Rock 5b always in maskrom mode, does not boot

#1

Hi, one of my new rock 5b boards is always in maskrom mode. However, operations in rkdevtool fail. I tried to flash the SPI again, no success. The log file said

00:16:59 771 Layer<1-4>:Download Boot Start
00:17:03 725 Layer<1-4>:Download Boot Success
00:17:03 725 Layer<1-4>:Wait For Maskrom Start
00:17:04 261 Layer<1-4>:Wait For Maskrom Success
00:17:04 277 Layer<1-4>:Test Device Start
00:17:04 277 Error:RKU_Write–>WriteFile failed,bRet=0,err=31,size=31,write=0
00:17:16 320 ERROR:RKU_ResetPipe–>DeviceIoControl failed,err=995
00:17:16 320 <LAYER 1-4> ERROR:TestDevice–>RKU_TestDeviceReady failed,RetCode(-3),path=\?\USB#VID_2207&PID_350B#6&3B1B9FDE&0&4#{a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed}
00:17:22 350 Error:RKU_Write–>WriteFile failed,bRet=0,err=995,size=31,write=0
00:17:29 381 ERROR:RKU_ResetPipe–>DeviceIoControl failed,err=31
00:17:29 381 <LAYER 1-4> ERROR:TestDevice–>RKU_TestDeviceReady failed,RetCode(-3),path=\?\USB#VID_2207&PID_350B#6&3B1B9FDE&0&4#{a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed}
00:17:35 413 Error:RKU_Write–>WriteFile failed,bRet=0,err=995,size=31,write=0
00:17:37 428 ERROR:RKU_ResetPipe–>DeviceIoControl failed,err=31
00:17:37 428 <LAYER 1-4> ERROR:TestDevice–>RKU_TestDeviceReady failed,RetCode(-3),path=\?\USB#VID_2207&PID_350B#6&3B1B9FDE&0&4#{a5dcbf10-6530-11d2-901f-00c04fb951ed}
00:17:38 450 Error:Layer<1-4>:Test Device Fail
00:17:38 450 Layer<1-4>: RunProc is ending, ret=0

Any ideas what I could do?

#2

How do you write the SPI flash image?

How about SD card booting?

#3

As I wrote, no boot from SD-Card, no sign of activity, no blue LED. The only life sign is RKDevTool, which see a markrom device. However, SPI write operation fails, see the attached log file. I also tried test Device, Read ID etc, all fail.

#4

You need to upload loader first to use some of those functions.

#5

Can you be a little bit more elaborate on that? I thought I tried that?

#6

What I did:

Start rkdevtool (Windows), load rk3588_spl_loader_v1.08.111.bin, untick SPINOR, press RUN. Same result: It said
Download Boot Start
Download Boot Success
Wait for Maskrom Start
Wait for Maskrom Success
Test Device Start
Test Device Fail

last message is issued after several seconds.

Did this in the “Download image” tab.

I also tried the “Upgrade Firmware” tab, same result.

I also tried the “loader mode” by pressing the recovery button, but the device is in Maskrom mode, does not go into loader mode.

Just to make sure, tried different cables, ports. No success :frowning:

#7

I am having the same problem with one of my Rock 5B boards as well. I used the rkdeveloptool from the command line and while it could see the SBC all other operations failed on it except loading the rk3588_spl_loader_v1.08.111.bin bootloader. Hence I can not flash the SPI and the SBC remains in a strange state unable to load from any medium (I tried booting from micro SD, eMMC and NVME SSD that I know work that they work in my other Rock 5B boards).

#8

I’ve got same thing on older RkDevTools using same cable, board and everything. Same thing worked on software exactly same as on wiki page. On the other hand there were some problems with newer rk and older boards. So make sure that You are using right RkDevTools version (this does not mean newest one). At least on windows - linux version may be different (and better).

This is most important info on Your case because it’s easy to compare two same boards. Are all in same revision? same source? Also make sure they are using same loader (that also can be updated).
Also I would check maskrom button if it’s working correctly. With multimeter, that should be easy.

#9

Under Windows I used the 2.96 version, which is shown everywhere on the wiki and seems to be the latest version. I build the Linux version from repo, but did not test yet. I’m pretty sure both boards have 1.42 revision. I bought them from Allnet.china together, so probably same source, but I will try. Will do some HW test next week when I got access to some test equipment, but visually the button looks fine. Regarding “same loader”: That is exactly what I want to update :slight_smile: Did I told then “reading the image” is successful, but always delivers 0 bytes?

#10

I used the same version of rkdevtools that worked on the other Rock 5 SBCs. I dowloaded the tool and recompiled it but still it didn’t fix the problem. With a multimeter I get 1.7V across the buttom and 0V when it is pressed. I contacted Radxa and they started the RMA with allnet.