Linux on 7" mini netbook ARM-VT8500 ?

[Fafler]

Someone should take it apart and look for a JTAG connector. It's the best way to play around with the flash memory, as you can't brick it. Or atleast JTAG makes it a bit harder to do so.

[dwinston91]

After I realized that Windows CE 6.0 R3 had Adobe Flash Lite Support (which supports websites with Flash 8 , I went here to download an evaluation edition of Windows CE 6.0 R3. Then I used Nero (or any other app that will allow you to extract files from an ISO) and extracted the following files:

12/01/2009 04:00 AM 1,448,128 flash.dll
09/17/2009 02:03 AM 1,352,192 flashlite_wince.dll
09/17/2009 02:03 AM 121,344 flashsnddec_wince.dll
09/17/2009 02:03 AM 81,408 flashviddec_on2_wince.dll
09/17/2009 02:03 AM 56,832 flashviddec_sorenson_wince.dll
09/17/2009 02:03 AM 337,920 flaxplayer_wince.dll
09/17/2009 02:03 AM 4,096 flax_resources_wince.dll

and I copied the following text from the 0213_ie.reg file, to register the Adobe Flash Lite portion, and created a file called FlashLite.Reg.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{EC5B7C25-899A-479F-B5A8-CA2D2FC74931}]
@="FlaxPlayer_wince"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\FlaxPlayer_wince.DLL]
"AppID"="{EC5B7C25-899A-479F-B5A8-CA2D2FC74931}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MacromediaFlashPaper.MacromediaF lashPaper]
@="Macromedia Flash Paper"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MacromediaFlashPaper.MacromediaF lashPaper\CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashFactory.FlashFactory]
@="Macromedia Flash Factory Object"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashFactory.FlashFactory\CLSID]
@="{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashFactory.FlashFactory\CurVer]
@="FlashFactory.FlashFactory.1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashFactory.FlashFactory.1]
@="Macromedia Flash Factory Object"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FlashFactory.FlashFactory.1\CLSI D]
@="{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash\CL SID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash\Cu rVer]
@="ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.8"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.1]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.1\ CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.3]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.3\ CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.4]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.4\ CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.5]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.5\ CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.6]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.6\ CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.7]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.7\ CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.8]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.8\ CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.9]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"
"EditFlags"=dword:00010000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.9\ CLSID]
@="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"



[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}]
@="Shockwave Flash Object"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Control]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\EnableFullPage]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\EnableFullPage\.mfp]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\EnableFullPage\.spl]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\EnableFullPage\.swf]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Implemented Categories]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Implemented Categories\{7DD95801-9882-11CF-9FA9-00AA006C42C4}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Implemented Categories\{7DD95802-9882-11CF-9FA9-00AA006C42C4}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\InprocServer32]
@="\\Windows\\FlaxPlayer_wince.dll"
"ThreadingModel"="Both"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\MiscStatus]
@="0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\MiscStatus\1]
@="131473"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\ProgID]
@="ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash.1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Programmable]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\ToolboxBitmap32]
@="\\Windows\\FlaxPlayer_wince.dll, 1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\TypeLib]
@="{B62F8115-CFCC-4DBB-AE17-FD3DE3110276}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Version]
@="1.0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\VersionIndependentProgID]
@="ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}]
@="Macromedia Flash Factory Object"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Control]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Implemented Categories]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Implemented Categories\{7DD95801-9882-11CF-9FA9-00AA006C42C4}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Implemented Categories\{7DD95802-9882-11CF-9FA9-00AA006C42C4}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\InprocServer32]
@="\\Windows\\FlaxPlayer_wince.dll"
"ThreadingModel"="Both"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\ProgID]
@="FlashFactory.FlashFactory.1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Programmable]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\ToolboxBitmap32]
@="\\Windows\\FlaxPlayer_wince.dll, 1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\TypeLib]
@="{B62F8115-CFCC-4DBB-AE17-FD3DE3110276}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\Version]
@="1.0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{D27CDB70-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}\VersionIndependentProgID]
@="FlashFactory.FlashFactory"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{B62F8115-CFCC-4DBB-AE17-FD3DE3110276}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{B62F8115-CFCC-4DBB-AE17-FD3DE3110276}\1.0]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{B62F8115-CFCC-4DBB-AE17-FD3DE3110276}\1.0\0]
@="\\Windows\\FlaxPlayer_wince.dll"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{B62F8115-CFCC-4DBB-AE17-FD3DE3110276}\1.0\0\win32]
@="\\Windows\\FlaxPlayer_wince.dll"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.spl]
@="ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash"
"Content Type"="application/futuresplash"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.swf]
@="ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash"
"Content Type"="application/x-shockwave-flash"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mfp]
@="MacromediaFlashPaper.MacromediaFlashPaper"
"Content Type"="application/x-shockwave-flash"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.sol]
"Content Type"="text/plain"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.sor]
"Content Type"="text/plain"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/futuresplash]
"CLSID"="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"
"Extension"=".spl"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/x-shockwave-flash]
"CLSID"="{D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000}"
"Extension"=".swf"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\FlashLite]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\FlashLite\Memory Settings]
"Static Memory(in KB)"=dword:00000032
"Dynamic Memory(in MB)"=dword:00000128

