USB update to 8.2
Please see the new installation instructions EG. for Release 10.1.3.
These excellent USB update instructions are valid for 8.2.1, but have not been updated for the more recent releases. Writers are needed to adjust these instructions for XO-1 and XO-1.5 on the new release.
These instructions are designed for new users.
- For longer instructions without images, see No-fail update to 8.2.
- For Advanced users, see the Clean-install procedure page also.
- [printable version is available as a PDF].
What you need
a USB drive already loaded with Sugar upgrade files
how to make or get one
an XO laptop
power charger for the XO laptop
Let's do it! in 3 easy steps
- Important
- re-flashing your XO will erase everything on it!
- (which might be exactly what you want if you are donating your XO, for example)
1) Prepare
Start with your XO turned off
what if it doesn't turn off
plug your XO to a power source.
plug the USB drive into any one of the three USB ports.
2) Go
hold down all four gamepad keys (on the right side of the screen, above the power button).
be sure to get all four.
while still holding the four gamepad keys, push the power button to turn the XO on.
You may need your other hand to do this.
Let go the power button or the XO will turn off again
keep holding down the four gamepad keys until the message "Release the game key to continue" appears on the screen.
This will happen fairly quickly, a couple seconds at most.
what if I don't get that message
3) Done
Release the gamepad keys.
If you see a grid of black and other colored boxes on your screen, congratulations!
Your XO is reflashing.
Just sit back and let it do its thing.
It will take about 10 minutes
your XO will automatically reboot when it is done.
Your XO may reboot twice, playing the little XO tune both times.
it will reboot automatically and ask you for a name, as if it were brand new.
what if it doesn't reboot
What can go wrong
The XO does not turn off
- In extreme cases of software failure you may need to remove the power source and the battery if any light keeps flashing in your XO.
Less than four stars in "Release the game keys" message
- possibly you didn't get all the game keys at once
- power off again
- with your thumb over the four game keys, and your fingers behind the case, press slowly, listening for four clicks, keep the pressure on, then turn on the power
- press slightly harder on any of the game keys that isn't showing a star
- once all four stars are shown, release the keys
No "Release the game keys" message
- possibly no keys were pressed at the time the power went on
- power off again
- go back to Prepare
- possibly the USB connection has issues
- Try plugging in the USB drive to another XO port
- If after trying several times this doesn't work, suspect the USB drive is bad
- replace
No grid
- If you got the "Release game key" message, but no grid after a couple minutes,
- try another USB port. If still no go, suspect the USB drive or files on it - replace
Black grid with various yellow squares turning on and off
- you pressed the cursor keys on the left instead of the game keys on the right
- try again
No reboot
- If you got the "Release game key" message, then the grid, but no reboot,
- remove the USB drive, reboot manually
- If no result after a couple minutes, try again from the start with another USB port.
- If still no go, suspect the USB drive
- replace
Where to get a USB drive with a Sugar update
Make your own
- You will need a 512 MB or larger USB drive. Some people have reported issues with sticks over 4 Gb, but not with firmware versions after 2009.
-
- Usually works. Includes instructions for updating Activities if you have wireless.
-
-
- Making your own can get messy sometimes, like with U3 and such. This page has all the nitty gritty.
-
purchase one
if donating your XO to Bolivia
If donating your XO to Bolivia, Yama Ploskonka will send you a USB. yama at netoso.com
to do
- Illustrated instructions for downloading files
- Instructions for updating activities right after an update (from No-fail update)