Hi Friend,

Basically you will follow the regular flashing procedure, but you will replace the filename in the commands with the filename of the custom image that you want to flash your phone with...and make sure that the custom image file is saved in C:/Program Files/maemo/flasher-3.5, otherwise the command will give you a "cannot be found" error or something like that.

I have a thread in a Filipino forum where I uploaded video versions of tutorials that are written here in talk.maemo.org (for those who find it easier to follow a video than a written tutorial). Here it is: http://www.symbianize.com/showthread.php?t=321834. It has both written and video tutorials, by the way.

EDIT: Just wanted to remind that when you flash your phone, all data may be wiped out so back up everything important (save them in your PC or something) before doing this.

@topet
so sir i just to have the nokia update software? and put the downloaded file on that path? am i right sir?
sir how can i make a back up of my apps and all the things inside the phone. btw i don't have memory card sir. tnx sir

Hi Friend,

Nokia Software Update? You mean you are planning to "re-flash" your phone using the application in your computer (the Nokia Software Updater)?

Have you read the link that I asked you to visit? The one from another forum? The instructions are there and it does not involve using the Nokia Software Updater.

For backing up...what I usually do is I would just re-install all my apps later on (assuming all of the apps that I installed are the same ones I downloaded/installed from the Application Manager). For files such as documents, music, videos, pictures, etc. you can just attach your N900 to your computer (Mass Storage Mode) and copy-paste them to your computer.

oh? i have to download them again. shoot. hehehe sorry didn't read the thread first im downloading the files needed for the flash. hehehe am i right in what im downloading for maemo i downloaded the global and for the eMMC i downloaded the 10.2010.13 am i right?

Hi Friend,

Just follow the instructions or the pictures that you see here: http://www.symbianize.com/showthread.php?t=321834.

So the tutorial has been categorized in different parts:

1. Preparation - talks about where to download the files you need and how to install the flasher application.
2. Flashing the Root File System (rootfs) - you will follow exactly what is written here, step by step.
3. Flashing the eMMC (the internal storage of the N900) - you will follow exactly what is written here, except that you will use the custom image that you downloaded from fayad, because that one is already customized to have either a 5GB or 8GB "home" partition. In other words, you will use the one you downloaded from fayad instead of the one you have downloaded from the "tablets-nokia" website.
4. Flashing the Root File System (rootfs) again with "-R" (restart) parameter - you will follow exactly what is written here, step by step.

The tutorial in that link I gave you even has YouTube videos so that you can visualize what is actually happening real-time...just compare the video with what you are doing/seeing on your computer to ensure that you are on the right track. Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1zvRjL-2cM

NOTES:

1. You have to register to that forum site so that you can see the embedded pictures/screenshots.
2. Since your objective is to flash your phone using a customized eMMC image, you can't do the steps for updating the firmware via the Nokia Software Updater because that method is for flashing the phone only with the official firmware.

ahm i have another question sir. in step 2 you used your eMMC in your tutorial how about the eMMC that has 8gig internal?

DISCLAIMER: I did not invent these steps. I merely followed the instructions at the official Wiki guide of Maemo 5 located here: http://wiki.maemo.org/Updating_the_firmware. However, there are no pictures or illustrations in this wiki so I think there will be new users who may get confused, especially if they are new to Linux. So I decided to post the instructions that I followed but this time it has screenshots to help you better.

PREPARATION:
Download the Flasher first: http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/maemo-d...-downloads.php. If you're using a Debian-based Linux distro (such as Ubuntu), download the one with the .deb extension. For all other Linux distros that are not Debian-based (such as Fedora) you need to download the one with the .tar.gz extension. If you're using Windows, download the .exe file.





Download the firmware for your device: http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/nokia_N900.php. You need to download 2 files:

1. Firmware for the Operating System
2. Firmware for the eMMC (32GB internal storage/memory card)







Install the Flasher by opening Terminal (it's like the Command Prompt in Microsoft Windows) and typing the following, or copy-paste it. You will replace <flasher-package-name> with the actual file name of the Flasher application.

For Debian-based Linux OS (like Ubuntu) wher e you downloaded the .deb file:

If you're using a 64-bit system for Linux, type this:

For non Debian-based Linux OS (like Fedora)where you downloaded the .tar.gz file, extract the contents of the .tar.gz file into your desired folder/directory.

For Windows: the installer is in the form of an .exe file. Just run the file by double-clicking or right-click with the mouse and choose "Open".

