XO boot problem

[Daniel Drake]

2009/3/10 Philipp Kocher <philipp.kocher at gmx.net>:
> Hi,
>
> An other school in Cambodia has the problem that several XOs don't boot
> anymore. Some of the XOs have build 708 and other ones build 767
> installed. All are in secure mode.
> With a dignostic startup the following information is last shown on the
> screen:
> OLPC C2, 256 MiB memory installed, S/N CSN75001163
> OpenFirmware CL1 Q2D16 Q2D
>
> Nothing happens anymore afterwards.
>
> The OFW hardware diagnostic is still working.
> After a clean install the XO works fine again but all the data is lost.
>
> Has anyone a solution for that problem or input for further diagnosis?

This is a common problem seen by several deployments:
http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/7607

It is caused when machines are shut down improperly - i.e. the child
holds the power button for 5secs to turn off the laptop, or all power
sources are removed (i.e. battery + AC connected, no AC and battery
runs to zero, etc), or if the XO hard-crashes and you are forced to
shut down uncleanly.

The solution is to upgrade firmware to e.g. q2e18.

While the firmware update will solve the immediate problem where
OpenFirmware crashes when minor corruption is encountered, unclean
shutdowns will lead to file corruption causing more, probably
less-obvious problems down the line.

> I wanted to recommend a firmware update, but the file bootfw.zip is
> missing in the directory for the newer firmware releases (e.g. q2e18 for
> build 767):
> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Upgrading_firmware#Steps_to_upgrade_firmware

It sounds like you are not using 767, or have customized it somehow.
Official 767 already has q2e18 as /boot/bootfw.zip and if you boot
with AC connected it will upgrade you to q2e18.
Could you give the URL to the build that you are using?

Daniel