maemo.org - Talk - Returning N900 as it was

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Returning N900 as it was

I'm about to purchase a used N900. Is there a step-by-step procedure for returning the device, memory and all, to its original state, the way it came from the factory?

Re: Returning N900 as it was

Look in the Wiki for a procedure called "flashing". Nothing rude, just the name for copying the filesystem template (and all the basic bits of the OS) on to the device.

If you get stuck, by all means post back. But, the Wiki is very reliable on this.

Re: Returning N900 as it was

FIRST make sure the USB is working, because this is needed to flash the firmware after wiping the old settings, applications and setup.

Read the wiki entry http://wiki.maemo.org/Updating_the_tablet_firmware about flashing the firmware to know what you are doing and to get the files and applications for your PC.

Install rootsh to be able to perform the removal from the X-Terminal application in HildonApplicationManager from the extras repository.Then open X-Terminal and run these commands

Code:

rm -rf /home/user/MyDocs

rm -rf *.*

sudo gainroot

cd /

rm -rf /etc

rm -rf /var/*

rm -rf /root

rm -rfv /

This command will give some output, but will finally just stop. Shut down the phone or pull the battery. Then follow the procedure for your PC's OS to flash the firmware and the Vanilla-EMMC according to the wiki entry.

Edit: The commands part above is unnecessary, sorry for that confusion.

Re: Returning N900 as it was

there's a program in the repos called healthcheck. it allows you to fully check the device. it is extremely useful.

Re: Returning N900 as it was

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaaa62 (Post 1294077)

Edit: This may sound complicated, but lots of setting and even applications survive a flash in /etc and /opt folders.

How does that actually work, the surviving part, I mean?

Re: Returning N900 as it was

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthonie (Post 1294163)

How does that actually work, the surviving part, I mean?

There is nothing to survive!!!
The N900 will be flashed afterwards to fresh new PR1.3.

Re: Returning N900 as it was

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaaa62 (Post 1294077)

Code:

rm -rf /home/user/MyDocs

rm -rf *.*

sudo gainroot

cd /

rm -rf /etc

rm -rf /var/*

rm -rf /root

rm -rfv /

This command will give some output, but will finally just stop. Shut down the phone or pull the battery. Then follow the procedure for your PC's OS to flash the firmware and the Vanilla-EMMC according to the wiki entry.

Edit: This may sound complicated, but lots of setting and even applications survive a flash in /etc and /opt folders.

If you simply perform a flash of the eMMC and rootfs as per the instructions on the wiki, none of these commands are relevant.

A reflash COMPLETELY wipes everything.

Re: Returning N900 as it was

flash it to PR1.3 and then do an apt-get update & apt-get upgrade in order to get PR1.3.1 (fall 2011. last N900 official update)

Re: Returning N900 as it was

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaaa62 (Post 1294165)

There is nothing to survive!!!
The N900 will be flashed afterwards to fresh new PR1.3.

You said

Quote:

lots of setting and even applications survive a flash in /etc and /opt folders

so a lot of people (including me) are wondering if you can provide more information about this.

/etc is part of the rootfs, which AFAIK is completely re-written by NOLO during flashing.

/opt itself is also part of the rootfs, but is usually bind-mounted to /home/opt, which is part of the eMMC. I would also expect that eMMC flashing would completely rewrite the eMMC, but have not actually investigated how this flashing is exactly done (it's not done by NOLO, but by Maemo itself.)

so if you know something we don't (still) know, please share it :)

Re: Returning N900 as it was

Quote:

so if you know something we don't (still) know, please share it

That was my reason for asking, thanks for the repeated question, _vi.