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authorJörg Hohensohn <hohensoh@rockbox.org>2003-09-09 06:47:39 +0000
committerJörg Hohensohn <hohensoh@rockbox.org>2003-09-09 06:47:39 +0000
commit0c0867cf5d4f399f2f5c6b6e12cd26e41a4d650a (patch)
treef990ae3b33e2c411c43af6315468d4cd2dc7aa36
parent0a89857e714253ede4a1d2e204fc167b0174807e (diff)
downloadrockbox-0c0867cf5d4f399f2f5c6b6e12cd26e41a4d650a.tar.gz
rockbox-0c0867cf5d4f399f2f5c6b6e12cd26e41a4d650a.zip
In my webspace, I moved the flashing stuff one directory down, fixed the links for that. Plus some more text changes like link to sources and Archos UCLs.
git-svn-id: svn://svn.rockbox.org/rockbox/trunk@3952 a1c6a512-1295-4272-9138-f99709370657
-rw-r--r--www/docs/flash.t58
1 files changed, 33 insertions, 25 deletions
diff --git a/www/docs/flash.t b/www/docs/flash.t
index 6c82493562..5f0bb026a0 100644
--- a/www/docs/flash.t
+++ b/www/docs/flash.t
@@ -12,31 +12,25 @@ by Jörg Hohensohn aka [IDC]Dragon
127. Known issues, limitations<br> 127. Known issues, limitations<br>
138. Movies and images<br> 138. Movies and images<br>
14 14
15<h2>What is Flashing</h2> 15<h2>1. What is this about?</h2>
16 16<p>
17<p> Flashing in the sense used here and elsewhere in regard to Rockbox means 17Flashing in the sense used here and elsewhere in regard to Rockbox means
18reprogramming the flash memory of the Archos unit. Flash memory (sometimes 18reprogramming the flash memory of the Archos unit. Flash memory (sometimes
19called "Flash ROM") is a type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased and 19called "Flash ROM") is a type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased and
20reprogrammed. It is a variation of electrically erasable programmable 20reprogrammed in circuit. It is a variation of electrically erasable
21read-only memory (EEPROM). 21programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).
22
23<p> 22<p>
24 When you bought Your Archos, it came with the Archos firmware flashed. Now, 23 When you bought Your Archos, it came with the Archos firmware flashed. Now,
25you can replace the built-in software with Rockbox. 24you can replace the built-in software with Rockbox.
26
27<h2>1. What is this about?</h2>
28<p>
29This package contains tools to update the flash content of Archos Jukebox
30Recorder / FM.
31<p> 25<p>
32Some terminology I'm gonna use in the following:<br> 26Some terminology I'm gonna use in the following:<br>
33<b>Firmware</b> means the flash ROM content as a whole.<br> 27<b>Firmware</b> means the flash ROM content as a whole.<br>
34<b>Image</b> means one operating software started from there. 28<b>Image</b> means one operating software started from there.
35<p> 29<p>
36By reprogramming the firmware we can boot much faster. Archos has a pathetic 30By reprogramming the firmware we can bot much faster. Archos has a pathetic
37boot loader, versus the boot time for rockbox is much faster than the disk 31boot loader, versus the boot time for Rrockbox is much faster than the disk
38spinup, in fact it has to wait for the disk. Your boot time will be as quick as 32spinup, in fact it has to wait for the disk. Your boot time will be as quick as
39a disk spinup. In my case, that's 3 seconds from powerup until resuming 33a disk spinup. In my case, that's 4 seconds from powerup until resuming
40playback. 34playback.
