iPaq H3600/H3100 Handhelds.org Bootloader Installation Instructions

• The instructions for installing on an H3100 are now the same as for an H3600.
• The H3800 is not supported at this time.

WARNINGS:

• If this installation fails then your iPAQ could become (temporarily) unusable.

  This version is less likely than the previous installation processes to result in an installation failure. We are trying very hard to make this procedure bullet proof, and we think we're very close with the boot loader. The boot loader can not get over not get overwritten by accident now. Some additionial bug is certainly possible, but we think it is unlikely. If you have not upgraded your boot loader to version 2.14.15, please do so immediately.

  Compaq Research will ensure that you do not permanently turn your iPAQ into a paperweight, but it is very inconvenient for all of us if we have to fix a unit that was rendered nonbooting by a failed installation (or WinCE restoration).

• Windows CE Restoration

  If you save an image of your Windows CE software as described in the WinCE restoration instructions then you will be able to restore it again after installing Linux.

  The restoration process is not simple. It is error-prone. But it is available. We will help anyone who has trouble with it.

  We are working on an improved process, but it is not ready yet.

  WinCE has been successfully restored by many people on many different iPAQs. The current status of the save / restoration of WinCE is available at http://www.handhelds.org/projects/wincerestoration.html.

• Notes and Recommendations

  • Some web browser's default download settings is 'ASCII' mode instead of 'binary' mode, this will make the downloaded files corrupt. For example, Netscape requires that you hold down the shift key when you click on an item for downloading in 'binary' mode.

    WARNING: Please verify the 'md5sum' of any file before using.

    See md5sum for pointers to md5sum executables for Windows.
  • If you are going to be using minicom, there is a timing issue. If minicom starts to NAK repeatedly, stop the download Wait for the second '.' to print, then type ctrl-c. Retype the command at the boot loader prompt followed by a <cr>, then ctrl-a, z, s, select xmodem, , <cr>, <cr>. This will restart the down load very quickly and avoid the timing issues.

  • Unless you really really know what you are doing do not mix kernels, ramdisk and cramfs files from different V0.?? releases. Each V's can have different memory mappings.
  • See Linux on the H3100/H3150/H3130 Monochrome iPAQ Handheld for up-to-date notes on installing Linux on the Monochrome iPAQ Handheld.

  The bootldr encapsulated in osloader 1.5.4 has been disabled, so the "Tools->Bootldr->Run" menu entry will not work.

Requirements:

• A computer that runs Windows 95/98/2000/NT. A few people have installed Linux on the iPAQ using a Linux computer. There are Linux conectivity instructions at http://www.handhelds.org/minihowto/wince-link/index.html and http://www.handhelds.org/pipermail/ipaq/2000-Auguest/000061.html
  • Install the ActiveSync application (Async) from the iPAQ H3600 Pocket PC distribution CD that came with your unit onto your Windows system.
  • You will also be using HyperTerminal (or other terminal emulator capable of the xmodem protocol, such as minicom on Linux.
• The following files from ftp://ftp.handhelds.org/pub/linux/compaq/ipaq/v0.20/:
  • bootldr-2.14.15
  • bootldr-2.14.15.md5sum
  • wince-bootldr.bin
  • wince-bootldr.bin.md5sum
  • osloader-1.5.4.exe
  • osloader-1.5.4.exe.md5sum
• The instructions for installing on an H3100 are now the same as for an H3600.

Installation:

1. Plug your iPAQ into the serial port of your Windows machine using a serial cable.
2. Configure your iPAQ to use the serial port for ActiveSync.
   • Select settings from the Start Menu (the Microsoft flag icon)
   • Click the Connections tab, and then double-click the PC icon.
   • Ensure the Automatically synchronize when serial cable is connected using is checked.
   • Change USB to 115200 Default.
   • Click OK (top right of the screen).
3. Use the ActiveSync application (the file name is Async.exe) to connect to your iPaq 3600 from you PC.
4. Copy osloader-1.5.4.exe to your iPaq from your Windows machine. Ignore the "may need to convert" message you will get.
5. On your iPaq H3600, find osloader-1.5.4.exe wherever you put it, and then execute osloader-1.5.4.

Backing Up WinCE

6. Select the Tools->Flash->Save to files.... Four (4) files, 4MB each in size will be created. After each file is created, copy the file to your computer, then delete the file from the iPAQ to make room in the WinCE ramdisk for the next file. The current status of the save / restoration of WinCE is available at http://www.handhelds.org/projects/wincerestoration.html.

