HDD in-circuit reprogramming

[Thomasheidler]

Hi

I need to reprogram the firmware on a WD HDD with SOIC8 Winbond chip supported by flashrom. I tried reading in-circuit but my programmer does not detect it (other chips work fine). Probably other components are drawing voltage so I disconnected Vcc and tried to power it through regular SATA connectors which didn't work. Do you have any recommendations how to workaround this issue? Will supplying power through 3.3V Vcc and SATA connector at same time fry the chip?

Thanks for your help
Tom

[Buhrow, Simon]

Hi,

what does „other chips work fine” mean? With the same WD HDD setup? Or on other HDDs/Boards?

Which programmer are you using?
Could you provide a logfile with the output of flahrom when trying to detect the chip and running with the –V parameter?
> Will supplying power through 3.3V Vcc and SATA connector at same time fry the chip?

It should not. If SATA is 3.3V as well (not sure if SATA uses 5V?) and you connect the Ground there should not be fried nothing. But on the other hand I´m not sure if this is your real issue. Better you do steps mentioned above first.

Regards,

Simon

Von: Thomasheidler via flashrom 
Gesendet: Samstag, 2. Januar 2021 11:48
An: [e-mail]
Betreff: [flashrom] HDD in-circuit reprogramming

Hi

I need to reprogram the firmware on a WD HDD with SOIC8 Winbond chip supported by flashrom. I tried reading in-circuit but my programmer does not detect it (other chips work fine). Probably other components are drawing voltage so I disconnected Vcc and tried to power it through regular SATA connectors which didn't work. Do you have any recommendations how to workaround this issue? Will supplying power through 3.3V Vcc and SATA connector at same time fry the chip?

Thanks for your help
Tom