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HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #1 Posted by Mike Morrow on 9 Sept 2011, 8:55 p.m.

In other threads today I reported failure of the self tests normal to the 15C and described on page 261 of the 15C LE manual.

But now, I can report that attempting to perform the "ON plus *" self test not only results in immediate "Error 9", but also corrupts any program that is in memory.

I had a Savage benchmark in memory consisting of the following steps:
001-42,21,12
002-44 0
003-43 8
004-42,7,9
005-0
006-42,21,0
007-1
008-40
009-11
010-43 11
011-43 12
012-12
013-43 25
014-25
015-42,5,0
016-22 0
017-43 7
018-43 32
(FWIW, putting a number in the X register, followed by "f" and "B" executes the Savage Benchmark for the number of iterations in X. If X holds the traditional 2500, the results will show in about 48 seconds.)

After turning the 15C LE off, then executing "ON plus *", I get "Error 9".

Then, when I go to program mode, here's what's I find there now:
001-42,21,11
002-44 1
003-43 8
004-42,7,9
005-0
006-42,21,0
007-44,20,12
008-11
009-43 11
010-43 12
011-12
012-43 25
013-26
014-42,5,24
015-22 0
016-43 7
017-43 32

Really really strange!

I did a reset with "ON plus -", got the expected and proper "Pr Error", then reprogrammed the 15C LE. I was able to get this conditionn to repeat.

I conclude that one won't want to try any self tests if there is something in program memory!

What else lurks out there? I've only spent a couple of hours with my new 15C LE.

I'm not all that happy with this, but it seems to have some, er, possibilities. :-)

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:50 p.m. after one or more responses were posted

      
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #2 Posted by robertoataulfo on 9 Sept 2011, 9:00 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Morrow

Programming synthetic there we will :-)
And for $79 what do you want?
Maybe changing the system and putting the WebOS

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:06 p.m.

      
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #3 Posted by hpnut on 9 Sept 2011, 9:07 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Morrow

An updated 15C with micro SD card storage would have been a quantum leap in technology. never mind about keeping true to it's original specs.

            
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #4 Posted by Mike Morrow on 9 Sept 2011, 9:23 p.m.,
in response to message #3 by hpnut

But...any SD card capability would likely eat the 2032 batteries up.

                  
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #5 Posted by Eric Smith on 9 Sept 2011, 9:37 p.m.,
in response to message #4 by Mike Morrow

The SD card spec allows the cards to draw 150mA at 3.3V, and even more in some of the newest high-speed modes. Coin cells are rated for a few mA maximum.

                        
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #6 Posted by uhmgawa on 9 Sept 2011, 10:16 p.m.,
in response to message #5 by Eric Smith

Quote:
The SD card spec allows the cards to draw 150mA at 3.3V, and even more in some of the newest high-speed modes. Coin cells are rated for a few mA maximum.

True. But demountable SPI EEPROM in the new HP Voyager Flash Card format would have worked quite well from all concerns.

Looks like a missed opportunity to seed a proprietary media design into a captive market.

            
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #7 Posted by snaggs on 10 Sept 2011, 6:24 a.m.,
in response to message #3 by hpnut

2000 line programs written in the cryptic numeric codes? :)

Quote:
An updated 15C with micro SD card storage would have been a quantum leap in technology. never mind about keeping true to it's original specs.
      
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #8 Posted by Tim Wessman on 9 Sept 2011, 9:28 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Morrow

Those are not valid self tests. They were supposed to be disabled or removed. I also told them to remove any mention of that in the manual. Apparently it was left in.

Simple solution, don't do it. :-)

TW

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:31 p.m.

            
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #9 Posted by Michael de Estrada on 9 Sept 2011, 9:33 p.m.,
in response to message #8 by Tim Wessman

So when will the errata sheets be available ?

                  
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #10 Posted by Tim Wessman on 9 Sept 2011, 9:35 p.m.,
in response to message #9 by Michael de Estrada

Monday, when I give it to the support guy to put in the call center. And they are never availiable.

TW

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:41 p.m.

                        
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #11 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 9 Sept 2011, 10:09 p.m.,
in response to message #10 by Tim Wessman

Will updated firmware be made available that either locks out those tests that aren't suppose to be there, or implements them?

-Katie

            
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #12 Posted by Mike Morrow on 9 Sept 2011, 9:44 p.m.,
in response to message #8 by Tim Wessman

Quote:
Those are not valid self tests. They were supposed to be disabled or removed. I also told them to remove any mention of that in the manual. Apparently it was left in.

Simple solution, don't do it. :-)

Well, er, of course.

But I have the honor to suggest that is not an elegant solution to something that is, after all, canonical in the 15C LE manual.

It is a condition fairly easily detected. :-)

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:48 p.m.

                  
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #13 Posted by Gerson W. Barbosa on 9 Sept 2011, 9:50 p.m.,
in response to message #12 by Mike Morrow

That's something beta-testers missed :-)

Well, I hope ON/. works. It does on my 12C+.

                        
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #14 Posted by Mike Morrow on 9 Sept 2011, 9:55 p.m.,
in response to message #13 by Gerson W. Barbosa

Quote:
That's something beta-testers missed :-)

Time for the master betas! :-)

                              
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #15 Posted by gene wright on 9 Sept 2011, 10:15 p.m.,
in response to message #14 by Mike Morrow

I think the beta testers were told the self-tests were not there so they assumed they were not there! Doh!

      
Re: HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
Message #16 Posted by uhmgawa on 9 Sept 2011, 10:02 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Morrow

Quote:
But now, I can report that attempting to perform the "ON plus *" self test not only results in immediate "Error 9", but also corrupts any program that is in memory.

Huh, sounds like something is getting stomped on elsewhere as a result of the test. The system self test does cycle through memory alternately writing "55555555555555" and "aaaaaaaaaaaaaa" patterns but takes care not to permanently alter data.

      
Beatles records with misprinted abels are worth thousands
Message #17 Posted by snaggs on 10 Sept 2011, 6:29 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Morrow

These really could be limited edition collectors items :)

Daniel

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