PurE2 new lease of life for old DM800 HD SE and DM500 HD

This guide will show you how to get the most from an old Dreambox DM800 HD SE and DM500 HD with the help of Flodder, OpenMultiBoot and Flash Expander.

These old machines have seriously well-written drivers (low-level programming) and semi-decent HW - well, for their time they were great - but even then 64MB flash was really stingy


However, they still have a great quality image, decryption works fine, I tested streaming and playback and they are also fine etc.


Given the small, tiny flash, enter Flodder, OpenMultiBoot and Flash Expander! (A few others, too - but these are noteworthy...) Small Flash suddenly becomes much bigger and these old ladies can still dance nicely! :)


Flodder works on original boxes only - although one version did not have the protection, allegedly (if anyone can find it...) - so beware!


It moves root ( / ) to a USB stick (all the folders and files, so one uses the stick as Flash.


OpenMultiBoot is installed as a plugin, from which you can install multiple images in a USB stick and it functions well now!


Flash Expander "expands" flash to a USB stick but only some folders...


Delfi of PurE2 went into it "a bit" and got us a little bit happier, I think... or at least less miserable... :cool1:


Here is his text, edited by yours truly... ;)




Once it reboots you can go on messing about to your heart's content, with a peace of mind you will never run out of space installing plugins, skins, tools, picons, EPG and whatnot...

Delfi's text, edited by me, here and there...

Flodder DM800HD SE PurE2 "How-to..."

I hope this helps a bit. It works rather nicely on my box.


Requirements:


USB stick or SSD

- It is wise to avoid old=slow USB sticks, new USB 3.0 stick from reliable sources seem to be fast even when running on USB 2.0 port

- It is unlikely that you would want to invest in an SSD for an old STB, but if you have an old one laying around, might be an interesting choice

- In either case, media should be formatted in Linux EXT4 partition (try to use another STB box or live Linux distribution, Windows EXT4 tools may or may not provide desired results [tools like Mini Tool Partition Wizard Free are OK, though...])


Procedure:


- Flash the latest DMM 800se (500hd if it has retrofitted USB ports) - see above for link to latest PurE2 images...

- When in Start Wizard, please *do* choose to delete other languages to save space!
- Proceed with setup as you please, but please do NOT install anything (channel lists, cams, etc.) *yet*!!!
- When done with the wizard, there are two ways to proceed:


1) Menu > open pManager > go to script > choose User script > Start script > select DoFlodder.sh > run once > "yes"

- The box will reboot and take some time to prepare USB stick.

- NOTE: the script is dumb and assumes that USB or SSD is mounted on /media/hdd


or


2) telnet to the STB, root, pure2

- type "opkg update"

- type "opkg install flodder-boottool"

- type "mkdir /media/hdd/flodder" or "mkdir /media/usb/flodder" or wherever is your desired device

- type "reboot" to migrate to external media, wait...

After that is successfully done...


- Install some missing stuff, either of the 2 following ways:


1) Menu > pManager > Script > User script > Start script > InstallRest.sh > Only run once > "yes"

- Wait, it could take some time, really long time if your media is slow

- reboot

or


2) telnet to the STB, root, pure2

- type "opkg update"

- type "opkg install ca-certificates ffmpeg rsync "

- install whatever you may need like ch lists, extra-feed, plugins

- type "sync; sync"

- reboot

Notes:


- We use slightly modified DMM kernel but OpenMultiBoot works fine for these boxes now.

- Script InstallRest.sh installs a feed for some extra stuff like dFlash

OpenMultiBoot


I tested this on my old Ferrari 500HD with Japhar SIM card and it's brilliant! :laugh1: :rasta2bigsmoke0gf1:

Flash Expander


So, if one has a "clone", i.e. F500HD with, for instance, Japhar SIM card, like I do - the patched image "DM500HD : PurE2 6.2 2019.01.05 (v3-v5)" is here:


Or if one has an original with retrofitted USB ports - use an original PurE2 image for your box...


These FLASH EXPANDER instructions are for a clone with Japhar SIM card, using PurE2 image, of course...:laugh1:


gorski's 11 theses for 500HD/Japhar SIM bliss with Flash Expander :eye-tongue:


1) First thing one does is one partitions one's BIG and FAST USB 3.0 memory stick into 2 partitions (Mini Tool Partition Wizard freeware under Windows, for instance, is a good tool to do this with).


