Dead Netbook!!

[rossmakd]

Hello there,

Well not quite a dead netbook, but lack of Epoc! "Insert bootable cf card ect..." From what i read in your forums other people seem to have this problem from time to time. I don't have CF card reader at my disposal, so i figured out i need the RomInst app from the netBook CD, which is now gone/lost on me. Can anyone help me? can i download this app? is it small enough to be E-mailed? or is there another soution?,

thanks for your time guys and girls.

[harveyr]

You can download a copy of the latest OS release from the netBook downloads section on the Psion Teklogix partners website. Visit www.psionteklogix.com and then click onto the partners section....you will need to register before accessing this area.

Harvey

[rossmakd]

thanks for the info harveyr , but now that i got the os.img, how do i get it on the cf disk!

[harveyr]

It can be done via PsiWin...from memory, full instructions should be in the release notes about how to copy it across to your machine...
If not, let me know and I can send them to you.

H

[rossmakd]

mmm, i can seem to see how exactly to get the os.img accross to the CF card in the psion using PsiWin. Could you send me some instructions?

[netBookBabe]

Ross

If I'm understanding you right, and you don't have an OS on your netBook at all at the moment, then it looks like a CF reader/writer is about your only option.

Did you not receive a CF with the OS when you bought the machine? It's not a Malaysian one is it?

Julie

[rossmakd]

no, not a malaysian one! it had an OS on it when i got i, but the battery went dead one day, and when i charged it up and turned it on the OS was gone, and CF card seems to empty. and seeing as i lost the Netbook CD i can't load it to the card from my pc accross the serial cable. i downloaded the OS.img file from Psion, and i think all i need is the 'RomInst' application. Is that on the CD?

[Benard]

If you have a desktop computer with a USB connection, the best is to buy a CF card reader (Sandisk for example). You have to load an application on your computer then you connect the Sandisk to it, you put the CF card in the Sandisk, the image of the CF card appears on your screen and you have just to copy the OS on it.

Go to <http://www.isbg00598.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/faqNetbook.htm> you will find a very good explanation on "How do I update the EPOC operating system in my netBook".

Best wishes

[harveyr]

Ross

The machine powering down should not have wiped the CF card, however...do you have PsiWin installed on your PC? If so, then connect your netBook via the serial cable and using PsiWin, copy across the OS.img file to the CF drive on your netBook...then follow the instructions in the release notes:

Installation

* Prior to installation, you should back up all data from your netBook.
(This installation procedure will erase all data that is not
on CompactFlash)

* It will not be possible to restore your internet and modem connection
details. Make a note of these.

* You will need a CompactFlash card with sufficent (approx 14MB) free space, and with no OS.IMG file in the default folder.

* It is recommended to install the OS with a fully charged main battery.

* Download the zipped OS from Teklogix website (you may have already done this.)

* Save the file to your local hard drive. (Psion recommends the My Documents folder)

* Open the zip file (your browser may provide this option, otherwise open directly from your My Documents folder.) If this does not work, you may not have a zip application installed. WinZip (a shareware program not affiliated with or endorsed by Psion) is available for the PC from www.winzip.com

* Extract the OS Image file to the CompactFlash card. This may be performed with PsiWin and a Psion netBook or with a separate CompactFlash cardreader.

* Rename the OS Image on the CompactFlash card to OS.IMG (The file as supplied is named according to language and version number.) This may be performed using PsiWin or directly on the netBook.

* The next stages will remove all saved and unsaved data from your netBook. It is essential to back up any data that you wish to preserve. (Note: data on CompactFlash cards is not affected.)

* Switch off the netBook.

* Remove the main battery, backup battery, and power supply from the netBook.

* After waiting 15 seconds, replace the main and backup batteries (and optionally the power supply.)

* Switch on the netBook, and when prompted insert the CompactFlash card with the new OS image. The netBook will copy the image into internal memory, and when this is complete the new OS is installed and the CompactFlash card may be removed.

If you don't have a copy of PsiWin - you mention you don't have a CD then it can also be downloaded from www.psion.com

Harvey

[netBookBabe]

Harvey

I think I must be missing something here - if Ross has no OS currently on the netBook, then how can PsiWin be used to transfer the OS.IMG file?

Julie

[fladda]

Netbook boot loader is also able to load the operating system image via the serial port from a PC. IIRC this uses YMODEM or a similar protocol.

I've read about this but never tried it. Details might be on the Psion Teklogix web-site (try the FAQ if you can find it). I'm sure details of this 'cold boot' exist on the web - and also probably on this forum, or its former incarnation.

Will take a while to download via the serial port though.

Ralph

[rossmakd]

you guys were right. i could not use psiwin cuz the netbook had not software on it. so i looked up 'cold boot' on the web and came across this article,

http://www.netwinder.org/~craign/netbook/booting.html

and from that info, (and a lot of other on the fly learning!) realized Windows' own Hyperterminal would be the same thing. it can do a thing called a YMODEM transfere, like fladda said. So all is well. netbook fixed. thanks all for your your ideas and help,

Ross.

[netBookBabe]

Ross

Very pleased to hear the netBook is up and running again and well done for persevering and solving the problem.

Keep that OS.IMG file safely on a CF disk now! :)

Julie

[rossmakd]

i think i might just do that!