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This article covers the steps you need to follow to boot from a flash card with an [[Nokia N800|N800]] on [[Nokia N810|N810]]. The process is somewhat involved, so some familiarity with the command line is recommended.
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{{Midgard article}}
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Advanced users may wish to read [[advanced booting]] as well, for more advanced booting-related configuration and setup information.
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= Why would we want to boot from MMC? =
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* Because we'll have enough space to INSTALL as MANY applications as may fit in our (GB-size) MMC card.
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* Because we'll have an INTACT COPY of the original system. So that if something goes wrong, we'll be able to BACKUP the system without reflashing the device.
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* Because we'll still be able to mount our MMC on a Windows-based PC via USB.  
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* Because the whole system won't be based on a compressed and journalized filesystem (jffs2) so the result may be faster due to lower CPU usage (no (de)compression with each read/write operation) and faster SD/MMC speed (depends on card and may require custom kernel - 770, N800)
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= Known working devices =
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== Why would we want to boot from a flash card? ==
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This procedure has been tested on the following configurations:
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{|
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| '''Hardware''' || '''Software'''
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|-
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| Nokia N770 ITOS 2006 || 3.2006.49-2
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|-
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| Nokia N800 ITOS 2007 || 2.2006.51-6 1
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|-
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| Nokia N800 ITOS 2007 || 4.2007.26-8
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|}
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* For more space to install applications.
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The first time I tried this on my N800 it led to continuous reboots 30-90 seconds after booting. Trying it a second time on a clean install (directly after flashing and erasing everything already on the device) worked fine.
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* An easy-to-use bootable backup.
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* To improve performance (note, this is dependent on the quality of your flash card).
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== Gain root access ==
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This procedure should work with any device listed at http://fanoush.wz.cz/maemo/#initfs
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First of all you need to be able to gain [[root access]].
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It is supposed that without any previous knowledge you should be able to accomplish the whole procedure. Ask for help in case something goes wrong. I'll be happy to help you at the following e-mail address: sebastian.maemo{AT}gmail.com
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== Partition your card ==
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== Getting root access ==
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Follow the instructions to [[partitioning a flash card|partition your card]].
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First of all you need to be able to get [[root access]].
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== Install the necessary tools ==
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== Partitioning your MMC ==
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First, we need to install wget, so open [[terminal|Xterm]] and, '''as root''', run:
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Follow the instructions to [[partitioning an MMC card|partition your MMC card]]
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Once you've partitioned your MMC, come back to this page and go on with the process...
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== Install bootmenu ==
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Connect your device to the charger, as running out of battery power during the flashing process could damage the device.
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First, we need to install wget, so open Xterm and, '''as root''', run:
  apt-get install wget
  apt-get install wget
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Then run:
Then run:
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  mkdir -p /home/user/bin
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  mkdir /home/user/local/bin
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  cd /home/user/bin
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  cd /home/user/local/bin
  wget <nowiki>http://www.nmacleod.com/nokia/bin/nupgrade.sh</nowiki>
  wget <nowiki>http://www.nmacleod.com/nokia/bin/nupgrade.sh</nowiki>
  wget <nowiki>http://www.nmacleod.com/nokia/bin/tar</nowiki>
  wget <nowiki>http://www.nmacleod.com/nokia/bin/tar</nowiki>
  chmod +x nupgrade.sh tar
  chmod +x nupgrade.sh tar
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Then, to install the proper filesystem tools, temporarily add [[Extras-devel]] and run:
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Now we need to download and install fanoush's [http://fanoush.wz.cz/maemo/ initfs flasher], so, '''as root''', run:
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apt-get install e2fsprogs
 
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'''NOTE: Do not upgrade existing packages with Extras-devel enabled as this may break things in new and interesting ways.'''
 
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Remove Extras-devel when finished.
 
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== Install bootmenu ==
 
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Now we need to download and install fanoush's [http://fanoush.wz.cz/maemo/#initfs initfs flasher], so, '''as root''', run:<br />
 
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<small>''Note, although putting initfs_flasher in the directory given is not required, it ''cannot'' be placed on a FAT partition (i.e., one of the cards).''</small>
 
