Hello and a question...
 

Hello to everyone!

I have just bought Nokia N900, so I could play with Maemo and do some other stuff with this lovely phone, but not sure about something...

I think it is Symbian installed on this phone, and not Maemo, is this possible? Or maybe some other os, no way to check that on the phone itself?

I have tried to flash it with the latest Maemo firmware and emmc, but when I connect the phone to my PC, while holding the U key, nothing happens, I just get that battery charging animation on the Nokia N900 screen, so no NOKIA logo, no USB icon etc..

I have lost days searching for info on how to do this and I really hope someone here can please help me out with this, so I don't go mad and jump out the window? :eek:

How ffs do I install Maemo on this beautiful piece of tech, please, someone, anyone?

Thank you!

p.s. Yes, I have tried to flash, exactly as per instructions, on Windows 7 32 and 64bit, Windows XP (including service pack 2, and 3), Windows 10, OS X El Capitan and Linux Debian. Always the same, all os-es detect N900 as a mass storage USB device, not a phone.

Re: Hello and a question...
 

Do you have any screenshots from before you flashed it? Also can you compare the specifications with those on the wiki [1].

The reason I ask is that there used to be some fake n900s listed on some sites, which were running some other OS, and would never run maemo. They often had different features from the proper n900; things like having dual sim slots and often smaller than the standard 32GB emmc etc.

Your remark about the possibility of Symbian being installed flagged up warnings in my mind. I don't think there was a port of Symbian to the n900.


[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N900

Re: Hello and a question...
 

mrsellout's hunch that this is a fake stirs some memories. Do you have the packaging, and if so can you post pics? And of course, pics of the device.

Re: Hello and a question...
 

no
the n900 never came with symbian.

Did you install libusb on your pc ?
for some ...
it is necessary...
or their pc will not see the device proper..
I'm just guessing you didn't...

There is the possibility it is a fake...
checking "what" version of maemo is installed...
running something serious to test the sucker...
if it can't take it...it probably is a fake...


essentially I suggest a thoroughly documented process of elimination 1st...
write "exactly" what you did ...down...
then we have more to go with....

Re: Hello and a question...
 

You turned off the phone and plug usb while holding the u key and then
No more questions is needed, n900 doesn't have battery charging animation (when it's turned off) so it's fake.

Re: Hello and a question...
 

thanks elros..
missed that...
on the n800/n810 you get a battery charge animation...
but not on the n900...
so yeah...
sounds fishy..

sure you don't got a n810 there scramble?
even getting an n810 is better than getting a fake n900....

Re: Hello and a question...
 

Prototype had one

Re: Hello and a question...
 

wah????
never had a n900 proto...so this is new..
looks exactly like the charge ani from the n8x0's...

welly...
if that IS the case ....
scramble...
your freakin' lucky day...

how functional and how to use ...is the question then...now...

perhaps tommo can give you some pointers/help/walk-through...
if he has time..

Re: Hello and a question...
 

Don't have it anymore (you can probably guess who bought it :D) from what I remember this was the only major difference, just an early version of maemo, deffo not symbian

Re: Hello and a question...
 

I'm sorry to say, but it's probably a fake phone that you've bought
It's not even Symbian, but a rip-off of that OS.

See this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t27QMN5AH2c

Re: Hello and a question...
 

well then...
back to the documenting.
document exactly everything you do..
everything.
So im guessing my initial estimation that your pc needs the libusb installed to see the n900 is back on the table and still stands...
perhaps trying another compatible cable (make sure it's compat.) is also another possibility...

BIGGGGG EDIT:

oh gawd...
I do hope what you have on that "n900" (using quotes in a questionable fashion here)...
isn't what htheb just posted...
otherwise you ARE truly screwed dude...
then you got took..rolled...whathaveyou..
caveat emptor...
buy from a reputable ...
a "new" n900 doesn't exist in the market...
except the ones i keep in pristine in my desk drawer...that is...

All things being equal and that vid being comparable to what you got...
then that isn't a proto..
more like a chinese knock-off of a proto...

call it a "prodo" or "pronto" or "toprodo" or anything else you like then ...other than a proto..

Re: Hello and a question...
 

n950? :p
10chars

Re: Hello and a question...
 

I bought a new one 2 weeks ago 129€. The only thing, it has no original box and the battery had no hologram sticker but it is a 1430mAh one.
Hardware revision is 2204 and has qwerty layout, original charger, very short original usb cable, different headphones (white from Nokia), no video cable.
I think the ebay seller has still some. When I bought it he sold 6 and 2 were available and now he sold 11 and still 2 are available (selling strategy).

Ebay link.

If they are refurbished, I would say they changed everything because they look and work like new and mine is also the latest hw revision. Maybe they were build up from original spare parts? However then they would be cheap.
Definitely they were not for the german market, maybe some replacement devices for the US market?

Re: Hello and a question...
 

Wow, let me first say a BIG THANK YOU to all of you guys, tbh, I didn't expect to get so many answers and help so quickly, so honestly. THANK YOU!!

I can't upload any pics or give details right now, but will be able to do that tomorrow for sure, so expect some pics/details soon and will answer to your questions and suggestions etc..

BUT! From what I've read and seen from your answers, you HtheB may just be right, I think that OS in the video above is what I have on this N900 - so I guess I'm fu***d?

I've paid 30 euro for this phone, so...

I need to go strangle someone right now... be back soon. F**K!!!

Again, thank you so much, I've tried to register here a few days ago but would not let me, the image verification thing was not working so could not register, tried again today and it worked.

Re: Hello and a question...
 

Yep. You have a fake N900. Third one I've seen, sadly so.

Re: Hello and a question...
 

30 euros...?
not too bad a loss...
still...
and you know who sold it to you?
yeah...
time for my patented shakespearean asides!

pay 'em a visit... (with a bat)
get your money back... (you know what to do..)
I don't advocate violence (ask if he has any lubricant and hand the "nukio m900" back the hard way..)
it is just wrong (make sure you don't trim your fingernails...)

I swear deadpool stole my gig...
bloody 4th-waller..

Oh...
and...
Get a legit n900 scramble...