[SOLVED!!! Wrong SBR file] SAS3Flsh.exe shows "ERROR: Failed to initialize PAL" when trying to flash LSI 3008 card with IT-Mode firmware

[filedotzip]

[this post is a continuation of my adventures from yesterday]

This is the exact card I have, Fujitsu D3307-A12 CP400i

Im using FreeDOS installed from Rufus on a usb stick. Ive tried this in two computers with legacy boot enabled (motherboards are both from around 2010 era)

The card has already been successfully flashed with the Fujitsu CP400i SBR, then yesterday I successfully wiped the firmware by running the following command

"megarec.exe -cleanflash 0"

and then I tried to run

"SAS3FLSH.EXE -c 0 -o -f SAS308IT.bin -b MPTSAS3.ROM -b MPT3x64.ROM

I hit enter and immediatly I get "ERROR: Failed to initlalize PAL. Exiting program."




I go back to try cleaning the flash again and erasing it by running "megarec.exe -cleanflash 0"

But I get this weird message.


It says something about flash not being programmable. What gives? Can anyone help me figure out whats going on and what I need to do to flash my firmware?
Do I have the wrong SAS3flsh?

 

[filedotzip]

I also just tried the EFI flash utility.

Said there was no controllers found. Where did I go wrong?

 

[mrpasc]

For the DOS stick make sure to have himem.sys included and loading. Had same error and himem.sys solved that.

 

[filedotzip]

For the DOS stick make sure to have himem.sys included and loading. Had same error and himem.sys solved that.

Thank you,

I thought you were onto something because my Rufus FreeDos doesnt look normal. even though it boots dos, it doesnt have a fdconfig.sys or any binary files.

So i went to free-dos's website, downloaded freedos livecd iso, flashed it to my USB via rufus, in the config now i see "DEVICE=\FREEDOS\BIN\HIMEMX.EXE"

so thats all good. Now I went to run my software, and same issue.

 

[mrpasc]

Well, that's weird. Check your BIOS if there is an option like "above 4G encoding" in the PCIe section, if set try to un-set.
And, if you use the DOS tool of sas3flsh un-check/disable all UEFI option-roms in your system.
Or, try to use an other/older system for flashing.

 

[filedotzip]

I was using a Z97 Classified in that picture, its a old motherboard running legacy bios.

I also just tried on an X9 motherboard, same problem on DOS, and this problem on EFI shell

http://imgur.com/a/9TN80Sc

I think I bricked my card. I have ordered a EEPROM programmer for the chip on the card and it will arrive this sunday, then I can get a deeper look. Ill keep this thread updated.

 

[filedotzip]

Hello,

So I got my programmer and I do believe my card was bricked.

After alot of hassle I figured out the flash chip where the SBR is stored is the AT24C64D.

I used a T56 universal programmer to program it.

I was successfully able to read a known good flash chip and get its firmware, then I put this firmware back onto the card and it was detected again.

So heres where the issue comes back.

I am following this tutorial,

I got all my files from a helpful member on this forum and am running the correct Megarec3, and sas3flsh
I have no reason to believe my SBR is bad. So basically, heres what happens.

These are the steps I follow from the video tutorial and where I will put a red X is where my problems start.

boot Freedos 13, move to my folder with all my tools

> megacli.exe -adpallinfo -a0 > card1.txt
This give me the cards serial number and sas address aswell as alot of other information

> megarec3.exe -writesbr 0 CP400i.SBR
Completes successfully, even better it completes without an error like show in the video tutorial.

> megarec3.exe -cleanflash 0
this cleans the cards flash which gets it ready for the new firmware. it takes a while but eventually completes.
next the video instructs me to reboot the dos machine, and flash the firmware.

reboot, then I run the following command and have an issue

> sas3flsh.exe -c 0 -o -f SAS9300I.BIN

I get an error, failed to initialize PAL. What gives??

 

[BackupProphet]

Try to flash on another system, some motherboards has bios limitations

 

[filedotzip]

I DID IT!!!

So it wasnt my motherboard. It was the SBR file.



After manually programming the EEPROM chip after I bricked it with the wrong SBR, It finally flashed successfully.



If anyone in the distant future sees this thread and has the same struggles, here you go. save yourself the time

password on the zip file is: password

 

[2b2bff]

Hi,

I want to go the other way around - do you have the original SBR file for the CP400i?

Cheers

 

[filedotzip]

Hi,

I want to go the other way around - do you have the original SBR file for the CP400i?

Cheers

I did not save the original SBR. Sorry.

If you are in need of it, this is the card I got from ebay, for 100$

Fujitsu D3307-A12 D3307-A12 CP400i 12GB RAID HBA Card SAS3008 9300-8I US Ship | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fujitsu D3307-A12 D3307-A12 CP400i 12GB RAID HBA Card SAS3008 9300-8I US Ship at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[2b2bff]

No thank you. I have such a card but crossflashed it to the IT firmware months ago. My backup is gone by now.

But luckily I don't need the SBR anymore, as I decided otherwise.