[LinuxBIOS] 5 Euro flash hardware

[Quux]

Ward Vandewege schrieb:
> A proper programmer would be useful, but only if it can be used with free
> software. There's also this rom-emulator:
>
> http://www.tech-tools.com/er3.htm
>
> Richard Smith told me that the dos-based cli software works under wine, but
> it's still a proprietary thing.
> http://www.loet.de/index.html

this flasher can be homebrewed at 5 euro component cost and free linux 
flash software is available.
you can also buy a ready-made flasher.

it hooks to the IDE 40-pin port.  afaik the cheapest solution available 
w/  32 pin plcc           --Q

[ron minnich]

Maybe this goes on the web page?

ron

On 3/12/07, Quux  wrote:
> Ward Vandewege schrieb:
> > A proper programmer would be useful, but only if it can be used with free
> > software. There's also this rom-emulator:
> >
> > http://www.tech-tools.com/er3.htm
> >
> > Richard Smith told me that the dos-based cli software works under wine, but
> > it's still a proprietary thing.
> > http://www.loet.de/index.html
>
> this flasher can be homebrewed at 5 euro component cost and free linux
> flash software is available.
> you can also buy a ready-made flasher.
>
> it hooks to the IDE 40-pin port.  afaik the cheapest solution available
> w/  32 pin plcc           --Q

[Quux]

consider it done ;-)  --Q

ron minnich schrieb:
> Maybe this goes on the web page?
>
> ron
>
> On 3/12/07, Quux  wrote:
> > > http://www.loet.de/index.html
> >
> > this flasher can be homebrewed at 5 euro component cost and free linux
> > flash software is available.
> > you can also buy a ready-made flasher    at 50 euro
> >
> > it hooks to the IDE 40-pin port.  afaik the cheapest solution available
> > w/  32 pin plcc           --Q

[Ward Vandewege]

On Mon, Mar 12, 2007 at 04:08:58PM +0100, Quux wrote:
> Ward Vandewege schrieb:
> > A proper programmer would be useful, but only if it can be used with free
> > software. There's also this rom-emulator:
> >
> > http://www.tech-tools.com/er3.htm
> >
> > Richard Smith told me that the dos-based cli software works under wine, but
> > it's still a proprietary thing.
> > http://www.loet.de/index.html
>
> this flasher can be homebrewed at 5 euro component cost and free linux 
> flash software is available.
> you can also buy a ready-made flasher.

Yeah. We actually bought one, but the problem is that most modern plcc parts
require 3-3.6V to flash, and this programmer needs an additional voltage
adaptor to do that (it uses 5V if you hook it up to your PC power supply).

I don't suppose there is a manual in English somewhere? My German is rusty
(http://www.loet.de/download_en.html).

Suggestions on how to build/where to find such a voltage regulator? The
manual isn't very helpful in that respect - at least as far as I can make
out. Would adding a resistor to the +5V line be sufficient?

Thanks,
Ward.

[Luis Correia]

Ward, you can get 3.3V from the orange cables that power your mainboard.

Newer PSU will also have this orange cable to power SATA harddrives.

p.s. please check voltage with a volt meter before powering anything!!!

Luis

On 3/12/07, Ward Vandewege  wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 12, 2007 at 04:08:58PM +0100, Quux wrote:
> > Ward Vandewege schrieb:
> > > A proper programmer would be useful, but only if it can be used with free
> > > software. There's also this rom-emulator:
> > >
> > > http://www.tech-tools.com/er3.htm
> > >
> > > Richard Smith told me that the dos-based cli software works under wine, but
> > > it's still a proprietary thing.
> > > http://www.loet.de/index.html
> >
> > this flasher can be homebrewed at 5 euro component cost and free linux
> > flash software is available.
> > you can also buy a ready-made flasher.
>
> Yeah. We actually bought one, but the problem is that most modern plcc parts
> require 3-3.6V to flash, and this programmer needs an additional voltage
> adaptor to do that (it uses 5V if you hook it up to your PC power supply).
>
> I don't suppose there is a manual in English somewhere? My German is rusty
> (http://www.loet.de/download_en.html).
>
> Suggestions on how to build/where to find such a voltage regulator? The
> manual isn't very helpful in that respect - at least as far as I can make
> out. Would adding a resistor to the +5V line be sufficient?
>
> Thanks,
> Ward.

