Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2015 19:31:16 -0400 Subject: 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. --- (limited to 'docs/install/r500_external.html') diff --git a/docs/install/r500_external.html b/docs/install/r500_external.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0360c09 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/install/r500_external.html @@ -0,0 +1,480 @@ + + + + + + + + + ThinkPad R500: flashing tutorial (BeagleBone Black) + + + + +

Flashing the R500 with a BeagleBone Black

Initial flashing instructions for R500.

+ 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. +

+ 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) +

+ +

+ + 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. + +

+ +

Back to main index

+ +

Serial port

+ +

+ 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. +

+ +

LCD compatibly

+ Not all LCD panels are known to be compatible yet. See ../hcl/gm45_lcd.html. +

+ +

A note about CPUs

+ ThinkWiki 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. + The Core 2 Duo T5870/5670 and Celeron M 575/585 are untested! +

+ +

Quad-core CPUs

+ +

+ 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. +

+ +

+ Look at this link:
+ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#Quad-Core_Notebook_processors +

+ +

A note about GPUs

+ +

+ ThinkWiki 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. +

+ On other GM45 laptops in libreboot (e.g. T400, T500), so-called switchable graphics + is used, which means that the laptop will have both 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. +

+ + 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). + +

+ + It is **HIGHLY** recommended, when ordering an R500 laptop, to **ENSURE** that the + one you're ordering has an Intel GPU. + +

+ +

CPU paste required

+ +

+ See #paste. +

+ +

Flash chip size

+ +

+ Use this to find out:
+ # dmidecode | grep ROM\ Size
+

+ It is believed that all R500 laptops have only SOIC-8 (4MiB) chips. +

+ +

+ Back to top of page. +

+ +

MAC address

+ +

+ 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. +

+ +

Initial BBB configuration

+ +

+ Refer to bbb_setup.html for how to + setup the BBB for flashing. +

+ +

+ The following shows how to connect clip to the BBB (on the P9 header), for SOIC-8 (clip: Pomona 5250): +

+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 ===
+This is how you will connect. Numbers refer to pin numbers on the BBB, on the plugs near the DC jack.

+
+

+ +

Disassembly

+ +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ +

+ Remove the motherboard from the cage, and the SPI flash + chip will be next to the memory slots:
+ + +

+ +

+ 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:
+ +

+ Connect your programmer, then connect GND and 3.3V
+ + + + +

+ A dedicated 3.3V PSU was used to create this guide, but + at ATX PSU is also fine:
+ +

+ +

+ Of course, make sure to turn on your PSU:
+ +

+ +

+ Now, you should be ready to install libreboot. +

+ +

+ Flashrom binaries for ARM (tested on a BBB) are distributed in libreboot_util. Alternatively, + libreboot also distributes flashrom source code which can be built. +

+ Log in as root on your BBB, using the instructions in bbb_setup.html#bbb_access. +

+ Test that flashrom works:
+ # ./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512
+ In this case, the output was: +

+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 "MX25L6405(D)" (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Found Macronix flash chip "MX25L6406E/MX25L6436E" (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Found Macronix flash chip "MX25L6445E/MX25L6473E" (8192 kB, SPI) on linux_spi.
+Multiple flash chip definitions match the detected chip(s): "MX25L6405(D)", "MX25L6406E/MX25L6436E", "MX25L6445E/MX25L6473E"
+Please specify which chip definition to use with the -c <chipname> option.
+

+ How to backup factory.rom (change the -c option as neeed, for your flash chip):
+ # ./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory.rom
+ # ./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory1.rom
+ # ./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -r factory2.rom
+ Note: the -c option is not required in libreboot's patched flashrom, because + the redundant flash chip definitions in flashchips.c have been removed.
+ Now compare the 3 images:
+ # sha512sum factory*.rom
+ 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. +

+ Now flash it:
+ # ./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev1.0,spispeed=512 -w path/to/libreboot/rom/image.rom -V +

+ +

+ You might see errors, but if it says Verifying flash... VERIFIED at the end, then it's flashed and should boot. + If you see errors, try again (and again, and again); the message Chip content is identical to the requested image + is also an indication of a successful installation. +

+ Example output from running the command (see above): +

+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 "MX25L6405(D)" (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.
+

+ + +

+ Back to top of page. +

+ +

Thermal paste (IMPORTANT)

+ +

+ 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. +

+ +

+ 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. +

+ +

+ 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. +

+ +

Wifi

+ +

+ 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 + ../hcl/index.html#recommended_wifi. +

+ +

+ Some R500 laptops might come with an Atheros chipset, but this is 802.11g only. +

+ +

+ 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. +

+ +

+ The following photos show an Atheros AR5B95 being installed, to + replace the Intel chip that this R500 came with:
+ + +

+ +

WWAN

+ 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. +

+ Not to be confused with wifi (wifi is fine). +

+ +

Memory

+ +

+ 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. +

+ +

+ Make sure that the RAM you buy is the 2Rx8 density. +

+ +

+ The following photo shows 8GiB (2x4GiB) of RAM installed:
+ +

+ +

+ Boot it! +

+ You should see something like this: +

+ + +

+ +

+ Now install GNU/Linux. +

+ +

+ Copyright © 2015 Francis Rowe <info@gluglug.org.uk>
+ 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 ../gfdl-1.3.txt +

+ +

+ Updated versions of the license (when available) can be found at + https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html +

+ +

+ 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. +

+ 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. +

+ 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. +

+ +

+ + + -- cgit v0.9.1