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2005-12-26
, 17:34
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Posts: 79 |
Thanked: 1 time |
Joined on Nov 2005
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#2
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While I am not actually familiar with the intricate details of how the 770's flashing process is implemented...
I'm pretty confident that you don't need to do that. I have flashed a non-functional kernel to my 770 and it didn't brick it. I kept flashing new kernels until it worked. The kernel is what loads up the root file system, so I'm pretty sure that there's nothing you could put on the root FS to kill your 770.
The USB flashing system is done at a lower level than the kernel. I've been told that there is _probably_ (not definitely) nothing you can do with the standard flashing tool that will render the 770 unbootable.
I believe the way it works is that the actual processor itself has a permanent, very simple bootloader that works over the serial port. That is always present, and can not be changed. It loads up a more complicated boot loader, which is still fairly simple.
The first permanent bootloader is serial-only, since serial ports are very simple to use. The second bootloader is the one that you are talking to when you use their flashing tool. It speaks USB and understands much more about the 770's hardware - it can do things like turn on the LCD, display pictures, etc. As long as you leave the second bootloader intact, you're safe.
I don't know what xloader and NOLO are, so I can't tell you for sure what will happen if you replace them with junk. However, I am quite confident that if you merely replace the kernel and/or rootfs with your own one, you won't need to do a cold flash.
I'm pretty confident that you don't need to do that. I have flashed a non-functional kernel to my 770 and it didn't brick it. I kept flashing new kernels until it worked. The kernel is what loads up the root file system, so I'm pretty sure that there's nothing you could put on the root FS to kill your 770.
The USB flashing system is done at a lower level than the kernel. I've been told that there is _probably_ (not definitely) nothing you can do with the standard flashing tool that will render the 770 unbootable.
I believe the way it works is that the actual processor itself has a permanent, very simple bootloader that works over the serial port. That is always present, and can not be changed. It loads up a more complicated boot loader, which is still fairly simple.
The first permanent bootloader is serial-only, since serial ports are very simple to use. The second bootloader is the one that you are talking to when you use their flashing tool. It speaks USB and understands much more about the 770's hardware - it can do things like turn on the LCD, display pictures, etc. As long as you leave the second bootloader intact, you're safe.
I don't know what xloader and NOLO are, so I can't tell you for sure what will happen if you replace them with junk. However, I am quite confident that if you merely replace the kernel and/or rootfs with your own one, you won't need to do a cold flash.
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2005-12-26
, 20:10
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Posts: 2 |
Thanked: 0 times |
Joined on Nov 2005
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#3
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Hi,
Is good to hear that a corrupted kernel can't brick the 770.
OTOH it is always good to be able to do a complete restauration of a device without sending it back to the vendor.
So I'm still curious if the connector is a RS232, TTL or a JTAG port.
Well, the X-Loader could be low level loader which ist written using the JTAG port (IF the connector on the back is indeed a JTAG port).
NOLO would be the USB-capable NOkia LOader, but that is the simpliest thing to guess
Is good to hear that a corrupted kernel can't brick the 770.
OTOH it is always good to be able to do a complete restauration of a device without sending it back to the vendor.
So I'm still curious if the connector is a RS232, TTL or a JTAG port.
I don't know what xloader and NOLO are...
NOLO would be the USB-capable NOkia LOader, but that is the simpliest thing to guess
Has anybody out there found any inforamation about the serial programming port beside the battery compartment ?
The linux flasher software has the option to use it for what nokia calls "cold flashing" (-c,-S,-I). It would be quite handy to be able to use that option, just in case the 770 doesn't come up after experiments with the root filesystem.
regards,
marvin