Hi Misha,
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Misha Wiesel <MishaW@radware.commailto:MishaW@radware.com> To: "flashrom@flashrom.orgmailto:flashrom@flashrom.org" <flashrom@flashrom.orgmailto:flashrom@flashrom.org> Cc: Bcc: Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:37:22 +0000 Subject: Flashrom 1.1 + C627 board + W25Q256* flash chip
Good morning. I am trying to write the SPI flash using the Fashrom v1.1 for C627 board (Intel PCH) and flash chip W25Q256 JV M. According to release notes for version 1.1, these HW components are supported already by flashrom. But I encounter problems. As it is being asked by flashrom utility, I report about it. Following some details:
First, I read the existing flash. See the attached log file “read-flash.log”.Then, I try to write the flash (from its original image) using the -c option. The write fails. See the attached log “write-flash-exact-chip.log”.
Intel doesn't allow direct access to the flash chip with your chipset. Hence, the chip never shows up by its actual name "W25Q256JV_M" but only as "Opaque flash chip" and the `-c` option is futile.
Next, I try to write the flash (from the same image) followed by verification, but without -c option. See the attached log “write-verify-flash.log”.a. If it will help… The verification reports an error at address 0x1000008f (values f8 vs f0). Comparison of original and read from flash chip images shows the same difference at the same offset.
Do you know exactly what the firmware of your mainboard does? It's possible that some other process also tries to write to the chip (e.g. firmware in SMM). You could try the same command again and see if it gives different results. Sometimes it just works by chance. But I can only advice to continue if you have means to recover from a bad flash.
Hope that helps, Nico