Service Forum

[fredrikolsson]

Hi!
My first post here, seems like you guys know what you're talking about so..
I disconnected my CMOS battery for a while in an attempt to get a new stick of RAM to be recognised.
It is an X24, and now it's asking me for a password when I boot it up.
From my understanding there are two types of paasswords on these machines, I had a password that I entered every time I booted it earlier, but that's not the password it requires now, I think it want's some kind of administrator password or something.
I never got that password from the guy I bought it from, just the one that you enter every time you start it.
Is it really necessary for me to dump the Atmel chip? Maybe there's a default password?

Regards
/Fredrik

[victor]

How does the logo looks like:
1.

2.

For the picture 1. you need to read the 24RF08 eeprom where the SVP is stored. There's no merlin password
For the second one, you have to replace the HD because is locked. You say that you used this laptop so I guess this is not your case.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[fredrikolsson]

It's number 1. Damn, guess it's time to order components :/
Well thanks for the help!

/Fredrik

[fredrikolsson]

Hi again,
Ok, now I have built the interface, soldered everything onto the the chip and so, all according to the tutorial on this site.
But, when I try to read it, r24rf08 says it can't find the EEPROM.
First and foremost, on the 8-pin version, pin 1 is where the little groove in the chip is right?
I really think I've done everything correct, I would like some help with my troubleshooting since I don't know the next step right now..
Thanks

[victor]

I need more, like pictures with the interface (top and bottom of the PCB), COM port and eeprom connections.

You can send them directly to support-at-allservice.ro, if you like.
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[fredrikolsson]

Ok, here's the motherboard, the 24RF08 is below the top left plastic frame, you can probably see wich pins are soldered on.
For grounding pin 4 I used the top right mounting hole.
http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ibminterface002mk2.jpg

And here's my mess of an interface, but it is actually correctly wired.
This is the SCL wiring.
http://img140.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ibminterface003vz6.jpg

This is part of the SDA wiring, you see the resistor from pin 4 (it's not touching the casing, the picture fools you). Also the zener diode is grounded in the casing as you can see. The grounded wire to the top left goes to pin 5.
http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ibminterface005ju7.jpg

More SDA wiring, you see pin 8 is also connected to the zener diode. Also you can see the the grounded wire from pin 5.
http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ibminterface006yt4.jpg

I was thinking, can I somehow check the interface with a multimeter or so?
Might be a good idea to check nothing has broken due to soldering heat.

[victor]

I saw your pictures and already replied your email 2 days ago:

I saw this design (very impressing pictures!) of yours and was wondering where is the GND wire?

GND can get you in a real trouble, not all the metal parts on the locked laptop are grounded. A good ground is (just an example)one of the VGA out nuts.

I suggest a little test. Open up the itester.exe which came with the software kit, insert this device of your on the COM1 port (do not attach the SCL and SDA to the locked laptop) and click <Connect>. You should see SDAin and SDA/SCL outs switching together and having the same values. When SDA/SCL out are 1, the SDAin must be 1, and so forth. Meanwhile if you check the voltage on the SCL and SCL wires you should have"

SDA (1) = 4.0V - 5.1V
SDA (0) = -0.6V

SCL (1) = 5.1V
SCL (0) = -0.6V

Good luck!
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[fredrikolsson]

Hi, thanks for the quick response, actually I never got your e-mail, must have fallen victim for som spam filter.
I suspected that the mounting hole was'nt grounded, so I tested one time to solder it to an all-metal carpet knife, but I guess that builds up a charge quite quick since it would'nt work.
I will check the interface in the way you mentioned and get back to you, thanks a lot for the help.

[fredrikolsson]

Hi again,
So I checked the interface, SDAin and SDAout/SCLout are switching together, however, the voltage I'm getting are:

SDA high: 4.28V
SDA low: -0.74V
SCL high: 4.32V
SCL low: -0.74V

Are they too out of order for it to work or do you think that the grounding was my problem?

[victor]

SCL is not as expected. You must have 5.1V, not more nor less.
If not, the zeners ain't 5.1V ones or the port's level is too low.

Can you messure directly on COM pin 4, to see the what's the peak there?
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[fredrikolsson]

Measuring directly on the port without the interface plugged in I have: 11.10V and -11.15V.
With interface connected (measuring on the back of the interface COM-port) the voltage drops, I can't really see why, since everything is unloaded?
These voltages are 9.78V and -9.39V.
I'm guessing a serial port should give 12V and -12V?
Maybe I should try another computer?

/Fredrik

[victor]

Maybe your diodes are not 5.1V zeners...in fact I am sure.

Try on another PC, what can you do else?...
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.

[fredrikolsson]

Yeah, you're right, I'll check another computer, but I'm pretty sure the diodes are 5.1V, it's not impossible that I heated them to their death though

[darkeye]

i succeeded to dump the eeprom but ibm pass gives me a pass like 4 + 4 +2 1 what does it mean? i tried every combination but without succes. can somebody write my pass here
thanks a lot

[victor]

We can't just guesstimate a password, but if you email us the eeprom dump we'll try out support -at- allservice.ro
_________________
Victor Voinea
ALLservice HQ, Romania.