$20 mini PC (Dolby controller) with unknown firmware password

[hmartin]

they're only 8 dollars bro, surely after all the time we've spent on them we'll break even if I just buy 20 more

Are there any available for $8 still? All the previous links in the thread seem sold out, and the cheapest I could find on eBay today was ~$23 including shipping. Just wondering if I somehow overlooked a better deal?

 

[RolloZ170]

Are there any available for $8 still? All the previous links in the thread seem sold out, and the cheapest I could find on eBay today was ~$23 including shipping. Just wondering if I somehow overlooked a better deal?

$8 = untested.
other deals

 

[ru me]

Seems like these are all getting decommissioned in significant numbers. Without reflashing them they are little more than ewaste. The value of the easily removable parts should set an upper bound for the price. We here can only buy so many, so I think the price should go down again.

 

[reasonsandreasons]

Apologies for the newbie question, but what exactly is needed to reflash these? Will a TL866 do it?

 

[RolloZ170]

Apologies for the newbie question, but what exactly is needed to reflash these? Will a TL866 do it?

i doubt the TL866 can do (overcurrent protection)
use the good cheap CH341a
NeoProgrammer
AsProgrammer

 

[ru me]

I used a ch341a with a clip to flash the bios in circuit. You can find warnings about voltage mismatch on the web, but my experience so far is that it works just fine. Properly seating the clip was by far the biggest difficulty.

 

[RolloZ170]

I used a ch341a with a clip to flash the bios in circuit. You can find warnings about voltage mismatch on the web

i tried first with the 3.3V ch341a = not work.
then with the original unmodified ch341a version = work.

 

[RolloZ170]

Properly seating the clip was by far the biggest difficulty.

i never had any issues with my Pomona clip

5250 | DigiKey Electronics

Order today, ships today. 5250 – SOIC, 0.15 to 0.35" Wide Test Clip 8 (2 x 4) from Pomona Electronics. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.com

BU-P5250 | DigiKey Electronics

Order today, ships today. BU-P5250 – SOIC, 0.15 to 0.35" Wide Test Clip 8 (2 x 4) from Mueller Electric Co. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.com

 

[ru me]

i never had any issues with my Pomona clip

5250 | DigiKey Electronics

Order today, ships today. 5250 – SOIC, 0.15 to 0.35" Wide Test Clip 8 (2 x 4) from Pomona Electronics. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.com

BU-P5250 | DigiKey Electronics

Order today, ships today. BU-P5250 – SOIC, 0.15 to 0.35" Wide Test Clip 8 (2 x 4) from Mueller Electric Co. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.com

They indeed look better than the clips that were included with my programmer. They also cost more than what I paid for everything. When my connection worked it was stable, I just sometimes had to clip it more than once.
Remember to flash the main bios with the battery connected. On the other hand I can’t read the EC flash with the battery connected which I think makes sense since it is always in use.

 

[autoturk]

10 screws under the foam foot pad thing and figure out how to remove the retention ring around the power jack (I put a flat head screw driver into one of the notches and tapped it a bit to get it loose, then it was easy.)

I just jammed my torx screwdriver into the foam where I could feel that there was a hole, and got the screws out that way. Thanks for the heads up on the ring!

 

[RolloZ170]

On the other hand I can’t read the EC flash with the battery connected which I think makes sense since it is always in use.

or it is not designed for in circuit programming. the ch341a powers up other hardware, e.g. the EC controller ???

 

[RolloZ170]

Here's a hot tip.
1) erase chip
2) blankcheck, if not OK goto 1
3) write chip
4) verify chip, if not OK goto 1

 

[tp1]

has anyone flashed the controller chip?

 

[RolloZ170]

has anyone flashed the controller chip?

and flash with what then ?

 

[tp1]

Not sure, I was experimenting with different versions to see and I am pretty sure there is anti-tampering mechanisms in the EC. Mine seems to be bricked.

 

[RolloZ170]

Mine seems to be bricked.

none of the verification after chip write is succesfully.
seems there is some chip powered(chipset intel ME) and bdisturbs the writing.
i am buying BIOS chips now. desolder and replace with preflashed ones.

 

[tp1]

its interesting, after flashing the EC firmware chip, the light doesnt come on either. I erased, flashed, success status, verified again, so the writing process I think was okay.

 

[ru me]

its interesting, after flashing the EC firmware chip, the light doesnt come on either. I erased, flashed, success status, verified again, so the writing process I think was okay.

I was able to read it earlier while the battery was unplugged. I did not try to flash the chip. Likely the EC flash chip is under the control of the EC processor as long as the battery is connected. Is your EC dump the same as mine? Probably not exactly, there is maybe a serial number in there somewhere.

 

[tp1]

I did not compare the EC dump, but would be surprised if it is the same. I flashed the EC with the original firmware, and even tried other firmware but it seems dead. The light isnt turning on. Looks like a dead unit.

 

[ru me]

I did not compare the EC dump, but would be surprised if it is the same. I flashed the EC with the original firmware, and even tried other firmware but it seems dead. The light isnt turning on. Looks like a dead unit.

Did you let it sit for a while. Did you replug several times. Also now it might be the time to use the cmos jumper. There is certainly some kind of recovery routine running on the EC.