Database Info

PC USB connectivity

Hello,
I have a HTC G1 and I couldn't get the windows recognize the device. Guess it needs a driver before I can install apps to test it on the phone. I was referred to this forum by someone in the Android Developers forum. Do you guys have any insight?
Thanks,
mdashali

mdashali said:
Hello,
I have a HTC G1 and I couldn't get the windows recognize the device. Guess it needs a driver before I can install apps to test it on the phone. I was referred to this forum by someone in the Android Developers forum. Do you guys have any insight?
Thanks,
mdashali
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have one? like sitting in front of you and you can touch it? and to answer question it doesnt sync with computer it syncs with google over the air...

Yes, it was right in front of me a few minutes go. It has gone for a walk around other cubes.
Won't you need to have some connectivity with the PC to use the ADB?

If by "ADB" you mean contacts, all that is sync'd with Google online. Nothing has really been said about connectivity with any desktop PCs yet.

beartard said:
If by "ADB" you mean contacts, all that is sync'd with Google online. Nothing has really been said about connectivity with any desktop PCs yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have developed an application using the emulator and now wanted to test on the device. How can I load it on the phone? Could you explain the process?
Thanks.

You already have a jump on most of us by actually *having* the phone. A micro-SD card would probably be your best bet.

I have one too, and am having the same USB connectivity problems. The SD card shows up as a USB Mass Storage Device. It wants another driver for what it says is "Android Device".

According to what we've heard so far (here and on tmonews) that's exactly what's expected to happen.

mdashali said:
Yes, it was right in front of me a few minutes go. It has gone for a walk around other cubes.
Won't you need to have some connectivity with the PC to use the ADB?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how is it possible if g1 release is on oct 22nd?

from all the press releasinfo and various blogs, its beenreported a fe hundred times that the G1 will not sync in any way, shape, or form ith a pc. This also means that youcan not try to install any app on the device through a pc like you can with a pocket pc. You will been to dr the instal file over to the storage card on the G1 and install it from there.
Also, if you actually have the devi, I'm sure all of us here on the site would love to see a detailed video of it. I know we've all seen the dozen from a few weeks ago, but there's still a lot tt was not shown.

nickmgray said:
from all the press releasinfo and various blogs, its beenreported a fe hundred times that the G1 will not sync in any way, shape, or form ith a pc. This also means that youcan not try to install any app on the device through a pc like you can with a pocket pc. You will been to dr the instal file over to the storage card on the G1 and install it from there.
Also, if you actually have the devi, I'm sure all of us here on the site would love to see a detailed video of it. I know we've all seen the dozen from a few weeks ago, but there's still a lot tt was not shown.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes vid please!! also nick is right your best bet is to probably upload it to your sd card and then put it back into the phone and install from there...if not we should start working on a sync program or something such as this

If i had mine already i would have posted all kinds of info and pictures on it. If you truely have one which i don't see how you could then put us out of our misery and share the wealth lol.

USB mass storage ?
I thought that the phone shows up as a usb mass storage device when plugged into win, mac or linux boxes via USB. Is that not true?

According to the user manual, the SD card shows up as a mass-storage device via USB. It doesn't say anything about the phone's memory.
Stop thinking winmo, guys Why write a sync application when it's drag-and-drop in the first place?

this is true....as far as adding music and whatever else you like you should be able to just drop in onto the sd card right? the only thing that people are needing a sync if for the exchange?

stats555 said:
If i had mine already i would have posted all kinds of info and pictures on it. If you truely have one which i don't see how you could then put us out of our misery and share the wealth lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have one because of some GOOG connection. I will post a video in a few minutes. I will be glad to give you what ever information you need on the phone that I can access. For those skeptics, here is a picture with the current time showing... http://www.shakechillis.com-a.googlepages.com/

beartard said:
According to the user manual, the SD card shows up as a mass-storage device via USB. It doesn't say anything about the phone's memory.
Stop thinking winmo, guys Why write a sync application when it's drag-and-drop in the first place?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found this post in google http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/msg/b9f5ddc77af39239
I put the binary folder into the SD card under /download. Now I don't know how to access the SD card and launch the application.

