Unable to flash NAND (pc doesn't recognize cubieboard in FEL mode)

[Christian Radermacher]

Hi there,

I want to flash Ubuntu to my Cubie's NAND.
I installed LiveSuite (both on Linux and WinXP)
powered the Cubie in FEL mode (connect miniUSB to the OTG port while pressing FEL and power buttons simultaneously)
only the red LED lights up (as it should be) but there's absolutely no reaction on my pc whether I'm running WinXP or Ubuntu Linux.

The only topic I found about a similar issue was solved by changing the USB-miniUSB cable; so I got some some suspect on it, but my old Motorola phone (which has a miniUSB port for charging and data trasfer) is recognized without any problem.
Another fact which is hitting my mind just now: I'm powering the Cubie through a usb port of the same pc (500mA) cause I'm waiting for a 2000mA power supply to be shipped. Could this be the cause?

I tried Linux, Windows, connecting through USB hub or directly on my pc's motherboard's USB
What else could it be?

Thanks a lot
Christian

[Christian Radermacher]

OK I figured out something, but I still cannot flash the NAND:

I tried with a friend's win7 machine and still no reaction.
tried "lsusb" on linux and gives "1f3a:efe8" which should be the device ID of the A10 chip.

I added the "/etc/udev/rules.d/10-local.rules" file with the follwing content:
SUBSYSTEM!="usb_device", ACTION!="add",
GOTO="objdev_rules_end"
#USBasp
ATTRS{idVendor}=="1f3a", ATTRS{idProduct}=="efe8",
GROUP="fuser", MODE="0666"
LABEL="objdev_rules_end"

after restarting or doing "sudo service udev restart" I start LiveSuit, then select "cb_a10_nand_ubuntu_desktop_12.04_v1.03.img" and power on the cubie in FEL mode.

If I run LiveSuit as a normal user I get these lines:
Dev Plugin The Device Path is: /dev/aw_efex0
open: Permission denied
PANIC : dev_manager_open_raw_dev() : can not open raw dev

dev_manager_open_raw_dev failed -1 ./FexDevice/stage/stage_buffer.cpp
GetCurrentStage Failed 136 ./DeviceMessage/ASuitDeviceMessage.cpp

(the GUI shows the message "Failed to flash firmware: Get Device Stage Failed!")

If I run LiveSuit with "sudo", then select .img file and connect cubie in FEL mode, first the "Format" window pops up, say "Yes" and the Console says:
Dev Plugin The Device Path is: /dev/aw_efex0
Fex_Send error: Value too large for defined data type
Fex_transmit_receive Error: ./eFexCore.cpp, 310

Fex_command ./eFexCore.cpp, 462
PANIC : cmd_fes_down() : run fail
PANIC : GetFesPrivateData() : run fel_up cmd ,fail
PnpFesIn ./DeviceMessage/ASuitDeviceMessage.cpp, 613, GetFesPrivateData failed -1
DevicePlugIn PnpFesIn failed 614

and after 20 seconds:
Fes Device Plugin before Timeout!
Kill Timer!
_________________________________
(the GUI shows the message "Failed to flash firmware: PnpFesIn Error!")

I read about running LiveSut as root has some bugs, so the solution should be running it as normal user but apparently my normal user has not the permission also after adding the rule in "/etc/udev/rules.d/10-local.rules".
How can I get the permissions needed? What else can I do?

thanks
Christian

[Christian Radermacher]

sorry...
I forgot four lines at the beginning the console's output when running with sudo. The complete output is:

Dev Plugin The Device Path is: /dev/aw_efex0

Dev Plugout The Device Path is: /dev/aw_efex0
Dev Plugout The Device Path is: /dev/aw_efex0
Dev Plugout The Device Path is: /dev/aw_efex0

[Gabor Molnar]

Hello Christian,

try this:

http://cubiebook.org/index.php?title=Cubieboard/Installing_AndroidTV_for_Cubieboard

I have successed on Linux Mint

Best regards

2013/9/19 Christian Radermacher <christian.ra...@gmail.com>

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[Christian Radermacher]

thank you for the hint but this doesn't work; the only difference from the way I proceeded is the image file being used and the messages from terminal and the GUI are the same.

[Gabor Molnar]

What is the version number in the GUI title?

Look after the USB related messages in the /var/log/syslog when you connect the USB cable to the board.

2013/9/20 Christian Radermacher <christian.ra...@gmail.com>

[Christian Radermacher]

I'm using "LiveSuitV3.05" on Ubuntu 11.04

after connection /var/log/syslog cointains the following:
Sep 22 11:55:01 fuser-desktop kernel: [  337.261186] usb 4-2.3: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
Sep 22 11:55:02 fuser-desktop kernel: [  337.552233] aw 4-2.3:1.0: USB aw found at address 3
Sep 22 11:55:02 fuser-desktop kernel: [  337.553434] probe_aw: obuf address:eee90000
Sep 22 11:55:02 fuser-desktop kernel: [  337.553439] probe_aw: ibuf address:e6cf4000
Sep 22 11:55:02 fuser-desktop kernel: [  337.553591] usbcore: registered new interface driver aw
Sep 22 11:55:02 fuser-desktop kernel: [  337.553594] awusb: v0.4:AW USB driver

if I then disconnect:
Sep 22 11:55:43 fuser-desktop kernel: [  378.990055] usb 4-2.3: USB disconnect, address 3
Sep 22 11:55:43 fuser-desktop kernel: [  378.990278] aw 4-2.3:1.0: USB aw disconnected.

and then reconnect:
Sep 22 11:56:03 fuser-desktop kernel: [  399.233178] usb 4-2.3: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
Sep 22 11:56:04 fuser-desktop kernel: [  399.342330] aw 4-2.3:1.0: USB aw found at address 4
Sep 22 11:56:04 fuser-desktop kernel: [  399.342461] probe_aw: obuf address:eee90000

and disconnect again:
Sep 22 11:56:33 fuser-desktop kernel: [  399.342465] probe_aw: ibuf address:e7623000
Sep 22 11:56:33 fuser-desktop kernel: [  428.555846] usb 4-2.3: USB disconnect, address 4
Sep 22 11:56:33 fuser-desktop kernel: [  428.556098] aw 4-2.3:1.0: USB aw disconnected.

[Christian Radermacher]

is there something wrong with the messages I get?
or am I using the wrong version for Cubieboard A10?

[Gabor Molnar]

I have used the same version with success on LinuxMint 14.

The messages looks like good too.

Maybe you have to try update your Ubuntu to 12.04 LTS

2013/9/26 Christian Radermacher <christian.ra...@gmail.com>

is there something wrong with the messages I get?
or am I using the wrong version for Cubieboard A10?

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