Puppy on a WebDT 530 Thin Client, Help?

[ackray]

I'm trying to get puppy to boot on one of these terminals. Here is what I have found out about them so far. General specs can be found at: http://bskwebdev.com/sites/dtri/website ... DT530.html

As mentioned:
High-integration National Semiconductor Geode Processor
13.3" integrated TFT LCD at 1024 x 768 resolution (SVGA)
32 MB Flash memory and 64 MB SDRAM
10/100 BaseT Ethernet
2 USB Ports
IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN (WebDT 530R) or 56 kbps V.90 modem (Optional, WebDT 530)
81-key IR Keyboard with integrated Pointing Device (Optional)

I've taken it apart and found out that it takes laptop style PC-133 SODIM

The OS is loaded on an internal 32 Meg CF card.

There is a Mini-Pci slot that can be used for either a modem or wireless

The BIOS seems to be Ver 4.02 an XpressROM Insyde Software sticker is next to it listing Xra 024 4552 . I have been unable to boot into CMOS to verify any of this.

There is a dual compact flash card slot to hold one internal and one external CF card.


In general they are neat little units with an LCD screen, 16 bit sound and an Infra red wireless keyboard mouse combo unit.

The two units I received are set up to boot into the IE browser and log into a server. I can minimize the browser but that's it. So far I am unable to run any other software. However I can browse web pages as is.

At boot up pressing F8 will get me into Diagnostic mode where I can Y/N the Himem sys and Autoexec batch options. If I don't run the Autoexec OS file I get a DOS 6.22 prompt with a very limited command set.

I put in a 128 meg RAM stick.

I have removed the CMOS battery and taken out the internal CF card in an attempt to default the unit with no luck. Without the internal CF card the TC will not boot.

Currently I am trying to get the unit to boot into Puppy Linux. I've taken it apart and have tried to boot from a USB key or a CF with puppy 3.01 In both cases it will fail. It will not boot from a USB key and the CF card will fail at the boot loader.

Has anyone else had any luck with these or a similar Geode unit?

EDIT Note:
as there is a CS5530A companion chip on the mainboard I am guessing this is a Geode GX-1 which will clock at 200-333 MHz.

[raffy]

You can trick it by installing Puppy on the internal flash* (but pup_xxx.sfs would not fit) then put pup_xxx.sfs on the external flash. At boot time, Puppy should search for pup_xxx.sfs.

To make sure that pup_xxx.sfs is not copied to flash during installation, copy the Puppy CD contents to a subdirectory, not including the pup_xxx.sfs. Point to that subdirectory when the install wizard asks where to find the Puppy files.

------------------------
* The Universal installer option must be 'USB CF later move CF to IDE adaptor".

[ackray]

^^^ Thanks

As the internal flash was just a 32 meg CF card I used a 256 meg card instead. I then tried to install via the 'USB CF later move CF to IDE adaptor' option but could not get the install routine to complete the install.

It would get to the point where the installer asked for the files and it would then stop. It didn't matter if I used the live cd or had copied the files to my hard drive. I tried this option on two different laptops with the same results.

If I went to the USB flash option the install routine completed but the CF card would not boot the TC.

[raffy]

You have these options:

1. Use GParted (if you have it) to format the CF to FAT16, and make sure the "set flags" shows a check in the "boot" box.

2. Check with "fdisk /dev/sda" for the boof flag - see the instructions here:
http://minipc.org/safepup/index.php?fil ... 0Steps.htm
(Note: sudo -i is not required in Puppy).

Good luck.

[ackray]

@raffy
Ok I did that on the 256 meg CF card and it got a little further.

It went up to the point where it listed booting the kernel then I got this message across the bottom of the screen:




IN T 6: CRZ 00000000 err 00000000 EIP c0443ad0 CS 00000060 flags 00010012
stack: 00000014 c0458e10 c043b973 c0116f8b c03abf4b c0433fc8 c0433fe8 c043bd0b

And there it freezes.

I also went through the 'default' install option with a 1 gig card and got the same message.

Since this is a 300 MGhz Processor and 128 megs of ram should I try an older version of puppy?

[raffy]

Try minipup at http://minipc.org/pup - it has an older kernel (Please check the md5sum).

Also, to be sure that your flash drive works, try it for booting another machine.

If these fail, then by default, the BIOS allows only non-Linux OS.

[ackray]

Thanks Raffy! Currently I cannot get into the BIOS. I am pursuing that elsewhere.

I've also posted this over at http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 352#189352 so feel free to pitch in there.

I guess my next step is to try a minimal boot CF card to se if I can even get a # prompt.