Installing Linux and GPE from a CF card on the e740

[Nomad_2K4]

Installing and running Linux and GPE from a Compact Flash (CF) card on e740

During my installation, I had a few problems, i.e. PCMCIA: tick! and PCMCIA timing problems. I also wasn't clear on where some files went (params, linexec, the GPE tar). As I read through the forums on MrBook and BrightHand I found that the information was pretty spread out, so I thought it might be useful to post a summary of the procedure in one place.

These are the steps I took on my e740, but I assume the same steps would work on the e750 if you rename params-e750 (in the pdadist directory) to params and use that.

My thanks to Spyro for the fantastic work that he's done, and to drPlague for the initrd updater that made my CF installation work.

1) Backup all data as any WinCE applications in RAM will be deleted. (This is obvious but it bears repeating.)
2) Download Spyro's pdadist.tar.bz2 distribution - http://www.asinkecualo.org/e740/pdadist.tar.bz2
3) Download Spyro's updated zImage-pcmcia kernel - http://www.asinkecualo.org/e740/zImage_pcmcia
4) Download the Linux bootloader, linexec.exe - http://www.asinkecualo.org/e740/linexec.exe
5) Download drPlague's initrd updater, update.exe - http://vexen.ig3.net/pda/update.exe
6) Rename zImage-pcmcia to zImage
7) Unpack pdadist.tar.bz2. This will give you a folder named pdadist containing eight files. You will be working with three of these files, initrd, params, and gpe2.tar.gz.
8) Run update.exe on the file named initrd
9) Copy initrd, params, zImage, and linexec.exe, to the CF card
10) Create a folder on the CF card called linux
11) Copy gpe2.tar.gz to the linux folder on the CF card
12) Hard reset the e740
13) Copy the file params from the CF card to the My Documents folder on the e740
14) Soft reset the e740
15) Run linexec.exe from the CF card

You should see the e740 boot to linux and GPE should start.

As people have mentioned, the touch screen control still has some glitches, making it difficult to use GPE, but nonetheless, it is quite a thrill to see it all up and running!

As there is no power control yet, you'll need to hard reset to turn off the e740, and you'll lose your Linux installation.

[Krypto-]

so once you hard reset windows will be back on it like normal ?

[spyro]

Originally posted by Krypto-
so once you hard reset windows will be back on it like normal ?

yes.

[Centipede]

Thanks Nomad_2K4 for gathering the widespread information - it took me a little time too before I had it all in one place. New users are definitely going to be happy about this.

Spyro (and drPlague): Your work looks amazing. Damn this impatient eagerness of mine! I must satisfy my curiousity: Are there any news lately regarding bootloader and touchscreen?

[spyro]

Originally posted by Centipede
Thanks Nomad_2K4 for gathering the widespread information - it took me a little time too before I had it all in one place. New users are definitely going to be happy about this.

Spyro (and drPlague): Your work looks amazing. Damn this impatient eagerness of mine! I must satisfy my curiousity: Are there any news lately regarding bootloader and touchscreen?

My partner has a guest staying with us which is nmaking it very hard to get anything done at all (our house is very small). I'll keep you all posted.

[Dromio]

Oooh, I tried to resist the temptation of trying this out, but your instructions made it too easy. Damn you and your easy to follow instructions!!

Now I've tasted linux on my e740, but I cannot use it. The wait will be much much worse now.

[mrzuzzo]

just looked at it...all i can say is "wow". My e740 will be useful again! I can't wait until a release that will be useable!

[baralong]

How hard would it be to get opie to work? Not that there's anything wrong with GPE, but getting linux working was cool enough to inspire me to try some tinkering.

I figure I'll need a linux machine (VPC) plus the sources and opie sources as a starting point. My understanding is that Spyro's work shoudl give me a familiar kernel and most of what I'll have to do is remove GPE and plug in OPIE.

Or am i quite mad and hugely underestimating the whole thing.

Cheers.

[agd5f]

How hard would it be to get opie to work?

not too hard at all. you should be able to grab the latest opie images from familiar and create a tarball similar to the GPE one. No building required.

[spyro]

Originally posted by agd5f
not too hard at all. you should be able to grab the latest opie images from familiar and create a tarball similar to the GPE one. No building required.

correct.

touchscreen may not work on oopsie though.