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maemo.org - Talk (https://talk.maemo.org/index.php)
-   Nokia N900 (https://talk.maemo.org/forumdisplay.php?f=44)
-   -   A way to flash without USB? (https://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=81341)

Pondake 2012-01-04 14:19
A way to flash without USB?
 
Is there any way to flash the N900 without USB connection? As my plugin of my N900 is broken.

Is there an alternative way?

Keneraali 2012-01-04 15:03
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Install backupmenu, acquire a backup of recently reflashed phone to your memory card and restore.

Pondake 2012-01-08 11:07
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keneraali (Post 1145653)
Install backupmenu, acquire a backup of recently reflashed phone to your memory card and restore.
Thank you so much ! Now how do I find such a backup?

Keneraali 2012-01-08 11:39
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
http://robbiethe1st.afraid.org/Backu...omplete_image/

I think those would be the files you need

peter2p 2012-01-08 11:48
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondake (Post 1147398)
Thank you so much ! Now how do I find such a backup?
you can also make your backup with BackupMenu

Pondake 2012-01-08 11:51
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keneraali (Post 1147406)
http://robbiethe1st.afraid.org/Backu...omplete_image/

I think those would be the files you need
Alright, so those are 2 files, help me out a little.

Where exactly do I put them,
How high are the changes if any hardware of my N900 will damage,
Info.. ? :D

peter2p 2012-01-08 12:31
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondake (Post 1147412)
Alright, so those are 2 files, help me out a little.

Where exactly do I put them,
How high are the changes if any hardware of my N900 will damage,
Info.. ? :D
Read all about it here, #8 by mrsellout.

The reboot with keyboard open, fires up BackupMenu
so you can restore the 2 files, but first install BackupMenu

mr_pingu 2012-01-08 14:49
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Still backupmenu doesn't "backup" kernel, what to do if kernel is messed up?

Pondake 2012-01-08 14:59
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_pingu (Post 1147447)
Still backupmenu doesn't "backup" kernel, what to do if kernel is messed up?
Hmm.. this might be a problem.

I have some old boot files, + nitdroid, and I simply wanted to get rid of them.

I guess this won't be happening? :(

ade 2012-01-08 15:19
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_pingu (Post 1147447)
Still backupmenu doesn't "backup" kernel, what to do if kernel is messed up?
What do you consider kernel? Kernel images from /boot and kernel libraries from /lib are backupped...

Pondake 2012-01-08 15:27
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ade (Post 1147459)
What do you consider kernel? Kernel images from /boot and kernel libraries from /lib are backupped...
Then what is not going to backup?

I think that would be the best question. ;)

mr_pingu 2012-01-08 15:47
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Why did my device broke then when restoring a backup with other kernel? That's what I mean, if you switch kernel with backupmenu you have an unbootable device...

ade 2012-01-08 15:48
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondake (Post 1147462)
Then what is not going to backup?

I think that would be the best question. ;)
In the link to the images you can draw your own conclusion: it offers two files (for optfs and rootfs)

Backup menu gives you the options to backup rootfs, optfs or both.

- optfs means all the files located in /opt.
- rootfs means all the files located in / (on partition ubi0:rootfs)

rootfs is the vital filesystem for booting the kernel and other nessecities.

ade 2012-01-08 15:52
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_pingu (Post 1147473)
Why did my device broke then when restoring a backup with other kernel? That's what I mean, if you switch kernel with backupmenu you have an unbootable device...
It could be that you had some dependencies on /opt.

That is why it is advised to restore both / and /opt from a same backup. The /opt and / images in the link will correspond.

That's my thought anyway ...

p.s. I have done a pk48 rootfs restore on a pk49 installed N900. No problem.

Pondake 2012-01-08 18:32
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ade (Post 1147477)
It could be that you had some dependencies on /opt.

That is why it is advised to restore both / and /opt from a same backup. The /opt and / images in the link will correspond.

That's my thought anyway ...

p.s. I have done a pk48 rootfs restore on a pk49 installed N900. No problem.
Another new thing!? What is the difference between these? pk48, and 49?

Would I really be safe if I backup/flash it ?

ade 2012-01-08 18:48
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondake (Post 1147529)
Another new thing!? What is the difference between these? pk48, and 49?