41 35
42<h2>2. How is it working?</h2> 36<h2>2. How is it working?</h2>
@@ -66,7 +60,9 @@ I will provide more technical details in the future, as well as my non-user
66tools. There's an authoring tool which composed the firmware file with the 60tools. There's an authoring tool which composed the firmware file with the
67bootloader and the 2 images, the bootloader project, the plugin sources, and 61bootloader and the 2 images, the bootloader project, the plugin sources, and
68the tools for the UART boot feature: a monitor program for the box and a PC 62the tools for the UART boot feature: a monitor program for the box and a PC
69tool to drive it. 63tool to drive it. Feel free to review the
64<a href="http://joerg.hohensohn.bei.t-online.de/archos/flash/flash_sourcecode.zip">sources</a>
65 for all of it, but be careful when fooling around with powerful toys!
70 66
71<h2>3. Is it dangerous?</h3> 67<h2>3. Is it dangerous?</h3>
72<p> 68<p>
@@ -84,7 +80,7 @@ such low level code should behave different on your box.
84There's one ultimate safety net to bring back boxes with even completely 80There's one ultimate safety net to bring back boxes with even completely
85garbled flash content: the UART boot mod, which in turn requires the serial 81garbled flash content: the UART boot mod, which in turn requires the serial
86mod. It can bring the dead back to life, with that it's possible to reflash 82mod. It can bring the dead back to life, with that it's possible to reflash
87completely from the outside, even if the flash is completely erased. I used 83independently from the outside, even if the flash is completely erased. I used
88that during development, else Rockbox in flash wouldn't have been possible. 84that during development, else Rockbox in flash wouldn't have been possible.
89Most of the developing effort went into this tooling. So people skilled to do 85Most of the developing effort went into this tooling. So people skilled to do
90these mods don't need to worry. The others may feel unpleasant using the first 86these mods don't need to worry. The others may feel unpleasant using the first
@@ -134,12 +130,17 @@ different. It takes a developer with the serial mod to go ahead with it.
134I'm using the new plugin feature to run the flasher code. There's not really a 130I'm using the new plugin feature to run the flasher code. There's not really a
135wrong path to take, however here's a suggested step by step procedure: 131wrong path to take, however here's a suggested step by step procedure:
136<ul> 132<ul>
137<li> copy the following files of <a href="http://joerg.hohensohn.bei.t-online.de/archos/">this package</a> to your box:<ol> 133<li> download the correct package for you model,
134<a href="http://joerg.hohensohn.bei.t-online.de/archos/flash/flash_rec.zip">Recorder</a>
135 or
136<a href="http://joerg.hohensohn.bei.t-online.de/archos/flash/flash_fm.zip">FM</a>
137, copy some files of it to your box:
138<ol>
138 <li> "ajbrec.ajz" into the root directory (the version of Rockbox we're going to use and have in the 139 <li> "ajbrec.ajz" into the root directory (the version of Rockbox we're going to use and have in the
139firmware file)<br> 140firmware file)<br>
140 <li> firmware_rec.bin or firmware_fm.bin into the root directory (the complete firmware for your model, 141 <li> firmware_rec.bin or firmware_fm.bin into the root directory (the complete firmware for your model,
141with my bootloader and the two images) 142with my bootloader and the two images)
142 <li> all .rock files to .rockbox/rocks (the plugins for Rockbox)<br> 143 <li> the .rockbox subdirectory with all the plugins for Rockbox<br>
143 </ol> 144 </ol>
144<li> Restart the box so that the new ajbrec.ajz gets started. 145<li> Restart the box so that the new ajbrec.ajz gets started.
145 146
@@ -212,9 +213,9 @@ it down to about 58% of the original size. For details on UCL, see: <a
212href="http://www.oberhumer.com/opensource/ucl/">www.oberhumer.com/opensource/ucl/</a> 213href="http://www.oberhumer.com/opensource/ucl/">www.oberhumer.com/opensource/ucl/</a>
213 214
214<p> Linux users will have to download it from there and compile it, for Win32 215<p> Linux users will have to download it from there and compile it, for Win32
215and Cygwin I can do that, so the executables are in <a 216and Cygwin I can do that, so the executables are in
216href="http://joerg.hohensohn.bei.t-online.de/archos/">the package</a>. The 217<a href="http://joerg.hohensohn.bei.t-online.de/archos/flash">the packages</a>.
