I'm the happy owner of a Sharp Zaurus SL-C3000. This page is more or less for my own reference, but I guess others toying with their C3000 will be glad this information is collected onto a single page. It contains information and files that can also be found on other locations on the internet. The purpose of this page is two-fold:

1. A single page with information regarding updating and restoring operating systems on the C3000.
2. A place to store files like NAND backups and English software backups.

Please note that many of those operations may erase all data from the harddisk and any other storage of the Zaurus. Stüvel IT is not responsible for any damage done to your data.

Having said that, please know that it is impossible to brick your Zaurus SL-C3000 with software. If it is physically undamaged, it can always be brought back to a working state again.

If you have been messing up your Zaurus, you might need to restore a known-good NAND. It contains the basic software that gets the machine going.

1. Download SYSTC300.DBK.gz and gunzip it.
2. Place the file SYSTC300.DBK in the root directory of a CF/SD card.
3. Insert the card into the Zaurus.
4. Power down the Zaurus, remove the battery and adapter plug so that it is completely without power.
5. Switch the battery lid lock back into the closed position, but keep the lid itself and the battery removed from the Zaurus.
6. Press and hold the D and M buttons on the keyboard.
7. Insert the battery and adapter, ensuring the orange battery charge light is lit.
8. The maintenance menu will display. You can release the D and M keys.
9. Rotate the Zaurus so the menu options are under each other and the text is in the regular orientation. Rotate the entire Zaurus, not just the screen.
10. Press Left to go to page 3.
11. Press OK.
12. Press Down two times.
13. Press OK three times.
14. If everything is okay, you'll see a green progress bar. When it's done reset the Zaurus, replace the battery lid, and boot.

You might have to reinstall the OS too to get a properly bootable device.

To return an SL-C3000 back to factory settings simply remove the power and battery, reinsert the battery, plug in the mains cable and ensure that the battery cover lock is in the locked position then perform the following steps.

1. Power down the Zaurus, open the battery compartiment and press the reset button.
2. Hold down the OK button and while keeping it held press the power button. You will get a Japanese menu.
3. Select option 3. You get another Japanese Menu.
4. Select option 1 – do NOT select option 2 unless you want a good 1hr wait (extensive erase writing /dev/zero over whole disk – did it once, it's not that exciting).
5. The device will ask you to confirm (in Japanese), hit Y and the device will reboot and recover to the factory/ROM default state.

Source: OESF. The page I got the info from is gone, which proves that it was a good move to copy the data here.

As of this writing (2006-09-04) the latest Japanese software from Sharp is card_update_3000111.exe. After zeroing the Zaurus, this might be useful to install.

1. Extract the executable with an lha extractor and put the files it extracts in the root directory of a SD/CF card. If you have Windows and trust me enough not to have a virus, you can simply run the .exe.
2. Insert the card into the Zaurus
3. Power down the Zaurus, open the battery compartiment and press the reset button.
4. Hold down the OK button and while keeping it held press the power button. You will get a Japanese menu.
5. Make sure the adaptor is connected and the orange battery light is lit.
6. Select option 4.
7. Select CF or SD, depending on what type of card you're using.
8. Select (Y) and wait. Make sure the Zaurus adapter stays connected.
9. Reboot and remove the card.

Source: ezaurus.com

This is a rather easy process, and is required after you zero the Zaurus (unless you understand Japanese).

1. Download this backup, gunzip it, and store it on a SD/CF card. Insert the card into the Zaurus.
2. Start the backup/restore application on the Zaurus. With the default Japanese ROM, it is on the second tab; it's a green icon with a paper sheet on it, with an arrow pointing left and an arrow pointing right.
3. Select the second of the two options at the top.
4. Select CF or SD, depending on what type of card you're using.
5. Select the restore image, 2005-03-18-12-30
6. Click the button at the center bottom.
7. In the popup, click the left button.

The backup file was obtained from TRIsoft and renamed. The file name from TRIsoft ended in "JP-1", but the Japanese software from Updating to the latest Japanese software expects it to end in "JP-unknown".