Nokia N900 Howto: Backup data, reset device to factory settings, gain root access, overclock, and install ssh

Backup data

Using rsync, it is very simple to backup your personal data. Install it through the app manager and issue the following command from your computer

rsync -avz -e ssh user@10.0.0.1:. /home/foo/backup

Here, foo is the username you use on your computer and 10.0.0.1 is the ip address of the N900.

Reset the N900 to factory settings

Download and install flasher

First, get the flasher software here http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/maemo-dev-env-downloads.php

  • Latest version (Jan 2011) is 3.5: maemo_flasher-3.5_2.5.2.2_i386.deb or maemo_flasher-3.5_2.5.2.2.tar.gz

Install the flasher.

Download images

Download the EMMC and OS images here http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/nokia_N900.php

  • Latest EMMC version is RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.13-2.VANILLA_PR_EMMC_MR0_ARM.bin
  • Latest OS version is RX-51_2009SE_20.2010.36-2_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin

Flash images

  • Turn off the N900
  • Press and hold the U key on the keypad.Insert the USB cable into you computer.
  • A USB symbol will appear on the top right of your N900 screen. Let go of the U key.

Issue the command

flasher-3.5 -F OS_image_name -f

Here OS_image_name is the name of the OS image you downloaded, e.g. RX-51_2009SE_20.2010.36-2_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin

flasher-3.5 -F EMMC_image_name -f -R

Here EMMC_image_name is the name of the EMMC image you downloaded, e.g. RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.13-2.VANILLA_PR_EMMC_MR0_ARM.bin

Set up root

You can now become root by typing

sudo gainroot

or simply

root

in a terminal

Install ssh

Install the packages openssh-server and openssh-client from the app manager. Alternatively, you may use apt-get

apt-get install openssh-server openssh-client

Overclock

As root, execute

apt-get install kernel-power-settings qcpufreq

To be continued…

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