Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

This happened somewhere in 2012 while my N900 was connected to USB, it shutdown and never booted up anymore..

Whenever I put it on my Toughbook running Linux or my other laptop running Win7 x64 without the battery, the charging light just stays on, and if I connect it to USB with the battery in, it doesn't come on.

Is there anything I can do to get my data of it? I don't care about this N900 anymore (last January I got my 5th one) but there's some personal data on it I want to get back.

Is there a fuse somewhere in this thing, btw? I remember dr_frost_dk saying something about a USB fuse?

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

Have you tried a different battery? Asking because of the bit about light on without a battery and no life with. That may indicate the battery is short-circuited or some such.

Yes, there is a fuse. I can't recall where exactly but I do remember it is an SMT component soldered in and not easily replaced. Try a forum search. However the fuse is unlikely to blow unless you feed the USB port with a high voltage. Your symptoms do not indicate a blown fuse.

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

pichlo already said important bit!

Sounds like a fully dead battery.
Did you use nitdroid at that time?

Check with another battery.
Or try this battery to charge in another N900. Or try an external charger.

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

Haven't used NITDroid since my 1st N900 in 2011, so no.

Already charged the battery in my main N900, but that didn't help.

It just randomly shut down when it was connected to USB.

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

What about starting it with another fresh battery?

If that also fails and you need data from it consider using rescueOS.
Or even easier just flash kernel or if that fails also flash firmware (combined image). This will leave data on MyDocs intact but you may loose program settings (which you do not mind, right?).

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

If the battery works in another phone then it may be the battery contacts. Try cleaning them (both phone and battery side) and/or springing them up (battery side only).

The aforementioned fuse is in the USB charging circuitry and would have no effect on operation from a battery.

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

I am pretty sure you mean the contacts in the phone, right?
Else perfectly right hints. :)

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

That's the problem: It won't boot up at all anymore!

Already cleaned the contacts, didn't help. Also tried another BL-5J battery and a PolarCell one, also didn't help.

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

use a multimeter to check if its short circuit open circuit etc

Re: Completely dead N900, won't even flash with full battery
 

Does 'flasher -i' detect it?
Then I would go for kernel or firmware flash.