[coreboot] [flashrom] flashrom problem: will not flash on compaq/deskpro Deskpro EN SFF P600.

Mon Jun 2 14:45:05 CEST 2008

Hi,

Thanks for the molex-numbers. I will check spoerle if they sell some.
I am from munich/germany.
My Compaq is the 600mhz p3-version with BX-Chipset.  and an P34 jumper 
which is not populated.
I will solder in a cable with a switch, so I can protect/unprotect the 
flash.

Greetings

LuJa

a a schrieb:
> Ludwig Jaffe wrote:
> > a a schrieb:
> >> ps.
> >>
> >> also note that the board will not take> 256KByte chips because pin 1
> >> (#reset on the 29F002BT A18 for>256KByte parts) of the plcc it wired
> >> to P34 (other end of P34 is wired to 12V) and it might even destroy
> >> other chips if P34 is placed !!
> > Uh! Thats evil.
> >
> >>
> >> hotflashing on this board is very hard because the powersupply is over
> >> the rom socket i made myself a extension cable from some compatible
> >> 14Pin molex minifit-jr connectors to allow access to the chip while the
> >> powersupply is nect to the box
> > where do I get the connectors? Do you have a Digi-key / other distri
> > order#?
>
> housing for male pins 14 way (to put on the psu):
> molex 0039012141 (or harder to find 0039012146)
> male pin to insert into this housing:
> molex 5558 (or high current 44478) (there are many variations in plating
> and packaging)
>
> housing for female pins 14 way (to put on the mobo):
> molex 0039012140 or harder to find 0039012145)
> female pin to insert into this housing:
> molex 5556 (or high current 44476) (there are many variations in plating
> and packaging)
>
> maybe you can order some samples from molex ?
>
> where are you from btw? (im from the Netherlands)
>
> >>
> >> i think we should give flashrom a couple of special commands ..
> >> LOCK and UNLOCK (i used some letters but forgot them)
> >> to unlock this kind of chip locks
> > flashrom:
> > Yes, It would be nice to rewrite flashrom accordingly because others
> > (openbios.org) also
> > like to use it. Lets make it a pretty cool tool also for upgrading
> > normal pc-bios from remote with linux.
> > I like the function-pointer arcutecture very much. So we could enhance
> > it by adding a function-pointer
> > for unprotect(*bios) and protect(*bios).
> > Then an *universal* algorithm will call according to the 
> commandline-params
> > read(*bios) for backup, unprotect(), is_unprotected(), erase(),
> > is_empty() [if not, try to write backup. verify()], write(), verify().
> >
> > The function-pointers for write() read() and the like point to the
> > implementation dependend on the detected flash.
> > Also function calls within the write or erase have to use the
> > function-fointers, so that by servicing the function-pointer table 
> and the
> > specialized routines, fine granular support for any flash can be writen.
> > So the ST-Way of unprotecting can be used for all st devices of the
> > family. So we save code and become very flexible.
> > The Problem with the actual code is that some routines simply write 
> some
> > data out to issue jedec-erase instaed of calling the erase-method 
> pointed
> > to by the function-pointer erase().
> >
> > So flashrom has to be rewritten accordingly (not so much effort) and
> > tested by people having the flash-roms in their machines.
> >
> >
> >>
> >> the original bios has a recovery option btw ... keek esc pressed
> >> powering up it will 'talk' to you over the keyboard leds / pc speaker
> >> ahd should be able to restore the bios from a diskette iirc
> >
> > Thanks for the tip.
> >
> > Have you ever thought of reverse-engineering the bios-flaser of compaq
> > using a debugger (does the effort make sense?)
>
> i did just that but it seams the switch will overrule software/ASIC.
> iirc the password is stored (encripted?) in cmos.
> im dont remember if the asic remembers it on its own or that the bios
> loads it at boot ...
> but i dont have the details in my head atm and no time to look it up
>
> > Do you have a service-manual? there are some more not assembled