If i could only have it for just 3 hours. I would love to open up the phone dissect it, and later see if we can get it into bootloader, maybe mtty.

that "android device"
I *think* that is the debug CLI (not a linux shell) called the Android Debug Bridge.
Interesting that it is client/server and runs on odd port numbers between 5555 and 5585.
http://code.google.com/android/reference/adb.html
Check out the parts about PPP over usb and SHELL under ADB commands.

mdashali said:
I have one because of some GOOG connection. I will post a video in a few minutes. I will be glad to give you what ever information you need on the phone that I can access. For those skeptics, here is a picture with the current time showing... http://www.shakechillis.com-a.googlepages.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right on man, sorry i didn't mean any disrespect i didn't think it was possible to get one early. Looks sweet, are you happy with it so far? Was wondering what kind of material the outer shell was made out of, is it rubberized or more like a plastic type material? I love the dash shell, it has a rubberized shell.

HOW do I send a file from my Phone to my PC ???????

I know this should be alot easier said than done.
Basically I took a video on my phone last night of this drunk girl dancing and falling.
I want to post it to my face book.
I can't "share" it over my phone directliy to you tube
HOW do I send the file from my phone to my PC ?
This is really bugging me that I can't figure it out -- it should be alot easier, no ?
Please help.

Use the cable that came with the phone

and use the General section please..
your question is totally not about development.

Either plug your phone in using the supplied USB cable.
Use bluetooth (if your PC has it)
Or try using Dropbox, you install the Android app and the PC app and any file you place in the dropbox folder automatically gets synced with your online account.
You get 2 GB storage for free and if you use the link below you get an extra 250mb
http://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTcyNTQwNTI5

drop box sends from phone to computer and vice versa ?
when i plug my phone in -- what option do I select? mass storage?

Yes, dropbox syncs both ways i use it all the time

I'm using ESTrongs FIle Manager wich add support for LAN, over Wi-Fi. You can simply add your folders in PC to share with your phone (or another PC).

When I connect the USB cable, what do I select ?
I selected USB storage -- but nothing came up in my "my computer" box
why not?

Funkadelick said:
Go **** yourself you piece of ****. Ill ask what i want where I want and I could give two ****s if you want to help me or not.
****ing ****.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering if ppl here still want to help a funny dumb like him =)

i think this douche bag should be banned he said Please and hes right this isnt Development like some one eles said keep the forums clean but ur an ass right and ur gonna think your crazy cuz ur behind a monitor.

LoL this thread gained me 750mb in free dropbox storage from my link.
Thanks guys

I did consider closing this thread for falling foul of the rules; however I have cleaned it up and moved it to general where the OP should get the help he seeks.
WB

wacky.banana said:
I did consider closing this thread for falling foul of the rules; however I have cleaned it up and moved it to general where the OP should get the help he seeks.
WB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anger management apk?

use the cable or the sd card from the phone with a reader or sync software you choose

it is simple use phone cable direct OR use Bluetooth......

I wonder if that guy ever figured out he needed to install his drivers first?

First you need to plug your running Phone to your PC via Cable. Then you select "mass storage mode" and you open it in your explorer. Now you have to search a directory which is either called "media" or "videos" or "DCIM" or something similar. there you should find the video

[Q] GTablet Deal-Killer Problems

I can't figure out a better place to post, and GTablet "tech support" (when your tech support guy doesn't know what a partition is, you're in trouble) is a joke, so you guys are stuck!
1. Downloaded and installed Adobe from hand...[whatever] It runs, but it won't read any .pdf files from our LAN. Varying messages, including "not supported media type".
2. It sees that the microSD card is inserted (bought just for this). I wrote a pdf file (readable off the card by several linux pdf readers as well as Acroread/windows) on it with my windows machine, but can't actually see it or read anything on it with the GTablet.
NOTE: it can not actually SEE (as in visible subdirectory/folder or equivalent) the card or anything on it. No automount? There seems to be no obvious way to mount it by hand.
3. It can see directory entries for .pdf and .avi files on other machines on our network but it can't read them. (pdf="No application available" avi="Not supported media type"). Same for .flac files. It can, however play .mp3 and .wma files from other machines on our LAN.
Since I bought it mostly to read downloaded .pdf files from the Gutenberg Project and wish to watch downloaded .avi lectures (both are legitimate!!!), any of these is a deal-killer all by itself.
4. We have successfully copied a .pdf file to the internal "hard drive" (and were able to it read with Adobe) but we were given no choice about the destination -- hard drive (or subdirectory thereupon) or SD card. Can it also not write to the SD card? Did Viewsonic give us a microSD slot for purely decorative purposes? Having to write stuff from the network to the unit is considerably slower than just writing it to the SD card.
Part of the problem may be that we are not used to dealing with the windows GUI, which this unit resembles. We ARE, however, slackware linux knowledgeable and I'm quite familiar with X. This is really basic stuff here, why should it be so difficult or possibly impossible?
There are undoubtedly other problems, but we've only been experimenting for 24 hours If no solution arises to these (and other) problems, it's going back.

