Chapter 4. Installing the bootloader

Table of Contents
4.1. Downloading the bootloader
4.2. Flashing the bootloader
4.3. Verifying the bootloader
4.4. Rebooting the iPAQ

This chapter covers the only dangerous step in the whole conversion process. By dangerous, I mean that this can really turn your iPAQ into a useless high-tech paperweight! Fortunately, this only happen very seldom, and the risk is close to zero if you follow the instructions carefully.

As a service, Compaq (now HP) Research ensures that it will fix your unit in case it was rendered nonbooting by a failed installation. Of course, this may take a while before you get it back, and this should only be seen as the last resort.

Warning

As this operation may erase everything on your unit, be sure to have a backup as described in Chapter 2 and md5sum-verified BootBlaster_1.18.exe and bootldr-2.18.01.bin files as described in Chapter 2 and Section 4.1.

Remember, THIS OPERATION IS PERFORMED AT YOUR OWN RISKS.