My attempt at getting MicroXP on my WebDT 366 & Questions

If you are running Windows on your WebDT366 this is for you.
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Coburn64
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My attempt at getting MicroXP on my WebDT 366 & Questions

Post by Coburn64 »

Current Status:
Almost There!

My WebDT Specs (from WinCE):

Make & Model: WebDT 366GX
CPU: AMD Geode GX 500
OS: MSDOS 6.22 (Boot Loader) + Windows CE 5 Pro
Memory: 16MB Video RAM (upped from 8MB via BIOS tweak) + 210MB RAM (256MB total RAM installed)

Here's the plan:
Preparation) Make backup of NAND Chip(s) in WebDT.
1) Get a bootable Damn Small Linux USB Key (Done)
2) Boot into Damn Small Linux (Done)
3) Inside Damn Small Linux, Zero out the NAND Chips, so they are completely blank with zeros: sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda (done, only did the first 2K to get rid of the current MBR)
4) Format NAND Chips as single partition with FAT32 FileSystem - sudo fdisk (Done)
5) Install MicroXP v0.83 from USB CDROM (via USB Caddy). (done, after fixing the caddy - it was borken.)
6) Install Drivers (in Driver Thread). (Done, Touchscreen is a little outofwhack...)
7) Get on the net and start browsin' (Currently at this stage)

Problems and Queries:

1) If I install MicroXP onto my WebDT from USB CDROM, will this kill my WebDT's NAND Chips? I read somewhere on this forum that these WebDT NAND chips DO NOT have wear-leveling technologies, and they will die if Windows abuses them (page file, etc etc). Or should I install MicroXP on a old computer of mine first and then ghost it over?

EDIT: Looks like everything went smoothly, I don't see any damage done to the flash chip (via chkdsk). Disabled Page File to stop Windows killing the poor Flash chips...

2) It seems my WebDT has two batteries, one internal and one external. Which one gets depleted first? The internal or the external? I had DSL running on it for about 15 minutes, and the percentage of the battery was staying on 95%. Fun... ;D

EDIT: Answered my own question again, but dunno which one gets used first? Internal or External?  :o

3) It says BlueTooth is present when the actual BlueTooth app in Control Panel in WinCE says "controller not present". Hmm...

4) WebDT Support said they no longer support the 366GX Model - it was dropped a long time ago.

5) My touchscreen seems to have a dead spot, lower left corner thinks I'm tapping above the corner when I'm not. It's irritating me, and I was forced to move the taskbar to the top. *grumble*

Any ideas/comments/questions, peeps?

Cheers,
Coburn64
Last edited by Coburn64 on Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Coburn64
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Coburn64
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Re: My attempt at getting MicroXP on my WebDT 366 & Questions

Post by Coburn64 »

Okay, I updated my first post with the status that I've got at the moment. :)
Coburn64
Linux Geek, Owner of Coburn's Domain, "Geek In The Family" Blog Owner
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Like my work? Please Donate!
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mike66
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Re: My attempt at getting MicroXP on my WebDT 366 & Questions

Post by mike66 »

Coburn64 wrote: 5) My touchscreen seems to have a dead spot, lower left corner thinks I'm tapping above the corner when I'm not. It's irritating me, and I was forced to move the taskbar to the top. *grumble*
Mine does also - I used the advanced 25 point calibration & it still has a dead spot just right of the start button
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