Installing bootloader using CF/MMC/SD

Note that bootldr itself only supports CF. So, while you can install bootldr from Pocket PC using an MMC or SD card, you can only install Linux if you have a CF card.

• Copy the distribution files (all of them) to a CF card with a vfat filesystem (most cards come pre-formatted with vfat), or purchase a 32MB CF card with the distribution files from Crynwr Software.
• Insert the CF card into your CF slot.
• Run Start Menu->Programs->File Explorer.
• Click on the grey bar with the picture of the iPAQ on it. It probably says "My Documents".
• Select "My Device" from the drop-down menu.
• One of the entries on the screen should say "Storage Card". Click on it.
• You should see a listing of the distribution files.
• Double-click on BootBlaster.
• BootBlaster will start up and display "Idle...".
  
  
• 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, wince_image.gz and assets.gz from "My Documents" to the Storage Card using File Manager.
• 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).

When finished continue to the Install via Compact Flash sleeve step.