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NEC MobilePro 900 ROM Update Issue

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C:Amie Page Icon Posted 2022-10-05 9:30 AM
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That is an odd OS/boot loader combination. P530 V6.0 should have BL 3.4 with it.
https://www.hpcfactor.com/support/cesd/200199/mobilepro_900900c_firm...

I would suggest firstly that you just try a different CF Card. Secondly, if that fails that you make a MS-DOS / Windows 95 boot USD for your machine and try formatting the CF Card from there. Do a full format, not a quick format and don't use a third party utility. It might be doing clever things to the file system like adding VFAT support or backup FAT.

If C+F doesn't work after that, then try the serial method (this assumes that you have the MP serial cable of course)

1. copy the SABOOT.NB0 to the CF card and put in the MP900

2. Run a terminal program e.g. Putty or HyperTerminal

4. Use 115Kbps and software xon/xoff flow control. no parity, 8 bits and stop bits 1.

5. Connect the serial cable to the H/PC

6. You should see the bootloader saying hello in the terminal window

7. Bull the AC and batteries to hard reset your 900/900c and press ESC when prompted

8. At the boot menu type 1 to update the bootloader
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Rich Hawley Page Icon Posted 2022-10-05 1:59 PM
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When the <2.1 shows up as the bootloader ..that means it already has been flashed before and you have the newest bootloader installed already.

Now you only need to flash the rom inage.

Format your CF card and copy the xip.bin to it. Insert it.

Pull both main and backup battery with unit unplugged.

Hold down both the C and F keys...plug in ac adapter.While still holding keys...turn on unit...wait a few seconds (30) and then release keys. Should start flashing rom image only...

BTW, there is a snall software patch to make the unit display the proper bootloader version and not the <2.1
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C:Amie Page Icon Posted 2022-10-05 2:48 PM
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Interesting. I've not seen one do that before.
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phoenixfireva Page Icon Posted 2022-10-05 4:51 PM
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Rich,

Thank you so much. I will try that today and update the thread for others to use. What is the small patch you mention to properly display the bootloader version? Is it in the SCL?

Steve
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phoenixfireva Page Icon Posted 2022-10-05 6:15 PM
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Factorite (Junior)

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Rich,

You are a superstar. That worked without issue. It now shows:

NEC MobilePro 900
Firmware Version: P530_42 2.02
Build Date: Apr 30 2005
PIC Firmware ID: 4.19.7
Bootloader Version: 4.5.1-6

Does that mean I need to update the BL or just ignore it?

You guys on here are awesome!!!!

Steve
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C:Amie Page Icon Posted 2022-10-05 6:17 PM
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Do we have this patch in H/PC:Update?
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phoenixfireva Page Icon Posted 2022-10-06 5:05 PM
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Factorite (Junior)

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Also ran the BL Updater and it now all shows correctly.

P530_42 2.02
4.10
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torch Page Icon Posted 2022-10-06 5:16 PM
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C:Amie - 2022-10-05 10:17 AM

Do we have this patch in H/PC:Update?

No we don’t. I checked all variations of 900 and 900c with HPC2K and 4.2
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C:Amie Page Icon Posted 2022-10-06 6:58 PM
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phoenixfireva - 2022-10-05 6:15 PM

Rich,

You are a superstar. That worked without issue. It now shows:

NEC MobilePro 900
Firmware Version: P530_42 2.02
Build Date: Apr 30 2005
PIC Firmware ID: 4.19.7
Bootloader Version: 4.5.1-6

Does that mean I need to update the BL or just ignore it?

You guys on here are awesome!!!!

Steve
Sounds as though he didn't have the current one though!
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Rich Hawley Page Icon Posted 2022-10-06 10:21 PM
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The 4.5.1-6 is a very buggy rom flash and you can easily brick your 900c with it...arrgh! Thinking that whoever owned the machine before flashed it not realizing the danger.

The 4.1 bl is the best...you can safely flash back and forth between ce.net and HPC 2000
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phoenixfireva Page Icon Posted 2022-10-06 10:41 PM
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Factorite (Junior)

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Rich,

Thanks for the note. I saw a post from cmonex from a long while ago about how bad that BL is so I just reflashed with the ROM from here and it all set now.

Thank you for the help. You saved me from going more insane than I am.
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