Seems you are niche driven anyways, so an Android tablet is probably at least six months away from making you happy, as more drivers and the framework are updated. Based on what you use the device for, the Archos 101 will not be enough either, since half the ram and much slower cpu than the Gtablet.
My reasons for returning today are more basic:
1. Bluetooth input devices do not work
2. Accelerometer is screwed up
I am actually getting another one though, since current new purchases have a 60 day window. Plenty of room to see if those issues are fixed. (For current one, have cleared the internal space, reset the device and all boxed up).
Frankly, I have grown attached to the Gtablet; kind of like a girlfriend or wife who abuses you, but does just ENOUGH to keep you hooked
There are other issues with the G, but I can deal with those. Still want the 60 day window, none the less.

Android is actually much closer to Slackware than it is to Windows -- just look under the hood and much of what you'll see is very familar. It's actually a Linux kernel.
The Adobe Reader issue sound like the common (for Android tablets) issue where any app that uses a database-based way to access data cannot find anything on /sdcard2, which is your microSD card. Some apps allow you to browse the directory structure all the way up to "/" and those would work. I don't really use PDF's but I do use EPUB's from PG. For those, I just use Aldiko and just make due with the fact that the files need to be on /sdcard/ebooks (again, Aldiko has that same problem).
For LAN access, i'm stuck in the same boat -- using Astro or Estrongs for that? I have yet to find a good file mounting solution. There's a tool in the real Google Market called "CIFSManager" which should do a proper mount, but it requires a driver file for our specific kernel which does not exist yet. And the "mount" command doesn't work for the same reason.
Also a heads up that you can't mount EXT2/3/4 thumb drives, even though Android itself uses EXT3. You are stuck with FAT32, which is annoying.
For FLAC files, I have a solution for you -- look for the app "Andless" in the Market or Google code. Plays FLAC, and allows you to browse into /sdcard2 - I doesn't have a pretty interface, but it does work. I use Vorbis primarily and it works with Andless (32GB storage doesn't bode quite well with lossless files).
Just keep in mind that some of your issues won't be fixed with a Galaxy Tab (at least not yet) -- these are inherent Android flaws given that it was build with phones in mind. the EXT2/3/4 access does work in the Archos 101, however.

Not much improvement...
Thanks for your fast reply...
The main thing right now is to determine whether some of the hardware is broken so I can return it. I don't want to download a lot of stuff if the thing is bad right out of the box. I'll make a more thoughtful reply later.
The file explorer won't even SEE a fat32 thumbdrive in the USB slot. No sign at all.
If I connect its USB slot with the one on a computer, it sees it immediately -- it shows up on my computer as /dev/sdd with no partition. We can select 'write to/from the computer', but there doesn't seem to actually be a way to do the copying. Am I missing something obvious or is something broken?
Downloading estrongs even as we speak...I think... The only thing I've downloaded so far is Adobe, that that seemed to happen more or less by accident Got the 'downloaded' message and there it was.
Estrongs didn't appear to work. Got the 'downloaded' message, but it seems to be unfindable. ES still running.
More attempts to mount the SD card -- messages like 'preparing to mount the sd card', but ultimately the thing is invisible. If you pull it out it gives some kind of message like 'removing sd card', but it was NEVER actually there.
SD card in, but the message is "sd card unmounted or not present".
Was this thing rushed to market for the Xmas season in the HOPE that they'd eventually be able to make everything work before the villagers rose up with torches and pitchforks? If you want to watch movies on it, wouldn't it be nice if both you AND a friend could actually hear them without buying an earphone splitter?
It would be nice if the helpdroid, like his counterparts at the hard drive manufacturers' help lines, would walk you through a few simple diagnostics and then ship you a new drive. Bet that's not gonna happen here!
More tomorrow, maybe...

Questions about the The USB Mass Storage Hack

I use my HD2 to bring files to and from work. I really want a WP7 but I wanted to make sure I could still utilize it this way. I saw that Microsoft and PocketNow do not recommend using the registry hack that allows the USB Mass Storage mode on your PC, but I wanted to find out a little more info about it. All references to the USB Mass Storage registry hack talk about being able to move your Music, Videos, etc., but none say whether or not you can move other files types and how the Zune PC software reacts to those unexpected file types.
So before I go and buy a device that I can't use how I need to, I have a few questions for someone who has a WP7 that could test it out for me. My questions are:
1. My work PC does not have (and will not allow me to install) Zune software on it. Will this hack work on a PC that does not have the Zune PC software?
2. Can you put any type of file onto the storage device, meaning not just Zune recognized media files? If so, what happens to those files the next time you sync with the Zune PC software?

