N800: Nokia Reboot Screen of Death

[JayMontano]

I just received my membership yesterday afternoon, but not only did the n800 go down, but also our internet (so only posting now).

The only extra app there is that Gizmo thing (which did make the browser crash more after installation).

Symptoms:

When pressing the on button (from off) white screen with Nokia Logo appears, lasts about 35 seconds, flashs to a black screen for 0.1 seconds and returns to Nokia Logo again for 35 seconds.
From off, when connected to the charger, identical symptoms above
(Removing the battery does not turn off the N800 (when connected to the charger)I'm going to try and update the firmware in a couple of minutes to see what happens. Any other advice I get till then is appreciated.

[bac522]

Should be more like Reboot Screen of Aggravation since the unit doesn't need to be sent to Nokia for parts replacement. The unit can be fixed by reflashing which leads me to believe this problem probably can be fixed via software. Hopefully it's not a boot loader problem in the firmware.

[JayMontano]

Should be more like Reboot Screen of Aggravation since the unit doesn't need to be sent to Nokia for parts replacement. The unit can be fixed by reflashing which leads me to believe this problem probably can be fixed via software. Hopefully it's not a boot loader problem in the firmware.

Got a bit preoccupied earlier so haven't got around to updating FW....just painfully slowly downloading the

"RX-34_2007SE_2.2006.51-6_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin"

fingers crossed that I get my N800 up and running again...

[Milhouse]

Follow the instructions to disable the lifeguard reset - there's probably no need to reflash the entire device, just disable the mechanism that is resetting the N800 because it has erroneously determined your device has hung when in fact it may be taking a little too long to start due to one of the apps you have installed. If disabling the lifeguard reset (which can only be done from Linux) has no effect then go for a full reflash.

[JayMontano]

Follow the instructions to disable the lifeguard reset - there's probably no need to reflash the entire device, just disable the mechanism that is resetting the N800 because it has erroneously determined your device has hung when in fact it may be taking a little too long to start due to one of the apps you have installed. If disabling the lifeguard reset (which can only be done from Linux) has no effect then go for a full reflash.

Thanks Millhouse.

Can't find the exact disable LG reset thing so I'm gonna go with full flash.

I take it since it's in a non functioning mode, I'm gonna loose all data stored on the N800? Gtalk contacts to be added again, Voice/Video Call contacts thing must be added again:rolleyes:

It will be annoying if this is some kind of regular occurance and frequet flashing is mandatory for continued use.

Ah, and it was going so good with the N800 - lol, like they say, "if it's too good to be true...." :D:D

Hmm...if all else fails, I'll send it off with my N93(rip) for repairs...see if Carphone Warehouse guys are willing to do anything about it.

EDIT: btw, how do I know that the battery is full when there's nothing on the screen but the "NOKIA" logo?

[Milhouse]

http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=30503&highlight=lifeguard#post30503

Search is really useful! ;)

You're going to lose everything by reflashing, you won't lose anything if it boots after disabling the lifeguard reset.

[JayMontano]

http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=30503&highlight=lifeguard#post30503

Search is really useful! ;)

You're going to lose everything by reflashing, you won't lose anything if it boots after disabling the lifeguard reset.

I searched maemo.org, this forum and google but nothing relevant.

lol, thanks for the link though -but I've already lost all my content :'(

...meh but at least it's working again ^_^ probably better to have a fresh start...

It'll be a learning curve to keep a constant back up on the memory card:p I'll follow the instructions in that link in future (hopefully won't need to, but I doubt it)

[in4m8ionman]

I came home tonight and my plugged in n800 was stuck on the Nokia screen. A battery removal reboot caused it to go right back to the Nokia screen and no further.

Flashing now and will not add anything that is not on the Bora repositories provided except fbreader. If it still hangs beyond that - not sure where I will go.

j

[Milhouse]

in4m8ionman - you should try disabling lifeguard reset first, then reflash. If you went straight for the reflash, I give up....

[in4m8ionman]

The device was not rebooting it was stuck only on the Nokia screen - will killing the lifeguard reset fix that?

Also - I am not sure that I want to kill lifeguard yet - I want to understand what is causing my device to reset - Lifeguard is annoying - but the reset is more annoying. Sorry if that annoys you.

j

[zlatoust]

in4m8ionman, hate do disappoint you but my impression is that reflashing won't help. I've tried 4 times, it did not help. Once you've installed something that triggered reboots it does not matter if you deinstall/reflash later, your only chance is disabling lifeguard completely and living with it off. It's like something gets stuck somewhere in maintenance partitions and you can't get rid of it unless you happen to have this mysterious serial port cold flashing device. Don't ask me how, I don't know. Ask Nokia. I've sent my N800 back. It's simply not ready as a consumer gadget. For hacking -- maybe, but I had plenty of hacking at work so I'll wait and see until Nokia at least admits the problem exists. So far, they did not even blink. I wonder what an average return rate on this devices would be. My estimate currently is 80%.

[Milhouse]

The device was not rebooting it was stuck only on the Nokia screen - will killing the lifeguard reset fix that?


Why not try it? It will only take a few minutes if you have access to a Linux box (download DSL LiveCD if you don't) and may allow you to work out the root cause of your problem if you successfully get your N800 to boot.

