FIASCO image sounds like the best option, thanks guys! last question, with regards to the firmware that im downloading, do i download the Vanilla image and only enter the FIASCO flash command? or do i download the combined image and only do the FIASCO command?

cheers!

Vanilla and FIASO are two different files if you download from tablet talk the official site just download the latest FIASO and flash it.
command:
sudo /usr/bin/flasher3.5 -F (path of your FIASO image) -f -R

could you link me to the FIASCO image? i cant seem to find the tablet talk site you mentioned.
I tried that command on the wiki with the regular combined global image and revieced this:
a.bin (i renamed the image, cbb writing the full thing): %m

the command you stated appears to be a xterm command? im on windows, cant access xterm on my phone.
Also when connecting the phone to the computer, ive been holding "u" and plugging in the USB but im still getting the same old nokia screen with a pixelated :
"Malfunction!
Device shutdown in 10s"
this doesn't seem normal, as last time i had to reflash, the phone entered some flashing mode from memory but it was a long time ago so my memory is hazy...

EDIT: the error screen looks like this
http://metalab.at/wiki/Bild:N900malfunction.jpg

http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/nokia_N900.php

thanks but i already looked here, there is no specific "FIASCO" image so to speak, there is only the combined and eMMC images...I was told in this thread there is a specific FIASCO image. or is that incorrect?

The vanilla image is the eMMC image, flashing it will clear mmcblk0 (i.e MyDocs).
The COMBINED image is what is referred to as the fiasco image.

ok awesome, a big step forward to fixing it.
Ive got the image and command all right but the phone is not connecting to the computer. the flasher is stuck at "Suitable usb device not found, waiting."
i just keep getting the error screen on the n900 when i plug it in while holding "u" ( http://metalab.at/wiki/Bild:N900malfunction.jpg )
i tried the troubleshooting suggestion indicated in the wiki but it did not work.
After googling ive only found one person with the same problem that has resolved it and they did it by flashing on a ubuntu vm (http://logs.nslu2-linux.org/livelogs...o.20100218.txt search for "andy" on the page)...which i dont have access to...

anyone???
bump!

Download an ubunt livecd, boot your pc with it. Install the flasher program, flash your phone, done.

LiceCDs rule.

Go to ubuntu.com for the liveCD.

slaapliedje

do you have a fastish connection, a cd write drive, and a empty cd-write? Then you can download the newest(10.04) disk image and write it to disk. After, you start up with the cd in the drive. Look for a option for bios or boot order. In the bios, move the cd drive to the top of the list and then save and exit. in the boot order screen, select your drive. Once it has started to a menu select the run live cd option. once the desktop loads, follow instructions. If you are not fast, order a cd from www.ubuntu.com . If no cd-r drive, then order a disc. If no disc drive, period, I dont know. if no cd-r, go out and buy some. Dvd's work too, just get one of the images w/ extra locales.