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Nokia N900 Device Development & Flashing
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n900_dev_reflash_instructions.md

These instructions define the steps to create a development and reflashing environment for the Nokia N900 device.

WARNING : These instructions are used completely at your own risk - it is possible to "brick" your device, so ensure you have backed up your device!

Nokia N900 tools are available from:

Setup

  1. Download the Maemo\_Ubuntu\_Lucid\_Desktop\_SDK\_Virtual\_Image\_Final.7z archive from http://www.fladnag.net/downloads/telephone/n900/tools/Maemo_Ubuntu_Lucid_Desktop_SDK_Virtual_Image_Final.7z

  2. Download the package maemo\_flasher-3.5\_2.5.2.2\_i386.deb from http://www.fladnag.net/downloads/telephone/n900/tools/maemo_flasher-3.5_2.5.2.2_i386.deb

  3. Download the following from http://web.archive.org/web/20131117073524/http://skeiron.org/tablets-dev/nokia_N900/

  1. Unpack the Desktop SDK Virtual Image and open in VirtualBox or VMware Player/Fusion. You might need to upgrade the virtual image - proceed.

  2. Start the virtual machine and login with username/password: maemo/maemo

  3. Access the files you downloaded earlier and copy them to the virtual machine (i.e. via network connection

  4. Open a terminal and install the maemo flasher with the following command:

  $ sudo dpkg -i maemo\_flasher-3.5\_2.5.2.2\_i386.deb

  1. Ensure the N900 has a full charge, and then power off

  2. Open the keyboard on the N900 and hold the “U” key while connecting the USB cable to the phone

  3. Let go of the “U” key when the USB icon appears in the top right of the screen (its hard to see)

  4. From a terminal issue the following:

  $ sudo flasher-3.5 -F vanilla.bin -f

The terminal should flash the device and display a bunch of information and succeed. When it completes you may need to take the battery out the phone and put it back in, and repeat step 9 above. When done, and reconnected, go to the next step.

  1. From a terminal issue the following:
  $ sudo flasher-3.5 -F combined.bin -f -R

This will copy the Nokia N900 operating system image onto the phone, and the phone will reboot once the flashing process is complete. After the phone reboots, it will be back to its factory settings with all the data wiped.

NOTES:

Dont bother using WinXP, Vista or others to try and flash the N900. They are just too problematic. The Ubuntu Maemo SDK virtual machine works a treat.

The following websites contributed useful information to carrying this out. Thanks to all the respective authors!

@mbuiakova
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In ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS (jammy):

  1. Just download the flasher 3.5 (exactly 3.5, for Maemo, not for Harmattan!).
  2. Install "apt-get install libusb-0.1-4:i386"
  3. Make sure your old filesystem is correct by performing FSCK on the phone itself.
    There is no need to use an old VM.

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