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[Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic - Updated

This thread has been started to help members install Android on their N900 and to (attempt) to help answer questions and solve some issues.

This is not a thread for Bugs - All bugs should be report @: bugs.nitdroid.com

Now onto setup and installation!!

At this point, please keep the Android partition under 2GB.
Don't worry about the smaller size as Android has access to your

Any 'code' boxes are what you need to enter in xterm/ssh and should be entered one line at a time followed by enter/return key

pre 1: you must be root for these steps so do this first:
Code:

Code:

root

pre 2: bootmenu-n900 is not compatible and must be removed also:
Code:

Code:

apt-get remove bootmenu-n900

1. Lets download the required files:
If you wish to download from primary server (downloads.nitdroid.com) commands are below:
Feel free to copy and paste
Code:

Code:

cd /home/user/MyDocs/

wget http://downloads.nitdroid.com/multib..._0.1_armel.deb

wget http://downloads.nitdroid.com/multiboot_0.2.5_armel.deb

wget http://downloads.nitdroid.com/nitdro...nal1_armel.deb

wget http://downloads.nitdroid.com/NITDro...ing-world.tbz2

For the files2 mirror the commands are :
Code:

Code:

cd /home/user/MyDocs/

wget http://files2.nitdroid.com/multiboot..._0.1_armel.deb

wget http://files2.nitdroid.com/multiboot_0.2.5_armel.deb

wget http://files2.nitdroid.com/nitdroid-...nal1_armel.deb

wget http://files2.nitdroid.com/NITDroid-...ing-world.tbz2

if you have a MultiBoot version other than 0.2.5 Installed currently please perform the below otherwise proceed immediatly to step 3,

2.
Download this file into /home/user:

Code:

Code:

cd /home/user

wget http://downloads.nitdroid.com/Jay-c/...t-0.1.x.tar.gz

Then run this as root On the device:
Code:

Code:

cd /home/user

tar xzvf remove-multiboot-0.1.x.tar.gz

chmod +x multiboot-remove

./multiboot-remove

rm multiboot-remove

rm remove-multiboot-0.1.x.tar.gz

Also, if you don't use Titans power37 kernel, you can manually delete the files:
Code:

Code:

rm /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28.10power37

rm -r /lib/modules/2.6.28.10power37

3. Now lets get down to actually installing things starting with Multiboot:

Code:

Code:

dpkg -i /home/user/MyDocs/multiboot-extras_0.1_armel.deb

dpkg -i /home/user/MyDocs/multiboot_0.2.5_armel.deb

Thats the new Multiboot installed

4. Next up lets partition that MicroSD: first a bit of background info though
* NITDroid MUST be installed to a ext3 that is SMALLER than 2GB.

* The Rest of your memory card will be usable by Maemo totally normally but the nitdroid partition is not seen in file manager etc

* You need to decide how to best partition YOUR card, i personally have my card partitioned as ~6gb fat32 and rest (~1.9gb) as ext3

* Some suggested size ratios are (in MB fat32/ext3 layout): 2GB: 100/1900, 4GB: 2100/1900, 6GB: 4100/1900 8GB: 6100/1900, 16GB: 14100/1900, 32GB: 30100/1900

* in below command REPLACE the <SIZE> text with your choosen fat32 size

This can also still be completed using a Linux box and fdisk/Gparted and or mke2fs -j -m0 -L NITDroid /dev/sdb2 via terminal.

ignore errors when running umount its normal sometimes

Code:

Code:

umount /dev/mmcblk1p1

sfdisk -uM /dev/mmcblk1 << EOF

,<SIZE>,C

,,L

,,

,,

EOF

Its always smart to REBOOT your n900 now to apply any partition changes so do that now by issuing the reboot command

5. Once your n900 is back up lets continue:
Old NITDroid users THIS IS REQUIRED for you aswell (well formating ext3 is not the vfat one)
Code:

Code:

umount /dev/mmcblk1p1

mkfs.vfat /dev/mmcblk1p1 -n sdcard

mke2fs -j -m0 -L NITDroid /dev/mmcblk1p2

6. Thats the 2 partitions formatted. maemo should now be able to use the fat32 one. next lets mount the ext3 partition and install then extract required files:

Code:

Code:

cd /

mkdir /and

mount -t ext3 -o noatime,rw /dev/mmcblk1p2 /and

cd /home/user/MyDocs

bzip2 -d NITDroid-N900-the-flying-world.tbz2

cd /and

tar xvf /home/user/MyDocs/NITDroid-N900-the-flying-world.tar

dpkg -i /home/user/MyDocs/nitdroid-kernel-2.6.28-05_final1_armel.deb

7. Now you should have most of nitdroid setup but you cant boot anythign as multiboot doesnt have an item file yet , lets go create that now

Code:

