HCL stuck in U-Boot after update

[AJD 1]

I initiated an update of the HCL via the App a few days ago. After that the contact was lost.
I have tried all recovery options I have found with no luck.

I opened up the HCL and discovered the AM3354 module inside.
I then found the console port (3pins: 0V, Rx and Tx. 3.3V level signals) and see that it is stuck in U-Boot:

U-Boot 2011.09-00010-g16f5006-dirty (Dec 18 2013 - 20:28:15)

I2C:   ready

DRAM:  128 MiB
WARNING: Caches not enabled
No daughter card present
Did not find a recognized configuration, assuming General purpose EVM in Profile 0 with Daughter board
NAND:  HW ECC Hamming Code selected
256 MiB
MMC:   OMAP SD/MMC: 0, OMAP SD/MMC: 1
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
Error: Bad compare! failed
NAND read from offset c0000 failed -74
*** Warning - readenv() failed, using default environment

Net:   cpsw
Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
U-Boot# help
U-Boot# printenv
U-Boot#
 

It stops in U-Boot as there are some memory failure, but it does not respond to any known command.

It reboots every 8th minute.

 

The LEDs are flashing as in recovery mode, but HCL is not visible on the net and and it does do not respond on 192.168.81.1 when PC is connected directly.

I find that a bit strange. Is U-Boot really holding the recovery web server?

 

If command interface had worked, it could maybe be possible to restore the on board flash using TFTP.

[jack.daniels 103]

Hi, can You show a picture of the debug terminal location please?

[tinman 1,028]

P2 header, near LAN. If the U12 on the bottom side (near P2 header) is not populated, you will need to solder two bridges (not between middle pins ...)

 

1 - <----> - 6

2 -          - 5

3 - <----> - 4

 

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[jack.daniels 103]

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Damn, I hope can replace it

No command prompt displayed for me, btw U-Boot#

[jack.daniels 103]

On 7/11/2020 at 9:30 PM, tinman said:

P2 header, near LAN. If the U12 on the bottom side (near P2 header) is not populated, you will need to solder two bridges (not between middle pins ...)

 

1 - <----> - 6

2 -          - 5

3 - <----> - 4

I did not solder anything. Is this the reason I cant run U-boot commands?

[tinman 1,028]

13 minutes ago, jack.daniels said:

I did not solder anything.

 

on my HCL there was missing IC, that why i soldered these bridges,

 

Quote

Is this the reason I cant run U-boot commands?

 

timeout seems to be set to 0, i wasn't able to enter uboot as well, so yeah

 

EDIT: it might be as well compiled for specific key, haven't tested that.

Edited July 14, 2020 by tinman

[jack.daniels 103]

On 1/31/2020 at 2:48 PM, AJD said:

Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
U-Boot# help
U-Boot# printenv
U-Boot#

As You can see, its possible somehow. May be its about 3.3v Rx level. I will find 3v3 UART and test again

@tinman ???

[jack.daniels 103]

If no luck with NAND U-Boot image, may be its possible to boot the AM335x from UART? And send full featured U-Boot image by UART

[tinman 1,028]

generally you can boot from lot of source, if you manage to set it:

 

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[jack.daniels 103]

8 minutes ago, tinman said:

generally you can boot from lot of source, if you manage to set it:

Yeah, but need to locate SYSBOOT pins somehow. And on balled CPU its a hard task

[tinman 1,028]

1 hour ago, jack.daniels said:

And on balled CPU its a hard task

 

easier than you might think, this is the SOM used in HCL

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   (actually this is the v1.1 used on HCL, no idea how many changes are between 1.2 and 1.1 -> 

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 )

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... and before you waste time, here you will find some files for that SOM (e.g. image for sdcard)  

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Edited July 14, 2020 by tinman

[jack.daniels 103]

Great links, thanks

1 hour ago, tinman said:

... and before you waste time, here you will find some files for that SOM (e.g. image for sdcard)  

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SDcard image not need, much easier will be to run UART boot. I hope it will work.

There are plenty of new SPL/U-Boot images, the one in my HCL (which is still alive and i can dump it) is year 2011.

Edited July 14, 2020 by jack.daniels

[jack.daniels 103]

So the boot sequence is: NAND->NANDI2C->MMC0->UART0

 

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[jack.daniels 103]

Hi, I have managed to recover my HCL using the debug port.

Patching the R9 left side to GND the board started in UART boot.

I have reflashed system and recovery kernels from uart u-boot (using tera term app) . And managed to boot the system.

It was not easy, because HCL has some kind of WatchDog timer, witch restarts the board every few minutes. Its designed to reset system on unsuccessfull boot. When linux is running the timer cleared by the script:

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But I had no luck to perform it using u-boot gpio commands (as far as I understand, it should be gpio set 2 24)

 

Attaching the files for you: spl, u-boot and tera term macro for boot the board.

 

The original u-boot image was patched to add 10 seconds bootdelay (ignoring env value)

Unfortunately, I dod not manage to find the UBI enabled u-boot image to be able to install Custom Recovery rootfs with UART.

Stock recovey has console login disabled, so can only watch the linux log.

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[jack.daniels 103]

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[Dasis 0]

Hello

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,

 

I have problem after update crash, home center lite not up to recovery mode and network not up.

 

How you connect and fix it? Could you please tell me step by step? What cable do you use?

[jack.daniels 103]

On 7/15/2020 at 12:42 PM, jack.daniels said:

 

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Hi, sad to hear this. But don't despair with it. Use any UART (or USB-to-UART) 3.3V logic cable

[Dasis 0]

Hi,

 

How you connect(what is pinout )?

what command do you used?

[jack.daniels 103]

1 hour ago, Dasis said:

How you connect(what is pinout )?

As far as i remember it was:

GND -> GND of UART

Tx -> Rx of UART

Rx -> Tx of UART

From up to down as shown on the photo above.

Port setup is: 115200 N 8

You may use any serial terminall applicetion, but I sugest to try TeraTerm.

[Dasis 0]

 

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What i am doing wrong?

 

I can't read any log 

 

Set up port

 

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What i am doing wrong?

 

[jack.daniels 103]

1 hour ago, Dasis said:

What i am doing wrong?

Hi, probably connected wrong. Too bad photo. Cant read anything on it