[Quux]

I don't suppose there is a manual in English somewhere? My German is rusty
> > (http://www.loet.de/download_en.html).
> >
> > Suggestions on how to build/where to find such a voltage regulator? The
> > manual isn't very helpful in that respect - at least as far as I can make
> > out. Would adding a resistor to the +5V line be sufficient?

either power supply or PCI bus has 3.3 V. The manual is not telling much 
about that - I saw no english version around.
the manual talks about those jumpers and what to avoid when both sockets 
are populated. the circuit can also be the basis of other designs such 
as capacity measurement board.   --Q

[Richard Smith]

Ward Vandewege wrote:
> Suggestions on how to build/where to find such a voltage regulator? The
> manual isn't very helpful in that respect - at least as far as I can make
> out. Would adding a resistor to the +5V line be sufficient?

Digikey or mouser will have lots of 3 pin linear regulators in various 
voltages.  A resistor would be tricky to make work since the drop will 
depend on the current draw for that line.

Is a schematic of the programmer available?

[Ward Vandewege]

On Mon, Mar 12, 2007 at 01:10:43PM -0400, Richard Smith wrote:
> Ward Vandewege wrote:
> > Suggestions on how to build/where to find such a voltage regulator? The
> > manual isn't very helpful in that respect - at least as far as I can make
> > out. Would adding a resistor to the +5V line be sufficient?
>
> Digikey or mouser will have lots of 3 pin linear regulators in various 
> voltages.  A resistor would be tricky to make work since the drop will 
> depend on the current draw for that line.

Yeah, that's what I thought.
> Is a schematic of the programmer available?

Yes, right here:

http://www.loet.de/images/ideflasherSchematic.gif

Thanks,
Ward.

[Richard Smith]

Ward Vandewege wrote:
> Yes, right here:
>
> http://www.loet.de/images/ideflasherSchematic.gif

Of course its never that simple.  The problem with just adding a 3.3V
regulator in line to the flash sockets is that the 8255 outputs are
still 5V.  So you either need to add some 3.3V buffers with 5V tolerant
inputs or use flash chips that are 5V tolerant.

[Peter Stuge]

On Tue, Mar 13, 2007 at 12:04:12PM -0400, Richard Smith wrote:
> Ward Vandewege wrote:
> > http://www.loet.de/images/ideflasherSchematic.gif
>
> Of course its never that simple. The problem with just adding a
> 3.3V regulator in line to the flash sockets is that the 8255
> outputs are still 5V.  So you either need to add some 3.3V buffers
> with 5V tolerant inputs or use flash chips that are 5V tolerant.

Three 74LVX245 could be used as buffers. Note this design works for
parallell flash only.

For LPC there's at least one popular design called CheapLPC:

http://www.warmcat.com/milksop/cheapLPC.html

(Hi Andy! :)

This works for any LPC/FWH flash, not just the SST ones.

If you feel like experimenting with your soldered-on PLCC you can
wire this up to a PLCC socket so that it fits a chip inserted
upside-down in the socket. Then you just try put the socket on top of
the soldered-on chip on the mobo. It may or may not work depending on
what the flash chip is connected to. I would strongly recommend
trying this only when the mainboard is not powered.

//Peter

[Richard Smith]

Quux wrote:
> Ward Vandewege schrieb:
> > A proper programmer would be useful, but only if it can be used with free
> > software. There's also this rom-emulator:
> >
> > http://www.tech-tools.com/er3.htm
> >
> > Richard Smith told me that the dos-based cli software works under wine, but
> > it's still a proprietary thing.

The 16-bit cli tools that are included in the software bundle will work 
under DOSemu if you enable fast mode direct hardware access.

I never tried the windows tool under wine.

[Ward Vandewege]

On Mon, Mar 12, 2007 at 12:26:37PM -0400, Richard Smith wrote:
> Quux wrote:
> > Ward Vandewege schrieb:
> > > A proper programmer would be useful, but only if it can be used with free
> > > software. There's also this rom-emulator:
> > >
> > > http://www.tech-tools.com/er3.htm
> > >
> > > Richard Smith told me that the dos-based cli software works under wine, but
> > > it's still a proprietary thing.
>
> The 16-bit cli tools that are included in the software bundle will work 
> under DOSemu if you enable fast mode direct hardware access.

I stand corrected - DOSemu not wine :)
> I never tried the windows tool under wine.

Thanks,
Ward.