Code:

cd /etc/multiboot.d

cat > NITdroid-2.6.28.NIT.05.item << EOF

ITEM_NAME="NITdroid on MMCp2 - 2.6.28.NIT.05"

ITEM_KERNEL=2.6.28.NIT.05

ITEM_MODULES=ext3 fat vfat

ITEM_DEVICE=\${EXT_CARD}p2

ITEM_FSTYPE=ext3

ITEM_FSOPTIONS=rw,noatime,errors=remount-ro,commit=3

EOF

Write ITEM_DEVICE=\${EXT_CARD}p2 correctly and don't forget the =\$.

thats the item file built

finally: dont forget to umount android partition:
Code:

Code:

umount /dev/mmcblk1p2

8. that should be everything done, simply reboot with keyboard open to test

9. IF YOU USE Titans excellent power kernel then you need to do the following also :

Code:

Code:

cd /home/user/MyDocs

wget http://downloads.nitdroid.com/Jay-c/...power37.tar.gz

cd /

tar xzvf /home/user/MyDocs/multiboot-power37.tar.

Edit:

I have been requested to add more to this (requested by: Bec) as many people are needing this:

ok no more reboots but first nitdroid boot stops after
Code:

battery init with a _

Try to re-extract the rootfs...

Just do these steps again as root:

Code:

mount /dev/mmcblk1p2 /and
cd /and
rm -rf *
tar xvf /home/user/MyDocs/NITDroid-N900-the-flying-world.tar

Please add this to the first post in [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic - Updated since it seems most of the installs end with the stuck cursor issue.

Yes, you may press the "Thanks" button ;)

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...ges/thanks.gif

Edit: Please be mindful that none of this would be possible without all the hard work provided by: dj_steve, eyes, Jay-c and all else involved.
Also, Bec for the extra help other's needed.
Thanks for your hard work getting Android to work! THANKS!

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Very nice tutorial, thanks!

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

I've made an tutorial with screenshots which hopefully is a bit more noob-friendly, you can find it here: http://wiki.nitdroid.com/index.php?title=N900-install

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

I've been instructed to post about app-installation problems in this thread, so here goes:

I've been reading up on why some people can't install apps and some people can. This is particularly odd because we all seem to be following the same directions.

I looked at one forum (http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...00154&page=332) and they said to try to install to a partition smaller than 2GB and see if that helps. I'm about to try that.

But I think it would be helpful if people told their partition sizes.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

I have a (8GB - 100MB) ext3 partition, I think I have ~5.3GB free memory on that partition.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

I shrunk my partition to just under 2GB and I can now install. I posted this in both threads. Sorry if that's a no-no, but I'm still used to the Development thread.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Thanks for the tutorial. I'm going to refer my brother to it tonight (he also has the N900).

But you may want to add the part about sound.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

This is a weird issue... It shouldn't have to be under 2GB..
May be a bug?

All of the Android settings (app settings) get saved to my N900 eMMC (MyDocs). Maybe it is not mounted in your setup? (should be automatic)

Thanks for that - I forgot about sound :)

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingoddball (Post 720291)

Edit: DJ_Steve has done all the hard work getting Android to work! THANKS!

Why not to recall person who made initial Android port?
(BTW, I bought N900 only after Proof-Of-Concept arrived)
Why not recall person who made dualboot/wifi/sound?

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Sd card(2GB) in windows xp How do section.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by nesrazz (Post 721375)

Sd card(2GB) in windows xp How do section.

I was unable to do it in Windows XP. I had to download a linux livecd for it to work.

I used GPartEd and Parted Magic.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by nesrazz (Post 721375)

Sd card(2GB) in windows xp How do section.

You can not use XP for the host machine.
But you can download a linux usb flash version or iso (livecd) that can actually boot and run on top of windows XP, so you can do it while still running XP.

But you need to use linux. it's not that daunting as the instructions are designed for everyone (I have no linux expirence/noob!!).

If you want a recommended linux to download that will be a similar setup to XP.

Mint Linux community edition - XFCE. 658MB (or close).

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by nesrazz (Post 721375)

Sd card(2GB) in windows xp How do section.

Take a look at Toja92 toturial ;)
http://wiki.nitdroid.com/index.php?title=N900-install

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Do you people "experts" recommend people like me "beginners" to install this version or wait for the full version?

And if you recommend installing it, witch is better:
-Android ONLY Kernel
-DualBoot Kernel

If not, When do you think the full version of the port would be done? And would it be possible to update to the latest Android Firmware "2.2 Froyo" using NITDroid?

,,,Thank you

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Mate, I'm an absolute beginner!
Relax. You won't hurt your phone at all. Just follow my instructions and if you get confused, use ToJa's instructions as well. :)

http://wiki.nitdroid.com/index.php?title=N900-install

I recommend DualBoot kernel.
That way you won't harm your phone and can still boot into Maemo (N900 OS).