No and no.
It is not Mass storage and Zune must be on the pc.

Check this post out. The thing I have to warn you about is that you will still need Zune to be installed as it most likely loads most of the drivers and automated installation necessary for your phone to be recognized by your machine. This hack simply lets you view your phone as more than a sync-able Zune device.

agreed with vetvito. i think the best thing to do is merely just to buy a usb stick. they're reasonably cheap and tend to be attachable to keys. if not that, a portable harddrive.

vetvito said:
No and no.
It is not Mass storage and Zune must be on the pc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it is not a Mass Storage device, but the registry hack enables it to be. I am asking if you could put a non-media file on the phone using a PC, then pick it back up on a different PC.
denizen08 said:
Check this post out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This just references the same registry hack that ny original post references.
The Gate Keeper said:
agreed with vetvito. i think the best thing to do is merely just to buy a usb stick. they're reasonably cheap and tend to be attachable to keys. if not that, a portable harddrive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own a USB drive. That is not the solution I am looking for. I do not want to carry around two devices.

vetvito said:
No and no.
It is not Mass storage and Zune must be on the pc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually it's no and yes.
Zune must be installed, but you can use the hack to transport on the phone any files you want. Zune will simply ignore files that are not in the expected directories or which it doesn't understand.

tai4de2 said:
Actually it's no and yes.
Zune must be installed, but you can use the hack to transport on the phone any files you want. Zune will simply ignore files that are not in the expected directories or which it doesn't understand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay so I'm halfway there. What does Zune PC software provide that enables the ability to use Mass Storage? Is there a way to bypass it? Possibly some registry entries and/or drivers?

“Windows Phone is not a mass storage device. It’s a Zune device. The data on the phone must be consistent, and [the system] needs to be able to identify items in storage. We don’t want the user to have to do that stuff manually. Yes, some may want to. But we wanted a synchronization system that was simple and easy and does metadata mappings automatically.” -Microsoft corporate vice president Joe Belfiore

guys why you want to buy a $500 DEVICE AS A usb STICK. WHEN A usb stick is $50/
WP7 os is working fine without hanging, reboots... why you guy want to hack this and hack that.. why cant u enjoy the smooth flow and the new OS for a while...
i am so sorry but i cant get it why ppl want to mess it up for them selfs... and i am very sure if any thing happens after there hackings they will blame microsoft for it...
i cant do alot of things now with my HD7 i used to do with my WM6.5, but there are so many things WM6.5 could not do for me too.. i am very happy with my WP7 OS and i will not want to change it in any way.. not even cut and paste as i dont need it..

guys why you want to buy a $500 DEVICE AS A usb STICK. WHEN A usb stick is $50/
WP7 os is working fine without hanging, reboots... why you guy want to hack this and hack that.. why cant u enjoy the smooth flow and the new OS for a while...
i am so sorry but i cant get it why ppl want to mess it up for them selfs... and i am very sure if any thing happens after there hackings they will blame microsoft for it...
i cant do alot of things now with my HD7 i used to do with my WM6.5, but there are so many things WM6.5 could not do for me too.. i am very happy with my WP7 OS and i will not want to change it in any way.. not even cut and paste as i dont need it..

vetvito said:
“Windows Phone is not a mass storage device. It’s a Zune device. The data on the phone must be consistent, and [the system] needs to be able to identify items in storage. We don’t want the user to have to do that stuff manually. Yes, some may want to. But we wanted a synchronization system that was simple and easy and does metadata mappings automatically.” -Microsoft corporate vice president Joe Belfiore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most everyone here at XDA who is interested in WP7 has already read that quote from Microsoft. You keep saying it's not a mass storage device... I know that. There is a Windows registry edit that allow the phone to become mass storage which has direct access to the media folders in the phone.

