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authorFrancis Rowe <info@gluglug.org.uk>2015-07-18 19:31:16 (EDT)
committer Francis Rowe <info@gluglug.org.uk>2015-09-20 04:06:27 (EDT)
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New board: ThinkPad R500 (experimental)
The ich9deblob and ich9gen utilities were modified, so that they support reading and/or writing descriptor images where the GbE region is not defined. These utilities were also re-factored and tidied up a bit. A quick was noticed during the course of this work, in that Compenent 1 Density was being set to 8MiB constantly, even on systems with 4MiB flash chips. Component 2 Density was set statically to 2MiB. ich9gen now sets both to 4MiB or 8MiB, depending on whether building the descriptor for a 4MiB or 8MiB ROM image. There are still some ACPI bugs (see docs/hcl/r500.html), which will have to be fixed upstream. TODO: get hw reg dumps from a factory R500, and compare with the X200 or T400 dumps.
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+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+<head>
+ <meta charset="utf-8">
+ <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
+
+ <style type="text/css">
+ @import url('../css/main.css');
+ </style>
+
+ <title>ThinkPad R500: flashing tutorial (BeagleBone Black)</title>
+</head>
+
+<body>
+
+ <div class="section">
+ <h1 id="pagetop">Flashing the R500 with a BeagleBone Black</h1>
+ <p>Initial flashing instructions for R500.</p>
+ <p>
+ This guide is for those who want libreboot on their ThinkPad R500
+ while they still have the original Lenovo BIOS present. This guide
+ can also be followed (adapted) if you brick your R500, to know how
+ to recover.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Before following this section, please make sure to setup your libreboot ROM properly first.
+ Although ROM images are provided pre-built in libreboot, there are some modifications that
+ you need to make to the one you chose before flashing. (instructions referenced later in
+ this guide)
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ <b>
+ NOTE: This board is unsupported in libreboot 20150518. To use it in libreboot, for now, you
+ must build for it from source using the libreboot git repository.
+ </b>
+ </p>
+
+ <p><a href="index.html">Back to main index</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <h2 id="serial_port">Serial port</h2>
+
+ <p>
+ EHCI debug might not be needed. It has been reported that the docking station
+ for this laptop has a serial port, so it might be possible to use that instead.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <h1 id="lcd_compatibility">LCD compatibly</h1>
+ <p>
+ Not all LCD panels are known to be compatible yet. See <a href="../hcl/gm45_lcd.html">../hcl/gm45_lcd.html</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section" id="cpu_compatibility">
+
+ <h1>A note about CPUs</h1>
+ <p>
+ <a href="http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:R500">ThinkWiki</a> has a list of CPUs
+ for this system. The Core 2 Duo P8400, P8600 and P8700 are believed to work in libreboot.
+ The Core 2 Duo T9600 was confirmed to work (on a different laptop, but still GM45), so the T9400 probably also works.
+ <b>The Core 2 Duo T5870/5670 and Celeron M 575/585 are untested!</b>
+ </p>
+
+ <h2>Quad-core CPUs</h2>
+
+ <p>
+ Although blocked by lenovobios (as was reported), it is reported that there are quad-core CPUs
+ for GM45. This laptop has socketed CPUs, so it might be possible to use them
+ (they are untested in coreboot; support may have to be added).
+ Core 2 Quad Q9000, Q9100 or QX9300.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Look at this link:<br/>
+ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#Quad-Core_Notebook_processors">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#Quad-Core_Notebook_processors</a>
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section" id="switchable_graphics">
+
+ <h1>A note about GPUs</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ <a href="http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:R500">ThinkWiki</a> lists
+ two possible GPUs: Intel or ATI. Only the Intel GPUs work in libreboot; the ATI
+ GPUs require a proprietary Video BIOS, and so those are unsupported in libreboot.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ On other GM45 laptops in libreboot (e.g. T400, T500), so-called <i>switchable graphics</i>
+ is used, which means that the laptop will have <b>both</b> an ATI and Intel GPU, or it will
+ only have Intel, depending on which variation you have. On the systems with ATI and Intel,
+ you can disable the ATI GPU and use only the Intel GPU, which works in libreboot.
+ </p>
+ <div class="important">
+ <p>
+ <b>
+ It is unknown whether R500 laptops with an ATI GPU still have an Intel GPU, where you could
+ disable the ATI GPU and use the Intel GPU. These are budget laptops, so it's highly likely
+ that Lenovo decided on this model to ship with one GPU or the other, but not both (GPUs cost money).
