X201/Coreboot
| Projects | |
|---|---|
| |
| Participants | Webmind |
| Skills | |
| Status | Active |
| Niche | Software |
| Purpose | World domination |
Page on getting coreboot installed on the X201
Opening up the x201
Flashchip is placed under the keyboard
Remove battery first, it hides one screw
4 screws keep the keyboard in placed
Remove keyboard by pushing it screenwards with flat-tip screwdriver
Keep in mind that the keyboard is still connected. You might want to disconnect it.
Flashchip is located just above the yellow battery
You can cut the plastic a bit open or remove it entirely
Here we see our 8-pin flashchip.
And add a SOIC-8 clamp to connect your flasher.
Flashrom
U can use flashrom to backup and write your flash.
flashrom download: https://www.flashrom.org/Downloads
Raspberry PI
- https://www.flashrom.org/RaspberryPi (archive)
- https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/usage/gpio/ (archive)
Here's how to connect the Raspberry pi GPIO to the chip.
=== front (display) ====
3.3V (pin 17 or pin 1) N/C (S)CLK/SCK (pin 23) MOSI (pin 19)
| | | |
dot | | | |
CS (pin 24) MISO (pin 21) N/C ground (pin 25)
=== back (touchpad) ===
The Raspberry PI might not be able to provide enough power for the chip. Find a different 3.3v source, provide PSU-power to the laptop, desolder the chip or improvise.
You can read the flash via (asuming you have the MX25L6445):
./flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0 -c "MX25L6436E/MX25L6445E/MX25L6465E/MX25L6473E" -r x201-flash.bin
Do this twice and compare files to check for read errors.
Issues
- as per 2016-03-15 the last working coreboot version was: a3e41c089602c58409e8dfd4aceecbdd7d4f4a5b
Files
- Datasheet of flashchip: 25L6445E
