There are numerous threads including some from this author relating to booting procedures. The wiki is very unclear and incomplete in helping user try to sort out the boot process.
I will try to summarize it as I see it and raise questions that I hope others can try to fill in. At the end of the day perhaps someone can get a clear understanding. of booting Excerpts from wiki in normal font. My comments are in bold
From "BOOT Section of wiki" -- On the PinePhone Pro the eMMC (the internal storage of the phone) has a higher boot priority than the microSD card. But, the Explorer Edition comes with a modified U-Boot pointing to the microSD card to boot ahead of the pre-installed to the eMMC. The microSD card can be (temporarily) booted instead of the pre-installed operating system, when the power key is shortly held at boot. What does shortly held mean? Shortly compared to what? Is shortly a tap of button. Then, how to know what you are running from, SD or eMMC ( a question of mine elsewhere).
To always boot from the microSD card it is recommended to wipe U-Boot from the eMMC. I thought the above said that the U-Boot was there to temporarily boot from the SD and, hence, removing it would revert back to default booting from the eMMC. Where is U-Boot in the directory structure? Is U-Boot a file that can be removed and where is it?
When the pre-installed bootloader was overwritten with a bootloader without such a configuration, the RE button underneath the back cover of the phone can also be used to temporarily bypass the eMMC. I do not have any idea what this sentence is saying. There is no description of where/what the RE button is. I did find it under the back cover. It is a recessed button needing a sharp object (a pen) to push in. There is an RE label. What is the RE button and what is it for (REset)?
The button (RE???) may however only be pressed shortly for a few seconds during boot, otherwise the eMMC won't be initialized in the operating system. This is another incoherent sentence. Appears to say that you hold RE button recessed for a short period while pushing boot key to boot to the eMMC. You need cover off to do this. When cover is off these is no boot button. I really have no idea what this is saying.
Later on in doc it says --Due to the boot order it is strongly recommended to boot from the microSD card only, leaving the eMMC vacant. I don't see the meaning of this sentence and what boot order has to do with why one should boot always from the microSD. A microSD is for extra storage not for running your phone.
I do have my phone running in spite of these incoherent directions but perhaps other won't have to do a trial 'n error process.
tom kosvic
I have no ideal how to get rid of font etc messages. they were not there when pasted in. if someone can do that go ahead, please
I will try to summarize it as I see it and raise questions that I hope others can try to fill in. At the end of the day perhaps someone can get a clear understanding. of booting Excerpts from wiki in normal font. My comments are in bold
From "BOOT Section of wiki" -- On the PinePhone Pro the eMMC (the internal storage of the phone) has a higher boot priority than the microSD card. But, the Explorer Edition comes with a modified U-Boot pointing to the microSD card to boot ahead of the pre-installed to the eMMC. The microSD card can be (temporarily) booted instead of the pre-installed operating system, when the power key is shortly held at boot. What does shortly held mean? Shortly compared to what? Is shortly a tap of button. Then, how to know what you are running from, SD or eMMC ( a question of mine elsewhere).
To always boot from the microSD card it is recommended to wipe U-Boot from the eMMC. I thought the above said that the U-Boot was there to temporarily boot from the SD and, hence, removing it would revert back to default booting from the eMMC. Where is U-Boot in the directory structure? Is U-Boot a file that can be removed and where is it?
When the pre-installed bootloader was overwritten with a bootloader without such a configuration, the RE button underneath the back cover of the phone can also be used to temporarily bypass the eMMC. I do not have any idea what this sentence is saying. There is no description of where/what the RE button is. I did find it under the back cover. It is a recessed button needing a sharp object (a pen) to push in. There is an RE label. What is the RE button and what is it for (REset)?
The button (RE???) may however only be pressed shortly for a few seconds during boot, otherwise the eMMC won't be initialized in the operating system. This is another incoherent sentence. Appears to say that you hold RE button recessed for a short period while pushing boot key to boot to the eMMC. You need cover off to do this. When cover is off these is no boot button. I really have no idea what this is saying.
Later on in doc it says --Due to the boot order it is strongly recommended to boot from the microSD card only, leaving the eMMC vacant. I don't see the meaning of this sentence and what boot order has to do with why one should boot always from the microSD. A microSD is for extra storage not for running your phone.
I do have my phone running in spite of these incoherent directions but perhaps other won't have to do a trial 'n error process.
tom kosvic
I have no ideal how to get rid of font etc messages. they were not there when pasted in. if someone can do that go ahead, please
