Author Topic: TI-NSpire Operative Systems  (Read 9134 times)

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Offline Munchor

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TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« on: February 27, 2011, 03:09:15 pm »
The other day I decided to experiment changing the TI-NSpire OS to something made by me. Of course I knew that I had to study the OSs made by Texas Instruments first, it's what I did.

I don't know ARM9 Assembly, so all I could do were some tiny experiments:


Experiment 1
I changed, in the code, 631 to 632. I was editing TI-Nspire-2.1.0.631.tno and in the code (hex to string) it said 'TI-NSpire.tno 2.10.631'. I changed the '631' to '632'. Tried putting it in my calculator and it said corrupted.

Experiment 2->30
I tried changing half-bytes, so 'DB' to 'DA' and stuff like that, also tried changing entire bytes, I made, in the overall, more than 30 different attempts to changing the OS (half-bytes!). All of them, Computer Link software said 'corrupted'.


Conclusion and Questions
Has any of you successfully changed anything in any of the OSs?
How come the Computer Link software be so good at detecting corruptions (Internet connection?)?.


My next experiment will be bit-changing, I'll open the binary of it, and change 1 bit in the code, then I'll see if Computer Link Software still states it as corrupted.

Offline Deep Toaster

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2011, 03:10:56 pm »
Experiment 1
I changed, in the code, 631 to 632. I was editing TI-Nspire-2.1.0.631.tno and in the code (hex to string) it said 'TI-NSpire.tno 2.10.631'. I changed the '631' to '632'. Tried putting it in my calculator and it said corrupted.

Experiment 2->30
I tried changing half-bytes, so 'DB' to 'DA' and stuff like that, also tried changing entire bytes, I made, in the overall, more than 30 different attempts to changing the OS (half-bytes!). All of them, Computer Link software said 'corrupted'.

That's because the OS has a checksum at the end of the file (that thing you were having trouble with when you were building Assemblex). If you change the code, you need to change teh checksum to match.
« Last Edit: February 27, 2011, 03:11:13 pm by Deep Thought »




Offline ruler501

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2011, 03:11:35 pm »
This looks like it may have some editable codes but there is something in the software protecting certain parts. I bet you could find one updated parrt that you could edit.(try knocking your internet connection out when you do it)
I currently don't do much, but I am a developer for a game you should totally try out called AssaultCube Reloaded download here https://assaultcuber.codeplex.com/
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1
GCM/CS/M/S d- s++: a---- C++ UL++ P+ L++ E---- W++ N o? K- w-- o? !M V?
PS+ PE+ Y+ PGP++ t 5? X R tv-- b+++ DI+ D+ G++ e- h! !r y

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2011, 03:12:15 pm »
The only way you will be able to "edit" the OS file is through an Ndless program on the calc.  As far as I have tested (not all that much, but a bit), some of the files will reject editing (or will be overwritten with the "correct" copy, or something like that is happening).


Offline calc84maniac

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2011, 03:12:34 pm »
Not only a checksum, don't you also have to factor the 1024-bit signing keys?
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Offline Deep Toaster

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2011, 03:13:35 pm »
Not only a checksum, don't you also have to factor the 1024-bit signing keys?

Oh, right, that's the whole point of why we can't edit the OS to allow third-party apps.




Offline Munchor

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2011, 03:13:41 pm »
The checksum makes sense, thanks.

"Not only a checksum, don't you also have to factor the 1024-bit signing keys?"

What is that?
« Last Edit: February 27, 2011, 03:14:01 pm by Scout »

Offline apcalc

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2011, 03:13:55 pm »
Not only a checksum, don't you also have to factor the 1024-bit signing keys?

Yes, I believe you do in order to edit the OS file.


Offline ruler501

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2011, 03:15:05 pm »
Now to break the signing keys... This might take a while...
I currently don't do much, but I am a developer for a game you should totally try out called AssaultCube Reloaded download here https://assaultcuber.codeplex.com/
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1
GCM/CS/M/S d- s++: a---- C++ UL++ P+ L++ E---- W++ N o? K- w-- o? !M V?
PS+ PE+ Y+ PGP++ t 5? X R tv-- b+++ DI+ D+ G++ e- h! !r y

Offline Munchor

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2011, 03:16:08 pm »
What are the signing keys? Scout askes.

Offline Stefan Bauwens

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2011, 03:16:18 pm »
The other day I decided to experiment changing the TI-NSpire OS to something made by me. Of course I knew that I had to study the OSs made by Texas Instruments first, it's what I did.

I don't know ARM9 Assembly, so all I could do were some tiny experiments:


Experiment 1
I changed, in the code, 631 to 632. I was editing TI-Nspire-2.1.0.631.tno and in the code (hex to string) it said 'TI-NSpire.tno 2.10.631'. I changed the '631' to '632'. Tried putting it in my calculator and it said corrupted.

Experiment 2->30
I tried changing half-bytes, so 'DB' to 'DA' and stuff like that, also tried changing entire bytes, I made, in the overall, more than 30 different attempts to changing the OS (half-bytes!). All of them, Computer Link software said 'corrupted'.


Conclusion and Questions
Has any of you successfully changed anything in any of the OSs?
How come the Computer Link software be so good at detecting corruptions (Internet connection?)?.


My next experiment will be bit-changing, I'll open the binary of it, and change 1 bit in the code, then I'll see if Computer Link Software still states it as corrupted.
Is .tno the ti-nspire os?


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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2011, 03:16:58 pm »
@Stefen: Yup.

Offline Deep Toaster

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2011, 03:17:10 pm »
The checksum makes sense, thanks.

"Not only a checksum, don't you also have to factor the 1024-bit signing keys?"

What is that?

The OS is signed with a 1024-bit key (that's what we've been complaining about since the Nspires first came out). You need to figure out the keys to successfully sign your own OS. An unsigned OS isn't accepted by the calc because the calc checks the signature.




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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2011, 03:18:22 pm »
"The OS is signed with a 1024-bit key"

In the middle of the .tno fiel code is a key? Sorry I understand what it does, just not what it is.

Offline Stefan Bauwens

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Re: TI-NSpire Operative Systems
« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2011, 03:18:59 pm »
@Stefen: Yup.
Ok, thanks.
(It isn't stefEn, it's stefan actually) :P

Edit: How can changing the 'name' of the os, change the os.
« Last Edit: February 27, 2011, 03:20:48 pm by Stefan Bauwens »


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