Fujitsu Siemens D2703 bios modding / CRC?

[megabug]

Hi,

I just got an D2703-A1 mainboard (mini ITX), which is a striped down version of the D2703-S1 board. I need the bios of the -S1 board on mine to use SATA and stuff, but can't get it flashed.

Here is the content of the biod update directory (-S1 board):

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01.12.2010  15:04             4.478 A2703_S1.OMF
01.12.2010  15:14            14.416 AMDCPUP.ALL
01.12.2010  15:14             1.491 AMDCPUP.TXT
01.12.2010  15:14               199 AUTOEXEC.BAT
23.06.2009  21:04           117.378 BIOFLASH.EXE
01.12.2010  15:04             1.383 C2703_S1.OMF
10.12.2003  04:49            93.963 COMMAND.COM
01.12.2010  15:14                 3 config.sys
01.12.2010  15:04           513.802 D2703_S1.OCF
25.02.2005  18:20            45.378 KERNEL.SYS
01.12.2010  15:04               125 M2703_S1.OMF

And this is the -A1 board:

Code: Select all

05.10.2009  10:53             4.324 A2703_A1.OMF
05.10.2009  11:08            14.416 AMDCPUP.ALL
05.10.2009  11:08             1.415 AMDCPUP.TXT
05.10.2009  11:08               199 AUTOEXEC.BAT
23.06.2009  21:04           117.378 BIOFLASH.EXE
05.10.2009  10:53             1.383 C2703_A1.OMF
10.12.2003  04:49            93.963 COMMAND.COM
05.10.2009  11:08                 3 config.sys
05.10.2009  10:53           460.553 D2703_A1.OCF
25.02.2005  18:20            45.378 KERNEL.SYS
05.10.2009  10:53               125 M2703_A1.OMF

the bioflash update tool has the following options:

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Copyright (c) 2009 Fujitsu Technology Solutions

Usage: 
BIOFLASH filename.OMF | filename.OCF | filename.ENC

 <options>
  filename.OMF   BIOS image, BIOS module or CMOS update file
  filename.OCF   Packed BIOS image update file

 <options>
  /ARCHIVE       Create archive files of BIOS and CMOS
  /AUTO          Search for a suitable BIOS OMF-file in current directory
  /CAUTO         Search for a suitable CMOS OMF-file in current directory
  /CMOS          Create a cmos archive file: Cxxxx_xx.OMF
  /INFO          Display system and BIOS information
  /NORESET       No reset after flash device is programmed
  /U             Update only if installed BIOS is out-of-date
  /Y             Answer 'YES' in advance to any prompt
  /KEY
  /KEY()         Use a specific key for encrypted files
  /NOP6          No implicit auto-update for CPU microcode patch area
  /P6            Explicit auto-update for CPU microcode patch area
  /P6()          Insert any microcode, independent of the installed CPU
  /X16MB(n)      Force bioflash.exe to move its buffers in memory n*16MB
                 Avoid collisions with RAMDRIVE, LAN remote boot, etc.
  /MODULE(X,YY)  Module update  X=PtlClass(ascii) YY=AbgClass(hex)
  /NOAPI         Use the Bioflash plug-in file instead of BIOS API

The .OCF files are the main BIOS update files which contain everything.

Specifying the files from the -S1 board on my -A1 board just gives me an error saying wrong hardware.

Changing the -S1 files (D2703_S1.OCF) in the header (on 0x00030) to say its for the A1 results in checksum error, since I don't know where the crc byte sits.

Could someone please help me with this mess?

I uploaded both bioses on my webserver, you can get them here: LINK


Thanks in advance.

[edwin]

The stripped-down version does not have the hardware for SATA so you can spare yourself the effort and the risk to flash the wrong bios on your board, killing it in the process.

[megabug]

What do you mean? Is the southbridge different? Because the SATA traces are routed to the SB and the only thing missing are the 100nF AC decoupling capacitors (0402 package), the SATA connectors and the BIOS options to enable it!

The soldering part is the easy thing (for me at least).

So what now?


Thanks.

[edwin]

I somehow think you have this version:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$%28KGrHqIOKocE ... 8800005007

That is not just the SATA that is missing, I see empty spaces for a memory slot, firewire controller, IDE... But if you actually must and want to run the risk of bricking it, use uniflash or flashrom
http://www.rainbow-software.org/uniflash/
http://packages.debian.org/squeeze/flashrom

They both have options to ignore the model diference and flash anyway.

[megabug]

Hi,

Already tried flashrom (compiled on kubuntu) but it can't find my flashchip.

Uniflash doesn't support my chipset, board or flashchip.


Btw: sorry, there is no logic in your answer: If the firewire controller is missing (and some other SATA unrelated stuff) why shouldn't the SATA work if enabled in BIOS?


Thanks.

[edwin]

The logic there is the stripped down version of the board may have different glue-logic and therefore a completely different bios.

[asbokid]

Hello!

Viz the D2703-A, but not strictly related to the BIOS.. the motherboard is also lacking any drive power pins. So even when those missing capacitors are re-instated on the SATA data lines, there's nowhere to pull off the power for the SATA drives. There are solder pads where drive power pins should be, but they are hidden under the mic in / line in audio sockets. So those sockets need unsoldering and removing. I've just done this. But the BIOS still won't recognise anything on the SATA bus. In the end I added a TX2Plus SATA300 PCI card. And that's getting about 100Mbps transfer rate (according to the Linux tool hdparm) on a retro SSD drive (120GB Corsair Force). Also, the BIOS in the D2703-A doesn't properly recognise CPUs other than the (fanless) Sempron 2100+. I tried the dual core S1g1 CPU, the TK-42, but only a single core was recognised. That's in Linux, I didn't try Windows.

cheers, asbokid

[edwin]

Thanks for the feedback and the explanation.