Re: [flashrom] Flashrom report

[Stefan Tauner]

On Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:17:23 +0200
Piotr Czepek  wrote:
> Hello,
> I tried to re-flash VIA Epia mb with flashrom.
> Chipset is marked as untested, so I attached report for you.
>
> Just for test - I read flash image to file and I wrote it back.
> After reboot system is alive, so I think flasrom works fine with this mb ;)

Hello Piotr,

Thanks for your effort!
If you look at the end of your write log you will see a lot of address
ranges followed by an 'S'. This indicates that flashrom has detected
that the current content already matches the data to write and *S*kips
that range. Naturally in your case it skips the whole image and hence
the log is no proof of erase + write working correctly.
If you have means to recover a failed write (or an UPS and some
patience) or if you are brave enough you can try to first erase the
chip with -E and write the backup image afterwards like you did
already. I have no experience with the VIA chips you have, so i can't
say if it is fairly safe or not (i guess so).
If that would be my productive machine i would not try it... some
glitch can always occur...

Flashrom report

[Piotr Czepek]

Hello Stefan,
I have other via system as a spare and flash PLCC chips are placed in
socket so it was not big risk to try ;-)
After erasing, re-flashing & rebooting - system is up and running.
To be sure erasing works I read erased flash to file - was full of  "0xFF".
So I can confirm that flashrom works for my via Epia - log attached.

2011/10/27 Stefan Tauner :
> On Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:17:23 +0200
> Piotr Czepek  wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I tried to re-flash VIA Epia mb with flashrom.
> > Chipset is marked as untested, so I attached report for you.
> >
> > Just for test - I read flash image to file and I wrote it back.
> > After reboot system is alive, so I think flasrom works fine with this mb ;)
>
> Hello Piotr,
>
> Thanks for your effort!
> If you look at the end of your write log you will see a lot of address
> ranges followed by an 'S'. This indicates that flashrom has detected
> that the current content already matches the data to write and *S*kips
> that range. Naturally in your case it skips the whole image and hence
> the log is no proof of erase + write working correctly.
> If you have means to recover a failed write (or an UPS and some
> patience) or if you are brave enough you can try to first erase the
> chip with -E and write the backup image afterwards like you did
> already. I have no experience with the VIA chips you have, so i can't
> say if it is fairly safe or not (i guess so).
> If that would be my productive machine i would not try it... some
> glitch can always occur...
> --
> Kind regards/Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Stefan Tauner