+ </b>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <b>
+ It is **HIGHLY** recommended, when ordering an R500 laptop, to **ENSURE** that the
+ one you're ordering has an Intel GPU.
+ </b>
+ </p>
+ </div>
+
+ <h1>CPU paste required</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ See <a href="#paste">#paste</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <h1 id="flashchips">Flash chip size</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ Use this to find out:<br>
+ # <b>dmidecode | grep ROM\ Size</b><br>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ It is believed that all R500 laptops have only SOIC-8 (4MiB) chips.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ <a href="#pagetop">Back to top of page.</a>
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos">
+
+ <h1 id="macaddress">MAC address</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ Unlike other GM45 thinkpads, the R500 has a different onboard gigabit NIC,
+ where the MAC address is built-in. You do not need to change the MAC address
+ at all on this laptop; simply flash the provided ROM images, as-is.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos">
+
+ <h1>Initial BBB configuration</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ Refer to <a href="bbb_setup.html">bbb_setup.html</a> for how to
+ setup the BBB for flashing.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ The following shows how to connect clip to the BBB (on the P9 header), for SOIC-8 (clip: Pomona 5250):
+ </p>
+<pre>
+POMONA 5250 (correlate with the BBB guide)
+=== VGA and ethernet socket ===
+ 18 - - 1
+ 22 - - NC
+ NC - - 21
+ 3.3V (PSU) - - 17 - this is pin 1 on the flash chip
+=== DVD drive ===
+<i>This is how you will connect. Numbers refer to pin numbers on the BBB, on the plugs near the DC jack.</i><br/>
+<img src="images/r500/flashchip.jpg" alt="" />
+</pre>
+
+ <h2 id="disassembly">Disassembly</h2>
+
+ <p>
+ <img src="images/r500/0001.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0002.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0003.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0004.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0005.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0006.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0007.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0008.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0009.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0010.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0011.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0012.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0013.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0014.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0015.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0016.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0017.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0018.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0019.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0020.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0021.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0022.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0023.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0024.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0025.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0026.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0027.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0028.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0029.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0030.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/0031.JPG" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Remove the motherboard from the cage, and the SPI flash
+ chip will be next to the memory slots:<br/>
+ <img src="images/r500/0032.JPG" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/r500/flashchip.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ The following image is for illustration only, to show how a SOIC-8 clip is connected.
+ This photo is from a T500, which has a different arrangement to the R500:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t500/0061.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Connect your programmer, then connect GND and 3.3V<br/>
+ <img src="images/t400/0067.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/0069.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/0070.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/0071.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A dedicated 3.3V PSU was used to create this guide, but
+ at ATX PSU is also fine:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t400/0072.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Of course, make sure to turn on your PSU:<br/>
+ <img src="images/x200/disassembly/0013.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Now, you should be ready to install libreboot.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Flashrom binaries for ARM (tested on a BBB) are distributed in libreboot_util. Alternatively,
+ libreboot also distributes flashrom source code which can be built.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Log in as root on your BBB, using the instructions in <a href="bbb_setup.html#bbb_access">bbb_setup.html#bbb_access</a>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Test that flashrom works:<br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512</b><br/>
+ In this case, the output was:
+ </p>
+<pre>
+flashrom v0.9.7-r1854 on Linux 3.8.13-bone47 (armv7l)
+flashrom is free software, get the source code at http://www.flashrom.org
+Calibrating delay loop... OK.
+Found Macronix flash chip &quot;MX25L6405(D)&quot; (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Found Macronix flash chip &quot;MX25L6406E/MX25L6436E&quot; (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Found Macronix flash chip &quot;MX25L6445E/MX25L6473E&quot; (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Multiple flash chip definitions match the detected chip(s): &quot;MX25L6405(D)&quot;, &quot;MX25L6406E/MX25L6436E&quot;, &quot;MX25L6445E/MX25L6473E&quot;
+Please specify which chip definition to use with the -c &lt;chipname&gt; option.
+</pre>
+ <p>
+ How to backup factory.rom (change the -c option as neeed, for your flash chip):<br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory.rom</b><br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory1.rom</b><br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory2.rom</b><br/>
+ Note: the <b>-c</b> option is not required in libreboot's patched flashrom, because
+ the redundant flash chip definitions in <i>flashchips.c</i> have been removed.<br/>
+ Now compare the 3 images:<br/>
+ # <b>sha512sum factory*.rom</b><br/>
+ If the hashes match, then just copy one of them (the factory.rom) to a safe place (on a drive connected to another system, not
+ the BBB). This is useful for reverse engineering work, if there is a desirable behaviour in the original firmware
+ that could be replicated in coreboot and libreboot.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Now flash it:<br/>
+ # <b>./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -w path/to/libreboot/rom/image.rom -V</b>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <img src="images/x200/disassembly/0015.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ You might see errors, but if it says <b>Verifying flash... VERIFIED</b> at the end, then it's flashed and should boot.
