RE: [cobalt-users] Intel Flash EEPROM (ROM)

["Phil Beynon" <phil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> We have noted that there are a lot of 'previously owned' RaQ3s coming on
> the market that have Intel Flash EEproms installed.
>
> Our experience indicates that these eeproms can not be upgraded with the
> tools available.
>
> The upgrade appears to be successful, but when you reboot the system stops
> at "Mounting ROM fs: done" (or something similar). And that is it, the ROM
> must be replaced.
>
> If you are to purchase a used RaQ3 with RaQ3/4 OS, I would ask the seller
> what ROM version is running on it, if it is a late version, probably
> 2.3.34 or later it is likely OK. And of course if it is running RaQ550
> OS it obviously has been reflashed.
>
> I had noticed over the past couple years that a lot of the ROM replacement
> service we did involved replacing an Intel EEPROM. Recently we refurbished
> several units with Intel ROMs, and we had to replace them. Ugh!
>
> If anyone has experience successfully reflashing Intel EEPROMs, please let
> me know.
>
> Gerald
> --
> http://frontstreetnetworks.com | http://raqware.com
>   Front Street Networks LLC, 229 Front Street, Ste.#C
>   New Haven, CT 06513-3203 | phone: +1-203-785-0699

Gerald,
Some of these EEproms seem to have a (low) number of re-write capabilities,
this has been seen in other areas such as cable tv / satellite decoders
where updates to firmware are often broadcast without user intervention and
then the box fails. Probably one of the most common failure modes on these
boxes.

Phil


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