View Full Version : Flashing the N900.
archebyte
2009-10-28, 13:42
The Maemo Flasher 3.5 was released yesterday (http://maemo.org/news/announcements/maemo_flasher-3-5_tool_final_for_fremantle_and_diablo_released/).
I was wondering if anyone has tried it on their N900. Does it reset the device completely and safely?
I don't see myself flashing it in the near term (it is my primary phone/pocket-computer) but it is nice to have the comforting thought of having the power to do it when sh*t hits the fan.
The Maemo Flasher 3.5 was released yesterday (http://maemo.org/news/announcements/maemo_flasher-3-5_tool_final_for_fremantle_and_diablo_released/).
I was wondering if anyone has tried it on their N900. Does it reset the device completely and safely?
I don't see myself flashing it in the near term (it is my primary phone/pocket-computer) but it is nice to have the comforting thought of having the power to do it when sh*t hits the fan.
I've used the beta versions and it worked just fine.
Can someone with an n900 please post the output of:
flasher --help
Thanks.
EDIT:
Oh, duh. Never mind.
I have used it yesterday with the final version (of the flasher!) and more times with the beta version and all worked flawlessly.
Of course, you need an image to flash to the device.
What's the purpose of flashing your device? I'm new to all of this Maemo stuff and ordered the N900 already. Should I have this utility at hand or will I not be needing it since I'm still an amateur lol.
@ ABerry: No I don't believe you would need a tool like this... It's for flashing the Maemo software i think.. Kind of similar to Nemesis for Symbian (I think)..
RevdKathy
2009-10-28, 18:25
What's the purpose of flashing your device? I'm new to all of this Maemo stuff and ordered the N900 already. Should I have this utility at hand or will I not be needing it since I'm still an amateur lol.
How often do you have to reinstall the windows or mac software to your desk/laptop?
In theory, you shouldn't need to flash at all. Unless you're very careless and very unlucky. A mate of mine used to completely reinstall windows every six months... but he used to install two or three "brilliant pieces of free software I just found" every day. After 6 months, the computer was screwed.
The main use of 'flashing software' is to get rid of the nasty, nasty carrier versions of software you get if you buy a carrier subsidised phone. (I'm looking at you, Orange!)
Stick to Ovi and Maemo extras for apps, and if you ever need to flash, we'll let you know. ;) (and provide the dirty raincoat)
good reason to flash the phone is when he doesn't want to boot. It's how mine is now.
The problem is that i can't find the image :(
GeneralAntilles
2009-10-30, 23:55
The problem is that i can't find the image :(
As the device has not been released yet, there are no public images available.
The **** just hit the fan: https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6014
Does it mean I won't be able to use my N900 until Nokia releases images for the N900?
The **** just hit the fan:
Heh, no problem, just boot clean system from mmc, and restore your saved image. Oh wait, ... ;)
Does it mean I won't be able to use my N900 until Nokia releases images for the N900?
Most probably. You are not the first one. Others already got same answer, no image until public release :-(
Most probably. You are not the first one. Others already got same answer, no image until public release :-(
Not very nice. Next time I won't be testing this hard... :mad:
GeneralAntilles
2009-11-03, 01:18
Not very nice. Next time I won't be testing this hard... :mad:
There are several issues involved that make this not as simple as "just put the firmware image up somewhere".
First, 3rd party licensed software (Flash, etc.). The licensing agreements Nokia has with Adobe and other companies and the certification processes this software may need to go through may not allow them to distribute firmware before sales start except under certain terms.
Second, GPL software. Distributing GPL software requires them to make up-to-date sources available to people receiving the software. This is a complicated process.
Third, 1st party proprietary software. Nokia likely doesn't want pre-release versions of its own closed-source software floating about on the internet, both because it can impact perceived brand quality and because pre-release binaries may contain code which will not be in the public release.
All of these things add up to make releasing pre-release firmwares an expensive or possibly impossible proposition. Especially when you consider that all this effort will be for maybe a few dozen people at most. Sales start still seems to be on schedule for this month, waiting a few weeks may be unpleasant but it wont kill you.
Otherwise, you're free to return your device at any time for a full refund. ;)
Nokia already distributed GPL software directly on the device to random 300 people. Giving to same people same firmware image they already received with the device does not change anything. Last time I checked, GPL doesn't care about distribution method (file vs already present in device) or something being called prerelease, beta etc. So technically, GPL is already violated.
The other reasons you mentioned make more sense but still, giving people the same data they already got shouldn't change anything even for other software or possible leaks. And I doubt Nokia seeked extra permission from all 3rd parties before giving devices on summit. In such case we probably wouldn't get anything :-)
IMO the only real reason is lack of resources to make it available right now. Which in itself is good enough reason. As you said there is still an option to return the device :-)
All of these things add up to make releasing pre-release firmwares an expensive or possibly impossible proposition.
I and the people who received the devices already had to sign a bunch of legalese to (presumably) cover Nokia's *** for points 1. and 3. And it's probably impossible to cover for point 2 if you're giving out devices to non-employees under Dutch, Finnish or EU law.
