Re: filesystem error on HP4155

Hi Rick,

It is not necessary to pre-partition the card, it just must
have a partition table on it. A partionless card is not
something you would have by accident ... it's usually done
by ppl who are either following instructions, or by ppl who
think that treating an SD card like a floppy is a good idea
(insignificant space advantage). Although I've tried, I've
been unable to create a method of turning a partionless card
into a partioned one (under all circumstances). As RR
*abolutely* needs TWO partitions (on a single card install)
when finished to provide you with a "boot partition" and a
"linux partition", partionless cards are currently (and most
likely, FOREVER!) unsupported.

However, it appears from your comments that you _do_ have a
partition table so ignore my "early-morning" "post-party"
pre-caffeine partionless ramblings. ;)

The easiest way to *almost* guarantee that RR will work,
is to start with a freshly formatted card. The easiest
way to do that is zero the first sector of the card, and
then insert the card while running PPC. Formatting with a
camera is an alternative. The difference between PPC and
camera formats is that PPC creates a logical partition in
an extended partition (part 5), whereas a camera will just
create a primary partition (part 1). Then there are further
combinations/permutations depending on the size of the card
and the type of the camera, but as rule of thumb, PPC will
format the partition as FAT32, and a camera will do FAT16.
Essentially: _BOTH_ methods have their faults ;)

The *best* way to format a card correctly is with Linux, but
if you add the "user experience" factor and the "Distro"
variable this becomes a worse option by complication alone ;P
FYI: On a decent sized card (assuming you have a single card
that is used for other things as well), the first partition
should be FAT32 formatted/mounted as vfat. The hardest part
with a Linux format is getting the "cylinder boundaries"
right ... in the case of SD cards this is determined by a few
_software_ parameters ... which *can* cause problems with *some*
software *sometimes* (ie. when the wind is blowing in the
wrong direction, you've forgotten to wear your lucky red tie,
and you really need the fscking thing to work! @#$!)

Convinced yet? ... or have I just confused you? :)

To blank the first sector you can either:
  - wipe the card using one of the tools in RR
http://www.marcusbrutus.soho.on.net/blog/wp-gallery2.php?g2_itemId=2434&
  or
  - # dd if=/dev/zero bs=512 count=1 of=/dev/sda
    ( where sda is YOUR SD card dev node ... change to suit)

Right, so after all that (first coffee is starting to take effect)
I suggest you try a freshly formatted card. I will add, however,
that the problem *could* be far more sinister, so if you have
further problems *PLEASE* attach the RR-syslog.gz from a failed
installation attempt so that I can help you further.

Marcus.

Richard Tonda wrote:
>
> I agree, but the docs I have indicate that the process will take the existing SD (as long as it has a partition table--which it does) and create a partition in which to put LINUX. Are you saying I need to partition it ahead of time...normally that would be no issue, but how do you do that on an SD drive in LINUX? Or on POCKET_PC? The option does not seem to be available...
>
> Thanks for your help, by the way...
>
> rick
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------
>> Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2007 01:37:53 +1000
>> From: marcusbrutus_at_internode.on.net
>> To: rtonda_at_hotmail.com
>> CC: h4100-port_at_handhelds.org
>> Subject: Re: [H4100-port] filesystem error on HP4155
>>
>> Hi Richard,
>>
>> Without knowing exactly what the problem is (the RR-syslog.gz
>> might help), my guess would be that your card is not partitioned.
>>
>> Marcus.
>>
>> Richard Tonda wrote:
>>> Good morning,
>>>
>>> I have been trying to launch LINUX on my HP iPAQ (4155), using the instructions and files referred to on the web page below:
>>>
>>> http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/RamdiskRescue
>>>
>>> The haret program works well, apparently, and I get to the RAMDISK step where I install LINUX. The process starts, but it gets to the evaluation of the file system and invariably states there is not a valid filesystem. I have retrieved the files from the indicated website, and the layout is as shown on the website.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>>
>>> Rick
Received on Fri Jun 08 2007 - 21:07:09 EDT