No Longer Need EPROM and / or image for my G1 Rack <updated>

[oscarthesquirrel]

UPDATED

I’ve been doing some testing on my G1 rack (which was just showing a blank screen) to try and narrow down the issue. EPROM is actually fine - popped it in a reader and examined the code. All good.

Suspect issue is the BootProm or Flash memory corruption, or possibly CPU reset problem.

Anyway - at least I now have a back for my EPROM

Original post

[blue hell]

Righto ..i have an NM classic laying around (in another country ) .. but eh .. it seems to have the same issue .. after .. I think .. it had not been used for a long time.

I have never seen an UV erasable ROM loosing it's contents .. so I was suspecting the flash memory ... It should still come my way though .. some day ..

Anyway .. I'm curious as to what your conclusions will be .. and also .. good luck on rpairing the synth

[oscarthesquirrel]

Hi Jan - well currently my G1 is in another country too! I’ve taken it to Bangkok and will be dropping it off at Nod’s official distributor for them to check out. Despite submitting several service requests Clavia never responded and so I contacted their Thai distributor directly. They’ve asked me to drop it off and will (I presume) check it out and let me know what’s what. I’m hoping if they don’t have the diagnostic tools to ascertain the problem it will get sent back to Sweden. I’ll keep you posted, but like you suspect the Flash RAM may be compromised after being turned off for several years.

I've mapped and researched every IC chip on the board (U1-U31) and seems the culprit must be U7 - Intel Smart Flash PA28F008S5-85. Given that Flash memory can develop bad blocks or data errors over time it seems to be the only logical source of the system not booting up (unless there is a problem with the microcontroller U8 and the CPU reset ?)

The Flash memory chip used for U7 clearly contains the locked OS source code - a quick check of the IC's datasheet confirms this is a key feature of the chip:

Intel’s byte-wide Smart 5 FlashFile™ memory family renders a variety of density offerings in the same package. The 4-, 8-, and 16-Mbit byte-wide FlashFile memories provide high-density, low-cost, nonvolatile, read/write storage solutions for a wide range of applications. Their symmetrically-blocked architecture, flexible voltage, and extended cycling provide highly flexible components suitable for resident flash arrays, SIMMs, and memory cards.

Enhanced suspend capabilities provide an ideal solution for code or data storage applications. For secure code storage applications, such as networking, where code is either directly executed out of flash or downloaded to DRAM, the 4-, 8-, and 16-Mbit FlashFile memories offer three levels of protection: absolute protection with VPP at GND, selective hardware block locking, or flexible software block locking. These alternatives give designers ultimate control of their code security needs.


So all Clavia need to do is to supply a replacement chip with the Source code loaded and locked...protects their IP and makes th erest of us happy users again. How can it be so difficult for them to do this ?

Steve