truffle1234 said:
guys why you want to buy a $500 DEVICE AS A usb STICK. WHEN A usb stick is $50/
WP7 os is working fine without hanging, reboots... why you guy want to hack this and hack that.. why cant u enjoy the smooth flow and the new OS for a while...
i am so sorry but i cant get it why ppl want to mess it up for them selfs... and i am very sure if any thing happens after there hackings they will blame microsoft for it...
i cant do alot of things now with my HD7 i used to do with my WM6.5, but there are so many things WM6.5 could not do for me too.. i am very happy with my WP7 OS and i will not want to change it in any way.. not even cut and paste as i dont need it..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The point you're missing is that I would like to have a WP7 device... and I don't want to have to carry around an extra piece of hardware in order to move files to and from work. My work blocks Skydrive so using the cloud is not a viable solution for me. I can't keep emailing files to and from my phone in order to get files to and from it.
I can't get a WP7 until I can figure out how to give me access to use it as Mass Storage. I don't want to put files on there and then use them in WP7... I just need a way to transport files from one computer to another without using the cloud.
Saying, "just get a flash drive" is not a solution. And by the way, I'm going to get 2 for 1 on contract with T-Mobile and it'll be $199.99 for two phones. It will not cost me $500.

you don't wanna carry around two devices, yet you will carry around one device and a cable which takes probably more space than the usb drive...
reflect yourself and buy the damn device, if you ask me.

thesecondsfade said:
Most everyone here at XDA who is interested in WP7 has already read that quote from Microsoft. You keep saying it's not a mass storage device... I know that. There is a Windows registry edit that allow the phone to become mass storage which has direct access to the media folders in the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mass Storage implies storing any type of file, that is not safe on WP7, and thus why its not allowed. This mode you are referring to is only for media files, and no it is not allowing the phone to become mass storage. You are making the PC think a mass storage device is connected.
Why do the reg trick if you need Zune, that defeats the purpose.

001mic said:
you don't wanna carry around two devices, yet you will carry around one device and a cable which takes probably more space than the usb drive...
reflect yourself and buy the damn device, if you ask me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. Just... wow. Ever heard of owning more than one USB cable? Don't know about you but I'm willing to spend $3.00 to make this not a problem.
vetvito said:
Mass Storage implies storing any type of file, that is not safe on WP7, and thus why its not allowed. This mode you are referring to is only for media files, and no it is not allowing the phone to become mass storage. You are making the PC think a mass storage device is connected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I am asking the question. I want to find out if it's safe, what the implications are, etc. Can you tell me why it's not safe?
vetvito said:
Why do the reg trick if you need Zune, that defeats the purpose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Precisely why I asked what Zune does to the system to make Windows recognize it as Mass Storage, meaning what drivers and/or registry edits does it perform to get it to see the device as storage. Since I can't install Zune at work, I'd like to know if it's possible to get it to do it with just some driver patches and registry edits.

I still don't get it. I have a micro sd usb stick that is about the size of a pencil eraser. Why is this hard to carry?
But, no, right now, there is no way to use a wp7 device as a mass storage device without the help of zune installation, so I guess you are stuck on 6.5

Guys, why are you offensive again?
He asks about something, and you're only answer is "but why do you want it?"
Is it the only thing you can say?
The "safe" argument is pretty bull****, it's basically MS which wants you to use MS software and stuff, rather than just be completely free.
There's no "danger". It's rather a strategy more than anything else.
There was never any "unsafe" file which would do any harm to my device.
And about a device = mass storage:
Mass storage has many great implications, and this is the reason to have it.
Mass deleting/applying files of different types PC - Device.
Drag and drop is the best way to do it.
Today if I buy a new phone and want to simply transfer all data to this one from my previous one, I SIMPLY put it there. Done.
Instead, Zune will deal with your media but documents NO, you have to download them from Skydrive, where you UPLOADED them before. And once you get another WP7 device you download them AGAIN.
So mass storage is NOT about replacing memory stick.
It's about simple way of transferring data.
That is so simple. Why don't you get it?

001mic said:
you don't wanna carry around two devices, yet you will carry around one device and a cable which takes probably more space than the usb drive...
reflect yourself and buy the damn device, if you ask me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with this guy, just get the USB drive. Yea it's more convenient, but there nothing like a cheap USB stick. I have one my keychain and never notice it and don't seem to understand the problem you have about not wanting two devices. Plus, using a USB stick is more professional than plugging a cable to the computer from the phone.
-Just my opinion

