iLiad hangs on boot - Reflash / Format doesn't help

[oakinger]

Hi all,

hope someone can explain the reflash log output (after doing a "format") to me:

Format: Back to clean iRex-supplied defaults
Partitioning the TFFS filesystems...
Formatting tffsa5 partition...
Done
Formatting tffsa6 partition...
Creating default dirs only
Done
Formatting tffsa7 partition...
Put back registry if we had a backup...
Done
Flash application filesystem
Integrity check on app.image.gz:
failed
Filesystem not programmed
Flash kernel
Integrity check on kernel:ok.
Flash the kernel:
-- Kernel flashed OK --
Flash initrd
Integrity check on initrd:ok.
Flash the initrd:
-- Initrd flashed OK --
-- Format OK --

Here's what happened to me:
I tried to insert an SD card with approx. 50 pdf's (300MB) into my iLiad, it started blinking for 30mins. without responding to any key press. Thus I resetted the device and tried to reboot. Since then the iLiad shows the boot screen and the progress bar fills up to 100% but seems to hang then. Nothing more happens. I already tried to do a standard reflash and finally a "format" reflash, with the above result.

tx for any help!

Erich

[wallcraft]

Have you tried removing the SD card?

[oakinger]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Have you tried removing the SD card?

sure. I tried it w/ and w/o SD card.

[yokos]

Flash application filesystem
Integrity check on app.image.gz:
failed
Filesystem not programmed

This means in human understandable language: something is wrong with your file app.image.gz.
The md5 checksum of your file differs with the must-have value of the original file.
So some bytes of your file aren't correct, therefore the flash program can't use the file for reflashing.

Just my 2 cents: something got wrong during download of cf-card-contents.zip.
Please redownload cf-card-contents.zip & replace app.image.gz on CF card.
Then it should work.

[oakinger]

Hi,

thanks for the hint.

Originally Posted by yokos

Flash application filesystem
Integrity check on app.image.gz:
failed
Filesystem not programmed

Please redownload cf-card-contents.zip & replace app.image.gz on CF card.

Just did, but with no effect. Obviously the file is still corrupted :-(

Any ideas where to get an uncorrupted copy of cf-contents? Or how to calculated checksum myself to test if the downloaded checksum maybe is wrong?

tia,
Erich

[oakinger]

Hi,

I just verified the checksum using this MD5 calculator tool. The checksum is ok. I still get the same log output when trying to reflash.

Btw: iRex support helpfully suggested to reset the device...

plz help - I'm falling into deep despair since I really love the iLiad and don't want to return it ;-)

Erich

[yokos]

Hi,
these are bad news.

I don't know what's going wrong there. You said your md5 checking program messages the file on CF card is ok; but it isn't working. Very odd.

Have you tried to format (FAT or FAT32) your CF card and copy only the "images" directory (with .gz & md5 files) and config.txt to it?
You haven't that much options to get ouf your trap.
Maybe the diagnostic message in log file is wrong?
Do you have "submit a ticket"? What does iRex say to content of logfile.txt?

"Booting from CF" is described in the official iRex file "Reflash from CF howto". It's more a draft than a noob's guide in the booting section. This could be a temporary solution.
Booting from CF is uncharted water for me. You should find somebody here who has done this already.

[Adam B.]

Do you have "app.image.gz.md5" in the directory with the images? Does it match the md5 of your app.image.gz?

[oakinger]

Hi,

Have you tried to format (FAT or FAT32) your CF card and copy only the "images" directory (with .gz & md5 files) and config.txt to it?

Yes, several times. I even copied the files in different order to maybe overcome some defect bits on the CF (was just an idea). I downloaded cf-card-contents.zip, unpacked and copied it over to the CF. I also tried to remove the app.image.gz + app.image.gz.md5 files which resulted in a log entry saying "app.image.gz not found". So this means the files are found, but for some odd reason the md5 sig validation fails - although I double-checked the checksum and tried to boot using the recalculated checksum copied into app.image.gz.md5.

I followed the iRex as well as Adam's "reflash HowTo", but all attempts with the same result. Does anybody have another app.image.gz than the one I can download from myirex for me?

Do you have "submit a ticket"? What does iRex say to content of logfile.txt?

Yes:

Dear Erich,

did you already tried to reset the device. You will find the reset button on the backside of the device.

Please try to reset the device and switch it on after resetting. If the problem still occures don´t hesitate to contact us again.

You might image how happy I was with this helpful response...

Thanks for your helpful hints, I really appreciate your help!

cheers,
Erich

[Adam B.]

Are you doing the md5sum on the file after it's on the CF card?

The app.image.gz that iRex provides should work without a problem (especially if the md5's match). I suspect there's an error with the card. Maybe a bad sector or something? Have you tried running a scandisk (full scan) on it?

[yokos]

Hi oakinger ,
I wanted to send you a PM. but you have "chosen not to receive private messages" in your profile settings.

[oakinger]

Hi,

Originally Posted by Adam B.

Are you doing the md5sum on the file after it's on the CF card?

The app.image.gz that iRex provides should work without a problem (especially if the md5's match). I suspect there's an error with the card. Maybe a bad sector or something? Have you tried running a scandisk (full scan) on it?

yes I did all this without success. I even tried different cards.

-Erich

[oakinger]

Hi everybody,

thanks a lot for your help. Unfortunately I wasn't able to solve this issue before leaving for vacation, so I had to send back the iLiad to get my money back. Btw: I didn't receive any more help from iRex support... - I'm pretty disappointed :-(

cheers,
Erich