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\FlashLite\Flash Mime Types]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\FlashLite\Flash Mime Types\Audio]
"midi"="audio/x-midi"
"xmidi"="audio/x-cmidi"
"mp3"="audio/mp3"
"3gpp"="audio/3gpp"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\FlashLite\Flash Mime Types\Video]
"avi1"="video/avi"
"avi2"="video/msvideo"
"avi3"="video/x-msvideo"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\FlashLite\Flash Mime Types\Image]
"Jpeg"="image/jpeg"
"Bmp"="image/bmp"
"Gif"="image/gif"


I then copied all of the files above, including the FlashLite.Reg file I created to my device using a USB Drive. I copied all the files to the Windows directory on my device and then I double clicked the FlashLite.Reg file I created to register Adobe Flash Lite. After I did that, I could see websites that use Adobe Flash 8. Some Youtube.com videos can be viewed with Flash 8 support. There were a few Youtube pages that wouldn't load, but a lot of them did....For now...cause you know they will probably try to go to Flash 10 on everything.

You will have to search through the ISO to find the files that look like 0123_flash.dll The files will have four numbers and an _ in front of the names of the files.

[dwinston91]

This website might also provide a solution depending on the price of the USB stick. Their MIO Smartbook has the exact same specs as ours. They provide the OCEAN OS (which is a Linux derivative of Open SUSE Linux) The Swordfish MOD USB drive contains a bootable version of OCEAN OS. Check out the specs and what they have to say here

Here is the information on their MIO Smartbook.

[celem]

Green Maraschino 0 Linux may work. a similar, if not identical device is offered by Cherrypal. See:
Cherrypal

[PerChristensen]

Due to bad weather I am stuck and have more time for myself in the holidays than wanted.And also too much time to play with the toy!.
After installing a .cab file with Microsoft GAMEapi`s for WINCE3 my netbook hangs after booting - probably because of overwriting a recent .dll with an older one.
Therefore I have disassembled the netbook.Unfortunately I cannot attach the zip file with pictures of mainboard,processor etc. to the forum as it is around 2 Mb.

Amazingly my netbook booted after reassembly,but still hang.If I could mount the device as usb drive I could easily copy the recent version of .dll to the flash drive,also some bootloaders "ping" network a couple of seconds before loading the kernel,and then it is possible aborting boot and connect via LAN.

But I`m out for the moment.Great job dwinston91,and keep the momentum,celem!

Download of pictures of disassembled netbook from (some limit of monthly download):

http://www.hyfse.com/armVT8500/VIA_VT8500_netbook.zip

[PerChristensen]

Sitting at computer at family far away from home (and my hanged netbook) I will just save this link

http://194.150.201.35/cnmlifestyle/c...7SErestore.htm

with tools probably able to reinstall firmware to our book.

PS: on the site there are links to some games.Be carefull with GAPI:support software as it was installation of these APIS who made my netbook crash.

[illumin8]

Ill be following this thread with great interest...

[dwinston91]

I found this site that has a lot of tools and software on it. Seems to be really interesting. I have been reading the link from PerChristensen about the machines that are similar to ours. The only challenge is that the linux machine does not have an ARM processor. The Windows CE 5.0 machine has the ARM processor. Now if only the Linux machine had the ARM processor, then I could use the procedures mentioned and the files they provide on their site. It still provides good information pertaining to reinstalling an image onto these machines.

I am looking at the Embeddian site as well. I tried using the procedure using a linux machine, but the procedure didn't work for me when I tried the minicom part. After setting up minicom, I didn't see what they said I should see on the screen.

I am now trying the Embeddian solution using a Windows machine. Hopefully that procedure will work, since it talked about using the DNW tool, that can be downloaded from the site I mentioned at the top of this post.

[celem]

... this link

http://194.150.201.35/cnmlifestyle/c...7SErestore.htm with tools probably able to reinstall firmware to our book.

The CnMbook install procedure provides an important clue, namely special pins to short, etc. The CnMbook appears identical to the unit that I purchased on eBay.

[celem]

...The only challenge is that the linux machine does not have an ARM processor...

Such devices are on eBay http://tinyurl.com/yj8ntz8 but getting Linux on the cheaper ARM units is the challenge.