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Currently there isn’t an easy way to do a hard reset on the N900. Nokia should include this in a future firmware as there is an urgent need for this feature: for performance reasons, a “clean start” and when selling your devices.
A Care Specialist for Nokia has shown how to do a hard reset for the N900, this is the only way to do this until we get an easier method. Haven’t tried this myself, but according to him it should work.
From a windows PC
1.You first need to download the flashing software.
The first software you need is called “Maemo Flasher”, and this is the program that needs to be installed on your PC and can be found here:
http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/maemo-dev-env-downloads.php
Download the latest version of Maemo Flasher (which is currently 3.5 at time of posting this), and make sure you download the .exe file.
Install that file.
2.Next you need the software for the N900 itself.
That can be found here:
http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/nokia_N900.php
2a.This page will ask you to enter your IMEI, with very clear instructions on where to find it.
Follow the on screen prompts until you reach the download section.
There are two pieces of software you need to download from there.
- eMMC content – This is the package to erase all data held on your 32GB storage.(For PR1.2 choose the one marked Latest)
- OS 2009 (PR 1.2 version 10.2010.19-1) – This is your operating system. (.(For PR1.2 choose the one marked Latest) )
2b.There are two eMMC packages available, so download the Latest. It’s called:
RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.13-2.VANILLA_PR_EMMC_MR0_ARM.bin
2c.The OS is a little more difficult to figure out which one you need.
The notes alongside the software lets you find the right package easier.
I found the best way to check is to do the following: (On the N900)
- Menu
- Settings
- About Product
This will show you this image(or similar)
Note the Version number on your N900′s screen.
Download the OS package that matches the Version on your device. As shown in the image above, using the red text as an example.
For people that purchased the N900 in the UK, the OS package will probably be the same as the red text. But make sure you check. Also be sure to download the Latest version of your package, which is marked by the word Latest.
Software downloads complete.
3.Place these two software packages in the following location on your PC.
c:\program files\maemo\flasher-3.5
You should now have two .bin files in the directory above.
Next steps.
4.Updating the N900 OS
- Your battery needs to be 100% full to prevent any crashes which could leave your phone dead.
- Turn your N900 off.
- Press and hold the U key on the keypad.
- Insert the USB cable, into a USB port, NOT a USB adapter. (a USB symbol should appear on the top right of your N900 screen, and also the Nokia logo in the centre).
- You can now let go of the U key.
- On your PC: Navigate to the Start Menu and select Maemo>Maemo Flasher 3.5>Maemo Flasher 3.5
- In the command window you should now see: C:\Program Files\maemo\flasher-3.5>
- Type: flasher-3.5 -F RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.19-1.002_PR_COMBINED_002_ARM.bin –f
(the file name above may be different to yours, you will need to replace the filename with the filename of the software you downloaded). One easy way to do this is to navigate to C:\Program Files\maemo\flasher-3.5 and get the name of the file their. Depending on your region the file name can be:
RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.19-1.002_PR_COMBINED_002_ARM.bin (USA)
RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.19-1.003_PR_COMBINED_003_ARM.bin (Middle East and North Africa)
RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.19-1.004_PR_COMBINED_004_ARM.bin (India)
RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.19-1.203.1_PR_COMBINED_203_ARM.bin (UK)
RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.19-1_PR_COMBINED_MR0_ARM.bin (Global)
9.This image below shows the completed update of the OS, in the command prompt on your PC. This would have now removed any Apps you may have installed on the device, and reset the homescreens to how they were when you turned it on for the first time.
Your personal data, such as Contacts, Images, SMS will still be on the device.
So if you want to remove these aswell, follow the next steps.
10.Do not disconnect or reboot the device the device. Just leave as is for now.
5.Resetting the Mass Memory
1.Type in the command window :
flasher-3.5 -F RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.13-2.VANILLA_PR_EMMC_MR0_ARM.bin -f -R
This image below shows the completed reset of the eMMC (32GB HDD), in the command prompt on your PC.
This would have now removed any data you had stored there. Including Music, Photos, Contacts, SMS..
The complete reset of your N900 (Or Update) is now complete.
[...] 2010-01-12 00:00:54 More: How to: Hard reset the N900 (Resets All data) | The Nokia Guide var addthis_pub = ''; var addthis_language = 'en';var addthis_options = 'email, favorites, digg, [...]
Thx mate… this is really help….
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i can`t make it…i had tryed several times but nothin…is says that suitable USB device not found and it`s stop there…no matter how much time i let him search…i have windows 7…this might be a problem?
its not letting me download any of the steps to hard reset my n900
Hi.
i have a major problem. my n900 isnt working at all. i have tried to update a i tking the battery was low. the update crashed and i cant start the phone anymore. if someone knows what to do please send a measage
Hi,
Yes it helped. I got the message unable to send or receive with my e-mails.So i was not able to create a new message or reply on a message.
while i had 25G free. Had the N900 phone only 3weeks
Also had only leftover on the 2G memory 77Mb The software for resetting
did the job. All is Ok now
Thank you so much
It worked perfectly!!! My device kept restarting everytime. Now I did a hard reset for both the os and the memory card and it works perfect! Thanks a lot, I thought I’ll lose the device for months (I own the n900 only one week now).
Great guide!!!
[...] [...]