Would I really be safe if I backup/flash it ?
pk=Power Kernel. Not interesting in this context, but just mentioned to demonstrate a restore can be done while using another kernel version.

Now what do you want to achieve? You currently have a proper functioning N900 as I understand (except from the USB) that you want to be able to restore without USB? Then start with installing the backup menu and make backups. It can always be usefull, if only to extract certain files from it. No guarantees everything will always work 100%, but a backup is a good starting point in case of trouble.

Pondake 2012-01-08 18:57
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ade (Post 1147536)
pk=Power Kernel. Not interesting in this context, but just mentioned to demonstrate a restore can be done while using another kernel version.

Now what do you want to achieve? You currently have a proper functioning N900 as I understand (except from the USB) that you want to be able to restore without USB? Then start with installing the backup menu and make backups. It can always be usefull, if only to extract certain files from it. No guarantees everything will always work 100%, but a backup is a good starting point in case of trouble.
I want to start clean, and install everything I need except everything I want. Start over with a clean rootfs except 1MB being free.

So making a backup now, and restore the backup which was provided on an earlier reply, will make the n900 unbrickable?

Oh and I was just being stupid, I knew what Power Kernel was as I'm using it, but just didn't knew that PK was Power Kernel. :rolleyes:

Estel 2012-01-08 18:57
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Backupmenu doesn't backup kernel. Kernel image in /boot/ is totally different thing - actual kernel used sits in special part of NAND, that isn't possible to being written via dd or tar -x. That's why You need flasher (be it on-device, or flasher3.5), to flash kernel.

Anyway, person with broken USB port, can easily re-estabilish connection via test pins beneath battery. Search forum for howto. One remainder - there was a FUD, that testpins omits protection circuits, and connect to chip directly. It isn't true - the only part that is not present - compared to regular U$SB port - is common mode choke. This, if used with poorly shielded cable and enviroment with high interferences, may lead to problems in getting full USB 2.0 speed, but certainly won't ''blow up'' Your chip.

/Estel

Pondake 2012-01-08 19:00
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Estel (Post 1147541)
Backupmenu doesn't backup kernel. Kernel image in /boot/ is totally different thing - actual kernel used sits in special part of NAND, that isn't possible to being written via dd or tar -x. That's why You need flasher (be it on-device, or flasher3.5), to flash kernel.

Anyway, person with broken USB port, can easily re-estabilish connection via test pins beneath battery. Search forum for howto. One remainder - there was a FUD, that testpins omits protection circuits, and connect to chip directly. It isn't true - the only part that is not present - compared to regular U$SB port - is common mode choke. This, if used with poorly shielded cable and enviroment with high interferences, may lead to problems in getting full USB 2.0 speed, but certainly won't ''blow up'' Your chip.

/Estel
I'll definitely will look after this, thanks for your time Estel !

ade 2012-01-08 20:07
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Estel (Post 1147541)
Backupmenu doesn't backup kernel. Kernel image in /boot/ is totally different thing - actual kernel used sits in special part of NAND, that isn't possible to being written via dd or tar -x. That's why You need flasher (be it on-device, or flasher3.5), to flash kernel.

/Estel
Estel,
I am pretty sure in my multiboot configuration, /boot/multiboot/vmlinuz-2.6.28.10-power49 is my kernel image, just like /boot/multiboot/vmlinuz-2.6.28.NIT.07 is my nitdroid kernel image. Remove it, and you can't start your system. Now you say it is a totally different thing. You may be right for a non-multiboot system (then it uses the fiasco image in my opinion), but not in my case.

Please elaborate on this if you can show me I am wrong.

ade 2012-01-08 23:07
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ade (Post 1147561)
Estel,
I am pretty sure in my multiboot configuration, /boot/multiboot/vmlinuz-2.6.28.10-power49 is my kernel image, just like /boot/multiboot/vmlinuz-2.6.28.NIT.07 is my nitdroid kernel image. Remove it, and you can't start your system. Now you say it is a totally different thing. You may be right for a non-multiboot system (then it uses the fiasco image in my opinion), but not in my case.

