DOCUMENT OVERVIEW ============================================================ This document covers creating a bootable DOS CD-ROM disc that can be used for flashing and reading PRISM platform cards. If you use this info and it destroys anything, I am not liable. This is just an example that worked for me. CREATE A BOOTABLE DOS BASED CD-ROM ============================================================ When creating this CD, remember that all files that will be used in this must follow 8.3 name format for compatability with the FLASH.EXE program. You may be able to back up files if a USB flash drive was attached when the computer booted; I have not tested this. Otherwise, you can use a floppy disc to back up data. I would recommend however using backup data only from Winupdate, as the flash.exe may corrupt data. I used the method at Bart's BootCD site to create this bootdisk. Here is the website with the instructions posted on how to create a bootable CD Disc. http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/ First, download these 3 files. bcd111.zip bfd107.zip cdromsi.zip 1. Extract all 3 ZIP files to the same folder. For the example, we will use C:\ISO It may ask to overwrite the files BCHOICE.EXE and NU2LIC.TXT, just answer NO. 2. Then, copy all of the files you want into the folder C:\ISO\cds\cdromsi\files, this can include: A. Firmware .HEX files, including the types: - Inital Firmware, begins with I - Primary Flash firmware, begins with P - Primary RAM Download firmware, begins with A - Secondary Flash firmware, begins with S - Secondary RAM Download firmware, begins with R - Tertiary firmware, begins with T - CIS Type files, filename can vary - Backup firmware images created with Winupdate Make sure that you use the proper firmware HEX files. When you use files from the card's vendor, they sometimes have a filesize that is slightly larger than the regular PRISM libraries. You may want to include both on the CD, so if you are flashing another card not from your vendor, you can try and use the regular PRISM libraries instead. Place them in separate sub directories if necessary. B. Production Data Area files (end with .pda) These files hold card config. Make sure to edit the files so they are correct for the platform you are trying to flash. C. FLASH.EXE tools There are several versions available, I will include the 0.5e 04/24/2002 version named ILHOPFW.EXE. Others can be included, in a sub-directory if necessary. Also, make sure that you edit the IPHOPFW.ini (which is flash.ini) if necessary to recognize your PCMCIA controller, or use the -legacy command line option with the program (does not work on all controllers). For editing, see below. D. Other helpful tools. I included a few to help with DOS, including: -MODE.COM - change from a 25 line to 50 line DOS session using "MODE CON LINES=50 ". -MORE.COM - used to pipeline data so reading text files is easier. -MD5.EXE - a DOS program I found to read MD5 checksums, optional. -A DOS hex editor, so you can edit PDA files from DOS and flash them. 3. Once all the files are placed on the CD, you may want to do a checksum on all of the files, and save it to md5sums.txt This can be helpful in determining if files are corrupted. 4. Open up a DOS command shell, and change into the directory of the compilation: "CD C:\ISO " 5. Run the command to compile: "bcd cdromsi " 6. This will create the bootable ISO, it will however place it in the user profile temporary folder. For example, for the user Administrator, it will create it in: C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\bcd.iso " 7. Open the ISO and burn it in your favorite CD burning software. Make sure to finalize the disc. 8. Once finished test boot the CD. On my machine, I had to boot without EMM386 enabled to get the CD drive to load. It may prompt for some configurations, but it will eventually keep going and assume defaults. Watch the messages, because it will create a virtual RAM Disk where you can copy and then edit files. On my disc, it comes up as Q: , and the CD drive was R: 9. Before attempting to flash a card with this disc, maybe try and reading the status of a card using flash.exe first, to ensure that there are no errors. Here is an example command for a 3.3v card to display the card status: "ILHOPFW -3v -status " It will automatically power down the card when the command completes. Add support for PCMCIA Controllers in ILHOPFW.INI(FLASH.INI) ============================================================ Support for more controllers can be added to this file for PCMCIA controllers. It details this in the flash.pdf PRISM download manual. I added support for a Ricoh chipset controller that I have. In the flash.ini file, I copied and duplicated the following entry from the file: [1180,0475] name = Ricoh 475 Cardbus lastfunction=1 offset0=800 5v=2f:00, 02:90 3v=2f:01, 02:90 0v=02:00, 2f:00 usemem=1 I changed the 0475 and 475 entries instead to 0476 and 476 to support my controller. It now works and properly reads the cards. This will vary for the different types of PCMCIA controllers. From what I understand, the TI controllers are already added into the file. Save the file and exit.