The easiest and safest way is to grab a spare SD card. Make 2 partitions. First partition 16mb formatted to fat/vfat, 2nd partition is the rest of the free space (or anything over 300mb) formatted as ext2 (ext3 is too harsh for use on an SD card). Extract (as root user) the contents of the rootfs.tar.bz2 to the ext2 partition, then copy the kernel from /boot to the 1st fat/vfat partition. To boot the SD card: hold FN+Left Shift keys, power on and quickly hold F2 while still holding FN+Shift. Continue holding until you see the INIT process start, now release the keys. You should now be running the 2.6 kernel and the SD card rootfs.
Since you are still using the old skytone OS i personally would recommend installing my 3MX-Ultra3 distro to replace that outdated and boring default distro. It gives the mipsbook a look and feel of an actual netbook with loads of extra software and updates and its a bit lighter and faster than debian etch. See screenshot here: http://www.hostwork.com/users/matt/alpha400/ Just copy the Recovery.img to a FAT formatted SD card. Place it into the mipsbook, power on holding F3 until the recovery console appears. Hit enter 3 times and it will install the same way the stock distro would "recover" itself, so its quite safe to do. You can also still run the letux-400 debian etch chroot environment inside 3MX by slightly modifying the chroot script as 3MX is binary and library comaptible with debian etch. Seen here in the taskbar: http://www.hostwork.com/users/matt/alpha400/images/3MX-rc1.3-desktop.png Cheers. On 3/20/11, Riccardo Mottola <mul...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi, > > a dumb question, I have the Letux 400 as it comes from Nikolaus, how do i > install this? I have no fear to wipe the existing skytone stuff and the > existing debian installation since my personal data is on a SD card. But I > want to be sure all kernel pdating and bootloader updating is done > correctly. i don' t want o brick my Letux! > > > Thanks > Riccardi > > On Sun, Mar 20, 2011 at 10:44 PM, Matt Oudenhoven <matt.oudenho...@gmail.com >> wrote: > >> Ready for testing. >> http://filefactory.com/file/ca3ccc9/n/anOS-2.6kernel-rootfs.v2.tar.bz2 >> The download is about 77mb and extracts to about 260mb. >> >> I've included gcc w/obj-c support, dev headers etc. I didn't do a >> whole lot of testing with the dev tools but it did build bitlbee fine >> (which is included in the rootfs now). >> >> I rebuilt SDL, madplay, mpg123, mplayer etc without alsa support and >> they all work well. Same info as last post. Log in as root no passwd, >> typing helpme opens a dialog box with other info about the rootfs. >> There is a sample video you can test with mplayer in /root/video. Use >> cplay for a nice audio player. By default /etc/wpa.conf is set to >> connect to open wifi. >> >> Cheers. >> >> On 3/17/11, Matt Oudenhoven <matt.oudenho...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > Well not sure what happened this time around but my compiler ended up >> > building executables that wouldnt run. Will scrap my set up and start >> > over. However i do have my initial build with the rebuilt mplayer, >> > madplay, and mpg123. They work fine with the 2.6.24.3 kernel, but you >> > get some error messages from alsa that spams the console. If anyone >> > wants to play around with it grab it here: >> > >> > >> http://www.hostwork.com/users/matt/alpha400/packages/anOS-2.6kernel-rootfs.v1.tar.bz2 >> > >> > The kernel is in /boot if you havent already grabbed it from Rubens >> > link. >> > >> > Log in as root, no password. Type: helpme for a dialog box with >> > keybindings and other info. I hope to have a rebuilt version without >> > alsa and extra software up within the next few weeks. >> > >> > Cheers >> > >> > >> > >> > On 3/16/11, Matt Oudenhoven <matt.oudenho...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Wonderful, thank you. Backlight works perfectly now. Almost done >> >> building the new rootfs. It will be quite a bit larger due to all the >> >> dev tools and headers, but should still be under 300mb. >> >> >> >> Cheers. >> >> >> >> On 3/16/11, Ruben Viets <r_vi...