Manual Firmware Install
Note: Many firmware pages transclude this page to provide installation instructions, providing a version in place of VERSION_NUM; see e.g. OLPC Firmware q2e15.
Firmware may be updated in a manner which requires no keyboard entry and in a manner which does require keyboard entry. Firmware is updated automatically when Updating the XO.
Installation Requirements
When installing new firmware, you must have a well-charged battery and the AC adapter plugged in. The firmware update code will not proceed otherwise. Possible error messages are:
| error message | how to fix |
|---|---|
| AC not present | plug in the power cord, check the battery LED is on, then try again. |
| No external power | plug in the power cord, check the battery LED is on, then try again, |
| No battery | plug in the battery, check the latches, then try again, or try another battery, |
| Battery low | allow more time for the battery to charge, then try again, or try another battery. |
Installation without updating the XO software
For the situation where a firmware update is desired without updating the XO software, see Upgrading firmware. The firmware is updated with the file bootfw.zip on a USB drive.
Manual Installation with keyboard entry
Unsecured Laptop
This section is for unsecured laptops. Most XO-1.5 and XO-1.75 laptops are unsecured. Most developer XO laptops are unsecured. To unsecure your laptop, follow the instructions at Activation and Developer Keys.
You may install using either:
- a USB drive or SD card,
- the laptop's internal drive,
- a network.
Choose one.
Using a USB drive or SD card
- download the firmware from http://dev.laptop.org/pub/firmware/VERSION_NUM/VERSION_NUM.rom and save it to a USB drive or SD card,
- shutdown the laptop,
- check the battery is inserted and locked,
- check that the power cord is in place and the battery indicator is green,
- insert the USB drive or SD card,
- turn on the laptop, and get to the 'ok' prompt. See Ok for more detail. You should see:
ok
- if the downloaded file is on a USB drive, type:
ok flash u:\VERSION_NUM.rom
- if the downloaded file is on an external SD card:
ok flash sd:\boot\VERSION_NUM.rom
- wait for the laptop to reboot itself,
- remove the USB drive or SD card.
(Expert users may remove the USB drive after the message "Got firmware" ... at this stage the file has been read and closed.)
Using the laptop internal drive
An alternate method is to download the firmware file to the laptop internal drive and then install from the internal drive.
- start the laptop,
- connect to a wireless or wired network,
- start the Terminal Activity and type:
$ su # cd /versions/boot/current/boot/ # wget http://dev.laptop.org/pub/firmware/VERSION_NUM/VERSION_NUM.rom
- shutdown the laptop,
- check the battery is inserted and locked,
- check that the power cord is in place and the battery indicator is green,
- turn on the laptop, and get to the 'ok' prompt. See Ok for more detail. You should see:
ok
- if the downloaded file is on an XO-1, type:
ok flash n:\boot\VERSION_NUM.rom
- if the file is on the internal SD card of an XO-1.5 or XO-1.75:
ok flash int:\boot\VERSION_NUM.rom
Using a network
You will need a compatible USB to ethernet adapter, or an open or WEP wireless access point, connected to the internet.
- shutdown the laptop,
- check the battery is inserted and locked,
- check that the power cord is in place and the battery indicator is green,
- turn on the laptop, and get to the 'ok' prompt. See Ok for more detail. You should see:
ok
- if using wireless, type the essid of the wireless network:
ok essid mynetwork
- if using a WPA wireless access point, type the WPA key for the network:
ok wpa passphrase
- type the flash command using the download link above, but change all slash characters so they are backwards, for example:
ok flash http:\\dev.laptop.org\pub\firmware\VERSION_NUM\VERSION_NUM.rom
Secured Laptop
Secured laptops can only use flash firmware that has been signed. All mass-production machines had the latest firmware at the time of manufacture.
Upgrading firmware describes how to upgrade to a newer signed firmware release.
See also
- Cheat codes for information about how game buttons control startup options.