I came across a link detailing how to install a working Linux kernel on my XV6600. It was so cool I had to try it – and I did. I was able to get a functional UI up and running (GPE), although a bit of the screen was cut-off.
The directions were not quite clear and I had to do some digging to find out more. Here is a the version of the steps with some working instructions.

STEP 0. Backup all of your data (including sd card). I use Sprite Backup software.

STEP 1. Download the Kernel, etc.

zImage initrd haret.exe GPE BlueAngel Image startup.txt autorun

STEP 2. Format SD-Card

Become root and create 2 partitions on the SD-Card

The first partition is for the kernel, startup scripts and bootloader. The second is for the GPE image.

• fdisk /dev/sda should do this (it may be under /dev/mmc on your machine, this is mearly an example).

One of 30MB (for kernel and bootloader) and another (or rest of SD) for the GPE image.

Format the Partitions

• mkfs.vfat /dev/sda1
• mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda2 (These two commands may differ for your system, they are only meant as an example)

Now mount those partitions.

• mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/sd0
• mount -t ext3 /dev/sda2 /mnt/sd1

STEP 3. Copy kernel, etc onto first partition

Create a new directory in /mnt/sd0 called ‘linux’. Copy zImage, initrd, startup and haret into the ‘linux directory’

Create another directory in /mnt/sd0 called ’2577′.

Copy autorun.exe into ’2577′

STEP 4. Extract GPE into the EXT3 Partition

Change to /mnt/sd1 ‘cd /mnt/sd1′

• Execute tar xjvpf
  /gpe-ba.tar.bz2
• DO NOT, as many intelligent people have done, just copy the archive onto the partition!

STEP 5. Change to /root ‘cd / ‘

• Execute sync
• Execute umount /dev/sda1
• Execute umount /dev/sda2

STEP 6. Now boot linux by inserting the SD-Card into the BlueAngel. DONE!

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 4th, 2006 at 5:49 pm and is filed under Mobile. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.