If it's so hard to make a release... the images do exist and they don't have to be *released* publicly. It's just a matter of sending an email with an attachment to a bunch of people.
the images do exist and they don't have to be *released* publicly. It's just a matter of sending an email with an attachment to a bunch of people.
The attachment would be quite big, can you accept hundreds of megabytes via mail? That means they need to send you a link to public server, then somehow protect it, ..... All this takes some effort which is needed elsewhere (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5818).
So basically they lend you a device but can't invest any other effort now. Take it or return it. There is already a waiting list for returned devices (http://wiki.maemo.org/Fremantle_Developer_Device_Queue) :-)
Nokia already distributed GPL software directly on the device to random 300 people. Giving to same people same firmware image they already received with the device does not change anything. Last time I checked, GPL doesn't care about distribution method (file vs already present in device) or something being called prerelease, beta or anything. So technically, GPL is already violated.
The GPL doesn't say that if you distribute binaries you also have to distribute binary images of the entire OS.
A different issue is when some source packages in the repository are temporarily out of sync with the on-device binaries, but personally I'm prepared to cut them some slack :-)
Yes, you're right. This was a response for using GPL-ed software as an excuse why they cannot publish firmware image:
Second, GPL software. Distributing GPL software requires them to make up-to-date sources available to people receiving the software. This is a complicated process.
I should have said
So technically, if there is any problem with shipping GPLed software in the image, GPL is already violated by giving devices away.
Nokia already distributed GPL software directly on the device to random 300 people. Giving to same people same firmware image they already received with the device does not change anything. Last time I checked, GPL doesn't care about distribution method (file vs already present in device) or something being called prerelease, beta etc. So technically, GPL is already violated.
The other reasons you mentioned make more sense but still, giving people the same data they already got shouldn't change anything even for other software or possible leaks. And I doubt Nokia seeked extra permission from all 3rd parties before giving devices on summit. In such case we probably wouldn't get anything :-)
IMO the only real reason is lack of resources to make it available right now. Which in itself is good enough reason. As you said there is still an option to return the device :-)
To be exact the devices are out on loan agreements. They are not given or distributed, they are loaned. There is a clear difference there.
Nokia respects the GPL and other open source licenses.
See my post above yours for correction/explanation.
To be exact the devices are out on loan agreements. They are not given or distributed, they are loaned. There is a clear difference there.
Yes, to be exact the 'before giving devices' should be 'before loaning devices'. Any other correction? ;)
I was talking about distributing GPLed software. I don't think that device being given, sold or loaned matters here. In this context the device is just a medium for distributing software. Otherwise it would be quite easy to circumvent GPL by lending CDs with software instead of selling or giving them. Same for linux based hardware (routers, media players/recorders, phones,...) Loaning them to customers would hardly make any difference regarding GPL compliance.
Nokia respects the GPL and other open source licenses.
Agreed. Yes. Sure. Definitely. :-)
Well, except that maybe sometimes it can take more than year of respectful waiting ;) We still don't have sources for modified uclibc used in N8x0 initfs (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=3373) :-)
But anyway, we are both missing the point here. The core point was that there should be no legal problem with supplying people with loaned devices with same firmware they already received with the device. For sure there are other reasons (like lack of time/resources) which makes the decision understandable so it really doesn't matter much.
See my post above yours for correction/explanation.
Yes, to be exact the 'before giving devices' should be 'before loaning devices'. Any other correction? ;)
I was talking about distributing GPLed software. I don't think that device being given, sold or loaned matters here. In this context the device is just a medium for distributing software. Otherwise it would be quite easy to circumvent GPL by lending CDs with software instead of selling or giving them. Same for linux based hardware (routers, media players/recorders, phones,...) Loaning them to customers would hardly make any difference regarding GPL compliance.
Agreed. Yes. Sure. Definitely. :-)
Well, except that maybe sometimes it can take more than year of respectful waiting ;) We still don't have sources for modified uclibc used in N8x0 initfs (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=3373) :-)
But anyway, we are both missing the point here. The core point was that there should be no legal problem with supplying people with loaned devices with same firmware they already received with the device. For sure there are other reasons (like lack of time/resources) which makes the decision understandable so it really doesn't matter much.
Sorry missed the idea, my bad.
True, in practice it's pretty hard to do.
The uclibc is a really bad case. Need to see if something can be done. At least Stskeeps started digging at it again (I'm happy to have someone with a mandate and time to take on these things :-) ).
Stskeeps
2009-11-05, 08:52
We still don't have sources for modified uclibc used in N8x0 initfs (https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=3373) :-)
For good measure, I think we can scrap the 'modified' part.. I'm still getting more and more sure it's a couple of revisions ahead of 0.9.28 release of uclibc in their public SVN. The tarballs I've found has no differences at all to that SVN revision. Can someone check if the uclibc then matches initfs so we can get the issue out of the world?
For good measure, I think we can scrap the 'modified' part.. I'm still getting more and more sure it's a couple of revisions ahead of 0.9.28 release of uclibc in their public SVN. The tarballs I've found has no differences at all to that SVN revision. Can someone check if the uclibc then matches initfs so we can get the issue out of the world?