@hotmail.com> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> Nice, >> >>> >> >>> Quick & dirty fix of the backlight. >> >>> >> >>> >> https://projects.kwaak.net/twiki/pub/Epc700/KernelPort26Compiling/uImage_2.6.24.3RV101 >> >>> >> >>> You can change it in the terminal# echo "n" > /proc/jz/backlight, >> >>> where >> >>> n >> >>> is >> >>> number between 0(off) - 10(max on) >> >>> >> >>> When switching between /dev/tty1 > /dev/tty7 default setting will be >> set >> >>> back to 5 (middle) >> >>> >> >>> Grt Ruben. >> >>> >> >>>> Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:15:11 -0500 >> >>>> Subject: Re: [Mipsbook-devel] New rootfs >> >>>> From: matt.oudenho...@gmail.com >> >>>> To: r_vi...@hotmail.com >> >>>> >> >>>> Well i decided to skip trying with lenny and jumped right to anOS. >> >>>> Low >> >>>> and behold i got a few noises. So for kicks i rebuilt madplay without >> >>>> alsa and with esd and bam! Beautiful music! So now i will rebuild the >> >>>> entire rootfs and remove alsa and alsa-lib from all audio/video >> >>>> software at compile time. This should leave me with a clean alsa free >> >>>> rootfs with sweet sweet sound. Once i have everything rebuilt i will >> >>>> post a link to a rootfs you all can boot from SD to play with. From >> >>>> there i plan to keep building and building. >> >>>> >> >>>> Thanks soooo much for this kernel. Any chance you could fix the >> >>>> backlight control though? It doesnt seem to work. Other than that it >> >>>> works great and the framebuffer doesn't shift to the right slowly >> >>>> over >> >>>> time like the xxxxxx-dirty kernel did. >> >>>> >> >>>> Cheers. >> >>>> >> >>>> On 3/15/11, Ruben Viets <r_vi...@hotmail.com> wrote: >> >>>> > >> >>>> > Hi Matt, >> >>>> > >> >>>> > You're welcome. >> >>>> > >> >>>> > 0) Make sure you have an original backup of you're mtdblock / nand >> >>>> > partitions (especially /dev/mtdblock3). The kernel can damage >> >>>> > you're >> >>>> > jffs2 >> >>>> > recovery partition. >> >>>> > >> >>>> > 1) Kernel uImage_RV10 includes all kernel drivers (also zd1211b), >> >>>> > don't >> >>>> > need >> >>>> > to insmod modules. >> >>>> > For lenny you need to add udev and zd1211 firmware drivers. These >> are >> >>>> > included in my old lenny tar. /lib/firmware/zd1211 /lib/udev >> >>>> > Or if you have the cable ethernet ifup eth0 working in lenny, use >> >>>> > apt-get to >> >>>> > get them. >> >>>> > >> http://www.mail-archive.com/mipsbook-devel@linuxtogo.org/msg00257.html >> >>>> > >> >>>> > 2) The kernel can boot from SD card, by keep F2 pressed during boot >> >>>> > uImage >> >>>> > = /dev/mmcblk0p1 179 1 type vfat roofs= /dev/mmcblk0p2 179 2 type >> >>>> > ext3 >> >>>> > Standard it will boot from nand /dev/mtdblock4 type yaffs >> >>>> > The kernel will also work with older debian etch / 3MX/ or other >> >>>> > 2.4.20 >> >>>> > if >> >>>> > the /dev/ is slightly modified. >> >>>> > >> >>>> > 3) Better not press F3 during boot of this kernel, this will damage >> >>>> > you're >> >>>> > /dev/mtdblock3 (as it tries to automount to yaffs2..., which >> >>>> > corrupt >> >>>> > the >> >>>> > jffs2) recovery partition. >> >>>> > Also not copy it to /dev/mtdblock1 when you want to use the older >> >>>> > kernel >> >>>> > 2.4 >> >>>> > recovery partition (F3). >> >>>> > >> >>>> > 4) My old lenny tar. (In the rootfs you need to add mknod >> >>>> > /dev/mmcblk0p1 >> >>>> > brw >> >>>> > 179 1 and /dev/mmcblk0p2 brw 179 2 for SD card access) >> >>>> > http://www.divshare.com/download/12366817-b49 >> >>>> > Yes lenny apps are ancient, nice and retro enough ;-) >> >>>> > You could also consider get make & gcc compiling working on lenny. >> >>>> > Compile apps on minibook + lenny (on SD card 8GB), relax and take >> >>>> > some >> >>>> > time >> >>>> > as compiling is slow on the minibook ;-) >> >>>> > Afterwards use a limited lenny extraction removing the possible >> >>>> > overhead >> >>>> > and >> >>>> > use the compiled binary apps. >> >>>> > >> >>>> > 6) I have