2) Then, one plugs the USB stick into one's 500HD. Old Ferrari clones have 2 USB ports: internal and external one.


3) Then, one mounts the 2 USB 3.0 stick partitions by going to:

MENU > pManager > Device Manager > Mount Manager > blue button > yellow button (to switch Automount OFF) > Exit > do this for both partitions on the USB stick.


4) Then, do not restart E2 but instead go back to mount those two partitions in a fixed manner, via FSTAB file.


How?


5) This you can do either by using the MENU or the BLUE button, then using the > or < buttons on your remote, changing the mounts to get as follows:


-smaller (say, 2GB) partition as /media/usb (= partition 1)

-bigger (say the rest, i.e. 30GB of 32GB USB stick) partition as /media/hdd (= partition 2)


6) Press OK to write it into the FSTAB file, then out of 3 options choose RESTART THE BOX. The box reboots.


(If it doesn't work the first time round, the second time it will be as you want it to be!)


7) Now, go to MENU > Plugins > Extensions > see above post and install this plugin, i.e. Flash Expander.


8) Exit and if necessary restart E2, then go back to Plugins > start Flash Expander and use it to move the /usr folder to the smaller 2GB partition (it will later on appear as /usr in various menus, as you'll see soon). Restart will follow, when it moves the /usr folder content to USB /media/usb partition.


9) I then use a SWAP Manager, which you will find in the same part of pManager, to create a SWAP file (512MB), activate it and I also make it "autostart" with E2.


This is the result, firstly showing the partitions using "df -h" command and then "before and after" SWAP creation, using "free" command:



10) Now, we can start downloading

-plugins/addons (like Franc's FNC plugins, then ffmpeg package for E2iPlayer etc. etc.)

-tools you may need (like Dream Explorer)

-skins you may want to have extra

-picons galore

-EPG

-etc. etc.

and


11) direct them all to /media/hdd (partition 2), just like we directed SWAP file to it...


Only the careful configuration of it all will ensure all will be well with our "oldie but goldie"!!! :thumbup:

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10

Replies 29

  • OK, my old clone, Ferrari500HD, now with a more capable Japhar SIM card, has been updated, in terms of PurE2 itself (MENU > pManager > SW Manager > Check for update).


    Then, get YIFY-FNC torrent streaming plugin by Franc, from Plugins > green button > Extensions, restart and set it up properly.


    It is working FULLY, even though it only has a few MB of RAM free. Mind, I created 1/2GB SWAP file!


    My F500HD is running via OpenMultiBoot plugin, so it is all running from a fast USB stick!


    Good luck! :cool1:

  • how u created 1/2GB SWAP file! in DM 800 SE

  • The same as in F500HD, with PurE2, which has a great Device Manager and SWAP Manager as well....


    I explained it in PurE2 section's sticky re. how to properly setup the image and it's attached devices/partitions...

    Like 1

  • Hello

    Can you please make an 6.3 image also for Dreambox 800se?

  • Frankly, at this moment, there is no sense to push for a 6.3 800se/500hd build. Sometimes, especially for older boxes, a bigger number does not equal more joy.
    For those who do not like 'flodder' as suggested after fresh install, i.e. might prefer openmultiboot or whatver, please use --> enigma2-plugin-systemplugins-swapmanager2.
    Then again, the last time I have checked, it was not really needed even for more demanding plugins like yify, olm, lookseries, etc. But, it cannot hurt, especially on a reasonably fast USB stick or eSATA stuff (a bit exotic in a case of the original 500HD).

    Like 1

  • When so say to use --> enigma2-plugin-systemplugins-swapmanager2., do you mean we also can use it with flodder too?

    I just use flodder with i clean install 6.2 and then install the rest staff. Is it ok?

  • Sorry, a bit late with the answer :( If I recall correctly, flodder has a 512mb swap by default.

  • Ηι!

    I would like to test the image on my receiver (DM800 SE with a8p).

    But my receiver has triple tuner and built-in wireless card and I wouldn't want them to work.

    There is a way;

    Thanks!

  • You mean, you would want them to work...


    Dunno, cable it up and try to install the image, then install the drivers from the feeds (Plugins > green button > Drivers)...


    Good luck!

  • Ok, thanks!

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