Installing bootloader using ActiveSync

• Transfer BootBlaster and bootldr to your iPAQ using ActiveSync.

  1. If ActiveSync isn't already installed on your Windows PC, install it by inserting the iPAQ Pocket PC Companion CD-ROM into the PC's drive and following the ensuing instructions.

  2. Copy the BootBlaster and bootldr files that came with your Familiar Linux distribution to your Windows PC if they're not already there.

     • If you're installing on an H3900 iPAQ, the files are named BootBlaster3900-2.6.exe and bootldr-pxa-2.20.4.bin.

     • Otherwise, they're named BootBlaster_1.19.exe and bootldr-sa-2.20.4.bin.

  3. Plug the iPAQ cradle into an AC power outlet.

  4. Connect the USB connector from the cradle to the Windows PC.

  5. Slide the iPAQ into its cradle. If a "Set Up a Partnership" screen appears on the PC, choose "No" and then click Next.

  6. Copy BootBlaster_1.19.exe or BootBlaster3900-2.6.exe to the default folder on the iPAQ by clicking Explore in ActiveSync and dragging their icons there. Ignore any "may need to convert" messages.

  7. Do the same thing for bootldr-sa-2.20.4.bin or bootldr-pxa-2.20.4.bin.

• Start BootBlaster.

  1. Select "Start -> Programs" on the iPAQ touchscreen.

  2. Tap on File Explorer.

  3. Tap on BootBlaster.

  
  
  
• Save your PocketPC image for later restoration, if desired.

  1. Execute "Flash -> Save Bootldr .gz Format" in BootBlaster to save the bootloader in file "\My Documents\saved_bootldr.gz" on the iPAQ.
     
     Note that the Linux Bootloader will also boot PocketPC, so restoration of this file is not generally required. Right at the moment, there is a bug in the Linux Bootloader which causes PocketPC to reinitialize itself every few boots. You may indeed wish to keep and restore this bootloader if you restore PocketPC.

     
     

  2. Execute "Flash -> Save Wince .gz Format" in BootBlaster to save the PocketPC image in file "\My Documents\wince_image.gz" on the iPAQ. This takes two to three minutes.

     
     

  If no backup of Pocket PC is desired, you can skip this step entirely.

  Note that this procedure saves your bootloader and Pocket PC executable image: it does not preserve any data you may have entered in your iPAQ under Pocket PC. So also synchronize your iPAQ to your host to preserve this data. Note that Familiar does not *yet* have any way to resynchronize this data to Linux (we hope/expect to have Linux<->Host synchronization in a near future release).

• Copy saved_bootldr.gz and wince_image.gz to your Windows PC.

  1. Select "View -> Refresh" in the ActiveSync Explore window on the PC. Icons for the saved_bootldr.gz and wince_image.gz files should appear.

  2. Drag the saved_bootldr.gz and wince_image.gz icons from the ActiveSync Explore window to a local folder on your PC.

  As with any backup files, please store saved_bootldr.gz and wince_image.gz in a safe place. We highly recommend verifying the built-in gzip checksum in both files before presuming your backup is safe (see the gzip man page for details).

• Install the bootloader.

  Before continuing, be sure that the iPAQ is plugged into external power, and that the battery is charged, to protect against the small chance of power failure during the very limited period the iPAQ is reprogramming the bootloader flash. Do NOT touch the power button or reset button on your iPAQ until you have performed the "Verify" step below.

  From the "Flash" menu on BootBlaster, select "Program".
  
  A file dialog will open allowing you to select the bootloader to use. Select bootldr.bin.gz, which may have a version number embedded in it. We use a gzip file because it has an internal checksum.

  Wait patiently. It takes about 15 seconds to program the bootloader. Do not interrupt this process, or the iPAQ may be left in an unusable state.

  From the "Flash" menu on BootBlaster, select "Verify".

  1. If it does not say that you have a valid bootloader, do NOT reset your iPAQ, do NOT turn off your iPAQ.
  2. Instead, try programming the flash again.
  3. If that doesn't work, program your flash with your saved bootloader.
  4. If that doesn't work, send e-mail to bootldr@handhelds.org and/or get on the IRC and ask for help. Leave the iPAQ plugged in and do NOT reset it or turn it off.

  If everything has gone well, you have successfully installed the CRL bootldr program, which can run either Linux or PocketPC. As yet, your PocketPC image is intact and should restart normally; the next step actually installs Linux (overwriting Pocket PC).

  Continue to the install serial step.