How to upgrade from Build 156 to revision Build 450, Release 158??

[legal]

I have now replaced my dead S7 with a new netBook showing OS version 1.05(254)-English (UK)-ASCII(Build 156).

Can somebody from the community advise me how to upgrade this to the latest EPOC ER5 revision Build 450, Release 158 and where I can get the upgrade from?

Also, I purchased the netBook becos I saw it advertised as having 32M of memory but when I opened the desktop I was shocked to see in Menu>Memory that the machine shows "Memory Information" as follows: Total memory 19M.
Likewise, when I open on the desktop the Menu>Disk information I see a small window saying "Disk information" Disk C - Type RAM - Size 17M".

I reloaded the saved series 7 files and system from a backup CF and as to be expected the reloaded files take up quite a bit of memory,but this also varies depending what window is open. If it is the "Disk information" window then I get a message showing that 7815K is used with free memory of 9324K, but if it is the "Memory information" window then I get shown Used 10,120K with free memory 9,336K.

Can someone knowledgable please explain why this particular netBook does not apparently have 32M memory, and if it has then why it does not register on the machine?

Thanks and regrds to all

[donkeyontheedge]

You can get the OS upgrade from Psion Teklogix, I think you'll have to sign up for their partner program (free) and then follow the links to netbook downloads.

You need to put the downloaded OS.IMG onto the root of a (preferably blank) CF card, remove the backup and main batteries in your netbook for a few minutes, insert the card, put back the main and backup batteries and the OS should load.

As for the memory, the netbook is RAM based unlike the ROM based S7. The S7 had 16M ROM and 16M RAM. The netbook has 32M RAM only, so when you load the OS, some of it goes to store the OS, leaving you about 18M free. This is normal.

You can get a 32M upgrade for the netbook, giving about 50M free, which is still more than than the S7 could get (a 16Mb upgrade giving 32M free).

Hope this helps

John

[fladda]

This morning I tried installing a 32Mbyte Netbook DIMM into a normal 16Mbyte Series-7. To my surprise, it worked and the Series-7 became a 48Mbyte machine ! So the 32Mbyte DIMM can be used to upgrade a Series 7.

Reason for my test was that the Expansys web-site says that the 32Mbyte DIMM is suitable for either machine.

Didn't an ex-Psion employee say on this board that ER5 would not support a 48Mbyte RAM configuration ? Or am I getting confused with something else ?

Incidentally I've fitted the two 'missing' DRAMs on the motherboard on my other Series 7 - and that's now become a 64Mbyte machine:-)

Ralph

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by fladda
Didn't an ex-Psion employee say on this board that ER5 would not support a 48Mbyte RAM configuration ? I believe that certainly is the "official" line, but I've heard others say, like you, that they've tried it and it works.

Julie

[donkeyontheedge]

Hmmm... I wonder if the 16Mb DIMM I recently sold on ebay from my S7 would have worked in my upgraded 7book?

Be very annoying if it would have worked - and more importantly, why did I not even think of trying it?

:mad:

John

[legal]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by donkeyontheedge
You can get a 32M upgrade for the netbook, giving about 50M free, which is still more than than the S7 could get (a 16Mb upgrade giving 32M free).QUOTE]

Thanks John or your very helpful answer. I shall certainly check out the upgrade pf th OS thru Psion T/x.

However, can you please tell me where I can get the 32M upgrade and how to fix it intothe machine?

Thanks again!

Andrew

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by legal
However, can you please tell me where I can get the 32M upgrade and how to fix it intothe machine?Well, certainly from Expansys, as mentioned earlier by Ralph, and here is the specific link:

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=PSI_32MBRAM

May be worth shopping around though, check out eBay etc, you might pick one up more cheaply.

Fitting the memory module is fairly straightforward - it goes into the vacant left-hand bay located at the back of the keyboard. You need to tilt the screen forward to gain access, then slide back the plastic cover above the slot.

Post again if you need more help.

Julie

[fladda]

Originally posted by donkeyontheedge
Hmmm... I wonder if the 16Mb DIMM I recently sold on ebay from my S7 would have worked in my upgraded 7book?


This would NOT have worked - well not increased your RAM at any rate.

Series-7 16Mbyte DIMM uses the same raw PWB as the Netbook personality DIMM. Both boards contain 16Mbytes of DRAM (2*8Mbyte DRAM ICs). Both boards therefore have the same memory mapped to the same chip select lines in the Netbook. There is no difference AFAIK between the right hand and the lefy hand DIMM connectors on the Netbook motherboard. You can fit the personality DIMM in either slot.

If you fitted a Series-7 16Mbyte DIMM into a Netbook, the DRAM chips would be connected in parallel at the same addresses as the Netbook personality module's DRAM. Would not increase the RAM available to the ER5 operating system, as the Netbook motherboard has no way of using the extra RAM.

Netbook can address 8 * 8Mbyte DRAM chips. 2 DRAMs (or 4) on the motherboard. 2 DRAMs (or zero) on the personality module. 4 DRAMs on the 32Mbyte expansion DIMM.

Hope this makes some sense.

Ralph

[Lewis]

Hi, Andrew! Glad to see you back at Psion Place - I was a little worried we'd lost you there, after the sad demise of your S7... hope you have a happier (& much longer!) relationship with your nice, new netBook - I'm sure you'll find it an indispensible & valuable companion!

