How to reinstall OS on PlugComputer

[dcausevic]

I would like to reinstall OS, namely Ubuntu 9.04 on my PlugComputer since other people worked on it and now there are missing libraries.
Instead of fixing it I would like to reinstall the OS and return it to factory state.

I tried to follow these instructions http://www.plugcomputer.org/plugwiki/index.php/Getting_the_Plug_Computer_Running_with_an_Operating_System#Flashing_the_Plug_Computer_to_Boot_Itself and I did get the part on how to connect PlugComputer to my Linux machine via USB and then use Putty terminal to connect from Linux to PlugComputer.
Now I am connected to PlugComputer but I get stuck on the next step http://www.plugcomputer.org/plugwiki/index.php/Flashing_an_Operating_System_onto_the_Plug which is creating jffs2 image. How do I create it? Do I first have to download Ubuntu 9.04 source distribution from http://plugcomputer.org/index.php/us/resources/downloads?func=select&id=2 then unpack it on my Linux machine to some local folder and build it there first with mkfs.jffs2? It is not that clear in this tutorial but I am guessing this is what I have to do, am I right?

Thanks,
Dzenan

[Mike Levin]

Absolutely no instructions that I've found are complete and correct. Some come close. I'm dong my work on a PC, but the new bandwagon appears to be a tool called EISA from sourceforge http://sourceforge.net/projects/esia/ But even with this, it's full of nuances that need to be pointed out for ready success.

Regarding Ubuntu, unfortunately, the readily available downloads are for Debian_Squeeze, but really if you're not installing a desktop, being on Debian is about the same as being on Ubuntu, and maybe even a little better since support is always likely to fall into place for Debian before Ubuntu, since Ubuntu's based on Debian. I recommend going this route, because the process appears to be reliable.

I list all the nuances on where I document the process http://shankserver.org/2010/09/unbrick-sheevaplug/ , but the one big one to call out is ensuring you have a reliable USB flash drive. Specifically, old 512MB ones are where I have had the most success.

Since your question regarded what and where to download, for the process I'm describing, you download EISA from sourceforge (link above), and then Debian_Squeeze from here http://sourceforge.net/projects/esia/files/distros/Debian_Squeeze_usb_app.tar.bz2/download Unarchive the download, and put the whole Debian_Squeeze directory onto the USB, leave it plugged into your PC (or Linux box), run EISA, connect your SheevaPlug over serial, etc.

[dcausevic]

I have read your blog and it seems the best documented so far. Good for you! I only have one problem which is I have to stick with ubuntu whether I like it or not. Is there any way I use your guide just have ubuntu instead of debian?

Thanks a lot men

[Mike Levin]

Well, I got the Debian_Squeeze image that was specially prepared for the ESIA installer tool. When looking at the files inside of it, it looks like if you pack root.tar.gz with all the files from a the root of a working Ubuntu install, it would work. But it's a chicken-and-egg problem. If you just need to find the Debian file I'm working from, it's:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/esia/files/distros/Debian_Squeeze_usb_app.tar.bz2/download

If it's because you already have the Ubuntu files, I would encourage you to not go that route, unless you have a working install on a SheevaPlug to copy the files from. This is a "snapshot" approach--not a "running an installer" approach, so the file source needs to be running on a known-working system.

[Joel35]

The blog is really useful. I have used this guide to install Ubuntu and found it useful.

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