+ If you see errors, try again (and again, and again); the message <b>Chip content is identical to the requested image</b>
+ is also an indication of a successful installation.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Example output from running the command (see above):
+ </p>
+<pre>
+flashrom v0.9.7-r1854 on Linux 3.8.13-bone47 (armv7l)
+flashrom is free software, get the source code at http://www.flashrom.org
+Calibrating delay loop... OK.
+Found Macronix flash chip &quot;MX25L6405(D)&quot; (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Reading old flash chip contents... done.
+Erasing and writing flash chip... FAILED at 0x00001000! Expected=0xff, Found=0x00, failed byte count from 0x00000000-0x0000ffff: 0xd716
+ERASE FAILED!
+Reading current flash chip contents... done. Looking for another erase function.
+Erase/write done.
+Verifying flash... VERIFIED.
+</pre>
+
+
+ <p>
+ <a href="#pagetop">Back to top of page.</a>
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos" id="paste">
+
+ <h1>Thermal paste (IMPORTANT)</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ Because part of this procedure involved removing the heatsink, you will need to apply new paste.
+ Arctic Silver 5 is ok. You will also need isopropyl alcohol and an anti-static cloth to clean with.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ When re-installing the heatsink, you must first clean off all old paste with the alcohol/cloth.
+ Then apply new paste. AS5 is also much better than the default paste used on these systems.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ <img src="images/t400/paste.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ NOTE: the photo above is for illustration purposes only, and does not show how to properly apply the thermal paste.
+ Other guides online detail the proper application procedure.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <h1 id="wifi">Wifi</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ The R500 typically comes with an Intel wifi chipset, which does not
+ work without proprietary software. For a list of wifi chipsets that
+ work without proprietary software, see
+ <a href="../hcl/index.html#recommended_wifi">../hcl/index.html#recommended_wifi</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Some R500 laptops might come with an Atheros chipset, but this is 802.11g only.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ It is recommended that you install a new wifi chipset. This can only
+ be done after installing libreboot, because the original firmware has
+ a whitelist of approved chips, and it will refuse to boot if you
+ use an 'unauthorized' wifi card.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ The following photos show an Atheros AR5B95 being installed, to
+ replace the Intel chip that this R500 came with:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t400/0012.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/ar5b95.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <h1 id="wwan">WWAN</h1>
+ <p>
+ If you have a WWAN/3G card and/or sim card reader, remove them permanently.
+ The WWAN-3G card has proprietary firmware inside; the technology is
+ identical to what is used in mobile phones, so it can also track your movements.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Not to be confused with wifi (wifi is fine).
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos">
+
+ <h1 id="memory">Memory</h1>
+
+ <p>
+ You need DDR3 SODIMM PC3-8500 RAM installed, in matching pairs
+ (speed/size). Non-matching pairs won't work. You can also install a
+ single module (meaning, one of the slots will be empty) in slot 0.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Make sure that the RAM you buy is the 2Rx8 density.
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ The following photo shows 8GiB (2x4GiB) of RAM installed:<br/>
+ <img src="images/t400/memory.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section photos">
+
+ <h2>
+ Boot it!
+ </h2>
+ <p>
+ You should see something like this:
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ <img src="images/t400/boot0.jpg" alt="" />
+ <img src="images/t400/boot1.jpg" alt="" />
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Now <a href="../gnulinux/index.html">install GNU/Linux</a>.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="section">
+
+ <p>
+ Copyright &copy; 2015 Francis Rowe &lt;info@gluglug.org.uk&gt;<br/>
+ Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
+ under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3
+ or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
+ with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.
+ A copy of the license can be found at <a href="../gfdl-1.3.txt">../gfdl-1.3.txt</a>
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ Updated versions of the license (when available) can be found at
+ <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html">https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html</a>
+ </p>
+
+ <p>
+ UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE
+ EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS
+ AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF
+ ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS,
+ IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
+ WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS,
+ ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT
+ KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT
+ ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE
+ TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
+ NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT,
+ INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES,
+ COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR
+ USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN
+ ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR
+ DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR
+ IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided
+ above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent
+ possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and
+ waiver of all liability.
+ </p>
+
+ </div>
+
+</body>
+</html>