flashrom "Error accessing ICH RCRB"

[Alois Schlögl]

I'm trying to get a backup of the bios of my desktop computer, but it
fails with this message:

# flashrom  -V -p internal -r bios.rom
    flashrom v0.9.9-91-g0bfa819 on Linux 4.13.0-0.bpo.1-amd64 (x86_64)
    flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org

flashrom was built with libpci 3.5.2, GCC 6.3.0 20170516, little endian
    Command line (3 args): /home/as/src/flashrom/flashrom -V -p internal
    Using clock_gettime for delay loops (clk_id: 1, resolution: 1ns).
    Initializing internal programmer
    No coreboot table found.
    Using Internal DMI decoder.
    DMI string chassis-type: "Desktop"
    DMI string system-manufacturer: "0000"
    DMI string system-product-name: "OEM"
    DMI string system-version: "OEM"
    DMI string baseboard-manufacturer: "Foxconn"
    DMI string baseboard-product-name: "G31MVP"
    DMI string baseboard-version: "FAB:1.0"
    Found ITE Super I/O, ID 0x8718 on port 0x2e
    Found chipset "Intel ICH7/ICH7R" with PCI ID 8086:27b8.
    Enabling flash write... Root Complex Register Block address = 0xfed1c000
    Error accessing ICH RCRB, 0x4000 bytes at 0x00000000fed1c000
    /dev/mem mmap failed: Operation not permitted
    FAILED!
    FATAL ERROR!
    Error: Programmer initialization failed.

I tried with flashrom "v0.9.9-r1954" from debian/stable as well as the
latest version from the git repository. Both gave the same results.

Here are the results of the recommended steps fom https://flashrom.org/FAQ :

- The page "https://www.flashrom.org/Supported_hardware" lists
ICH7/ICH7R as supported, but this does not seem to be the case for me.

The user manual of the motherboard is available here:
http://www.produktinfo.conrad.com/datenblaetter/850000-874999/871892-an-01-e...
- The manual does also not show any jumpers that protect against bios
updates.

- The bios setting "Super BIOS Protect" is disabled.

Do you have any suggestions how to proceed ?

Cheers,

Alois

[Nico Huber]

Hi Alois,

On 30.12.2017 17:54, Alois Schlögl wrote:
> Here are the results of the recommended steps fom https://flashrom.org/FAQ :

try adding iomem=relaxed to your kernel command line, like the mentioned
FAQ suggests.

Nico

[Alois Schlögl]

On 2017-12-30 21:26, Nico Huber wrote:
> Hi Alois,
>
> On 30.12.2017 17:54, Alois Schlögl wrote:
> > Here are the results of the recommended steps fom https://flashrom.org/FAQ :
>
> try adding iomem=relaxed to your kernel command line, like the mentioned
> FAQ suggests.
>
> Nico

Hi Nico,

thanks, that solved the issue.

Alois

P.S.: The error message from flashrom did not match with the wiki; 
("/dev/mem mmap failed: Operation not permitted" instead of  'Can't mmap
memory using /dev/mem: Invalid argument');  moreover, I'd upgrade
flashrom to the latest version. Therefore, it was not clear to me that
this part of the FAQ would concern my case.

[Nico Huber]

On 31.12.2017 00:26, Alois Schlögl wrote:
> P.S.: The error message from flashrom did not match with the wiki;
> ("/dev/mem mmap failed: Operation not permitted" instead of  'Can't mmap
> memory using /dev/mem: Invalid argument');

Heh, you are right. In my head it's all just mixed together as "/dev/mem
related". This message turned out to have changed nearly 9 years ago in
the source code oO thanks for noting.
> moreover, I'd upgrade
> flashrom to the latest version. Therefore, it was not clear to me that
> this part of the FAQ would concern my case.

I've rewritten the whole part in the FAQ; hope it's more clear now.

Nico