Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

Hi! I've been having trouble with my N900 lately. Basically, it started out by just going *boop* and turning of after using it for 2 minutes. It would do that every time I rebooted. During the two minutes I had each time, I found that my files (pictures, music, etc) were still in MyDocs. I searched around and someone had the bright idea of reflashing. This did not help at all. All that it did was make it so all of my files are not available, it crashes RIGHT after you boot it unless it is plugged into a computer, and if you try to save a file (from the camera, for example) while plugged into a computer it says "Memory not available. USB cable connected". Does anyone have an idea of what is going on and how I should fix it?

Also-- I'm not into forum welcomings, please avoid doing that :D

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

Hmm, this sounds a bit like the behavior my N900 started doing when my battery was going bad (although I usually got more than two minutes out of it). My first battery lasted a bit less than two years if I recall correctly, so they don't necessarily last all that long. They are fairly cheap to replace, though.

Again, my first guess would be a battery problem; that might explain why the phone works correctly while drawing power from the USB port. And yeah, if you choose either "mass storage mode" or "pc suite mode" when you plug in the USB cable, your memory honestly isn't available -- the internal storage is unmounted from the Maemo OS and made available to the host computer as a USB drive. You'd need to click in the blurred area above the dialog box to avoid this behavior...

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

Thanks, this somewhat helped me find the problem. But now, when I have it connected to the PC and have pressed the blurred area, it runs for a while, and my files are visible, buuuuuuut it crashes after about a minute of use. Any idea what the problem could be?

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

I have to admit that there are many many ways a computer might crash, and I probably don't know enough of them myself to predict what the most likely cause would be. However, if the battery really is completely messed up, I think it could still be the problem here. My understanding is that the primary use of the power provided over the USB bus is for recharging the battery, not for actually powering the cell phone; so if the battery is not retaining any charge at all, the N900 will still be unhappy even with the USB port connected...

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

No idea on the initial issue, but:
that is normal behaviour: when you plug your phone into a computer it mounts the MyDocs partition as a mass storage device so you can access your files, during this time you can not access or use any files from MyDocs on the phone.

Try flashing both the emmc and rootfs, if not I'd be willing to bet it is a battery issue.

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

It is not a battery issue.
It is no memory issue - when your PC can modify the N900, the N900 should be careful with messing around with the same. Windows is not made for multi-user, while Linux is and will exclude others from messing around with the same things.

There is no need to flash it, tools are available to find errors in the file system that you may get if you stop the phone by just removing the battery instead of running a proper "Switch Off". Use e.g. "TestDisk" to verify and rebuild the file system.

If you cannot reach the phone from your PC, the problem is usually your PC and the Windows version you use. Take 2GB memory stick and place a bootable version of Ubuntu or Mint on this, and install the Flasher and whatever you need (like hfs+ if you use Mac) and use the Linux drivers. Linux can access the file system on your computer and can back up "MyDocs" - also the "hidden" files.

You get a very specific error message if the N900 is to blame and the eMMC is really not available. You are not there. :)

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

I did say that I've done this a few times.

Knuthf, I forgot to add a few things:
-No matter how long I leave it plugged in, when I unplug it, the battery automatically goes to one of the lowest levels then dies.
-I can access my old MyDocs files from mass storage mode, or by using charging only and browsing the files via the N900 (but that crashes it after a minute).

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

Honestly, I really think you should try using a fresh battery. It certainly sounds like your battery is completely dead...

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

Exactly.

But what you might test is:
leave it plugged for an hour (or so)
open x-term and become root (of course rootsh needed)
or unplug USB
unmount MyDocs via If phone still "crashes", then exchange the battery.

Re: Can't use N900 unless it's plugged into a computer (Memory not available)
 

^+1, and small question, in addition - have You tried running it, while connected to wallcharger (real one, providing up to 950 mAh)?

/Estel