.oesf.org/index.php?title=Step-b...ing_for_newbies

but the first step - unmount /media/cf gives the error:-

/bin/sh: unmount: not found