How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Hello all,

Kinda posted this in other areas but thought I might find my answer in here...

I have an N810 that hasn't been able to get application to be installed on since I did the 2008 50-2 upgrade.

If I plug in my USB cable I get that USB is disabled and the internal card is in use. I also get MMC errors if I try to installed anything in the log. Lastly, I can't disable or change the size of my vitual memory.

800 users keep saying I should reformat but the 810's internal memory is not removeable to allow for reformating on a PC.

I have tried the Factory reset and Clear in tools in File manage but that didn't help.

Can anyone help out a Linux Newb with the steps to reformat the memory internally on the n810 if that is even possible, otherwise I guess I have to send this in to Nokia for fixing.

Thanks in advanced,

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

From on badger to another!

Open File Manager > Highlight Internal Card > Tools > Format Memory Card

Ensure that the virtual memory is turned off first :)

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Thanks fellow badger but...

Like I said I can't turn off virtual memory, it wont allow me to.

If I try to format, format is greyed out...so I am stuck.

Thanks!

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Try connecting to your PC in mass storage mode and formatting that way...

I had to do this once when my drive got curropt.

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

i'm having the same problem. as root, /media/mmc2 is mounted as readonly, and i can't get the swap turned off to reformat the internal memory card.

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

oops, just figured it out.
as root:
mount -o remount,rw /media/mmc2
then remove the swap, reformat

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

I would but as I say in my initial post, if I connect my USB cable, it says that USB is disabled because my internal memory is being accessed.

How do I get root on my N810, I tried to install becomeroot but as I said I can't install anything.

Can anyone write a "Best Known Method" step doc for a Linux novice to reformat my internal memory?

Thanks all!

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

I guess this is the point where everyone scratches their collecting heads and say I am hosed?

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

To format the internal memory card on an n800 when having trouble.

Method 1 with USB
1. Open the Control Panel and click the Memory Icon.
2. UN-check the "extended memory box" (this is what is using the internal card)
3. Test by plugging in the USB if it doesn't work then do steps 4 otherwise, skip it and go to 5
4. Shut down the n800 and switch the internal and external card (don't worry it won't hurt anything.)
5. Turn the n800 back on when booted plug it into your Windows system (PC's where built by IBM.) and format the external (formally internal) disk. Make sure you do it fat32 not fat16 as fat32 is the one used on SD cards especially if you have a SDHC (4G or larger) card.
6. Turn the n800 off (if you did step 4) and switch the cards back.
7. Open the Control Panel again and this time check the box for extended memory.

Done.

Method 2 without USB.

1. Do step 1 above.
2. Open Xterm and type (where # is your prompt)
# sudo umount /media/mmc2
# sudo mkdosfs /dev/mmcblk0p1
# sudo mount /media/mmc2
3. Do step 7 above.

Now on an n810 you have a different scenario. The internal memory is not an SD card or a disk in the normal sense. It's actually a PROM of sorts (I know it's not called a PROM) where you don't/can't format it, you have to flash an image onto it. So if you want to "format" that part the only thing you can do is flash it.

Unlike magnetic memory (a HDD for example) it doesn't have any sort of memory retention from flash to flash. Nor is it a block device that can be formated. The actual block device is the image you flash on and if you wiped it out and re-flashed it would be the same as just re-flashing.

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Ok, for the 3rd time, I CAN NOT uncheck the virtual memory option, it WILL NOT LET ME!

Also this is on an 810, not an 800, if it were an 800 my problem would have been solved weeks ago and I wouldn't be bothering you nice people.

GB

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

hb, didnt this do it for you?

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

@ PB - Honeybadger can't become root. That's the major problem at this point, well that and the fact that the internal MMC on the N810 can't be removed.

@ Honeybadger - did you see there was a response in your other thread that the out-of-the box root password might be: rootme

It's worth a shot at least then you could try Penquinbait's fix.

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

What if he use the linux flasher and put the N810 into R&D mode? Does that buy anything? (Root access?)

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

With R&D mode you can use gainroot (type gainroot in an xterm) and get root. Another often overlooked because it's so easy method is IF you have ssh installed do.

ssh root@localhost

and then use the password rootme. Ping you are now root.

