@fahadj2003: Sigh... *takes long breath*

And what makes you think I have not searched the forums BEFORE I posted this? Read the entire first post please.

Lemme put it another way:

USB Device Found at...
Found device....
NOLO version....
version of SW release...
Booting device into Flash mode... <--- in all my eMMC flashing attempts, this happens.
Suitable USB device not found... <--- FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS (the longest attempt was 4 hours, and still nothing. The N900 screen remains stuck on the loading indicator).

Still think it's a flashing command issue? IMHO, I think just doesn't detect the eMMC to be flashed... at all. I've gone through multiple tries (well, I've tried about 20 times already - using various methods listed below).

As for methods of flashing, I've tried flashing from a Linux liveCD (Fedora) as per someone's suggestion (same result) and flashing eMMC first and THEN rootfs (which was a no go, considering the eMMC doesn't get flashed in the first place. Also, I've tried flashing in R&D mode, flashing while pressing "u" AND inserting the battery at the same time.

Again, I have reflashed my fiasco and eMMC successfully a few times before this (I tend to screw with my system files too much to begin with), so I guess I know how it's generally done (though I could have borked something up, but borking something through 10 odd tries is just, weird).

Someone mentioned it fscking the filesystem due to a forced reboot, hence the long wait at the loading screen. So I waited after my 2nd fiasco refash. For about 3 hours.

BECAUSE the N900 starts, I feel I'm forgetting something important here. But I have tried everything - so I'm keeping my old hypothesis that the eMMC has died/dislocated unless somebody can come up with a better one.

@dammie: Try flashing the eMMC first. That works sometimes. But if it doesn't, welcome to the dead eMMC boat I guess.

@one1002: I've tried Windows Vista (32-bit) and XP Pro (32-bit) - both of which I dual-boot = same result. Also, I've tried all my laptop's 4 USB ports, no dice. Do keep in mind that the rootfs flashes fine, and I have flashed the N900 using my laptop before without any issues.

But USB port power issues might also be a factor, will try again on a desktop when I get near one. I'm usually surrounded by laptops.