Please, 32Gb HDD flash crashes on error code 1. Is there anything to be done?
I:\>flasher-3.5 -F 2vanilla.bin -f -R
flasher v2.5.2 (Sep 24 2009)
Image ‘mmc’, size 241163 kB
Version RX-51_2009SE_1.2009.41-1.VANILLA
Suitable USB device not found, waiting.
USB device found found at bus bus-0, device address \\.
105.
Found device RX-51, hardware revision 2101
NOLO version 1.4.14
Version of ‘sw-release’: RX-51_2009SE_3.2010.02-8_PR_MR
Booting device into flash mode.
Suitable USB device not found, waiting.
USB device found found at bus bus-0, device address \\.
1c8.
Raw data transfer EP found at EP2.
SU_GET_UPDATE_STATUS_REQ terminated with error code 1.
wrega,
1.Make sure you install pc suite, so that it has the drivers software.
2.Go into device manager (while its looking for the USB device) and right the N900 device that at this might has a yellow warning sign, and let windows search for drivers or updates. That helped with me.
Still not working. Seems not to be a driver problem. Seems that the emmc is corrupted. Any other clue?
Thanks for your attention.
I would bring it back to where I bought or send it to a Nokia care center.
would it kill you to come up with something more user friendly like a on device hard or soft reset that works cause your soft reset clearly does not let name a list of devices manufactures that do
dell
palm
Motorola
htc
apple (threw up in mouth saying that)
and pretty much every android os phone does this perfectly
but you product the n900 does not it a big world your a top for now but that could change you already have a swarm of people opting out of your n900 more for re-sell than i can count starts in the sky fix product get you act together better support more functionality,more user friendly the fact a user has to see comandline at all show how lazy you are
resets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXdr8fJAc3g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r64vtOphyYo
prime examples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7f4NfOKs6E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VLBRBT3f9Y&feature=PlayList&p=B666DB643BEBF07C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
oh and another thing nokia whats with the phone not being able to draw power from the computer its connected to while updating or not wtf is up with that a software issue? hardware? you need to fucking fix it
my n900 iss refusing to boot up at all….would this process help solve this problem
I’m pretty sure it will!
i have done 1 set with in 10 mints thanx for this
@ Jeremy
More Friendly? are you serious?
Steps Download 3 files install one and then type one line to reset
And this is hard for you? Walking must really be a challenge for you.
Any how the steps worked, thank you for posting Devin.
Enhanced version of Maemo killed my phone, but its expected if your playing around in the devs area.
[...] and see how it can run my life. Duh… seems like there is no easy method to do so except to reflash the firmware, which is not exactly fast or convenient. Not a good start… I’m already feeling [...]
[...] don’t want to wait till tomorrow, you can always grab the update here and follow the steps in our How To Hard Reset the N900 guide. Share and [...]
I did it in 10 Mints. My fon was just stopped working after i installed an unsupported software, But thanx ,,, i solved the problem.
[...] bien prends des risques donc re flashage avec Flasher 3.5 plus le flashage de et Vanilla http://thenokiaguide.com/2010/01/11/how-to-hard-reset-the-n900-resets-all-data/ c’est en anglais, facile pour [...]
Hi, I just wanted to say thanks for the guide as it helped me to get back into my n900 after I somehow managed to lock it with a totally unknown PIN whilst I was half asleep playing with the settings.
just two things about the guide though that need to be slightly modified.
step 6 says “On your PC: Navigate to the Start Menu and select Maemo>Maemo Flasher 3.5>Maemo Flasher 3.5″. whilst this opened the app, it would not allow me to re-flash successfully for some reason. I noticed the screenshot showed an actual command line window started from a cmd.exe shortcut in the john the ripper folder, not the start menu so when i tried it this way it re-flashed the phone fine. this is in win7 x32, not sure if it makes a difference, but it might be worth a mention.
also, the command you have in step 8 of section 4 (updating the n900 OS) is:
flasher-3.5 -F RX-51_2009SE_10.2010.19-1.002_PR_COMBINED_002_ARM.bin –f
which is missing the -R from the end, based on the screenshot.
i don’t know if it’s 100% necessary for it all to work, but I added it anyway. in the eMMC flashing guide the -R is there, just not in the first section.
thanks again, you saved me having to take it back to a nokia care centre again only 24 hours after i’d gotten it back after fixing a broken screen.
)
thank-you..worked fine after i got the “-f -R” straight.yes sir a new phone again!!!
I simply did a reset vai the settings menu (I guess that’s a soft reset?) and my phone is like new again. What am I missing by not doing the hard reset? I did Soft reset by: Menu> Settings> Clicked Setting Title @ top of page> Restore Original Settings>Default pin is 12345. Thanks.
Works like a charm, but there were some caviats
I couldn’t get Flasher-3.5 to find my n900 when connected to my laptop running windows 7 x64 Professional. It was only waiting and nothing happened. Then I decided to try it on EEE 901 netbook running win XP pro (x86). Worked at first try. Btw, I installed Ovi suite prior to istalling Flasher-3.5.
vibe666, “-R” option does the following: “-R, –reboot Reboot the board (e.g. after flashing NOLO)” (from flasher-3.5 help)
Hi
i have N900 some how my screen display was not working i can see only line please send me some solution
thanks
Ramnik