Please elaborate on this if you can show me I am wrong.
Pali was willing to give me more information about this, I will rephrase what told me:
The kernel is stored in nand memory (/dev/mtd...).
When the device is started, it will boot the kernel from that nand memory.

In case of multiboot:
When you choose another kernel, the multiboot application reads the corresponding kernel image stored in /boot/, flashes it into nand memory and restarts the device. Then the device will boot the new flashed kernel.

It can be flashed from the phone or via USB.

This means that Estel is technically speaking most right :)

But it also means that in most cases (at least in multiboot), your rootfs backup from backupmenu will be helpfull to reflash your kernel.

It makes my own restore situation also clearer to me:
I did a restore from rootfs (with pk48) on a pk49 phone. After restart I had a good working pk48 situation. Now its clear to me that the restored multiboot config had pk48 as default kernel, so when started it saw it had another version in dev/mtd... and flashed the restored pk48 image. I wrongly assumed it just used /boot/multiboot/vmlinuz-2.6.28.10-power48.

Thanks for the explanation Pali.

Pondake 2012-01-09 16:07
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
So basicly, if I understand this all.

If I restore the backup given to me on the this thread with Backupmenu it'll just restore the rootfs and the other one, but it doesn't remove the kernels ( as they are in /boot/ ).

Thanks Ade and Pali for the information !!

Now I have a qeustion about nitdroid, isn't that one under a different location? ( /and/ ) instead of /boot/ ?

ade 2012-01-09 16:21
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondake (Post 1147955)
So basicly, if I understand this all.

If I restore the backup given to me on the this thread with Backupmenu it'll just restore the rootfs and the other one, but it doesn't remove the kernels ( as they are in /boot/ ).
Mostly correct. It won't overwrite the kernel, but because it is located in /dev/mtd. /boot does get overwritten, because that it is part of rootfs.This means the kernel from the rootfs backup will be placed in /boot during restore.

Quote:
Now I have a qeustion about nitdroid, isn't that one under a different location? ( /and/ ) instead of /boot/ ?
Nitdroid requires multiboot. So the part describing multiboot applies. The nitdroid kernel used for flashing is in /boot (just like the other kernel images)
/and/ is the filessystem used by nitdroid itself.

Pondake 2012-01-09 16:25
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ade (Post 1147958)
Mostly correct. It won't overwrite the kernel, but because it is located in /dev/mtd. /boot does get overwritten, because that it is part of rootfs.This means the kernel from the rootfs backup will be placed in /boot during restore.



Nitdroid requires multiboot. So the part describing multiboot applies. The nitdroid kernel used for flashing is in /boot (just like the other kernel images)
/and/ is the filessystem used by nitdroid itself.
Ooooh, okay. Thanks a lot for explaining. :)

Pondake 2012-01-11 17:11
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Now this is just great, just backed everything up and restored the backup given to me. Now it's in a boot loop. Just.. just great.

F*CK, I can't even get acces to the backupmenu, it says loading and then shuts off.

Am I doomed?

Fabry 2012-01-11 17:54
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
The restored backup is an image of system with multiboot and backupmenu installed ?

If not you have done a serious mistake restoring that image.

If yes it is possible that internal flasher (used by multiboot) has done an uncomplete kernel flash when it has changed kernel after first reboot.
Sometime happens that multiboot fails to flash kernel.

Unfortunately in these cases you need an Usb cable to fix

Pondake 2012-01-11 17:56
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabry (Post 1148967)
The restored backup is an image of system with multiboot and backupmenu installed ?

If not you done a serious mistake.

If yes it is possible that internal flasher (used by multiboot) has done an uncomplete kernel flash.
Sometime happens that multiboot fails to flash kernel.

Unfortunately in these cases you need an Usb cable to fix
Dude, they told me that I had to restore the backup and they gave me a link.

Which was this: http://robbiethe1st.afraid.org/Backu...omplete_image/

And yes I had multiboot, but after that I installed backupmenu and the multiboot was gone but I think the kernels are there.

...

Fabry 2012-01-11 18:04
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondake (Post 1148968)
And yes I had multiboot, but after that I installed backupmenu and the multiboot was gone but I think the kernels are there.

...
Multiboot MUST BE present on image you restore and not only on your system that you will overwrite with a restore.

