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ASRock-SPC741D8/presale-assembly-and-validation.md: Link to recovery … #1292

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243 changes: 13 additions & 230 deletions docs/transparent-validation/ASRock-SPC741D8/presale-assembly-and-validation.md
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Expand Up @@ -204,189 +204,13 @@ Here's a list of steps that need to be performed:

## Flashing Dasharo Firmware

The Dasharo firmware can only be flashed externally by removing the memory
chip from the socket and using a dedicated adapter to flash it via CH341A
(v1.7) programmer. The following list guides how to perform this operation:
The Dasharo firmware is flashed externally by removing the BIOS memory chip
from its socket and flashing it in a dedicated SOIC-16 adapter connected to a
CH341A (v1.7) programmer. The full step-by-step procedure — removing the chip,
setting up the programmer, flashing, and putting the chip back — is described in
the [recovery guide](../../variants/asrock_spc741d8/recovery.md).

1. **Ensure the platform is disconnected from the power source!**
1. Locate the BIOS flash memory socket. The flash memory socket is located
at the very bottom of the motherboard, below the NVMe drive (or socket if
drive not yet mounted). The following picture showcases the socket location.

![BIOS memory location](images/flash_location.jpg)

1. Open the flash memory socket. To open the flash memory socket, it is advised
to remove the NVMe drive, as there is very little space to grab the socket
door. Moreover, the socket door is sealed with a paper-like seal; one can
use pointy tweezers or a small knife to gently cut the seal along the door
edges as marked in the picture above. Once the previously mentioned things
were done, open up the socket by pulling up the tabs on the bigger door of
the chip memory socket. Once the bigger door is freed, one should be able to
perform the same operation for the smaller door. The partially opened socket
and the hinge direction have been showcased in the picture below.

![BIOS socket open](images/socket_open.jpg)

1. Remove the memory from the socket. To remove the memory from the socket,
one can slide tweezers underneath the memory chip to lift it up. This
operation is much easier to perform with the NVMe drive removed. The picture
below shows the removed flash memory and its orientation.

![Flash chip](images/bios_flash_mem.jpg)

The first pin of the chip is always marked with a dot (stamp) on the
package. The dot and the first pin were highlighted by a red circle and
arrow, respectively.

_Note: While the picture shows `Macronix 5MX25L51245G` memory chip, the
platform might as well come with different chips like `Winbond W25Q512JV`,
therefore a chip model can differ. While the chips can be different, they
shall have the same specification, therefore settings on the programmer are
common for all the chips._

1. Obtain the CH341A v1.7 programmer (the one with green PCB) and the SOIC-16
adapter. For your convenience, the right adapter has been labeled with the
platform name it was bought for.

![Flash adapter](images/flsh_adapter.jpg)

1. Set the programmers as follows:

- set voltage/logic level to 3.3V,
- set the programmer to flashing mode,
- put the adapter pins into the groves and secure it.

The above process has been shown in detail in the pictures below.

![Programmer corner](images/flshr_corner.jpg)

The picture above showcases:

- where to put the jumper (marked with a red arrow),
- how to secure the adapter, by pulling the lever down when the pins are in
the grooves (marked with green arrow),
- the yellow circle showcases the 8 grooves at the rear of the programmer
shall be left unpopulated. The programmer uses the first 8 pins.

![Programmer side](images/flasher_side.jpg)

The picture above showcases:

- lever in the lock position (marked with green arrow),
- the logic level switch set to 3.3V (marked with a red arrow),
- the programmer type and version were highlighted in yellow.

_Note: On the bottom of the PCB, the programmer features a pictogram showing
how to set the voltage level switch. The two memory models that are known to
be mounted in this platform operate at 2.7 to 3.6 volts; it is safe to assume
all do, to be compatible with the motherboard logic levels._

![programmer top](images/flshr_top.jpg)

The picture above showcases the top view of the programmer and adapter
combo. The red arrow and a circle showcase how to locate the first pin in
the socket. The rule is the same for memory chips; the dot means the first
pin. Thus, when placing memory in the socket, both dots should be aligned.

1. Place the flash memory in the adapter (programmer). The picture below
showcases the BIOS flash memory being socketed in the SOIC-16 adapter that's
connected to the programmer.

![Memory in the adapter](images/flsh_in_adaptr.jpg)

To socket the memory chip in an adapter, first place it freely in the
adapter. Make sure the dot on the memory chip and the dot on the adapter PCB
are aligned (are in the same corner). The dots were marked with red arrows
and circles.

Finally, push the border marked with the yellow arrows down and then release
them. The memory chip shall fall into place and be locked.

