How to reflash or recovery initial bootloader(SPI-NOR flash) on IMX6 Sabrelite platform

[chintakanisiva]

Hi All,

When we tried to update the initial boot loader(u-boot) on IMX6 sabrelite quad core platform, some how SPI-NOR flash completely erased and not yet recovered.

We have followed some of the links which is mentioned below to recovery the SPI-NOR boot loader, but we haven't succeeded and we struck at this step. And in this case on serial window nothing has displayed once power up the IMX6 board.

i.MX6x SABRE Lite SPI Flash Recovery - Linux on ARM - eewiki

http://boundarydevices.com/unbricking-nitrogen6x-sabre-lite-i-mx6-board/

Can any one help on this, how to get back the board into normal mode working mode.

Your suggestions are very helpful for us.

Thanks all in advance.

Thanks & Regards

Ch.Siva

[braghadees]

Hi everyone ,

  >I'm currently working on an IMX6 Sabrelite and managed to brick it

      I)No activity on terminal,

      II)USB not recognized under USB mode(01)  (Windows PC "USB device not recognized" and on Linux unable to enumerate the USB device).

      after i'd been  flashing SPI-NOR several times to switch between platforms. Now i'm trying to get the board up i.e. see U-boot run on board and send message to terminal.

  >From what i learned, imx6 boots based on FUSE SWITCH[0:1] configuration to particular media. In my case with any config[00,01,10] i couldn't get the board run(Even i tried 11 freescale reserved config ).

>In all cases the green light indicating power glows and with SDslot and Ethernet port i could see lights glowing on connected condition, but serial port remains clean with no messages and USB connected on Host(Windows PC) not recognized(USB VID/UNKNOWN). which used to be detected as HIF device under 01 configuration previously.

>So with USB flashing not possible via MFG tool or sbloader(as its detected as UNKNOWN device and not as HIF device) ,

    what could be done to get the board run i.e.

     1)Is it possible to Program U-boot to SPI-NOR flash under this condition

     2)Use SD-CARD or any other media on-board to run U-boot fro once after which i'll be able to update SPI-NOR flash easily.

    Please reply on this as its a fairly new board and would be highly helpful on my project.

[chintakanisiva]

Thanks for all your inputs,

    We have succeeded to recovery the NOR Flash on iMX6 sabrelite using the instructions provided in the following link

http://www.eewiki.net/display/linuxonarm/i.MX6x+SABRE+Lite+SPI+Flash+Recovery

by following above instructions you will get u-boot prompt in minicom and from there you can update your SPI-NOR with the updated U-Boot.

Thanks

Ch.Siva

[LeonardoSandova]

That happens to me once. I used the Manufacturing tool and choose 'Sabre-lite-SPI_NOR' profile. Flash and boot the board. You should be able to see u-boot running.

Leo

[AlbertT]

Yes right, sorry I introduced the "hard" way !

[AlbertT]

Hello,

I have used this 2 links plus this one :https://wiki.linaro.org/Boards/MX6QSabreLite

I did it successfully so make sure to follow this basic steps :

* Get back a u-boot that is actually working (for instance the one in the MFG tool directory) for imx6qDL

* Paste it to a sd card, on a fat partition or in a raw partition using dd (that's the one I prefer)

* Set your card in Recovery mode like described on boundary devices website

* Follow the steps described on boundary website with imx usb loader. Right now you should see something on your terminal, if not verify the configuration of your terminal

* Now you have access to the prompt u-boot. Copy the new bootloader in NOR using the way described in the wiki of your first link (if you chose the "fat" way) or the one of the linaro's wiki (if you chose the "raw" way).

* Set your card in normal boot and reboot

Good luck !

[sriramchadalava]

Hi Siva,

   What I would suggest is that you program the SPI NOR u-boot using Freescale Windows-based MFGTool in in android_jb4.2.2_1.0.0-ga_tools.tar.gz.

   While it "officially" does NOT support sabrelite board (at least that's what it says in  MFGTool configuration file :smileyhappy:), I was able to hack it to reprogram the initial bootloader. Get a start on this and keep me posted. I'll reply on monday.

Cheers,

Sriram