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[Grampa]

I see what you're saying about the two directories /pristine/ and /run/ but inside both of those directories I see two more, each with the main file structure inside. 

Yes, I read somewhere that under certain circumstances, both the main and alternate OSs might be the same. Apparently when you boot with the "O" pressed on the gamepad, the two swap places. You should be able to tell whether they are the same by booting with the "O" and checking the build. If they are, one OS is clearly redundant.

However, I don't think the "pristine" and "run" directories will be the same if you have made any changes. They may look the same, but the "run" would have the changes.

Again, this is just my speculation.

[jt42]

olpc_franco wrote:
Also, I have adjusted one config file so that I don't get the icons at the bottom of the screen every time my mouse accidentally strays down there.

Can you tell me please which config file you changed and what the changes were to do this - I'd love to get rid of the icons popping up every time my mouse slides down!!

[olpc_franco]

Sorry JT,

I looked in my notes but I think I did it before I started documenting everything important like that.  It's posted somewhere in the forum and maybe someone else will see this and answer the question.  Search on mouse.

So I have to find it again myself before I upgrade.

[Frank Scott]

Franco, I bookmarked this page that shows how to disable the frame popping up whenever the mouse strays. I haven't tried it yet, so hopefully this information will help solve the problem:

http://olpcnews.com/forum/index.php?topic=389.0

[jt42]

Thank you Franco and Frank!!  I will try the fix for frame popping later - right now I'm doing a fresh install of 653 so I can install my additional software on the stick as per Franco's directions.

I know what you mean about writing everything down - I have a little notebook now with all my changes so that when my friend's XO arrives we'll be all set (not to mention making my restores easier!!)

[olpc_franco]

jt42 and Frank,

After a month on the forum there has been too much to write down, so I have been keeping a text file on my pc with useful knowledge, links, etc. that is easily searchable.

Just added the link Frank posted above.

[ananda]

I'm the second!

I deleted everything out of the journal.

Reboot.

No luck. 

Right now my solution to everything has been to reflash, but as soon as I get more than a few hours worth of work into everything, that won't be quite so fun. 

Lesley, Please let me know how you are able to do a successful re-flash of your XO's NAND.  I've tried several times, following OLPC instructions at http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Activated_Upgrade
and have failed each and every time.  My XO is recognizing the USB drive, but the flash process stalls with an error message saying:
OS Error [Errno 28] no space left on /sys/ etc.

Can you provide a step-by-step process of what you do please?  Would much appreciate!  Thanks.

[Grampa]

ananda,

Is it possible that the img and fs.zip files on your USB drive are corrupt? Because really, the process is pretty straightforward.

1. With the laptop off, insert the USB drive containing the two files fs.zip and os653.img in its top-level directory (assuming you want build 653).

2. Power up the laptop while holding down the four gamepad buttons (X, O, Square, and Check). Release the buttons when the screen says to do so.

3. Watch while the screen shows the NAND being erased and rewritten, and the laptop reboots.

That's it. You should then be prompted for name and colors, with the laptop having about 70% free drive space.

If this doesn't work, erase the USB drive and download the files again. They could be corrupt. You can get them here:

http://download.laptop.org/xo-1/os/official/653/jffs2/fs.zip

http://download.laptop.org/xo-1/os/official/653/jffs2/os653.img

I should also mention a problem I had this weekend. I wanted to put those two files on an SD card so that I could give my grandsons a "reflashing card" along with the laptops. So I tried to use the Journal to copy the files from a USB drive to an SD drive. Big mistake! My XO froze, probably because there was not enough spare memory to perform the copy operation (the smaller fs.zip file copied fine). My XO would not boot, even with the alternate OS command. My only option was to reflash. I was planning to reflash anyway when the new update comes out, but I didn't think I'd have to do it at the airport while waiting for a plane!  Fortunately, the process was quick and painless, except that I lost all of my customizations.

[ylsf]

This seems like a serious issue on the XO.  I had it happen to me yesterday but I never got a message.  I just tried to boot and the thing froze.  I had to figure out the key combo to get diagnostics (step by step bootup actually) and then figured out it was a full drive. 

I think I will request a developers key right now just in case something like this happens in the future so I will have other options besides flashing the drive.  I flashed it last night but I just read that you can get a developer key even if you can't boot your machine normally (although the process seems pretty long winded!).  For me I didn't have anything important on the machine (except the time it took me to install different apps,etc).  I am going to re-install apps onto the SD card or a USB drive this time though...

[denro55]

Hi, I have 2 things.

#1  - olpc_franco  - how have you accessed MP3's from a SD drive or USB stick? When I looked at the Journal for the disk (Usb/SD) I could open the MP3 in Etoys but then it would crash with an error that said something like "you probably should abandon this". (sorry for not giving the exact error - I learned not to try it so I can't look at the error right now)

#2  - ylsf - I asked for a development key when I ran out of space, and didn't get any satisfaction. I got a "refer to the forums on the computer" answer, and nothing to do with a developer key.

I'm trying to find someone to tell me how to run apps from the SD drive. I have the activities from the activities page (i.e. falling blocks game, mimic, etc.) and don't want to install them directly to the XO since I already ran out of space once...

Please be specific since I'm a user with a little bit of knowledge (which can be a dangerous thing - just ask the doorstop (Eone machine) that I killed two months after I bought it)

Lynn (mesh color -blue inside/purple outside)

[olpc_franco]

denro55,

I access mp3 files (music and language lessons) from a USB drive but you can just as easily put them on an SD drive.  They are accessed either singly or in groups via a playlist.  I don't use eToys and I don't understand why you are using that.  The forum has info on using mplayer and totem.  Totem is the built-in player accessed from the Terminal Activity with the command:

totem &   [it looks like it is not starting because you see a number and then the prompt again but give it some seconds]

It won't play mp3 files with out the fluendo codec.

See

http://olpcnews.com/forum/index.php?topic=1001.msg11354#msg11354

posts #3 and 6.

On the totem menu you click on

Movie > Open > File System (in the left frame).
When the files appear in the right frame click:
media > [name of your SD/USB device with the mp3 files]
Then click on an individual file or your playlist.

Totem for some reason turns the sound off and you use the up arrow to increase the volume.

I don't think I left anything out.

[denro55]

Thanks a lot! More for me to try when I can squeeze in the time!

I appreciate all the help!