I think the apparent shortfall in available nB RAM has been explained, above; but it was a bit misleading, or at least ambiguous, of Psion to advertise the nB as a 32Mb machine alongside the 16Mb Series 7 since, with the normal OS and apps installed, you only get about 3Mb more user memory (in standard build)! However, apart from some enhanced OS upgrade features that the nB's design makes easily available (mainly networking & Opera web browser for free, in OS450), you will notice a considerable improvement in speed, especially in apps like Street Planner. :)

Since you're thinking of investing in a 32Mb memory upgrade, have a look at this thread:
http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19062

This contains instructions of how to perform the DIMM upgrade; I probably don't need to mention this to you, in particular, but it also has full details of sensible precautions to take when working 'inside' your machine. There are also some links to alternative (possibly cheaper) sources of DIMMs. I don't know if it's still current, but Sita had a special offer on them not so long ago (beginning of this month, at least), at $127 delivered! Some other sites include photographic guides to doing the upgrade.

Although Psion never seemed to publicise the fact that the 32Mb DIMM would work in a Series 7, their own installation leaflet makes this clear (in small print!). BTW, Ralph, have you explained anywhere how to upgrade an S7 to 64Mb (of genuine user memory) by adding the DRAMs to its motherboard, as you mention above? Are they readily available and do they work out much cheaper than the proprietary Psion DIMM upgrade path?

Welcome to Psion Place again, Andrew - I'm sure you'll find a lot of technical & community support here; I certainly have. :)

Regards, Lewis

P.S. If you haven't already, please support the netBook Pro petition!

[stolkjo]

Just got my dimm from sita! Probably the best place
to go with their prices. Very fast service.

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by Lewis
Although Psion never seemed to publicise the fact that the 32Mb DIMM would work in a Series 7, their own installation leaflet makes this clear (in small print!). Well, goodness gracious me, Lewis ;) - so it does! I never noticed that - must have been too anxious to check it was working once I'd got the module installed, and it is VERY small print, you're right!

:)

Julie

[Lewis]

Anyone, interested can find Psion's DIMM installation leaflet transcribed (in large print! ;) ) here:

http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19062&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

...definitely the best think you can do for your netBook, eh, Julie! :)

L

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by Lewis
...definitely the best think you can do for your netBook, eh, Julie! :)
Oh yes! Every netBook on the planet deserves this kindness, in my opinion. ;)

Julie

[legal]

Just to say a BIG thank you to all of you who took the time and trouble to write back with their advice.

If the world community would only share some of the spirit that you have then, in the words of the old saying, the world would be a lot better place!!

BTW, I must say that I also thought of taking out the old memory chip from my dead S7 and after doing a reformat to wipe it clean, to use it as extra memory in the left-hand vacant bay, but I see that John has already thought of this and Ralphs reply scotches that idea!!

So lets give Sita a try!

Any other ideas how to use the memory chip from my S7?

Regards to you all.

Andrew

[Lewis]

Unless you did a memory DIMM upgrade on your S7 (which I don't think you did), I'm guessing you might just be referring to your S7's 'personality module' - if the other (probably LHS) slot is empty, this must be the case. One of the chips will probably have a sticker on it saying something like '...version 754'.

A spare S7 personality module does contain onboard RAM, but can't be used to upgrade another Seven's RAM - you'd need a Series 7 16Mb upgrade DIMM (or a 32Mb netBook/S7 DIMM) to do that.

Best/only use for a Series 7 personality module is as a spare unit, unless you can still get them px'd for a nB module with David Lowe, or elsewhere.

BTW, what is the current situation with S7 personality modules being 'transformed' into netBook ones? I can't remember where the collective wisdom on this 'grey upgrade' got to; whether it was ever deduced for certain that that was how the part exchanges were being sustained... That would be true alchemy!

L

[gdavid]

Sita.com is definitley worth a try, within 4 days of order the envelope was waitng for me in Australia (just because we're about 8 hours ahead of GMT wasn't enough to explain the service! ;-)
Regards from Down Under...
David

[fladda]

Originally posted by Lewis
A spare S7 personality module does contain onboard RAM, but can't be used to upgrade another Seven's RAM - you'd need a Series 7 16Mb upgrade DIMM (or a 32Mb netBook/S7 DIMM) to do that.
L

Series 7 personality module DOES NOT contain any DRAM.

There are two SHARP flash ROMs and another boot (mask?) ROM fitted on the Series 7 personality module. All the DRAM on a standard Series 7 is soldered onto the motherboard.

Operating system on the Series 7 runs from ROM, which is why the Series 7 is slower than the Netbook.

It is the series 7 16Mbyte memory upgrade module that is very similar to the Netbook personality module. Both share the same raw PWB and both are fitted with 2 * 8Mbyte DRAM chips. Netbook's boot ROM is not fitted to the Series 7 16Mbyte memory module.

Ralph

[Lewis]

Ah, thanks for correcting & clarifying that, Ralph! A half-baked posting is always the surest way to learn!

While I think the substance of my advice in my first three para's remains unchanged/correct, I confess I was scratching my head/stretching my memory about personality module architecture & the murky world of px'ing Series 7 modules for nB ones, that had the 'Street' so excited a while ago; hence my closing question (probably aimed at you! ;) )

Also, any feedback on my earlier query about your 64Mb Series7 upgrade? :cool:

Cheers, L

[fladda]

Originally posted by Lewis

Also, any feedback on my earlier query about your 64Mb Series7 upgrade? :cool:

Cheers, L

As reported elsewhere (probably in the Series 7 forum;-), my 64Mbyte Series 7 appears to work OK. That said, its not much use without Wireless LAN and a faster StrongARM;-)

To get a 64Mbyte Series 7 you need to add two extra DRAMs to the unpopulated TSOP 'slots' on the motherboard (one either side). Requires good surface mount soldering skills.

Then just add a standard Netbook (or Series 7!) 32 Mbyte DRAM expansion DIMM.

Ralph