SOLVED: restore with serial access, original uboot, but broken linux?

I have a dockstar with the original uboot but a corrupted linux. I have serial access and a tftp server. I tried one method of reflashing to stock with serial cable ( http://archlinuxarm.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=1323 ). Flashing worked via tftp, but I get a CRC error upon rebooting.

I have copies of the original mtd0, 1, 2, 3, but haven't seen how to restore them.

I've spent about 4 hours looking for a way to recover, but have not succeeded.

Are there good instructions somewhere for flashing a rescue system with serial access, or for flashing a new uboot via serial, or for using tftpboot with the original uboot (including what image to boot from)?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2012 12:03PM by lyzby.

Answering my own question here. I thought DavyGravy had addressed how to deal with this problem of flashing with tftp via serial, and I found where he had.

First, "MANUAL Directions for Upgrading U-Boot" here:
http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?3,6965

By carefully following these steps, using the uboot for the Dockstar, I was able to reflash my uboot. I was using Ubuntu on a laptop as the tftp server, with a direct wired connection. After uboot was flashed I changed ipaddr and plugged the Dockstar into my router.

Then, how to flash with serial, "Mainline Minimalist Wheezy Installation via Debian Installer/Netboot":
http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?2,7277,7277#msg-7277

These instructions are for the Pogoplug E02. As suggested, I got uImage and uInitrd for the Dockstar from here:
http://d-i.debian.org/daily-images/armel/daily/kirkwood/netboot/marvell/sheevaplug/

I put them in my /var/lib/tftpboot directory, and then downloaded and ran them as shown in the directions. Because I am flashing a Dockstar, I had to use the proper machine id, "setenv machid bb6" (equal to 2998 decimal).

The Dockstar booted properly into the debian installation, and I was able to complete the flashing to usb in about half an hour. It boots properly now to wheezy.

Next I will flash a rescue environment.

Thanks, Davy.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2012 12:03PM by lyzby.