To be contined here https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=3373#c18 :)
Just a mention to [maemo-community] URGENT! Updating the info for flashing (http://lists.maemo.org/pipermail//maemo-community/2009-November/003297.html) in case that someone here wants to help. Thank you!
I guess it is impossible to get the image out of the N900? Just Download... Is it?
It would be a nice way for a backup. Just reflash the whole content after finished playing riskful games. :rolleyes:
ihmemies
2009-11-19, 19:11
This is something that interestes me too, cause Im going to be developing for this device and there is allways a danger something goes wrong (well I have that unique skill). So is there any way to make full backup of the device and just restore it if something goes wrong?
Yes, there are more ways. Root filesystem uses ubifs so it is matter of creating ubi/ubifs image out of whole root filesystem and flashing it later (flasher-3.5 can flash such image).
Sadly I don't have N900 so I cannot give you working step-by-step guide but it should be possible, see
http://www.linux-mtd.infradead.org/faq/ubifs.html#L_mkfubifs
Also it may be enough to simply clone system to microSD card (via tar pipe) and boot from it. When system is on sd card it may be easier to just forget everything about ubi/ubifs and internal flash and just stay with ext2/ext3 on SD card and backup via tar.
There is experimental support for N900 in bootmenu done by Stskeeps
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=372885#post372885
Once I get the device, rootfs backup and restore procedure and booting from sd card will be first in the list.
ihmemies
2009-11-25, 22:00
Any updates?
I really wanna backup the whole system, before I start testing "under the hood". :D
ihmemies
2009-12-06, 12:06
Its me again! :D
Fanoush, did you get your device yet? Or anyone else wanna try making full backup system?
Luckily I havent crashed my device yet *knocks wood*
krishna9349
2009-12-13, 17:44
I wanted to flash my n900 in windows 7x64 with flasher tool v3.5. I used all the command lines as mentioned in the flashing wiki but always get the same message which iam not sure at all. here is the screen shot...
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6928/flasher.png (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/flasher.png/)
Please help me. cheers
If I will flash my N900 will all contacts be deleted and I have to create them again? Currently I can only see the loading animation and a Twitter shortcut on a black background when I start my N900 and I didn't make a backup yet...
crasbelize
2010-05-29, 05:42
Hello All....I got the information below from Wiki....what is it saying in plain English....Please....Thanks?????
Flashing only the kernel from a FIASCO image
If you only want to flash a kernel from a FIASCO image without overwriting your rootfs (e.g. because you tried out a different kernel and that didn't work) you can use the following flasher command instead of the one above:
I am wanting to flash my N900 with the eMMC image
The first problem i have is that i have a 64bit windows 7 machine.
I am very new to linux and have little knowledge of commands but about a month ago i
installed debian 5 on my older machine so i decided to try using the linux pc to flash my phone.
This is what i have done so far:
I have downloaded the latest flasher: maemo_flasher-3.5_2.5.2.2_i386.deb & installed it.
I also downloaded the latest images: RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.19-1_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin & RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.13-2.VANILLA_PR_EMMC_MR0_ARM.bin
I have followed wiki on which order and all goes fine until i try to run the vanilla.
As i do not know my way around debian yet i am struggling to find the flasher directory to put the vanilla file into.
this may be a simple question to linux users but i am now stuck.
(i can reflash the phone back without vanilla but i am wanting to delete all data)
Is there a simple command to copy the vanilla file to the flasher directory?
and how do i find the flasher directory on debian5?
zzzchainzzz
2012-03-25, 10:03
Flashing trouble PLz Help
I'm was trying to flash my N900 emmc image as instructed in the wiki. i did as instructed as with the commands and as soon as connect my USB and the flasher finds it , starts to 20% then suddenly goes off.
The yellow IED light that shows when charging stays on and remains that way till i take off the battery. i dont know what could be the cause and obviously the phone is unbootable right now. Shows me missing IMage.
Plz any ideas while i try to trouble shoot it myself from the wiki? I'm in a big mess right now.
this isnt my first time flashing..
i have had the usb repaired when it got broken. it works well.
im using a windows 7 x86bit computer.
im am even downloading a new vanilla image just to b sure. the one i downloaded shows 249mb when completed. while when downloading its show 250.. (just trying to cover all loose ends)..
zzzchainzzz
2012-03-25, 12:44
S.O.P Save My Phone :D Problem above...
zzzchainzzz
2012-03-25, 16:40
Flashing trouble PLz Help
I'm was trying to flash my N900 emmc image as instructed in the wiki. i did as instructed as with the commands and as soon as connect my USB and the flasher finds it , starts to 20% then suddenly goes off.
The yellow IED light that shows when charging stays on and remains that way till i take off the battery. i dont know what could be the cause and obviously the phone is unbootable right now. Shows me missing IMage.
Plz any ideas while i try to trouble shoot it myself from the wiki? I'm in a big mess right now.
this isnt my first time flashing..
i have had the usb repaired when it got broken. it works well.
im using a windows 7 x86bit computer.
im am even downloading a new vanilla image just to b sure. the one i downloaded shows 249mb when completed. while when downloading its show 250.. (just trying to cover all loose ends)..
Someone plz help me out here..
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