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HP Forum Archive 20

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HP 30b firmware
Message #1 Posted by Miguel Toro on 2 Oct 2011, 9:35 a.m.

Hi,

if it not inconvenient, does someone have the HP 30b original firmware to share? I received a 30b to repurpose as a 34s, so to have, finally, a better keyboard, but I would like to be able to reflash it back, just in case.

Thanks and regards,

Miguel

      
Re: HP 30b firmware
Message #2 Posted by Alexander Oestert on 2 Oct 2011, 10:26 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Miguel Toro

Contact Gene Wright via forum mail.

I'm not offering to send it, not knowing if there is some kind of copyright issue. Gene seems to be the official HP contact person for this.

Edited: 2 Oct 2011, 10:36 a.m.

      
Re: HP 30b firmware
Message #3 Posted by Mike Maiorana on 3 Oct 2011, 7:38 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Miguel Toro

Perhaps there is a way to download the existing code before flashing on the new code. That would eliminate any copyright issues with providing the code to another. However, I'm not sure how to do it.

            
Re: HP 30b firmware
Message #4 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 3 Oct 2011, 10:05 a.m.,
in response to message #3 by Mike Maiorana

There is no way to do that. Getting into SAM-BA mode requires clearing a bit in the processor. The existing firmware has no provisions for this (34S has!). The consequence: Only a full erase allows access to the flash memory but then it's already too late.

                  
Re: HP 30b firmware
Message #5 Posted by Bart (UK) on 3 Oct 2011, 11:46 a.m.,
in response to message #4 by Marcus von Cube, Germany

Quote:
... requires clearing a bit in the processor.
Would that be a "flash read-protect" bit? Something that has been present on PGA's, ROM's, EPROM's etc. etc. etc. for decades and which any sensible OEM would use to protect their IP :-)

I decided to particularly buy a second 30b for a 34s reprogramming.
                        
Re: HP 30b firmware
Message #6 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 3 Oct 2011, 1:02 p.m.,
in response to message #5 by Bart (UK)

There are two such bits: One to decide which ROM area to boot: SAM-BA or the image in flash; and one to protect the flash from reading through the JTAG port. For SAM-BA to work, the boot bit needs to be reset. Alas, that requires a full flash erase operation of which it is a (desired) side effect.

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