How to start with mini2440 that someone already started ?

Hello!

Maybe my question can be strange, and it is, but I have a problem, a lot
problems... 

I won a mini2440 that have a Linux running, but I don't know what is
exactly, derbian or fedora or ubuntu, (I'm sure that it's not andriod)...
It's a big problem? 

I have other problem, I found some tutorials, but I don't know what step
I'm in... Because the Linux is running, but, what tool can I use to creat
apps, to build and run on my friendlyarm mini 2440, I read that i need
QTopia, so I thinking, if I have linux running, it's just download QTopia,
creat a program, and export to Mini 2440? 

Thanks! Sorry my bad english, and my low knowedge about 2440mini

ps: I'm a C programmer, and have experience with Arduino, that's it!
Thankss!!

Do you get to a flashing cursor prompt on the screen? Then "uname -r"

Or, with the proper RS232 cable plugged into the 9 pin connector and your
PC and running minicom or hyperterminal at 115200boud and 8N1 what do you
see as it boots up?

Sorry, I don't know if I undertood you, but when a turn on the 2440mini he
starts an OS, notmal, maybe fedora... I never saw this " flashing cursor
prompt " and i didn't plugged any cable, just for energy...

Maybe is better I reset the mini2440 and start again?

Thanks davef!!

Do you see anything on the screen?

The usual way to figure out what is happening during the boot process is to
run a terminal program on a host computer and connect it to the target. 
For the mini2440 I use a RS232 to USB converter. One end plugged into the
DB9 connector on the mini2440 and the other end to a another computer
(remote terminal).

You will not get very far with "starting again" if you can not do what I
just described.

Devef, 

I think, if I understood him right, that the device is booting into Linux
and everything is fine. He is just afraid that the previous owner might
have done some alterations with the kernel and wants to "reset" the system
by installing everything new if necessary. 

Is there a way to check if the kernel/system os is still unaltered? 

Berthold

I would expect that he would at least see a login prompt and a flashing
cursor.

To see how the kernel is configured search for 

zcat /proc/config.gz .config

on Google.  There is a specific box to tick in kernel config to enable this
feature.  So, if there is no /proc/config.gz file maybe you are out of
luck.

Then use Meld to look for differences between that and whatever else you
want to use as the "beginning" kernel configuration (.config).

zcat /proc/config.gz .config

Maybe,is not appropriate!

try

zcat /proc/config.gz > /home/my_kernel_config.txt

Thanks davef and Berthold!

Berthold, exactly! My problem is: what I need to do to check if everything
is right, and what I need to install to start to programming my apps, I
just know that some OS is running.

davef, I never saw this prompt(at least, I never tryed to enter), but I see
the cursor, the browser, a lot of icons, I don't know if it's what you are
asking

Thanks guys!

Find an icon that looks like a terminal and start entering commmands or
browse around your filesystem.

Qtopia 2.2 was the window manager for the standard factory install.  People
have put Windows CE on these units.

Did you have to do a screen calibration?

There is a lot of useful documentation here:
http://www.friendlyarm.net/dl.php?file=mini2440_manual.pdf

Hello davef!

I turned on my mini2440, and stated to check about my mini to tell to you,
so I have more details now, and some new.

1- The screen calibration is ok, the last owner did it perfectly! I can use
the keyboard on screen without problems! 

2- I used the a command on terminal " uname -a " that show what OS is
running, and the answer is: " Linux FriendlyARM 2.6.32.2-FriendlyARM.

3- I saw here an app called Start Qt.4.6.3, and I thought it`s a IDE, or
some place to write my codes, but its strange, have some examples... It
probably isn't a QTopia...

4- I know my OS, and the screen calibration is okay, what's my next step?
install IDE? how I do? 

Thanks!!

1. Good
2. Most likely the standard factory install
3. There is a later version of Qt, it looks like 4.6.3 that came bundled
with the later versions of the mini2440.  It is a window manager not an
IDE.

3. For this machine all code is cross-compiled on a host, usually running
Linux then downloaded to run on the target.
4. I don't think you will be able to run any sort of IDE on the target. 
What were you thinking of using? 

Next step?  What do you want to do or learn?

Thanks davef!

I want to make a code that turn on and off LED's, I know programming C, but
I don't know where I can make the desing(what IDE I use) and how I compile
my codes, or how I run the code in my 2440mini.

 In short, what I want to do and learn is what IDE I have to donwload, and
how I compile and run it. 

Thanks davef!

Google this file:

InstallingtheARMGCCCompilerandCompilingProgramsfortheMicro2440.pdf

There is an LED example on the factory DVD.  

I would also suggest:
http://www.friendlyarm.net/forum/topic/5123
and just control an LED from user space.

The only code I have "written" was the above tutorial.  I write all my code
on ATMEL AVR chips and control them from the mini2440 via USB.