General precautions

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The point of this article is to give guidelines how to avoid tablet "reflashing"(see definition below). Yes, Maemo has command line access and everybody can gain superuser priviledges very easily. It means that there's almost no limits for damage that can be done. The base system can of course be installed again, aka "reflashed". If you are interested and want to know more, please read article [[Updating the tablet firmware]]
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The point of this article is to give guidelines how to avoid tablet "reflashing" (see definition below). Yes, Maemo has command line access and everybody can gain superuser priviledges easily. With great power comes great responsibility. The base system can of course be installed again, aka "reflashed". If you are interested in reflashing and want to know more, please read the article on [[updating the firmware]]
== How to stay safe ==
== How to stay safe ==
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Staying in the safe side is really very easy. Install software with software installer and don't open command line application(xterm). The later can be of course forgotten if you know how to use command line.
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Staying on the safe side is rather easy. Install only signed software with the Application Manager, and do not open the command line application (xterm).  
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== What to avoid ==
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X Term should only be opened if you know what you are/intend to do.
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*Gaining root address
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'''DO NOT EXPERIMENT IN XTERM! READ UP ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING IF YOU HAVE THE SLIGHTEST DOUBTS IN YOUR ABILITIES.'''
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*Entering red pill mode
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You can find more info about xterm in the [[Terminal]] article.
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== Take backups ==
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'''Always keep valuable data in at least two places! This cannot be emphasized enough!'''
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== The Don'ts -- what to avoid ==
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Xterm:
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*Gaining [[root access]]
*Copy-pasting commands from internet to command line
*Copy-pasting commands from internet to command line
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*Enabling extras-devel -repository in installer. (see [[Extras#Extras-devel]])
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*Installing untrusted .debs
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Application manager:
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*Enabling the [[extras-testing]] repository.
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*Enabling the [[extras-devel]] repository.
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*Installing non-optified applications. (This issue is temporary but still valid)
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== If something has already occurred ==
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You should start with article [[Troubleshooting]] and see how the situation can be saved.
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== I want to do something anyway ==
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Then you should see [[Installing unstable applications]] -article.
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== I think I messed things badly ==
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[[Updating the firmware]] is a good option. Pretty quick and clears all possible things that can be messed.
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[[Category:Basics]]
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[[Category:Beginners]]

Latest revision as of 12:13, 19 April 2010

The point of this article is to give guidelines how to avoid tablet "reflashing" (see definition below). Yes, Maemo has command line access and everybody can gain superuser priviledges easily. With great power comes great responsibility. The base system can of course be installed again, aka "reflashed". If you are interested in reflashing and want to know more, please read the article on updating the firmware


Contents

[edit] How to stay safe

Staying on the safe side is rather easy. Install only signed software with the Application Manager, and do not open the command line application (xterm).

X Term should only be opened if you know what you are/intend to do.

DO NOT EXPERIMENT IN XTERM! READ UP ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING IF YOU HAVE THE SLIGHTEST DOUBTS IN YOUR ABILITIES.

You can find more info about xterm in the Terminal article.

[edit] Take backups

Always keep valuable data in at least two places! This cannot be emphasized enough!

[edit] The Don'ts -- what to avoid

Xterm:

  • Gaining root access
  • Copy-pasting commands from internet to command line
  • Installing untrusted .debs

Application manager:

  • Enabling the extras-testing repository.
  • Enabling the extras-devel repository.
  • Installing non-optified applications. (This issue is temporary but still valid)

[edit] If something has already occurred

You should start with article Troubleshooting and see how the situation can be saved.

[edit] I want to do something anyway

Then you should see Installing unstable applications -article.

[edit] I think I messed things badly

Updating the firmware is a good option. Pretty quick and clears all possible things that can be messed.

Retrieved from "http://wiki.maemo.org/General_precautions"