Another stupid flashing cable question HP-30b / HP-15C CE

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(10-02-2024 09:17 PM)John Ioannidis Wrote:  ... but suggesting that people install random binaries is just promoting bad security habits. Remember: even paranoids have enemies!

That's certainly something to keep in mind, but there are good ways to protect oneself like firewalls (I have one the computer and one in the router) and a VPN.

And then, hackers are not stupid. How many copies of MySamba have been downloaded and installed over the last 10 years or so? 1.000? 10.000? Certainly not more. Is it really worth targeting such a small group of potential victims when you can easily reach millions with an online game or fake webshop, where people even voluntarily enter their credit card details?

(10-02-2024 09:17 PM)John Ioannidis Wrote:  Worse, the flashing tools in https://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/files/FlashTool/ come with no source code.

Even if there was source code, who tells you that the binaries were compiled from that code? Sure, you could in theory compile it yourself but who has the time to analyse all the source code for possible hacks?

Don't get me wrong, malware is a reality and not to be taken lightly. But paranoia is not the remedy. Firewalls and frequent backups are all I need to keep me feeling safe.

Regards
Max

[rprosperi]

(10-02-2024 09:17 PM)John Ioannidis Wrote:  

(10-02-2024 04:32 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  There are many (!) versions of MySamba floating around and many are not compatible. For example, the MySamba used for the 15c CE is definitely NOT compatible with flashing the WP34S.

Attached below is a version which definitely IS compatible, and was modified by Marcus (on the WP34S team) to operate much more quickly the original Atmel version.

We are all friends here (I hope; plus, you and I have interacted in the past, if this kind of endorsement is worth the bits it's written on ), but suggesting that people install random binaries is just promoting bad security habits. Remember: even paranoids have enemies!

Worse, the flashing tools in https://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/files/FlashTool/ come with no source code. I can't really imagine that whoever wrote them think that code has any commercial value, so why not provide the source?

FWIW, the actual SAM-BA software (not to be confused with samba, the open-source implementation of Microsoft's SMB/CIFS protocol!) is now at version 3.8, at https://www.microchip.com/en-us/developm...programmer

/ji

As Eric and others, including me, have noted, different versions of My Samba, SAM-BA, etc. work for different chips, it's not a matter of getting the newest one and assuming it handles all prior devices. Also, this is not a 'random' binary, it was created by one of the WP-34S developers, specifically for installing the 34S f/w. Feel fee to be paranoid and search out your own source if needed, but please don't cast aspersions and spread doubt on tested files being shared here in good faith.

[AnnoyedOne]

(10-02-2024 04:42 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Note that differently from the documention, after being flashed and reset, the calculator will not restart with the "Paul Walter"-screen but with "Erased".

I'm not sure but isn't the power-on name user-programmable? Maybe it defaulted to "Pauli, Walter" at some point but is now blank ("Erased") unless you set it.

If so your previous reflashing attempts may've been partially successful showing "Erased" (the AT91SAM7L128 bootloader doesn't do it). Or the calculator wasn't reset/power-cycled (the display should be blank after erasure/reset per the HP-15C CE).

If the above is accurate "Erased" was a bad word choice IMHO. Perhaps "Name?", "SetName" or "Default". "Erased" implies that the flash is erased (technically the calculator name is) which made me think that the bootloader was custom. It isn't. A generic serial bootloader in ROM per the device datasheet.

(10-02-2024 09:17 PM)John Ioannidis Wrote:  ...but suggesting that people install random binaries is just promoting bad security habits. Remember: even paranoids have enemies!

Yeah. I scan stuff I download with at least one (usually multiple) virus scanners. In the case of SAM-BA 2.16 (works with the HP-12C+ and HP-15C CE) I got it from the official Microchip website. I scanned it too before installing it in (deleted after use) virtual machines (VM's). That said I suspect that few do that. You can't trust much these days "They really are out to get you!".

FYI that MySamba program was written using Delphi. A "bare bones" application that even runs in Windows 2000.

I think rprosperi might be correct. MySamba seems to be a WP34S project creation. SAM-BA was an Atmel (now Microchip) program. I've been unable to determine what the last version of SAM-BA, that supported the AT91SAM7L128, was. I cannot find any download link to anything prior to v2.16. Some Chinese sites claim to have it but... Microchip doesn't. Not an issue for me but MySamba may be the only option nowadays if you have an old calculator.

