Difference between revisions of "Touch Orbiter for the GPE Handhelds"

Revision as of 19:20, 18 October 2010

This is only preliminary info, more will follow

Touch Orbiter for GPE Handhelds (IPAQ ) Install Linux on Ipaq Installing the bootldr via BootBlaster

The first step in running Linux on the iPAQ in Native or Dualboot configuration is to upgrade the firmware to one that can boot Linux. We use firmware that we wrote at Compaq Research and that has been extended by members of the handhelds.org community, called bootldr.

Installing BootBlaster via ActiveSync

Connect your iPAQ via the USB or serial cradle or cable.

If using a serial cradle or cable, then configure your iPAQ to use the serial port for ActiveSync.

Select settings from the Start Menu (the Microsoft flag icon)

Click the Connections tab, and then double-click the PC icon.

Ensure the Automatically synchronize when serial cable is connected using is checked.

Change USB to 115200 Default.

click OK (top right of the screen).

Use the ActiveSync application to connect to your iPaq 3600 from your PC. If there is not an ActiveSync icon in the tool tray, then use the Start->Program->ActiveSync menu item to start it. Start->Program->ActiveSync

Copy BootBlaster_1.18.exe [1] to the default folder on your iPaq from your Windows machine using drag and drop or cut and paste. You may safely ignore any messages that say it "may need to convert" file formats.

Copy bootldr-2.18.01.bin[2] to the default folder on your iPaq from your Windows machine. Again, You may safely ignore any messages that say it "may need to convert" file formats.

Starting BootBlaster

On your iPaq H3600, use the File Navigator to find BootBlaster_1.18.exe wherever you put it, and then invoke it by tapping it with the stylus.

Backing Up PocketPC

From the "Flash" menu, select "Save". This will save a copy of your current bootloader to DRAM on the iPAQ (under the name "saved_bootldr.bin").

Copy the "saved_bootldr.bin" off of your iPAQ and put it in a safe place in case you wish to restore it later.

From the "Flash menu, select Save Windows gz This will copy and compress all the flash ROM on your ipaq into a .gz file along with a file containing the asset information from your iPAQ. This will take a while. After it is complete, copy these files to your PC to save them. Under normal circumstances, installing Linux will not touch the asset partition in flash, but it is safer to have a backup copy.

Wait very patiently This will take many minutes, but a progress bar is displayed.

Installing the Bootldr

From the "Flash" menu on BootBlaster, select "Program". A file dialog will open allowing you to select the bootloader to use. Select the bootloader from step #5.

First, BootBlaster protects all the flash blocks containing PocketPC so that there is no way that an interruption in the programming process can cause the OS to be corrupted.

Sometimes BootBlaster freezes during this process. If it sits for more than 15 seconds with no activity, then reboot the iPAQ by pushing the recessed reset button at the bottom right and repeat this step. It is perfectly safe to reset the iPAQ if it freezes while protecting flash.

After protecting flash, BootBlaster erases the boot sector and then it programs the new boot loader into the boot sector.

Installing Task-Bootstrap via Serial Port

Installing Familiar 0.8.4 with a serial line

You will need a serial sync cable or serial sync cradle. The dual USB/Serial cradle that comes with the H3800 and H3900 will also work. You will need to use a terminal program such as minicom, kermit, or Hyperterminal.

If you use minicom or kermit, you will need to use an external ymodem program such as sb, which is available in the Linux lrzsz package.

Hold down the joypad and push the reset button on the iPAQ. You will need to remove it from the cradle to access the reset button.

For non-H5xxx: When the bootloader splash screen appears, release the joypad.