flash_n_burn rom utils, /dev/bios ... resquest

[Mathieu Deschamps]

Le mer 21/04/2004 à 02:20, ron minnich a écrit :
> On 20 Apr 2004, Ian Zimmerman wrote:
> 
> > Same here.
> > 
> > I feel that the reliance on hotplugging flash chips has limited
> > linuxbios audience to hard-core metal hackers.
> 
> but what else can you do? Can you afford a flash burner? The set of people 
> who can afford this is smaller than the set of people who can hot plug.

1. I can't afford a "true" flash burner
2. Hot plug on PLCC (for example) leaves me (and others as it seems)
worry :
     half a millimeter between chip pins and a working motherboard :
what if i'am a bit stress and lift up badly the chip ? I got the
answer...
     
It's where the difficulty relies : I find it a pity linuxbios offers so
much and resolve via soft a lots of non Open/Free bios problems, and
though couldn't free itself from this "mechanical" issue... if I can say
so... :)

"Draft" Propositions :


1. why not building a flash_rom util which could send bios code steam
via LTP, COM or USB, PCI  : the aim not to touch the "working" bios(even
though its not needed after boot time) . Plusvalue of this : Cold plug :
Make a backup copy for example

2. trying to disconnect/diswire bios socket from the up mainboard (that
is to say to get 0v on every pin of the socket) . Ideal view (mb
manufacturers !) : get a jumper to handle this 

3 ... err .. run dry

mathieu





> 
> I had not realized however that hot plug is such a big issue, so 
> suggestions for alternatives that are affordable would be great
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> ron
> 
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