As for the Android firmware - We are at 2.1.
2.2 - I do not think it has officially been released, yet.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Don't forget to back everything up first, and back up your backup on a different computer!

Both sets of instructions are very slick and easy to follow, and will get you where you need to go. If you are careful you won't need to worry about doing anything permanent, you're only really messing around with the SD card.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

I've had no real issue's that can cause data loss except:

UNINSTALL TITANS KERNEL BEFORE YOU START TO FLASH YOUR N900!

You won't have any issues on the Android side, nor anything major on the Maemo side. It's just a PITA as you can't remove all the titan's kernel icons or link in Uninstall packages.
You can't upgrade titan's kernel as it's missing.
Just uninstall prior to updating to dualboot kernel.

The only reason I had data loss is because I got angry that I could not remove or update back to titans kernel (then uninstall that way), so I reflashed.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

you can reinstall titans kern if wanted which solves that issue though

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Running an N810 and followed the tutorial located at http://blog.nitdroid.com/?p=10

Everything seems to go fine then I get a kernel panic

Kernel Panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block

I noticed it is always pointing to mmcblk1 for the SD card on the 810 but when I do the formating of the SD card it is mmcblk0. Don't know if that is the issue and how to fix.

I have tried formating and creating the partitions with Ubuntu Disk Utility (stock) and fdisk.

Any help would be appreciated. thanks

Edit: Tried to move the partitions around and reformat, still same issue. Always fails when looking at mmcblk1p1. unknown-block(179,3). Using 8GB SD Card.

Edit: Found out that the utility I was using was not formating the card correctly. Used fdisk and mkfs and everything works great.

Thanks for your work on this port dj_steve

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by slooftsuj (Post 724902)

How is your card partitioned? Did you follow all instructions(including editing the database)? Remember you could try the "older" version without Google apps, it's quite stable and the only difference is no Gapps. Check out the instructions here http://wiki.nitdroid.com/index.php?title=N900-install

rootfs is 1,85G, i followed to the letter till

Quote:

Originally Posted by slooftsuj (Post 724902)

reconnect battery and boot back into android, you should either get a prompt of what to use to perform a task (choose setup wizard BUT DO NOT cick the always use box)

when android boots, its full of "not responding X, close, wait", i was patient and click on wait for all, and i manage to run the wizzard, and click on android, but then the android restared, again with the logo etc...

so if i use old rootfs, and do the adb stuff will the market work?

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

no it wontand itas not garunteed to work even with the hacked rootfs. you need to ignore all the force closes and do the adb steps then pull battery and reboot device once sql is done and it shouldn throw errors

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Hi,
finaly I installed android. yeah. thanks to all.
but if I turn on wifi, it says 'unable to scan for networks' and wifi turns of. Do you know a way making wlan workin?
If my n900 gets idle, the screen turns black and if I make an interaction (open keyboard, pressing power button) a terminal shows. Only after pressing the powerbutton I can slide to unlock the device. is it normal?

dabozz

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

does nitdroid have 3g/2.5 for internet yet? and were can i find the progress on this? thanks

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

dabozz, yes thats normal, reboot device to sort wifi (it wont work on first boot)

and cobra no it does not yet,

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Hi! I've followed this instruction - now I can dual boot android and maemo, but when android boots - after showing android logo I can see android home screen on the background, bit there are modal message "Power off - shutting down" and after a couple seconds my phone is powering off. Also I can interact with android elements on the background while message is on screen.

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

sounds like battery related that to me, check your batt is fully charged

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_steve (Post 724988)

dabozz, yes thats normal, reboot device to sort wifi (it wont work on first boot)

After the reboot and turning wifi on, the android bootscreen shows up, and after hitting the powerbutton there is just the background of the desktop and the titlebar with grey wifi, battery and clock. hitting backslash causes no action.
I reproduced it a second time.

dabozz

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

hit ctrl/sym, theirs a app that gets stuck on boot, dont know why yet, but ctrl/sym should laod up

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_steve (Post 725011)

hit ctrl/sym, theirs a app that gets stuck on boot, dont know why yet, but ctrl/sym should laod up

Hitting ctrl/sym leads to the normal desktop, scanning leads to the samel problem.
reboot doesnt help
EDIT:
maybe its the nearly empty battery?
I'm going to charge it...

