I attempted to update my N900. Went to Nokia support. I ended up with http://wiki.maemo.org/Updating_the_tablet_firmware
I clicked on the Nokia Software updater link and received an error message

http://europe.nokia.com/get-support-...oftware-update

A broken link…

Crap phone from a crap company. I sometimes get locked out of my N900 and have to remove the SIM card, put it in an old phone, put it online, power the old phone off, and replace the SIM in the N900 to get it to work.

You can’t get the N900 to divert using bog GSM standard **21*nnnnnnnnnn# commands.

I went to update my Nokia software for my PC, and installed the latest version. Previous versions worked fine for me (ie copying .mp3 files from the machine to the phone). This latest software just put a stupid OVI splash message on my PC – and when I went through the sequence it couldn’t connect (via USB) with my PC. The older versions of the software had no problem connecting.

Anyone planning on buying a new phone should avoid this company like the plague!

I updated my n900 last week using the nokia sw updated from here:
http://europe.nokia.com/support
It worked fine using XP

Are you aware that the page you are referring to is a community wiki ? Maemo.org is NOT Nokia support. Correct the link if you can (or note in the wiki that it's broken so somebody else can do it). We're here to help each other the best we can, but rants are not helping that purpose.

I don't wish to update the firmware until I can back-up the phone data. Given that I can't back-up the phone data using a new Sony laptop with 32 bit Vista, I don't have much faith in the firmware "update". Furthermore there is no evidence that the "update" fixes the fundamental problems of the N900 - finding a network when you switch the phone on (without having to take the SIM out and put it in another phone) and allowing manual call diversion codes (**21*0000000000#) etc,

Fairly basic stuff that has always worked on Nokia phones, until the crappy N900 arrived on the scene.

N900 has builtin backup function. It's in the menu, titled "Backup" Use it.

And stop crying over your "crappy" N900, no-one cares.

While this "backup" function is present on my N900, there is no matching restore button - making the functionality useless. Anyway when I performed the "backup" function, while it purported to work, there was no backup file visible on my system.

My shareholding in Nokia won't prevent me from burning the company publicly. I certainally won't be crying about that.....

The backup application does have a restore option (see images). Also all the backed up information is stored on your device in a folder named backup, which is also accessible if you place your phone in mass storage mode.

I am not sure what you mean by that...

EDIT: Blaizzen *shake fist*

pwnd?????????

Yes, there is a restore function, in the backup application. You press the button that says "backup" on it. Complicated, I know, but if it's too confusing for you you should probably get a simpler phone.