ROM flashing of an very old ROM version P-IV card

[Kristian95]

My P-IV card has a very old ROM version, P4info reports the following:

Ok here is the output from P4info:

Opened PicassoIV.resource 1.6 at $8000254
p4res_boardcount 1
p4res_PALTiming $8003DE8
p4res_NTSCTiming $8003E00

Board # 1
p4bi_Flags $80000002
ZorroIII Mode
Board contains CL-GD5446 Rev.A
no Monitor connected
Used by Gfx-System
p4bi_MemoryBase1 $43000000
p4bi_MemoryBase2 $42800000
p4bi_GPPortBase $42000000
p4bi_RegisterBase $42600000
p4bi_ConfigBase $42400000
p4bi_MMIOBase $42200000
p4bi_Modules $1
is connected to Video-Slot (FlickerFixer active)
p4bi_BridgeRevision $1
p4bi_FlickerFixerRevision $2
p4bi_BankingSetting $7
p4bi_AudioSettings $0

is the ROM able to be updated all the way to v 7.4 or is the ROM and chips on the card too old version??

[zipper]

IMO should be - oldest what I've seen, but don't remember where I started. My FliFi is $4, which is the first somewhat non-buggy version. I think v 1.11 was used to flash back when a flash went wrong, it can be found on Picasso96 Yahoo group, as well as many other files, including v 7.1 and 7.4, which only adds some Paloma support to 7.1. And if the FliFi works, so what.

[Kristian95]

I have no problems with the FliFi... but I figured it might be nice to have access to the early boot menu and also figured it might be good to upgrade the ROM just in case (due to bugs in earlier versions)... the question is whether it'll be possible with a ROM this old ??

[Kristian95]

can anyone help me out ??

[MozzerFan]

If you really want to try again, try flashing to 1.11
from the picasso96 yahoogroup. If that one works, try
upgrading from 1.11 to 7.4.
If the 1.11 update also does not work, I would just let it
be. Maybe your piv version is too old then.

Regards,
Lloyd

[Kristian95]

ok, thanks will try it out!!

[Kristian95]

I just tried flashing the ROM with v 1.11. I got the same result as with v. 7.1 and 7.4.

After starting the flash program, it says:

Board #1 at $42000000

Then it hangs (even the mouse is frozen). It seems it hangs even before it starts flashing because I've had no problems after resetting the miggy when it hangs... oh well, I guess my P-IV is just too dated for newer ROM versions  :-?

[MozzerFan]

You could try one more thing. If you have other zorro
cards in your machine, remove them and try again.
But if your flickerfixer works fine I would just let it
be. It would be problematic though, if you ever want a
paloma or concierto addon.

Regards,
Lloyd

[MozzerFan]

BTW just looked in my paloma manual. It says that if the
firmware needs updating, you will be notified. During
updating, the mousepointer and OS will freeze for a couple
of seconds. You should receive a message when updating has
finished.

Regards,
Lloyd

[Kristian95]

I have an eFlash card in the machine... I might try removing it and give it all a go again.

I have tried flashing the various versions 4-5 times now and I have thus far gotten the same reaction, the first time I think I left it there for at least 30 seconds and it kept being frozen... hmmm drats.

[Kristian95]

btw, does the screen update while it flashes the ROM or does it just freeze and then suddently say "Done" or return to a prompt ??

[Kristian95]

ok, I just tried removing my eFlash card and then flash with 7.4... same result... almost at least, it still got stuck (and I waited for over 1 minute without it getting anywhere) but niw it said:

Board #1 at $40000000

instead of at $42000000

Strange... but oh well, seems some of the chips on my P-IV might be too old for flash upgrade ??

[MozzerFan]

The paloma manual says the mouse freezes for a couple of
seconds during updating. The readme in the firmwareupdate
archive just says that if updating is successful you get a
message. Must be something like 'update successfull' . You
have to reboot after updating the firmware.

Regards,
Lloyd

[Kristian95]

during the last attempt of updating (having removed the eFlash card) happened like this:

I boot the A4000 without start-up sequence
at the prompt I start the P4FlashUpdate program, and it writes the following on screen:

Board #1 at $40000000

The mouse freezes right after that and then I wait.... and wait.... and wait.... after over 1 minute where the mouse and keyboard didn't respond I reset the Amiga... and it actually responded to Ctrl + Amiga + Amiga on the keyboard, and booted... the card still works, it seems the flash process gets stuck before any actual flashing occurs...

[MozzerFan]

Well I guess that means you just can't update the
firmware. Which is a real shame, because that means
you can't install a paloma or concierto (if you want
to), because they need firmware 7.4.

Regards,
Lloyd