The files will be saved in the My Device folder -- the root folder on the device. They will have filenames: flash_00000000.bin, flash_00400000.bin, flash_00800000.bin and flash_00c00000.bin.

Running the bootldr from DRAM

7. The bootldr encapsulated in osloader 1.5.4 has been disabled, so the "Tools->Bootldr->Run" menu entry will not work. It will just freeze the ipaq, causing the screen to go blank.
8. Copy wince-bootldr.bin to the My Documents folder on the iPAQ. You do not need to rename it.
9. Select the "Tools->Bootldr->RunFromFile" menu entry.
10. You should now see the bootldr splash screen.
11. On the PC disconnect the ActiveSync application (it is holding onto the serial port you need).
    • On the PC, right click on the ActiveSync logo in the tooltray.
    • Select the Connections Settings.
    • Deselect Allow serial cable or infrared connection to this COM port.
12. You may have trouble getting ActiveSync to free your serial port. You might want to use some more friendly operating system to run minicom or eterm or,...
13. Run your terminal emulator on whatever machine can talk to your serial port with the settings of: 115200 8N1 (115200 baud, 8 bits, No Parity, 1 stop bit) and Flow control: 'None'.
14. In your terminal emulator, hit the enter key on your keyboard on your machine: you should see a 'boot>' prompt. You can type 'help' at the bootloader at the 'boot>' prompt to get a list of commands.

Installing the Bootldr

15. This step is dangerous: make sure you perform it exactly correctly. At the 'boot>' prompt, type 'load bootldr', then start an xmodem download of the file bootldr-2.14.15.

    See handhelds.org sources for access to the bootldr source code.

16. Your iPAQ will say "verifying ... done.". The loader program has a simple sanity check in it to try to ensure that only a bootloader can get installed into flash at the iPAQ's bootloader's address. If there is an RXSTAT error, you can ignore it if there "verifying ... done" was printed. Otherwise, repeat the 'load bootldr' step.

Check the Install

17. At this point, the new bootldr is installed in flash. You can spot check the bootldr installation before rebooting by executing the command peek flash 0x0, which should print EA00008E. Also check peek flash 0x20, which should print 646C7462. If either of these prints FFFFFFFF, then the bootldr is erased. Be very careful. Do not reset the unit. Do not power cycle it. Make sure it is plugged in. Reload the bootldr. If there are any error messages email ipaq@handhelds.org or use IRC to connect to irc.openprojects.net channel #ipaq or #handhelds.org for assistance.

    OK, now take a deep breath. Assuming you had no error messages, you are past the only risky part of the install.

    Reboot the iPAQ

18. Reboot your iPaq H3600 by pushing the recessed reset button at the lower right of the unit. If the iPAQ is in a cradle, you will have to remove it to do this step. The boot loader should come up and display a splash screen on the LCD. Put the iPAQ back in the cradle. At this point, either type a space in the terminal emulator or push the calendar button on the iPAQ to get the bootldr's prompt "boot>".

    Don't be worried if the message "Corrupt kernel image", because you don't have a kernel installed yet. Whew! You are through the risky part of the procedure.

19. Now sure the bootldr flash sector is protected! If
    • qflash 2
    does not print
    • 00010001 for an H3600, or
    • 00000001 for an H3100
    at this point, then contact the mailing list familiar@handhelds.org or IRC chat irc.openprojects.net /join #handhelds.org or #familiar. Do not use the pflash command.

    The Installation is Complete!

20. Congratulations! At this point you have a working bootloader and you are ready to install a Linux distribution. The latest Linux distribution for the iPAQ H3600 series is available at http://familiar.handhelds.org and can be installed using the instructions at http://familiar.handhelds.org/familiar/releases/latest/install/H3600/install.html. The older Handhelds.org Linux Distribution which was last updated in March of 2001 and is not likely to see any further updates can be installed by following the instructions at update.html. All future effort will be directed towards building the Familiar Distribution.

• if you need to get back into the boot loader after you have Linux running, restart the iPAQ and quickly hit the space bar a few times during the boot process. You can restart the iPAQ with the Linux command shutdown -r now.

If you have any problems, please post to one of the followig lists:

General problems with setup, installation, user-land software or configuration: ipaq@handhelds.org.

Issues believed to be related to the kernel: linux@handhelds.org.

Thank you.

Modified Monday October 1, 2001

Please send comments on this document to Jamey Hicks (jamey.hicks@compaq.com).