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cd /home/user/bin
 
  wget <nowiki>http://fanoush.wz.cz/maemo/initfs_flasher.tgz</nowiki>
  wget <nowiki>http://fanoush.wz.cz/maemo/initfs_flasher.tgz</nowiki>
  tar zxvf initfs_flasher.tgz
  tar zxvf initfs_flasher.tgz
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  cd /home/user/bin/initfs_flasher/
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  cd initfs_flasher/
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=== Configuration ===
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This is an optional step, but if you want to customize the bootmenu to properly reflect your partitioning setup, change the partition labels, and a number of other options, then you'll need to rename the appropriate <code>bootmenu.conf.''device''.example</code> file to <code>bootmenu.conf</code> and edit it to your liking. The README included with flasher and the comments in the configuration file should be enough to tell you what everything is.
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The [[flasher]] will ask you if you want to include your <code>bootmenu.conf</code> file if you renamed it properly.
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=== Flash the initfs ===
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cd /home/user/bin/initfs_flasher/
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  ./initfs_flash
  ./initfs_flash
Follow the onscreen instructions. You can answer yes to all of these questions if you don't understand what they mean.
Follow the onscreen instructions. You can answer yes to all of these questions if you don't understand what they mean.
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=== Set the default boot device ===
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Now we need to load the kernel modules for ext2, so, '''as root''', run:
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Once the initfs is flashed, you may wish to change to default boot device so the tablet will boot into your preferred partition without intervention. To do this, '''as root''', run:
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chroot /mnt/initfs cal-tool --set-root-device ask:mmc2
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To set the default to partition 2 on the internal card. If you would like to set the default to something else, the device is <code>mmc''#''</code> (where # is the partition number) for the internal card, and <code>mmc1''#''</code> for the external card. To set it back the default behavior of booting from the built-in flash, use <code>flash</code>.
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On the [[Nokia N810|N810]] with latest [[Open development/Maemo roadmap/Diablo|Diablo]] version (5.2008.43-7), the device name is slightly different: <code>immc''#''</code> for the internal card and <code>mmc''#''</code> for the external one. For details see inside bootmenu.conf (or bootmenu.sh). The name is customizable and corresponds to the MENU_x_ID="name" line of the item x you want to select.
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== Clone to the card ==
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<small>''Many thanks to milhouse for writing and maintaining this script.''</small>
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Now it's time to clone your install over to partition 2 of the internal card. The script works in stages to allow better control and error detection, and should take about 10 minutes to complete:
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* 0 - Create ext2 filesystem on partition 2 of the Internal memory card
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* 1 - Mount partition 2 as /opt
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* 2 - Mount rootfs as /floppy
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* 3 - Perform cloning process
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* 4 - Commit filesystem updates and unmount /floppy and /opt
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So, '''as root''', run:
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cd /home/user/bin
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./nupgrade.sh 0
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If the following error occurs: "''Unable to locate mbcache.ko - aborting''"
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follow the instructions per this link:  [http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=174911&postcount=336]
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./nupgrade.sh 1
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If the following error occurs:
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<br>"Installing ext2.ko module and mounting Internal Flash card, second partition...
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insmod: can't open '/mnt/initfs/lib/modules/current/ext2.ko': No such file or directory
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mount: mounting /dev/mmcblk0p2 on /opt failed''"<br>
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do the following (similar to the above remedy during error of "./nupgrade.sh 0") <br>cp /mnt/initfs/lib/modules/$(uname -r)/ext2.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/ <br>and repeat "./nupgrade.sh 1"
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  ./nupgrade.sh 2
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  insmod /mnt/initfs/lib/modules/(uname -r)/mbcache.ko
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./nupgrade.sh 3
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  insmod /mnt/initfs/lib/modules/(uname -r)/ext2.ko
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  ./nupgrade.sh 4
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reboot
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Your device will reboot when done, and you can select the partition you want to boot from from the bootmenu.
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== Removing the menu ==
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== Remove the menu ==
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If you decide you do not wish to see the menu on each boot or you do not wish to boot from mmc anymore and go back to using internal flash only, type this (as root):
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If you decide you do not wish to see the bootmenu any longer, you can uninstall it by either [[updating the firmware|reflashing the whole OS image]], or just flashing the initfs (in Linux and OS X) by running:
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# chroot /mnt/initfs cal-tool --set-root-device flash
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sudo ./flasher-3.0 -F <FIASCO image> --flash-only=initfs -R
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To remove the (harmless) 'Press menu key ..." message early on boot you need to restore your initfs backup (if you decided to create one)
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== Advanced booting ==
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# cd /home/user/MyDocs/.documents/initfs_flasher/
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# ./initfs_flash initfs.orig.jffs2
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For more advanced configuration and setup information for booting-related stuff, please see [[advanced booting]].
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or you can reflash whole firmware (Windows) or restore just initfs part (Linux). Both initfs restoration steps are a bit risky and can cause data loss if something goes wrong so it may be good idea to simply live with the message until you decide to upgrade to next firmware or want to reflash whole device anyway. It does not slow down device booting or do any other harm.
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[[Category:Power users]]
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[[Category:Users]]
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[[Category:N8x0]]
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[[Category:Midgard wiki]]
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[[Category:Wiki page of the day]]

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