Ok got it.
Somehow i caused a reboot loop, then i used this write up:
http://discussions.nokia.com/t5/Pool...ata/m-p/591877

You don't need the drivers to install when you connect it to the computer. That alone cost me a couple hours.
Second, the reason i was getting the can't open .bin was because i wasn't putting "flasher-3.5 -f" before the file name and "-f" after.
Guess it's the little things sometimes.

Overall, it was quite the learning experience.

thanks,
Joe