217sample program from that download is called "uclpack". We'll use that to 218The sample program from that download is called "uclpack". We'll use that to
218compress "rockbox.bin" which is the result of the compilation. This is 219compress "rockbox.bin" which is the result of the compilation. This is
219a part of the build process meanwhile. If you compile Rockbox yourself, 220a part of the build process meanwhile. If you compile Rockbox yourself,
220you should copy uclpack to a directory which is in the path, I recommend 221you should copy uclpack to a directory which is in the path, I recommend
@@ -236,10 +237,10 @@ bootloader), with maximum compression, by typing
236"uclpack --2e --best rockbox.bin rockbox.ucl". You can make a batch file for 237"uclpack --2e --best rockbox.bin rockbox.ucl". You can make a batch file for
237this and the above step, if you like. 238this and the above step, if you like.
238 239
239<li> Normally, you'll download or compile rockbox.ucl. Copy it together 240<li> Normally, you'll simply download or compile rockbox.ucl. Copy it together
240with ajbrec.ajz and all the rocks to the appropriate places, replacing the old. 241with ajbrec.ajz and all the rocks to the appropriate places, replacing the old.
241 242
242<li> Just "play" the .ucl file, thos will kick off the "rockbox_flash.rock" 243<li> Just "play" the .ucl file, this will kick off the "rockbox_flash.rock"
243plugin. It's a bit similar to the other one, but I made it different 244plugin. It's a bit similar to the other one, but I made it different
244to make the user aware. It will check the file, 245to make the user aware. It will check the file,
245available size, etc. With F2 it's being programmed, no need for warning this 246available size, etc. With F2 it's being programmed, no need for warning this
@@ -261,6 +262,12 @@ compression by itself, but that's hard to do because a plugin is very limited
261with memory (32kB for code and data). Currently I'm doing one flash sector 262with memory (32kB for code and data). Currently I'm doing one flash sector
262(4096 bytes) at a time. Don't know how slow the compression algorithm would be 263(4096 bytes) at a time. Don't know how slow the compression algorithm would be
263on the box, that's the strenuous part. 264on the box, that's the strenuous part.
265<p>
266If you like or have to, you can also flash the Archos image as the second one,
267e.g. in case Rockbox from flash doesn't work for you. This way you keep the
268dual bootloader and you can easily try different later. I prepared
269<a href="http://joerg.hohensohn.bei.t-online.de/archos/flash">UCLs</a>
270for the latest Recorder and FM firmware.
264 271
265<h2>7. Known issues, limitations</h2> 272<h2>7. Known issues, limitations</h2>
266<p> 273<p>
@@ -290,11 +297,12 @@ the new version before flashing it.
290 297
291<p> 298<p>
292Two people have an issue with recording, it freezes after a few minutes or so 299Two people have an issue with recording, it freezes after a few minutes or so
293(statistically). The use F1 to record with Archos software as a workaround. 300(statistically). They use F1 to record with Archos software as a workaround.
294 301
295<h2>8. Movies and images</h2> 302<h2>8. Movies and images</h2>
296<p> 303<p>
297 Jörg's AVI movie (1.5MB) <a href="flash/rockbox_flash_boot.avi">rockbox_flash_boot.avi</a> showing his unit booting Rockbox from flash. 304 Jörg's AVI movie (1.5MB) <a href="flash/rockbox_flash_boot.avi">rockbox_flash_boot.avi</a>
305showing his unit booting Rockbox from flash.
298<p> 306<p>
299 Roland's screendump from the movie:<br> 307 Roland's screendump from the movie:<br>
300<img src="flash/rockbox-flash.jpg" width="352" height="288"> 308<img src="flash/rockbox-flash.jpg" width="352" height="288">