tried sid upgrade, works too. But udev needs indeed >> upgrade >> >>>> > of >> >>>> > kernel to > 2.6.24.3. >> >>>> > My kernel 2.6.31.3_RV11 have to many issues, to try and reverse >> >>>> > engineering >> >>>> > (issues to resolve from 2.6.24.3) . >> >>>> > If this becomes stable, this would make sid upgrade possible. (Any >> >>>> > volunteer >> >>>> > to do the fixes ?) >> >>>> > >> >>>> > Grt Ruben. >> >>>> > PS. (Kernel 2.6.31.3 maybe opens the door to mips-android?, ingenic >> >>>> > has >> >>>> > compiled some jz_demo for jz4750, not sure mips-android would run >> >>>> > on >> >>>> > jz4730) >> >>>> > >> >>>> >> Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:06:32 -0500 >> >>>> >> Subject: Re: [Mipsbook-devel] New rootfs >> >>>> >> From: matt.oudenho...@gmail.com >> >>>> >> To: r_vi...@hotmail.com >> >>>> >> CC: mipsbook-devel@linuxtogo.org >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> Awesome thanks. Will that uImage work with my existing >> >>>> >> 2.6.24.3-xxxxxxxx-dirty kernel modules? Or did you build the zydas >> >>>> >> wifi driver into the kernel? If not can you email me or upload the >> >>>> >> modules for the kernel you linked? I'll fire up my lenny SD card >> and >> >>>> >> see if i can get sound working with the older esd. I know nothing >> >>>> >> about kernel hacking, so it might be easier for me to rebuild anOS >> >>>> >> to >> >>>> >> use esd instead of alsa/oss, and rebuild all the audio/video >> >>>> >> software >> >>>> >> to use esd also, and remove alsa all together if thats what i need >> >>>> >> to >> >>>> >> do to have sound with the current 2.6 kernel. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> Otherwise the 2.4 kernel works well. I do miss not having udev to >> >>>> >> automount devices, but doing it manually isn't that cumbersome. >> >>>> >> The >> >>>> >> lack of WPA in 2.4 kernel (cant use skytones proprietary wifiup, >> >>>> >> wireless-lan etc as it wont work with uclib) isnt a problem for >> >>>> >> me, >> >>>> >> but it might be for other people. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> My problem with lenny is that its old. The software is ancient. >> Heck >> >>>> >> my 3MX-Ultra3 rootfs >> >>>> >> (http://www.hostwork.com/users/matt/alpha400/) >> >>>> >> i built last year has "some" newer software in it. I also >> >>>> >> dist-upgraded from Lenny to Sid and it worked for the most part >> >>>> >> (after >> >>>> >> reverting back to older udev because sids udev needed a newer 2.6 >> >>>> >> kernel) but it had some oddities after the upgrade. Thats why i'm >> >>>> >> going the "build my own rootfs" route again currently. Everything >> in >> >>>> >> anOS is current, optimized, and unbloated. The problem is cross >> >>>> >> compiling vs apt-get, but thats part of the fun. :) >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> Cheers. >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> On 3/14/11, Ruben Viets <r_vi...@hotmail.com> wrote: >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> >> > Hi Matt, >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> >> > My latest uImage from about 1 year ago includes working sound in >> >>>> >> > kernel >> >>>> >> > 2.6.24.3 (with older etch drivers for esound on trendtac epc700 >> >>>> >> > it's >> >>>> >> > working). >> >>>> >> > >> http://projects.kwaak.net/twiki/pub/Epc700/KernelPort26Compiling/uImage_RV10 >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> >> > You may try it out (at own risk), it's not build with softfloat. >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> >> > Sound issues: >> >>>> >> > W.r.t. kernel 2.4, it is possible the esound server / sdl driver >> >>>> >> > are >> >>>> >> > not >> >>>> >> > working because: >> >>>> >> > 0) There is some dma issue when using sd card which makes the >> >>>> >> > kernel >> >>>> >> > stuck >> >>>> >> > when playing sound. I have changed the order of dma between >> >>>> >> > sound >> >>>> >> > & >> >>>> >> > mmc >> >>>> >> > which seems to help. >> >>>> >> > 1) May need to 'fix' the esound issue by using the original >> esound >> >>>> >> > binary >> >>>> >> > from etch in lenny. >> >>>> >> > 2) Some of the sdl part I could not fix (my fmsx compiled >> version, >> >>>> >> > still >> >>>> >> > have no sound on kernel 2.6) . >> >>>> >> > This is where the annoying thing about kernel 2.6 is about, I >> >>>> >> > guess. >> >>>> >> > Item 0) is workaroundable, but maybe not ok for other minibooks. >> >>>> >> > Item 1) is workaroundable, but maybe not ok for other sound >> >>>> >> > drivers >> >>>> >> > like >> >>>> >> > asound / alsa and others. >> >>>> >> > Item 2) need more/other fixes in the kernel sound drivers. >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> >> > The latest kernel fixes / patches / details so far are >> >>>> >> > maintained >> >>>> >> > and >> >>>> >> > reported by Nikolaus: http://projects.goldelico.com/p/letux-400/ >> >>>> >> > You may modify the kernel to build with softfloat and try to fix >> >>>> >> > the >> >>>> >> > sound >> >>>> >> > issue to get you're new distro stable in kernel 2.6. >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> >> > Grt Ruben. >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> >> > PS. >> >>>> >> > At the moment Lenny, fluxbox & rox is good enough for me. >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> >> >> Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:18:23 -0500 >> >>>> >> >> From: matt.oudenho...@gmail.com >> >>>> >> >> To: daniel...@gmx.net >> >>>> >> >> CC: mipsbook-devel@linuxtogo.org >> >>>> >> >> Subject: Re: [Mipsbook-devel] New rootfs >> >>>> >> >> >> >>>> >> >> I built everything with softfloat and used libmad and tremor >> >>>> >> >> for >> >>>> >> >> mplayer. Mp3's play great with madplay and/or mplayer. Video's >> >>>> >> >> encoded >> >>>> >> >> with settings similar to what is needed for pocket pc's also >> play >> >>>> >> >> extremely well full screened. >> >>>> >> >> >> >>>> >> >> While i too like debian it was just too heavy on these >> >>>> >> >> machines. >> >>>> >> >> My >> >>>> >> >> rootfs at 125mb would take about 500mb if i installed the same >> >>>> >> >> software in debian. The only 2 drawbacks right now are lack of >> >>>> >> >> udev >> >>>> >> >> support and wpa (without skytones weird proprietary wifiup and >> >>>> >> >> wireless-lan software). >> >>>> >> >> >> >>>> >> >> Cheers. >> >>>> >> >> >> >>>> >> >> On 3/14/11, Daniel Glöckner <daniel...@gmx.net> wrote: >> >>>> >> >> > On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 09:16:08AM +0100, Riccardo Mottola >> >>>> >> >> > wrote: >> >>>> >> >> >> I'm not so concerned about >> >>>> >> >> >> sound, which I never used on 2.4 too since with FPU >> >>>> >> >> >> emulation >> >>>> >> >> >> it >> >>>> >> >> >> is >> >>>> >> >> >> not >> >>>> >> >> >> possible to play MP3s >> >>>> >> >> > >> >>>> >> >> > You don't need an FPU to play MP3s: >> >>>> >> >> > http://www.underbit.com/products/mad/ >> >>>> >> >> > >> >>>> >> >> > And if you prefer Vorbis, there is the Tremor decoder, which >> is >> >>>> >> >> > used >> >>>> >> >> > f.ex. by mplayer. >> >>>> >> >> > >> >>>> >> >> > Daniel >> >>>> >> >> > >> >>>> >> >> > _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> >> > Mipsbook-devel mailing list >> >>>> >> >> > Mipsbook-devel@linuxtogo.org >> >>>> >> >> > >> http://lists.linuxtogo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mipsbook-devel >> >>>> >> >> > >> >>>> >> >> >> >>>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >>>> >> >> Mipsbook-devel mailing list >> >>>> >> >> Mipsbook-devel@linuxtogo.org >> >>>> >> >> >> http://lists.linuxtogo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mipsbook-devel >> >>>> >> > >> >>>> > >> >>> >> >> >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Mipsbook-devel mailing list >> Mipsbook-devel@linuxtogo.org >> http://lists.linuxtogo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mipsbook-devel >> > _______________________________________________ Mipsbook-devel mailing list Mipsbook-devel@linuxtogo.org http://lists.linuxtogo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mipsbook-devel
