Re: strange n900 behaviour
 

Even if you haven't installed rootsh, the gainroot command works if the N900 is running in R&D mode. The same flasher program that is used to reflash the firmware can also set this mode so you might want to try it before reflashing. I believe that this feature is only available in the Linux version of the flasher program, but you could run it from a Linux live CD if you don't have a Linux machine handy. The commands are:

and
Instructions for installing and using the flasher are here:

http://wiki.maemo.org/Updating_the_tablet_firmware

I don't recall where R&D mode is documented, but a search of the wiki and forum would find more information. I hope this helps you.

Re: strange n900 behaviour
 

tried osso-backup
opens backup utility but when i select restore nothing happens??

Re: strange n900 behaviour
 

Sod it, will just re-flash tonight!!

Re: strange n900 behaviour
 

I suppose it's a long shot, but if you by any chance happen to have ssh installed you could get root through that. Do "ssh root@your.ip.address" from a remot linux computer (there are ways to use ssh in windows as well, but I'm not familiar with them). It will prompt for the rootpassword, which was set during install. You could then try to install my menu as mentioned above.

Re: strange n900 behaviour
 

dont have ssh mate.

Re: strange n900 behaviour
 

I think the idea was to create a backup, reflash the rootfs and then restore.

Re: strange n900 behaviour
 

This is why I tell people step 1 for the N900 is to install ssh. It was the first package I installed, and absolute worst case I can always ssh into the device and manually change/tweak things.

So, reflash, then install ssh. :)