Flashing Debian Installation

[ArchiMark]

Have looked at both the Planet Gemini flashing guide and the one at GeminiPlanet.

Having problem with the step to 'Backup the NVRAM partition'.

Nothing seems to happen when I do this step and it complains about missing scatter file. Even though earlier in the instructions it says you can ignore such message.

On my PC running the flash tool, in 'Readback' tab, after clicking 'Add' button connecting to PC with usb-C cable that came with Gemini, restarting Gemini as instructed , the Add, Remove, Read Back buttons are now 'grayed out' and Stop button has a green colored circle with + sign inside.

The line of text that got added after clicking the Add button looks grayed out.

Is it possible that it just needs a long time to read and backup the NVRAM partition?

In other words, just leave PC and Gemini alone for a while until the row of text is no longer grayed out or was there some other step I needed to do in order to make this work?

Thanks for any help.

Mark

[jornada720]

In my experience, you need to have the device turned off rather than rebooting it when you want to do the flash.

[ArchiMark]

Thanks, jornada720....

Understand about the flashing part...

But I'm asking about the backing up the NVRAM step...where it says to restart Gemini, after doing what I described in post above...

[Isaac]

When I did it I selected the scatter file first, then did the NVRAM backup, which seemed to work, then proceeded with flashing.

[ArchiMark]

When I did it I selected the scatter file first, then did the NVRAM backup, which seemed to work, then proceeded with flashing.

Thanks, Isaac....

Is it the 'Gemini_Debian_TP_Scatter.txt' file you selected or another scatter file?

[Isaac]

So far I have only flashed the rooted Android onto mine so I used the scatter file Gemini_Android_1_1_0_Scatter.txt from that ZIP file. Perhaps you have to do a backup using the Android one before using the Linux one to actually do the flash? Not sure...

[ArchiMark]

Thanks for the thoughts and info....

Think the idea of the NVRAM backup is to be able to restore device in case flashing process goes badly. So, now that I think about it, since the device comes with Android, I think they would intend one to use the Android scatter file you used.

Anyone else have input on this?

[user]

Maybe my guide can help you  https://geminiplanet.com/2018/04/07/how-to-...-on-the-gemini/

[ArchiMark]

Thank you for your help.

I did use your guide....

It's not clear to me (or others who left you comments on guide page) whether you need to use a scatter file to do the NVRAM backup step.

And if you do need to use a scatter file which file do you use to make the backup?

THANKS.

Mark


UPDATE

Finally figured out why I had problem....

I had connected the usb cable to the wrong side of the Gemini.....cable needs to be connected to the port on the left side in order for PC to recognize the Gemini is connected....

 

Flashing Debian on Gemini now.... it's about 50% complete now.....