What a "Flash erase" really do?

[Hiii2]

Hi guys, I'm wondering what a flash erase really do; let's say I load a fresh official 107.4 and I do a flash erase, does this operation brings my DB7000 to a near mint condition or still there are some old files around in the different directories?

Thanks

[jura]

"Flash erase" is erase Flash memory from all the "ghosts" like old fragments from settings and virtual paths etc.
If You don't flash erase when install new image in internal memory You have problem with new settings&localisation the files (paths)
Rgds.

[Hiii2]

Thanks Jura, but my question was really more to understand if after a freshly installed official image and a subequent flash erase we will have a clean DB7000 in "near mint" condition with no other then the default files and directories, no crap around the receiver.

Thanks

[jura]

Do You mean fisical work of the function?
I'm not sure but this work like reset the flash memory (the free space) and "defragmentation" the mamory (not exactly) before the first initiation of OS. -Yeah, good idea but realy I don't know
Rgds

[Hiii2]

In the sticky thread of this forum "...New Dreambox owners please read this!" Dream 367 was writing "...Procedure is to load an "empty" image file to the box, only containing $ FF FF values and then reflash the box with the factory image which restes the box completely to factury status!...".

He is speaking of "factory status", problem is where I can find or how can I prepare an "empty image"!

Thanks

[micro_flyer]

Yo,
The flash erase is a bit misleading (the Power - press up Button etc) since it is not just erasing, but formatting the file system in the empty flash segment and then unpacking the /var_init directory to /var directory so it is ready to be used. Since the /var_init is read-only it needs to keep the configuration variables in the /var segment (thus if no flash erase is done, the system cant find the skins, locale etc etc etc)

R

[weeder]

Are there two partitions on the flash memory, the first erased when installing a new image, and mounted as read only later, the second formatted and the files copied when flash erase, and then mounted read write later?

[micro_flyer]

@weeder,

There is only one partition on the Dreambox that is Read-Write, and thats /var , *ALL* the others are read-only. Since the Dreambox shares the same FLASH physical space for Read-only and Read-write. The bigger the .img file is, the less you have on the /var partition (altho most images makers have maxed the size allowed on the read-only segment)

As stated, the flash-erase procedure only gets called once to prepare and install the relevant info in to the read-write segment.

Hope it clears that up ;-)
R