[Milhouse]

Try also removing all memory cards prior to booting (internal and external) - some users have stated this helps achieve a successful boot (at which point you can re-insert the cards). I wonder if the mount is failing and hanging the boot process.

[in4m8ionman]

Interesting thoughts that flashing might not fix my issue. I did flash and it is now booting and only installed fbreader. Tempted to install xterm but I held out - wanted to see if the thing will take a dump in the next few days.

[Darla]

Well me like a dork, installed an app that I assumed was compatible with the N800. The install worked but when I went to change the theme the screen went white. I powered off the device and powered it back on, and now it just constantly reboots itself.

I'm going to try updating the device to see if that helps... Thanks for the tip Jay!

[Darla]

Ok, updating didn't work :( What and how do you kill the Lifeguard reset?

[Milhouse]

Search this forum for "lifeguard".

[JayMontano]

Hey D, soz I went offline - my sucky connection goes funny for some reason. (It tells me it's on, but no data exchange happens)

Search this forum for "lifeguard".

or look at your post #6:)

[geneven]

Instead of Firefox, I had to use yucky Internet Explorer to download the long .bin file for some reason. Then I downloaded the Windows software installaton program and used it to install the .bin file in my N800. The rebooting problem was solved and I lived happly ever after, for now. It sure was nice to have my N800 back.

[blackpaw]

Hello, Guys!

I have had the "reboot loop" recently but it did not happen before I did install two applications:

Taskbar-clock
osso-xterm

I am pretty sure it is related to one of them.

Reflashing helped (well...)


cheers


andreas

[freeman]

not neccessary, I had that happened to me couple of time w/ nothing else install, other than RX-34_2007SE_3.2007.10-7_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin
The only changed I made was setup my wifi and adding RSS feed. After I go grab the rss, the system crash and went into continuous reboot.

This may or may not help, but what I found out was that if I have dualboot, and boot into another OS, it will work, so it's definitely not the kernel issue, because they shared the same kernel, what I did found out also is that, if I run
"fsck.ext2 /dev/mmcblk0 -f", there seem to be something corrupted in the filesystem. If I continue rebooting, it get worse. The last time I check there isn't any fsck.jffs2, so if the jffs2 fs got corrupt, then there is noway to fix it other than reflash. which to me look a lot like what happened and cause the system to be in reboot loop.

I have had the "reboot loop" recently but it did not happen before I did install two applications:

Taskbar-clock
osso-xterm

I am pretty sure it is related to one of them.

andreas

[Joedepow]

Well,they say everything about iPhone but I'm really proud to own N800. Its spectacular!!

If you are having booting problems don't worry so much since it's just a software problem.

I'll advice you to reinstall the operating system again by downloading

1.Nokia_Internet_Tablet_Software_Update_Wizard.exe

2.dotnetfx.exe

3.RX-34_2007SE_3[1].2007.10-7_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin

I don't have to upload all these again since I downloaded everything from here.

First install #2 and #1 on your windows PC. Yeah you don't have to own a Linux PC b4 reinstalling OS.

Now run the installed wizard and follow the instructions. Now when the wizard ask you to download the new firmware say no and choose browse to install the OS from your hard dirve. It's very fast.

Now, don't you worry about your lost applications as maemo got it all, just take sometime to download these apps.

I'm proud to have control over my N800.

Good Luck!!:D

[dgjlmaki]

I think that there are serious problems with the cable in the package- I tried to use it to reflash dozens of times, and it just would not work.

The above instructions do work- but only worked for me when I located a Kodak digital camera mini usb cable and used it to plug into the N800- and that was only after downloding the OS2007 to my hard disk, doing a full disk defrag, shutting down all other applications on my machine, and plugging to the back USB on my Unit (Windows XP System).

My OS2007 works fine now, and I have both installed SD cards reading on the unit again-

This is a brutal process- I would advise ALL with new machines to NOT download OS2008 as of yet, as in wait until Nokia gets this whole mess on reflashing straightened out and simplified and gets you replacement cables- <if your reflash messages say there is something wrong with the USB Port or cable, it is likely the cable>.

If you Do Try a reflash attempt- only attempt it once or twice and on a FULL battery, because if your battery is drained it will only get you into the endless reboot of the death screen. Once that happens you do not and cannot know what level of charge your unit is at.

If/when that happens, charge overnight, then unplug, and take the battery out/reinsert (should be near full charge then, even if the screen has been rebooting all night), then follow all of the above steps- with a NON Nokia (ie Kodak Easy Share) type mini USB cable. Switching off all other interfering applications and defragging your hard disk before the attempt should help as well-

[awakenist]

ok, guys, i've gotta get some help for this one.
i've been experiencing the stagnant NOKIA screen at bootup (with no rebooting). i figured i could just reflash it. however, upon trying to hook up to my girlfriend's winxp computer, it will only connect via usb for a second, then disconnects me and the screen stays at the NOKIA screen. so, i can only assume that i cannot reflash my os. is this correct? before this problem occurred, the n800 was working fine, and when i grabbed it to leave for the day, the system just froze, will not reboot, and will not connect to the pc. what can i do? i haven't had much luck searching this forum or the web.
awakenist.