(NOT WORKING YET): T440p: Easy 5-minute flashing method

[githubisnonfree]

i reported earlier that i'd found hda_sdo on t440p; i did. but i didn't find a test point to connect dvdd from the hda chip to it, not yet anyway

i assumed any +3.3v would be ok, but i've tested it and it doesn't work

so, disassembly on t440p is still needed, for flashing spi1

[tlaurion]

Hi @githubisnonfree! Could you edit OP to counter-say initial erroneous sayings?

[githubisnonfree]

i'll just find a working method and re-post later

[githubisnonfree]

these two pic

find hda chip, short the hda_sdo pin (pin 5) to dvdd (pin 9 according to schematics i have in front of me)

you'll find the hda chip in roughly the same place as the pics above, but from the other side of the board. the hda_sdo test point (not actually a test point, a via but whatever) is correct but the 3.3v point is not hda dvdd. you want to short hda_sdo to dvdd, but i couldn't find a test point in an easily accessible place. i will try again at a future date, when i get time again

i didn't cut any of the solder mask on the vias that are covered, it's possible that one of those is dvdd

i've attached a 3rd photo showing the hda chip

[githubisnonfree]

in my original post, i assumed just using any old 3.3v point would be fine, to pull hda_sdo high. for some reason though didn't work. i found the 3.3v point by just probing around while the system booted, but i had no idea if it was actually a power rail; for example, what i found could have been a signal pulled high via pull-up resistor

i don't have the boardview so i'm limited to just cross referencing schematics with... gutting a donor board to use as a sacrifice, while i buzz around to then test on another board

[githubisnonfree]

either hda_sdo can't be strapped to disable ifd protections / intel me after buy, OR: or i just screwed up. i don't know which is the case, but it's one of these

[githubisnonfree]

actually, look at that "bubble" of solder coming off on the track on pin 9 on hda

looks like a via that has solder in it. probably going to the other side of the board, and probably accessible. but probably one of the vias that's covered in soldermask

i will have to just guess which one(s) to check and scrape away soldermask (EDIT: fixed typo on that word). will try it at a later date, and then report back

if my hunch is right, it is possible, but you'd need to scrape off soldermask to short hda_sdo to dvdd (after removing the tape under the ssd)

[githubisnonfree]

This is copied from my report on X230 flashing via #1143 and I'm going to assume it's the same or worse on T440p:

I discovered: first 8MB theoretically flashable internally (PR regs didn't protect it), but even with HDA_SDO strapped, I still couldn't flash it internally from lenovo's firmware; you'll get errors and if you try to reboot afterwards, the result will be a brick.

The best way is this: https://doc.coreboot.org/mainboard/lenovo/ivb_internal_flashing.html

Then strap HDA_SDO and erase/write the whole flash.

Basically, the conclusion of my research is that it's easier and cheaper in terms of time investment to simply reflash externally with an SPI programmer like the Raspberry Pi.

This is cheaper overall in terms of time, especially if you're flashing a lot of of machines like I do.

That said:

If a method is discovered for T440p to do internal flashing to boot coreboot, and an easy way to strap HDA_SDO can be figured out (and it works), then that might be 5-10 minutes of work, versus 20-30 minutes of work doing disassembly and reassembly on these machines.

I've concluded my research on these. I will not be investigating further, for the time being. If someone else wants to carry on where I left off, please feel free. I will be pleasantly surprised if someone proves my assertion wrong, but I do assert:

Simply flashing externally is easier, and you might aswell just do that.

[tlaurion]

Not aware of what is directly exposed on the t440p, but the following haxkncoukd also apply as to t530 and w530 #1189

Let me know @githubisnonfree