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Ok sorry newbie here...

How do I get into R&D mode?

What is the best step method for getting to be root assuming that one of the above passwords is the one.

What should I run to format my internal card?

Sorry if I need it mapped out but that I might be close to fixing an issue dogging me for 3 weeks I don't want to do the wrong thing and brick my N810.

Thanks all!

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Well in xterm typing:

sudo root

with the password of rootme doesn't give me access.

Am I doing this right?

Thanks,

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

To fix this part of the problem...

1. Start Application Manager
2. Open Menu (upper left)
3. Go to Tools > Settings and REMOVE checkmark from "Use MMC to download packages"

This will allow you to download and install the becomeroot package which you need to fix the Internal disk.

Then, read this thread in which I experienced and fixed the same problem. In the early messages there are a number of suggestions that did not work for me, but I suggest you try them because the solution I found (listed in message 24) does erase everything on the card...

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ad.php?t=12607

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Only setting I get in tool is how often I can update the application list.

There is no selection to select/deselect the MMC.

Do any of the rest of you with 810 see a option to turn off using the MMC for downloading?

What are my next steps?

HELP!

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Well it's been a day so thought I would ask again, how without installing any apps can I get into R&D mode to format my internal memory?

Thanks all!

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

In case this is missed in the other thread, I found my own solution.

Just power down the 810, plugin the USB cable from your PC to your 810 while it's powered down and then power up your 810, it will appear as another drive, just FAT32 format the new drive and you're set!

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

:eek: You're joking, right? You've fixed it and it was THAT easy?:o Oh My! Well at least you've fixed it :D Sorry about the slow response to your previous post - The new post feature on the forum is kinda buggy and I've been missing some of the new posts.

So if you can install applications again - might I suggest that first off you install becomeroot? :p

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Thanks for the advice, yes it was the first thing I installed when I got the chance!

Thanks for all the advice all, I think we should put all of this into a FAQ or BKM doc since this seems to be a common problem.

Thanks again all my friends on here, lovely community of great people I must say!

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

I second that because I was just about to send my N810 back to buy.com because I didn't know how to get around the locked internal memory issue.......couldn't install apps, couldn't access any of the maps on internal memory, etc; all due to the internal memory being corrupt. A USB connection and a format was what saved me. Now, I've backed up my maps which took forever to redownload.

Thanks to those for coming up with the solution for this. What I would like to know is how did this happen in the first place. Did it have something to do with virtual memory becoming corrupt, because this issue just came out of the blue and I hadn't installed or did anything with the tablet for a few days prior to the problem. Turned it on, tried to install a program and couldn't. What's the odds of this issue happening again? Should Nokia be notified or do you think they are already aware of the issue because it seems more and more people are coming across this problem.

Anyway, thanks again for saving me!!

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Good this i found this forum. I was going crazy trying to figure this out. This is the first time I'm venturing off from s60 and I'm really having a hard time figuring this out. So far the IT's been freezing on me. Specially when trying to close the settings window. It literally just sits there. I also wasn't able to reformat the memory via the IT so I'm using the USB process. I noticed though that on the pc, it shows two external memories attached. I should only touch the FAT32 right?

EDIT_______________

Ok that didn't work. I think this is more complicated than I thought.

There are still files in the card. I'm trying to view the memory under control panel and it wont open. or close.

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

Bla-bla-bla-bla ... I just did formated my internal card via USB using MS Windows Explorer !!! It showed FAT32 bu I did choose FAT rather (I don,T know why ...). then it DID IT!
Latter I wnebt to the N810 File manager and DID FORMAT once more with it, then made 128 virtual partition on it. So what about your flashes ?????

Re: How do I format a N810 internal memory?
 

@ Popeto

linuxrebel is not talking about the 'internal cards' when he mentioned the need to flash the Nokia810. He is talking about the memory chips ( ICs ) built onto the internal board of the Nokia810. These are very different from any card mentioned. He used the word ' PROM ' or Programmable Read Only Memory '. PROMs are actually Chips soldered directly onto the PCB within the Nokia810. This can only be accessed ( to be programmed) by the image that Nokia updates every so many months. Along with this there will be a Flash Utility to ' write ' (or Flash) this image onto such chips.