NEXT: Actual steps for flashing the Nokia N900

Please check my previous post again, I have edited it to give specific instructions. Basically the same, but you need to change the file name to the one that you want to flash (the filename of the custom image).

For example:

1. Let's say that the filename of the original eMMC image in the original tutorial is "orig_eMMC.bin"
2. Let's say that the filename of the custom eMMC image (the one that gives you the 8GB home partition) is "custom_8GB.bin"

So in the theoretical example given above, your command should look like this:

1. If flashing using the original eMMC image, the command should be:

1. If flashing using the custom eMMC image, the command should be:

REMINDER: make sure that the actual file (the custom image) is saved in C:/Program Files/maemo/flasher-3.5 (if using Windows).

As discussed during the "Preparation" phase, the following are the key steps in flashing the Nokia N900:

Step 1: Flash the Operating System (rootfs) first
Step 2: Flash the eMMC (the 32GB internal storage)
Step 3: Flash the Operating System again (VERY IMPORTANT)

In this post, we will focus on Step 1. We are going to flash the Operating System first. During this step, the firmware file that we need is the one that has the word "COMBINED" in the file name. DO NOT USE THE FILE THAT HAS THE WORD "VANILLA" OR "EMMC" ON IT. That file is for Step 2.

Open Terminal in Linux (for Windows, run the Command Line or "cmd"). Go to the directory where you have saved the firmware files. Here is an example. Since I saved my firmware files in my "Downloads" folder, I would type this from the Terminal and then press Enter:



Windows: For Windows you just have to run the Flasher.exe and the Command Prompt will already open. For Windows also, make sure to move or copy/paste your firmware files in the same location where you have installed the Flasher Application (usually it's at c:\Program Files\Maemo\Flasher-3.5 so you may need to copy-paste the firmware files here).



Next is to run the Flasher application. Type or copy-paste this command.

For Debian-based Linux OS (like Ubuntu), type or copy-paste this and then press Enter:

...where <firmware-image> is the filename of the image file.

For non Debian-based (like Fedora), type or copy-paste this and then press Enter:

For Windows, type or copy-paste this and then press Enter:

...where <firmware-image> is the filename of the image file. So if the filename of the image file is "RX-51_2009SE_2.2009.51-1_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin", then the command will look like this:

Linux:



Windows:



Terminal (for Linux) or DOS/Command Prompt (for Windows) will show you a lot of outputs and will say something like this at the end:

Here is an example.

Linux



Windows



Now, it's time to attach your Nokia N900 to your computer via USB.

1. Turn off the phone first.
2. Make sure to press and hold the "U" key on your phone's keyboard.
3. While pressing and holding the "U" key, attach the N900 to your PC via USB.
4. Wait until you see a dim screen on your N900 with a Nokia logo in the middle of your screen with an USB icon in the top right corner, and once you see the USB icon you may now release the "U" key.

The Flasher application will automatically start flashing your phone. You're done with Step 1. IMPORTANT: DO NOT RESET OR RESTART THE PHONE YET! ALSO DO NOT REMOVE THE USB CABLE YET; WE STILL HAVE TO DO STEP 2.

Linux







Windows

In Step 1, we already flashed the Operating System. Next is to flash the 32GB internal storage (also called the eMMC). NOTE: All your files will be deleted (pictures, documents, music, etc. Make sure to back them up first!

Go to the directory where your firmware file is located. We will use the firmware file that has the word "VANILLA" or "EMMC". DO NOT USE THE FILE THAT HAS THE WORD "COMBINED". THAT FILE IS USED IN STEPS 1 AND 3.

For Windows: assuming you have already copied your firmware files to the same location of the Flasher as per Step 1, you don't have to do anything. Proceed with the next steps below.

Type or copy-paste this command and hit Enter. In the examples below, I already typed the actual name of the firmware file, which is the latest one. If you want to use an older one, please replace the file name.

For Debian-based Linux (like Ubuntu):

...where <firmware-image> is the filename of the eMMC image. So for example, if the filename of your eMMC image is "RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.13-2.VANILLA_PR_EMMC_MR0_ARM.bin" then the command should look like this:

For other Linux OS (like Fedora):



The next screen will look like this:



For Windows:



This is how it should look like once it's done flashing the eMMC image:

Linux:



Windows:



We're done with Step 2. NOTE: DO NOT REBOOT/RESTART IT YET! WE STILL NEED TO DO STEP 3.