C7x0/Install

From OpenZaurus

This describes how to install OpenZaurus on the c7x0 - this includes the sl-c700, sl-c750, sl-c760, sl-c860, sl-c7500.

1 Introduction
2 Download the files
3 Preparations for flashing
4 Flash
5 Troubleshooting

Introduction

Three files are required to flash a c7x0. These are a root filesystem image (initrd.bin), a kernel (zImage.bin) and the updater script (updater.sh).NeC

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Download the files

Note that the filenames are case sensitive. Note the capital I in zImage.bin.

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Root filesystem image (initrd.bin)

The initrd.bin contains the root filesystem (including default programs) for OpenZaurus.

There are a number of available initrds:

opie-image contains an Opie based system. This is a QT/Embedded based graphical system (which is most like the original Sharp ROM) (see http://opie.handhelds.org/)
gpe-image contains the a GPE Palmtop Environment based system (see http://gpe.handhelds.org/)
bootstrap-image contains no graphical system
e-image(-core) contains the Enlightenment GUI

If you don’t know which you want then you probably want the opie-image

Download your choice of initrd image (which will be named *-image-*-c7x0.initrd.bin or *-*-c7x0.rootfs.jffs2) and rename it to “initrd.bin”.

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Kernel (zImage.bin)

The zImage.bin file contains the Linux kernel used in OpenZaurus.

Download the kernel (named zImage.bin) and rename to zImage.bin if necessary.

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Updater script (updater.sh)

Download the updater script (named updater.sh.*) and rename to updater.sh if necessary.

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Preparations for flashing

Backup your data.

Note that the flashing process does not erase your /home directory, therefore settings from other systems may remain there and possibly cause problems. If you are flashing an opie-image, make sure you remove the /home/root/Settings/ directory before you flash to ensure that this does not happen.

Check the md5sums of the initrd.bin, zImage.bin and updater.sh files and compare them with the list (or filenames + .md5) in the download directory to ensure that they have not been corrupted during the download.

Put the files in the root directory of your CF card /mnt/cf (The flasher program asks you if you want to use CF or SD, so it is possible to use an SD instead of a CF card).

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Flash

The steps to flash the c7x0 are:

Ensure that your c7x0 machine has a standard flash partitioning (e.g. as it was originally), flashing may fail if this is not the case.
Unplug AC power jack.
Turn the zaurus over and flip the battery case switch to "Unlocked". Remove the battery cover and remove the battery.
Wait, 1 second seems to be sufficient.
Replace the battery and the battery cover and switch to "Locked".
Insert the CF card with the image in the root, as described above.
Plug in the AC power jack. The yellow charge lamp must be on indicating external power, or you will get an error message in japanese later.
Press the "OK" key in front of the space bar and keep it pressed while pressing the "On/Off" button on the back side.
The Maintenance Screen will display. Choose "Update" this is item 4.
The next screen will ask the source, choose "CF" this is item 2.
The next screen asks for confirmation, choose "Yes" this is the left button

The Zaurus will now erase the root filesystem and write the new image.

The Zaurus will now reboot with your new OpenZaurus system

Nb. When booting for the first time, you will see the message: "Rebooting"… - remove all CF and SD cards if you have flashed an opie-image otherwise you get stuck in the new-medium-found dialog (as the touch screen will not yet have been calibrated and this dialog requires a touchscreen input).

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