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

delete the contents of the /data folder on ext3 and try again

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

now it doesnt crash anymore, but it is unable to scan for networks again
I'm rebooting
EDIT:
and it crashes again, like first mentioned

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

def sounds like a problem in extraction if it fails again,

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_steve (Post 725039)

def sounds like a problem in extraction if it fails again,

Code:

benny@dabozz:/media/cf466d7c-48ba-4a32-a685-58235becd13a$ ls -l

insgesamt 8704

-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  root        2 2010-06-11 22:56 aconline

drwxr-xr-x  2 root  root     4096 2010-05-27 17:11 bin

-rw-------  1 root  root  8670877 2010-06-22 17:24 boot.log

drwxrwx---  3 benny  2001    4096 2010-05-27 17:11 cache

dr-x------  2 root  root     4096 2010-05-20 05:22 config

lrwxrwxrwx  1 root  root       17 2010-06-22 16:07 d -> /sys/kernel/debug

drwxrwx--x 15 benny benny    4096 2010-06-22 17:22 data

-rw-r--r--  1 benny benny     118 2010-05-19 23:31 default.prop

drwxr-xr-x  3 benny benny    4096 2010-05-27 17:11 dev

lrwxrwxrwx  1 root  root       11 2010-06-22 16:07 etc -> /system/etc

-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  root        2 2010-06-11 22:57 health

-rwxr-xr-x  1 benny benny  103232 2010-05-20 00:03 init

-rw-r--r--  1 benny benny    1677 2010-05-17 22:57 init.goldfish.rc

-rw-r--r--  1 benny benny    3024 2010-06-10 17:48 init.nokia.rc

-rw-r--r--  1 benny benny   14811 2010-06-12 16:03 init.rc

lrwxrwxrwx  1 root  root       10 2010-06-22 16:07 lib -> system/lib

drwxr-xr-x  4 root  root     4096 2010-06-12 13:42 mnt

drwxr-xr-x  2 benny benny    4096 2010-05-19 23:31 proc

drwxr-xr-x  2 benny benny    4096 2010-05-20 02:11 root

drwxr-xr-x  2 benny benny    4096 2010-06-04 23:21 sbin

d---------  2 benny benny    4096 2010-05-20 05:22 sdcard

d---------  2 benny benny    4096 2010-06-12 12:38 sdcard2

drwxrwxrwt  2 root  root     4096 2010-05-20 05:22 sqlite_stmt_journals

-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  root        2 2010-06-11 22:56 status

drwxr-xr-x  2 benny benny    4096 2010-05-19 23:31 sys

drwxr-xr-x 10 benny benny    4096 2010-06-12 16:09 system

-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  root        7 2010-06-11 22:53 tech

drwxr-xr-x  2 root  root     4096 2010-06-06 11:49 tmp

-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  root        2 2010-06-11 22:56 usbonline

drwxr-xr-x  4 root  root     4096 2010-05-27 17:11 usr

does it help?

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

not really, have a look in /data/misc/wifi whats in their

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Code:

root@dabozz:/media/cf466d7c-48ba-4a32-a685-58235becd13a/data/misc/wifi# ls -l

insgesamt 8

drwxrwx--- 2 1010 1010 4096 2010-06-22 17:24 sockets

-rw-rw---- 1 1010 1010  109 2010-06-22 17:18 wpa_supplicant.conf

Code:

root@dabozz:/media/cf466d7c-48ba-4a32-a685-58235becd13a/data/misc/wifi# cat wpa_supplicant.conf 

ctrl_interface=DIR=/data/system/wpa_supplicant GROUP=wifi

update_config=1



network={

        ssid=""

        priority=23

}

Code:

root@dabozz:/media/cf466d7c-48ba-4a32-a685-58235becd13a/data/misc/wifi/sockets# ls -l

insgesamt 0

srw-rw---- 1 benny 1010 0 2010-06-22 17:24 wpa_ctrl_1128-0

srw-rw---- 1 benny 1010 0 2010-06-22 17:24 wpa_ctrl_1128-1

srw-rw---- 1 benny 1010 0 2010-06-22 17:22 wpa_ctrl_532-1

srw-rw---- 1 benny 1010 0 2010-06-22 17:22 wpa_ctrl_532-2

srw-rw---- 1 benny 1010 0 2010-06-22 17:23 wpa_ctrl_845-0

srw-rw---- 1 benny 1010 0 2010-06-22 17:23 wpa_ctrl_845-1

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

remove everything in the sockets folder thn see if any reappear on boot

edit: could someone put up a bug report about the sporadic wifi please (bugs.nitdroid.com

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_steve (Post 725048)

remove everything in the sockets folder thn see if any reappear on boot

edit: could someone put up a bug report about the sporadic wifi please (bugs.nitdroid.com

YES,
it worked

THANKS for this little chat ;)

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

dont ask where those files came from tho cos i havent got a clue :)

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

Could we get some user reports on the usability etc of the port. I am waiting on a new sdcard at the moment or I would have already tried this :)

Re: [Android] NITDroid V2 Help/Tutorial Topic

well you can see its usability in the youtube videos posted in my channel linked below