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noone 		Old
25th January 2004, 03:16 AM
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Default Changing the Bootloader on XDA II?
Has anyone really tried to replace the original bootloader e.g. with one from familiar linux or redboot?
Though I didn't manage any of these loaders execute in RAM I found at least that BootBlaster 3900 from handhelds.org runs on the XDA. I only was not brave enough to click "Flash -> Program" :wink:

BTW: Is it true that Windows boots without a bootloader? I read it in one of the posts.

Thanks in advance

Matthias
 
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W4XY 		Old
25th January 2004, 09:36 AM
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Default Re: Changing the Bootloader on XDA II?
Hi,

Quote:
Originally Posted by noone
Has anyone really tried to replace the original bootloader e.g. with one from familiar linux or redboot?
Though I didn't manage any of these loaders execute in RAM I found at least that BootBlaster 3900 from handhelds.org runs on the XDA. I only was not brave enough to click "Flash -> Program" :wink:
I think it is good you were not brave enough, cause it would have been stupid. Chance is very high you brick your XDA II forever. I have a half ported version of bootldr for XDA I, but haven't even flashed that into it. Never assume that something that works on one pocket pc will work on another. Especially at this low level.

Quote:
BTW: Is it true that Windows boots without a bootloader? I read it in one of the posts.
It was certainly not on the XDA I. There has been talk that it was the case for iPaqs. I have no idea about the XDA II, but I'm not prepared to test it to find out .
W4XY
 
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noone 		Old
25th January 2004, 02:02 PM
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Well, if there is no replacement bootloader at hand, how far could we get using the original bootloader. I would like to boot some linux kernel at least to see what is working and what not.
As far as I can see the l command should do the job. My main questions are:

0. Can I (accidentally) load anything to ROM with l (and thus screw up windows)?
1. Can the bootloader be used to pull an initrd and a linux kernel over USB-Serial to RAM and run it from there?
1.a) How do I address RAM?
2. Does the kernel have to be preprocessed / formatted in any way?
3. How do I actually setup the connection for l to load something from my linux box?

Thanks in advance, I'm looking forward to your replies.

Matthias
 
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