A1

[Eric Rechlin]

(10-03-2024 12:43 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  If the above is accurate "Erased" was a bad word choice IMHO. Perhaps "Name?", "SetName" or "Default". "Erased" implies that the flash is erased (technically the calculator name is) which made me think that the bootloader was custom. It isn't. A generic serial bootloader in ROM per the device datasheet.

I think it just means the RAM was erased. It's equivalent to the "Memory Clear" message on some other calculators.

(10-03-2024 12:43 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  I think rprosperi might be correct. MySamba seems to be a WP34S project creation. SAM-BA was an Atmel (now Microchip) program. I've been unable to determine what the last version of SAM-BA, that supported the AT91SAM7L128, was. I cannot find any download link to anything prior to v2.16. Some Chinese sites claim to have it but... Microchip doesn't. Not an issue for me but MySamba may be the only option nowadays if you have an old calculator.

I'm pretty sure that MySamba was created by Cyrille, for HP use, and predates the WP 34S. It's not from Atmel. It's the only tool I remember using for flashing the 20b/30b; Atmel did have a tool but I think because of its complexity Cyrille made MySamba instead.

[AnnoyedOne]

(10-03-2024 02:11 PM)Eric Rechlin Wrote:  I think it just means the RAM was erased.

Still confusing IMO. Perhaps "Cleared" would be better.

(10-03-2024 02:11 PM)Eric Rechlin Wrote:  I'm pretty sure that MySamba was created by Cyrille, for HP use, and predates the WP 34S.

Before my time. I have SAM-BA 2.16 for my HP-12C+ and HP-15C CE and it works fine.

From the MySamba.txt file in the above package linked to by rprosperi.

Quote:This is a modified version of Cyrille de Brébisson's MySamBa flash download
tool. It is much faster then SAM-BA.exe from Atmel.

I've found a reference to Atmel's SAM-BA v2.10 on this site. Found a copy online. From 2010. I'll save that as well.

I installed SAM-BA v2.10 in a Windows 2000 SP4 VM. The program is dated 21st July 2010 and it supports the AT91SAM7L128.

A1

PS: I've also found/downloaded SAM-BA v2.11 dated 23rd October 2011. It also works in Win2K. However the installer is about 2MB smaller than 2.10. It still supports the AT91SAM7L128 though.

I've come across reports that v2.12 has issues. I don't have a copy.

Both 2.10 and 2.11 include a manual in PDF format.

[Keith Ostertag]

I'd like to flash a HP30b with WP31s, and this thread is very useful (I am still studying it).

However, I use Linux, no Microsoft products here. As far as I can tell the MySamba program is Windows only..

Can someone refer me to a Linux substitute? Or a different procedure that doesn't require MySamba or other Windows software?

Thanks if you can help,
Keith

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(11-10-2024 09:22 PM)Keith Ostertag Wrote:  Can someone refer me to a Linux substitute?

There are two Linux flashing tools (64bit and ?) here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/files/FlashTool/

I use the MacOS version from the same site and it works very well. As MacOS is also based on unix there should not be much difference to the Linux version.

Regards
Max

[Keith Ostertag]

Thank you Max. As I am new to all this there are many things to learn!

I may, due to the difficulty in making a cable and needing to buy a USB-serial interface etc, ask around to find someone to flash one or two HP30b's for me.

[spiff72]

Hello all,

I thought I would contribute my own attempt at building a DIY programmer for the 30b/20b after someone I just shared it with suggested I post it here...

Mine used some approximately 32mm long pogo pins that had a sleeve diameter of about 1.35mm. My pogo "header" is a 3D printed housing (2 pieces) and I repurposed an ethernet cable to connect to the pogo pins. I used the approach of an Arduino in place of the programmer, but I used an Adafruit Metro Mini, a 1/4-size breadboard, 2 momentary switches, and a printed enclosure for this PCB assembly.

Here's a link to a zip file that contains the 3D print files, along with a bunch of photos. I didn't provide a pinout, but I can reverse engineer it (or maybe see if I have some notes on the connections saved somewhere). The pogo pin end isn't for the faint of heart - it was a big PITA to solder and get the pins inserted correctly.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/197k3xPS...?usp=gmail

Let me know if you have any trouble with the link and I will try to do an alternate means of uploading.