[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] foolsh:
Soft chewy center

Here are instructions and downloads that will have you on your way in no time, to running Linux on an IPAQ hx4700.

Step 1: Download a disk image

Ubuntu light weight X desktop download

Android download currently this barely boots

Step 2: Uncompress the file

See p7zip link

Step 3a: Copy the image to a CF or SD card using Linux

Open a terminal and navigate to the directory where you extracted the img file.

cd somedirectory

Copy the image to the card using dd

sudo dd if=image-name.img of=/dev/sdx

Where x is the destination of your card. Note there is no partition number "i.e. /dev/hda1" Just the destination letter /dev/hda

Step 3b: Copy the image to a CF or SD card using Windows

stub

Step 4: Edit startup.txt if you are using a SD card

stub

Step 5: Run HaRET

Safely remove the card from your computer, insert it in to your hx4700 navigate to the card directory using the file manager then click on haret.exe

Hard crunchy shell

Stuff for the masochist that lives inside you.

Kernel 2.6.21-hh20

Found the source tarball for 2.26.21-hh20 on this link.

I found an android patch for 2.6.21 at this link.

Finally I hammered out this patch that applies smoothly with no fuzz.

And here is my .config file.

Android usb gadget and the low memory killer currently need some love. But without configuring them the kernel compiles nicely

A-Z build instructions

stub

HaRET

I use HaRET to boot linux on the hx4700, until that day comes when I have learned enough about the hx4700 to provide a ROM, tinboot isn't really that hard to use.

Also the latest HaRET does not boot the hx4700 maybe it is being built with a newer instruction set, until I get a newer version compiling there is an older version in the .img files that works fine.

stub- haret from source

Filesystems

These xxx.img files should be written to a cf card using dd, or sd card if you change startup.txt and the swap file in /dev/fstab. The card should be no less than 1 GB. Gparted can resize/move your partitions if you have a larger card.

I have to admit I don't have a 1gb card to test the img file on, only a 4 and 2 GB card. If someone who does have one finds out that it doesn't boot or something let me know.

Card image layout:

fat16 16mb [haret] partition 1

ext 880mb [root] partition 2

linux-swap 128mb [swap] partition 3

Creating an Ubuntu file system

Creating a file system to run Linux on the hx4700 via HaRET. Rootstock is a tool the will pull down precompiled packages suitable for various devices, from a server. Then install, unpack, and configure them on a disk image file system inside a virtual machine, all without you leaving the comfort of your x86 compatible environment.

For rootstock I followed this guide link.

I used this command to create the image.

sudo ./rootstock --fqdn ubuntu --login xda --password xda --imagesize 3G --seed tslib,build-essential,openssh-server,lxde,gdm --dist jaunty

I'm still thinking of including gnome-core simply for more function but lxde will have to do as the session manger. Gnome is just to heavy.

Light weight X download link at top of page

working:

the Mouse pad is configured

all drivers and firmware load

auto login via gdm.conf

/etc/network/interfaces is preconfigured for usb net and stubbed out for wireless.

not working:

touch screen - needs configured

wireless?? - I think only OPEN or WEP is supported ATM.

Android

stub- building the android filesystem

android.img download link located at top of post

:)

now if I could just get the hang of making my forum post... not ugly