The Program storage area (64MB fixed size) is where new Linux® programs that you install onto your PMA430. Because Linux® applications need to run in a Linux® formatted space, the installation packages (file type .ipk) must be installed into the Program Storage area. You will notice that when your device is mounted onto a PC as an external hard drive (or mass storage device), there is a 64MB file in the System folder called progfs.img. This stands for program file space and is actually a simulated Linux® partition for your application programs. You should therefore not delete this file/partition. In case that you need to do an entire system recovery procedure, you should backup the progfs.img file to save all of your installed programs. After completing the recovery procedure, you can then recover your programs by replacing this file.
1.6Updating the Operating System
ARCHOS periodically updates the Operating System (OS) and makes available a free download on the ARCHOS website (www.archos.com). Updates to the Operating System include new features, feature improvements, and bug fixes. You should check to make sure that you are running the most recent version of the OS. You can find information on the current version you are running under Applications > System Info > Version. The most recent version available can be dowloaded at www.archos.com under the heading Download > Software.
Step 1 Download the file aimage.img
Download the image file AIMAGE.IMG , which will probably be quite large – approximately 22 MB. (Note that over a telephone modem, downloading a file of this size will take at least an hour and a half and possibly several hours.) When you click on the link to download the new OS file, your browser may warn you that the contents of the download may harm your computer. This is because the Windows® system does
not know what an .IMG file is. Be assured that ARCHOS has made every effort to ensure that the file does not contain viruses. Click on the Save button to download this file to a convenient place, such as My Documents, in order to later copy this file to your PMA430. If your PMA430 is connected to your PC, you can even save it directly to the System folder in your PMA430.
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ATTENTION Macintosh® Users
Macintosh® users should be especially careful when they download and save this file to their Macintosh® computer. Do not
Step 2. Read the History.txt File
On the ARCHOS website, you will also find next to the OS download, a text file which details the list of changes from the previous version of the OS.
Step 3. Copy the aimage.img file to the PMA430 System Folder
Connect your PMA430 to your computer and then copy the AIMAGE.IMG file to the System folder of the PMA430. Since there will be an older version of this file on your PMA430 already, your computer will ask if you want to overwrite the current file. Click on Yes. Once this file is copied, safely disconnect the PMA430 from the computer.
Attention: The aimage.img must always remain in the System folder of the PMA430. Even once you have updated your PMA430, you must not remove that file.
Step 4 Reset the PMA430 and set the time and date
In order for the new software update to take effect, you need to reset the PMA430. Disconnect it from the computer and go to Settings > Shutdown. Press the red “Reboot” button. The PMA430 will turn off. Turn it back on now and it will boot up the new operating system. You should check to verify that the clock time and date are correct after a reset.
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