> > connectors. E.G. P115 between Super-IO and ATI-Graphics
> > whicht seems to be interessting (maybe gpios of super io or 
> I2C/SMBUS)...
>
> i think i saw somewhere that P115 is SCSI but im not shure..
> i am shure that that are loads of missing resistor 'bank' parts around
> that...
> P108 seams to be gameport(maybe also midi)
>
> service manual i have is pdf_27556.pdf
> i got it from
> http://www.manualshark.org/manualshark/files/28/pdf_27556.pdf
> see also
> http://www.manualshark.org/p/hewlett-packard-28/hewlett-packard-compaq-deskpro-en-desktop-pc-series-26913/
>
>
> >
> > Thanks for your tips.
> >
> >
> > LuJa
> >>
> >>
> >> a a wrote:
> >>> Hi all,
> >>>
> >>> Ludwig Jaffe wrote:
> >>>> Hi all,
> >>>>
> >>>> i fiddled around with the flashrom util, and I managed to rewrite the
> >>>> original compaq-bios, which I saved before.
> >>>> I modified the flashrom-utily to enable writing the flashrom. The
> >>>> 29F002BT works with 29f002-funktions and *not* with jedec....
> >>>> The only problem that remains, is that it is not possible to
> >> unprotect
> >>>> the 20f002bt (ST). with the flashrom utily. So I can not upgrade the
> >>> flash!
> >>>> I will go and code some improvement to that.
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> i worked with Uwe to create the support for the Compaq deskpro EN SFF
> >>> 600N i have here
> >>>
> >>> i needed 3 hardware mods:
> >>> - socket for the flash chip (with loads of luck you can skip this but
> >>> please let me test the current tree before you flash coreboot into 
> your
> >>> unit)
> >>> - set SW1 to ON to disable the write protection on the'normal' (non
> >>> bootblock ) part of the bios (if you dont do this the ASIC will 
> disable
> >>> ANY writes even probes to the flash iirc
> >>> -if you have the original chip onboard: short (not installed) jumper
> >> P34
> >>> that is next to the flashpart (shorting this will temp. unlock the
> >>> bootblock and allow (un)programming of the lockbits note that you
> >> should
> >>> first protected the whole chip before unproetcting.
> >>>
> >>> i also needed a couple of software hacks that are not yet in the tree:
> >>> -disable some parts of the southbrigde (KBC ectect) so the superio can
> >>> handle them
> >>> -stuff some values to the ASIC so networking works (otherwise eth0 
> will
> >>> not show on the pci bus)
> >>> -i had some trouble with onboard audio but i dont remember the
> >> details now
> >>> -i dont have onboard vga working yet and was planning on maybe using /
> >>> writing free support for it so i dont need a vga bios
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> i dont have time today/tomorrow to look at it in more detail .. 
> will do
> >>> that later this week ...
> >>>
> >>> greetings,
> >>> todthgie
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> A suggestion regarding architecture:
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>> We should add a function-pointer for protect and unprotect,
> >> because this
> >>>> is sometimes special. e.g. 29f002bt (st).
> >>>> We should provide an extra funktion to protect/unprotect the bios
> >> to the
> >>>> user, so that reweiting the eeprom will be
> >>>> read() -> save old
> >>>> unprotect()
> >>>> test_if_unprotected()
> >>>> if not die
> >>>> erase()
> >>>> test_if_empty()
> >>>> if not, try to rewrite saved_old!
> >>>> else die.
> >>>> write
> >>>> verify
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> So the methods protect/unprotect have to be seperate and not be
> >> hidden
> >>>> in erase or write functions.
> >>>> And they should be accessible via the punction-pointer-table.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> My patch contains my little modifications and da doxygen file to ease
> >>>> understanding the code.
> >>>>
> >>>> Please help me to improve the architecture of flashrom.
> >>>>
> >>>> Greetings
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> LuJa
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> 
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