1. Connect the programming combo to your computer.

_Note: Use of a USB extension cable is advised._

1. Open up the terminal and probe the flash chip. The command shown below does
just that. It is safe to execute the command; no changes to the flash memory
are made.

**Command:**

```bash
sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi
```

The expected output should be similar to the one shown below.

**Example log:**

```log
λ sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi
flashrom 1.4.0 on Linux 6.17.8-300.fc43.x86_64 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org

Found Winbond flash chip "W25Q512JV" (65536 kB, SPI) on ch341a_spi.
[...]
```

It might so happen that, additionally, the following information will be
printed.

**Example log:**

```log
This flash part has status UNTESTED for operations: WP
The test status of this chip may have been updated in the latest development
version of flashrom. [...]
```

If that's the case, the message can be simply ignored.

1. Dump the memory chip contents. This step is performed to ensure
connection and memory operations are stable. The set of commands shown below
does two memory dumps on the flash chip and prints the checksums of the
dumped memory images. The commands are safe to perform, chip contents are
**not** altered, but please note this might take a long amount of time
(`8min+` per operation).

**Command:**

```bash
sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -r backup_p1.bin # Perform the first read
sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -r backup_p2.bin # Perform the second read
md5sum backup_p* # Calculate and print checksums for dumped memory images
```

If the dumping memory succeeds, the "`Reading flash... done.`" will be
printed out.

**Example log:**

```log
λ sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -r backup_p1.bin
flashrom 1.4.0 on Linux 6.17.8-300.fc43.x86_64 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org

Found Winbond flash chip "W25Q512JV" (65536 kB, SPI) on ch341a_spi.
[...]
You can also try to follow the instructions here:
https://www.flashrom.org/contrib_howtos/how_to_mark_chip_tested.html
Thanks for your help!
Reading flash... done.
```

The output of `md5sum` command will be similar to the following.

**Example log:**

```log
λ md5sum backup_p*
7519dd85799169b8561d2867f98ffec6 backup_p1.bin
7519dd85799169b8561d2867f98ffec6 backup_p2.bin
```

Note that **the hashes will be different** from those in the above example.
The operation is considered a success if both hashes are the same.
### Obtaining the firmware

1. Obtain the newest firmware for the platform. Log in to
[Minio](https://dlui.dasharo.com), and go to the
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -421,55 +245,14 @@ chip from the socket and using a dedicated adapter to flash it via CH341A
The command will print out the checksum calculated locally and the master
checksum afterwards. If the checksums match, one can proceed.

1. Flash the memory chip with new firmware. To flash the firmware onto the flash
chip, execute the command from the snippet below. **NOTE THAT THIS ACTION IS
DESTRUCTIVE. THE DEFAULT FIRMWARE WILL BE ERASED!**

_Note: In case flashing goes wrong, you shall still have copies of the
original firmware from a few steps before._

**Command:**

```bash
sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -w <name_of_downloaded_.rom_file>
```

_Note: The flashing can take `20min+`._

The output of the command will likely be as follows.

**Example log:**

```log
λ sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -w asrock_spc741d8_v0.9.0.rom
flashrom 1.4.0 on Linux 6.17.8-300.fc43.x86_64 (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org

Found Winbond flash chip "W25Q512JV" (65536 kB, SPI) on ch341a_spi.
[...]
Reading old flash chip contents... done.
Erase/write done from 0 to 3ffffff
Verifying flash... VERIFIED.
```

If the "`Verifying flash... VERIFIED`" is printed out, the flashing has
succeeded.

1. Put the memory chip back into the motherboard.
**First, disconnect the programmer from the computer**, and then remove the
flash memory from the socket. Use small tweezers to put the memory chip back
into the socket.

![Chip in socket](images/flash_in_socket.jpg)

The picture above shows the proper orientation of the chip in the socket.
Pin 1 on the chip shall be the closest one to the arrow on the
silkscreen of the PCB. The dot showcasing chip orientation (pin one), and
the arrow on the silkscreen were marked with red circles.
### Flashing and verification

1. Close the socket doors, starting with the smaller one, followed by the
bigger one.
1. Mount the NVMe drive back if removed.
1. Flash the firmware onto the BIOS memory chip and reinstall it into the
socket by following the
[recovery guide](../../variants/asrock_spc741d8/recovery.md). Use the
firmware `.rom` file downloaded and verified above as the binary to flash.
**NOTE THAT THIS ACTION IS DESTRUCTIVE. THE DEFAULT FIRMWARE WILL BE
ERASED!**
1. Supply the power to the platform, and follow the procedure from the
"[Stock Firmware Verification](#stock-firmware-verification)".

Expand Down
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