Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:26 Post subject: Flash Chip programming (DIR615 vE3 +AR7240+MX25L3206E flash)
lost a bootloader with a badly done dd-wrt flash and now trying to reprogram a removed 8 pin MX25L3206E flash chip using SPIPGM program and a simple parallel printer interface.
I have full access to this 4 MB chip, able to
1)(I)dentify chip
2)(E)rase entire Flash Rom
3)(D)ump entire Flash Rom to a file
4)(U)nlock write protection
5)(P)rogram entire Flash Rom
Altough I uploaded a correct Dlink file, and a DD-WRT factory file (and verified that it went OK), --router still does not boot !
Are the bootloader files included in the firmware files?
If YES, maybe they need to go a special address ?
Maybe I need to program first bootloaders U-boot file or Redboot file ?
If YES, are they supposed to go a special address or just into an empty ROM ?
Nope, the bootloader is never included in the firmware, except very rare cases.
Find the u-boot and flash to the eeprom, start at sector 0.
The u-boot is mtd0 in openwrt.
Dumping it is easy:
Just do "cat /dev/mtd0 >/tmp/mtd0.bin"
Now you have to get that file out of the router.
With Luci installed it's easy:
"ln -s /tmp/mtd0.bin /www/."
Now go to "http://ROUTER_IP/mtd0.bin"
It will download th file. Now flash it to your flash
You can try to get a new DIR615 E3 , flash openwrt+luci, extract the mtd0, restore to factory firmware and go to the store to refund.
Maybe someone in openwrt forums can dump it for you!
You can find much various info, loaders, FW images, sources, dumps and particular partitions e.g nvram or atr and info how to recover your MAC address after full flashing here:
This page contains much info related to modding of DIR615E4 with 64MB RAM and/or 16MB NOR flash and all files you need for it.
But it is ONLY in RUSSIAN, sorry.
You can use translator (e.g. Google), hope it will be understandable enough. Also you can ask/comment in English there - English speakers visit this page.
However be patient, most of users there are experienced in electronics. Beginners should realize they can't simply buy chips for a 2 bucks and insert them to the ventilation hole - multipin chips should be soldered in place w/professional equipment and knowledge.
