iLiad unable to flash my iLiad

[JeroenM]

Hi there,

Somehow I must have had an error while flashing my iLiad which caused the process to fail. Now I'm not able to flash the iLiad anymore, following the instructions on this site. I've got the right cf-card-contents on the CF card and using the format instruction only in the config.txt file.
Once I start the format/reflash process (using the power and connect buttons as described) it starts 1 second with a blank screen (indicating it will do the flash) but then continues with the iLiad welcome screen, which is frozen immediately. Even power-off/reset contines to show the frozen welcome screen. Any ideas what I can do? I'm even willing to upen the iLiad as at this point it is useless and ready to throw it away...quite desperate

Many thanks in advance, Jeroen

[JeroenM]

Anyone got any idea? It looks like I can throw it in the bin...
Is there someone from IRex on this forum? Perhaps just a quick hint on what to do when opening the device.

Cheers, Jeroen

[nrapallo]

While I don't know what happens at boot time and thus can't help with your issues, I want to confirm how my CF card is setup to handle a complete reformat (back to Firmware 2.10) or just a reflash.

To reformat my iLiad, I copy the contents of config-reformat.txt onto config.txt,
otherwise for a reflash, I copy the contents of config-reflash.txt onto config.txt.
Then insert the CF card and reboot as specified.

See the directory listing of my CF card (and contents of the .txt files) below :

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

J:\>dir
 Volume in drive J is ILIADOS_212
 Volume Serial Number is B4AF-0502

 Directory of J:\

09/19/2009  01:05 AM    <DIR>          images
08/29/2010  04:53 PM               289 logfile.txt
09/19/2009  12:16 AM                 6 config-reformat.txt
07/12/2007  02:56 PM                27 config-reflash.txt
09/22/2009  11:49 AM    <DIR>          newspapers
09/22/2009  11:49 AM    <DIR>          books
09/19/2009  05:46 AM               559 logfile-reformat.txt
09/22/2009  11:49 AM    <DIR>          documents
09/22/2009  11:49 AM    <DIR>          notes
09/19/2009  05:55 AM               289 logfile-reflash.txt
07/12/2007  02:56 PM                27 config.txt
               6 File(s)          1,197 bytes
               5 Dir(s)       3,890,176 bytes free

J:\>type config-reflash.txt
kernel
initrd
applications

J:\>dir
 Volume in drive J is ILIADOS_212
 Volume Serial Number is B4AF-0502

 Directory of J:\

09/19/2009  01:05 AM    <DIR>          images
08/29/2010  04:53 PM               289 logfile.txt
09/19/2009  12:16 AM                 6 config-reformat.txt
07/12/2007  02:56 PM                27 config-reflash.txt
09/22/2009  11:49 AM    <DIR>          newspapers
09/22/2009  11:49 AM    <DIR>          books
09/19/2009  05:46 AM               559 logfile-reformat.txt
09/22/2009  11:49 AM    <DIR>          documents
09/22/2009  11:49 AM    <DIR>          notes
09/19/2009  05:55 AM               289 logfile-reflash.txt
07/12/2007  02:56 PM                27 config.txt
               6 File(s)          1,197 bytes
               5 Dir(s)       3,890,176 bytes free

J:\>dir images
 Volume in drive J is ILIADOS_212
 Volume Serial Number is B4AF-0502

 Directory of J:\images

09/19/2009  01:05 AM    <DIR>          .
09/19/2009  01:05 AM    <DIR>          ..
10/16/2007  09:23 AM        25,930,132 app.image.gz
10/16/2007  09:25 AM                47 app.image.gz.md5
01/03/2008  04:37 PM         1,316,172 initrd.gz
01/03/2008  04:37 PM                44 initrd.gz.md5
07/06/2007  01:13 PM           619,540 zImage.gz
07/06/2007  01:35 PM                44 zImage.gz.md5
               6 File(s)     27,865,979 bytes
               2 Dir(s)       3,890,176 bytes free

J:\>type config-reformat.txt
format

J:\>type config-reflash.txt
kernel
initrd
applications

J:\>

The only thing I can think of is that when the iLiad boots up, try to reset it before it locks up and perhaps reformat it again afterward. Worth a try...

[ericshliao]

Originally Posted by JeroenM

it starts 1 second with a blank screen (indicating it will do the flash)

By your description, your iLiad seemed to enter reflash mode, but fail to do the reflashing job. I would guess that either the contents of reflash-image-file is corrupt or your iLiad has damaged hardware. Check the integrity of the reflash-image-file. It's gzipped. Integrity check is quite simple.
If it's caused by hardware problem, the only way to solve it is to find another cheap iLiad (ex. broken screen) and replace the circuit board.

[JeroenM]

Thank you both for your responses. I'm afraid I got unlucky as the CF card is good, the integrity of the gzip files are good. That just leaves indeed one option, to find a cheap one with a broken screen.

Thanks again

[delbers]

Originally Posted by JeroenM

Hi there,

Somehow I must have had an error while flashing my iLiad which caused the process to fail. Now I'm not able to flash the iLiad anymore, following the instructions on this site. I've got the right cf-card-contents on the CF card and using the format instruction only in the config.txt file.
Once I start the format/reflash process (using the power and connect buttons as described) it starts 1 second with a blank screen (indicating it will do the flash) but then continues with the iLiad welcome screen, which is frozen immediately. Even power-off/reset contines to show the frozen welcome screen. Any ideas what I can do? I'm even willing to upen the iLiad as at this point it is useless and ready to throw it away...quite desperate

Many thanks in advance, Jeroen

Hello Jeroen,

I had the same problem with my Iliad and the only thing i could do is change the mainboard. Try to find a Iliad with a broken screen. But be aware of contrast problems after changing the mainboard or screen. After i change the mainboard everything works well except the screen contrast, the text and images are not dark black but gray.

regards, dennis.

[JeroenM]

Thank you Dennis. I have not been able to find another iLiad, so I will probably try to sell it. Tough luck