HOWTO FlashLatestNokiaImageWithLinux

Before flashing

Beware that flashing a new image on the Nokia 770 or on the Nokia N800 will remove all user changes to the system, including preferences, bookmarks, news feeds, user installed applications... Everything not on the memory card will be gone and the device will behave as if just purchased with the single exception that any previously-set lock code will be kept and not reset to the factory-default of "12345" (even the code is not preserved on some images).

Note that Nokia's Backup tool only backs up stuff like bookmarks and documents inside /home/user/MyDocs -- It will probably be worthwhile experimenting a bit with the backup/restore utility before flashing :-)

Flashing the Nokia 770

If you want to update to the latest Nokia image, follow the steps below.

  • PC: Download the Linux flasher (2.0 or 3.0 which also works) at http://maemo.org/downloads/d3.php, and make it executable if necessary (see bellow : Troubleshooting)

  • PC: In the same directory download the image you want:

    • 5.2006.13-7 OS 2005 Edition version 5.2006.13-7 from maemo.org
    • 3.2006.49-2 OS 2006 Edition version 3.2006.49-2 from maemo.org

  • 770: Unplug charger and switch off the Nokia 770. Connect it to your computer via USB

  • PC: Execute as root (or as a normal user with rights to use the USB port):
  ./flasher-2.0 -F SU-18_2006SE_3.2006.49-2_PR_F5_MR0_ARM.bin -f -R
  • PC: "Suitable USB device not found, waiting" is displayed on the console
  • 770: Now plug in the charger to switch on the 770 or switch it on using the power button WHILE holding the Home-button
  • PC: Watch the messages as the image loads to the 770 after which it reboots automatically -- you're done now!

Flashing the Nokia N800

If you want to reflash your brand new Nokia N800, follow the steps below.

  • PC: Download the Linux flasher-3.0

  • PC: In the same directory download the firmware image:

  • N800: Unplug charger and switch off the Nokia N800. Connect the tablet to your computer via USB

  • PC: Execute as root (or as a normal user with rights to use the USB port):
  ./flasher-3.0 -F RX-34_2007SE_2.2006.51-6_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin -f -R
  • PC: "Suitable USB device not found, waiting" is displayed on the console
  • N800: Now plug in the charger to switch on the N800 or switch it on using the power button WHILE holding the Home-button
  • PC: Watch the messages as the image loads to the N800 after which it reboots automatically -- you're done now!

Troubleshooting

  • If you get a "Permission denied" error then chmod +x flasher-2.0 or chmod +x flasher-3.0 to make the flasher tool executable. You may also need root permissions, run command with sudo or su to root.
  • It may help, if you connect the 770 or the N800 directly to your computer by USB, instead of a USB hub. Also, avoid the USB ports on laptop docking stations.
  • If you need to flash your Nokia 770 with an image from 2005 then use the older flasher
  • On some distributions the usb filesystem is not loaded mount -t usbfs usbfs /proc/bus/usb
  • (From mailing list): If you are running a newer kernel and you get "Suitable USB device not found, waiting" but nothing happens when you switch on the 770 as instructed above, try to patch the flasher: perl -pi -e 's-/proc/bus/usb-/dev/bus/usb\000-;' -i.backup <flasher>, where is the location of your flasher 2.0 linux binary.

CategoryFlashing