doministry said:
Guys, why are you offensive again?
He asks about something, and you're only answer is "but why do you want it?"
Is it the only thing you can say?
The "safe" argument is pretty bull****, it's basically MS which wants you to use MS software and stuff, rather than just be completely free.
There's no "danger". It's rather a strategy more than anything else.
There was never any "unsafe" file which would do any harm to my device.
And about a device = mass storage:
Mass storage has many great implications, and this is the reason to have it.
Mass deleting/applying files of different types PC - Device.
Drag and drop is the best way to do it.
Today if I buy a new phone and want to simply transfer all data to this one from my previous one, I SIMPLY put it there. Done.
Instead, Zune will deal with your media but documents NO, you have to download them from Skydrive, where you UPLOADED them before. And once you get another WP7 device you download them AGAIN.
So mass storage is NOT about replacing memory stick.
It's about simple way of transferring data.
That is so simple. Why don't you get it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In this case tough, he just wants it for the memory stick replacement.
I'm right with you that, if it were up to me to choose, I would probably implement it, but to not buy the device because you have to carry around the stick - this I can not understand.
That's of course just my opinion. Maybe he should buy a Android than.

I don't see why anyone would want to use a WP7 phone to transfer files instead of using a tiny USB stick on your keychain. For a start, you would have to sacrifice a bunch of space on your phone so you have room for the files you want to transport. With plenty of people moaning about the lack of space on WP7 phones, why would you want to keep Gigabytes of storage unused just in case you want to move some files around? It makes no sense.
You should be filling your phone up with media, games etc. USE THE SPACE!
I've had a 32GB USB memory stick hanging off my keychain for a while now and it's no bother at all. I can just plug it into the work PC and hey presto I can copy files around to my heart's content. Why on Earth would I want to bother with a bloody great USB cable? What a pain!
This obsession with using a WP7 phone as a memory stick is absolutely baffling! I get the impression it's a case of "I wanna do it 'cos I can" which isn't really a reason at all, is it?
And saying you can't be bothered to "carry two devices" is ridiculous - your choice is;
A) Carry your WP7 phone and a tiny keyfob on your house keys
B) Carry your WP7 phone and a bloody great USB cable
And you're saying choice A is more hassle? Eh?!
Incidentally I have several USB keyfobs lying around doing nothing - let me have your address and I'll bung you one in the post. They were all sent to me by mates who used them to send me wedding photos.

Installing Linux on a PC Using Inspire

Ok, so I know that this phone can be used as a USB drive. I'm trying to install Linux on my computer, but I don't have a CD or USB drive available other than my phone. Would it be possible to install Linux using my phone?
Thanks

You would need to figure out a way for the computer to read the phones SD card as an ISO which can be done on a standard SD card using Unetbootin or something similar. However if you put it into the phone the phone itself may not see it as a usable drive and want to format it.

+1 for Unetbootin, it makes the drive bootable. However older versions would format the drive first... I think the newer versions don't, but don't hold me to that. Also it installs to the root directory of the drive so it would suck to remove it later.

No CD drive? Are you using a "slim" laptop?
If you have a floppy drive, you could do the "oooold school" install with 40+ floppies, ha ha ha.
If you have access to a second PC, couldn't you network 'em via an ethernet cross-over cable (or hub) and install over the network?

I'm gonna recommend going and buying a $10 thumb drive.
Then, as long as you're running Linux anyway, I'm gonna shamelessly plug Fuduntu.

ST3ALTHPSYCH0 said:
Then, as long as you're running Linux anyway, I'm gonna shamelessly plug Fuduntu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What ever happened to RedHat? Is it still around these days?

At risk of total thread derailment:
Red Hat still sponsors the community development of Fedora and actively deveopes and supports RHEL (RedHat Enterprise Linux).
Fuduntu is a Fedora spin, for which I'm a dev (very junior though I may be).

zuriken said:
What ever happened to RedHat? Is it still around these days?
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Its still around- a popular distro of it is fedora- it just seems most people, especially working with android go debian based instead of anything else like rpm(redhat)
Edit- and I should have refreshed the page before I responded.

di11igaf said:
Its still around- a popular distro of it is fedora- it just seems most people, especially working with android go debian based instead of anything else like rpm(redhat)
Edit- and I should have refreshed the page before I responded.
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Click to collapse
Fedora 14 user here.

Returning to the original idea
Well, maybe you could format your card with one of the tools Linux provides to create bootable USB drives.
The problem starts when you turn on your computer to boot from the drive, as you would have to force your phone to USB drive mode and I'm not sure if the detection process will be fast enough so the PC catches the phone as a pen drive.
However, if you have no other choice at the moment (when I formatted a netbook I preffered to buy a 8GB pendrive and forget about any other trouble) you might give it a try. If it works please post back...