I don't know if the image at proposed link is an image of a system that has multiboot installed (and so copied to rootfs backup).
Since BackupMenu is usually used with BootMenu and not with Multiboot, I suspect that the image proposed is without multiboot.

But only examing backup image (rootfs) we can be sure.

Pondake 2012-01-11 18:06
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabry (Post 1148972)
Multiboot MUST BE present on image you restore and not only on your system that you will overwrite with a restore.

I don't know if the image at proposed link is an image of a system that has multiboot installed (and so copied to rootfs backup).
Since BackupMenu is usually used with BootMenu and not with Multiboot, I suspect that the image proposed is without multiboot.

But only examing backup image (rootfs) we can be sure.
Let us assume it was an image without multiboot, what do I do now?..

eight 2012-01-11 18:11
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
The problem is you restored a full clean backup, without backupmenu and all the stuff installed.

Pondake 2012-01-11 18:12
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by eight (Post 1148981)
The problem is you restored a full clean backup, without backupmenu and all the stuff installed.
Yeah, that's what I asked.

I wanted a clean start, without anything installed.
Just like flashing it without USB.

They told me I had to it with backupmenu, and now I'm stuck with this.

Fabry 2012-01-11 18:14
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondake (Post 1148976)
Let us assume it was an image without multiboot, what do I do now?..
If it is without Multiboot probably the actual situation is:
  • Your phone have a certain kernel flashed on Nand (i.e. Power Kernel xx)
  • The restored rootfs is for another kernel (i.e. Stock PR1.3 Kernel)
  • Your kernel starts boot process but when it tries to load kernel modules, it not finds them because there isn't the correct /lib/modules/2.6.28.10-powerxx (xx power kernel version) directory
  • Start up process hangs and phone will be rebooted

In this case the solution is to flash a stock PR1.3 kernel.

But without an USB port you are doomed!!

eight 2012-01-11 18:21
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Damn found this while searching: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=41166
too late :(

Edit:
... and wouldn't help in this context.

Fabry 2012-01-11 18:25
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondake (Post 1148983)
Yeah, that's what I asked.

I wanted a clean start, without anything installed.
Just like flashing it without USB.

They told me I had to it with backupmenu, and now I'm stuck with this.
From your posts I have read that you have Power Kernel installed.

If your plans were to restore a clean image, of course you had to first return to a Stock PR1.3 kernel and only after try to restore the backup.

Pondake 2012-01-11 18:25
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by eight (Post 1148998)
Damn found this while searching: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=41166
too late :(

Edit:
... and wouldn't help in this context.
*crying*..

Fabry 2012-01-11 18:31
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabry (Post 1148986)
In this case the solution is to flash a stock PR1.3 kernel.

But without an USB port you are doomed!!
If your actual kernel (power kernel I presume) is with U-Boot there is an solution, otherwise the Usb cable is mandatory.

Pondake 2012-01-11 18:32
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabry (Post 1149007)
If your actual kernel (power kernel I presume) is with U-Boot there is an solution, otherwise the Usb cable is mandatory.
U-boot? Some more details about what to do, please.

Fabry 2012-01-11 18:36
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Someone install a modified version of kernel which has u-boot included.
This is usually used to start MeeGo/Nemo

If you have done that, you have U-Boot and you can boot your phone from SD Card having so an hope to recover it without usb cable.

To know if you have u-boot is simple.
Do you see a pinguin image and various text string during boot process ?
If not sorry you don't have u-boot installed :(

Pondake 2012-01-11 18:38
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabry (Post 1149012)
Someone install a modified version of kernel which has u-boot included.
This is usually used to start MeeGo/Nemo

If you done that and so you have U-Boot, you can boot your phone from SD Card and so you have an hope to recover it without usb cable.

To know if you have u-boot is simple.
Do you see a pinguing image and various text string during boot process ?
If not sorry you don't have u-boot installed :(
That is something I can't tell.

When I had my previous kernel, it showed me the view you said.. the text strings and the penguin, but sometimes it didn't..

Hmm..

Fabry 2012-01-11 18:41
Re: A way to flash without USB?
 
Now when you power on your dead phone (try with keyboard slide opened also), do you see the pinguin ?

If yes, there is an hope for you.


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