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Messages - critor

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211
General Calculator Help / Re: Installing 3.1 on Ti - nspire cx CAS
« on: August 26, 2013, 07:56:39 pm »
Hi!

Your calculator did probably come preloaded with OS 3.2.4 and Boot2 3.2.4.

Can you please give us the datestamp of the calculator?
The datestamp is a 7-characters code written on the back at the right of the serial number.

^ Here it's P-0411A for exemple, meaning the calculator was manufactured in the P-factory (China) in april 2011 and does include the hardware revision A of the motherboard.

212
Pretty normal, as if there is a new NAND chip or a new Manuf image, we don't know about them and can't tell the emulator.
So it's emulating what works: hardware revisions A to I.

213
The TI-Planet contests Nspire CX were received months ago.
So probably no problem with those.

214
You're not alone having to think 'differently' from now on... ;)

215
Nothing seem to have changed. It's the same Datalight FlashFX version which is reported in the bootlog.

216
The "posix_file_init()" seems to be nothing new.
Yes, but on the difference, the error here happens with official code.
There are many ways to trigger that error, as it is a filesystem initialisation error.

Is there any way to dump the filesystem image?
If we had native code, yes... It might come from the Manuf too, as it does include some filesystem informations. I successfully managed to trigger it that way.

Edit: RS232 Bootlog of the newest Boot2?

The RS232 Bootlog in the news if of course a 3.1 Boot2 running on a TI-Nspire CX hardware revision J.

217
General Calculator Help / Re: New CX
« on: August 26, 2013, 01:32:00 pm »
New translated to english and crossposted to Omnimaga:
http://ourl.ca/19460/358781;topicseen#new

218
For years, the TI-Nspire community has been working for the openness of the TI-Nspire, in order for its users to operate their calculators to their fullest potential.

And so was born Ndless, a framework for running assembly programs taking full control of the hardware in particular of the processor.
Some examples of Ndless compatible programs:

  • the nDoom 3D FPS game, a port of the Doom/Doom2 and compatible computer games
  • the Nintendo NES emulator
  • the Nintendo Game Boy Color emulator
  • the Nintendo Game Boy Advance emulator
  • the mViewer image reader

Ndless has existed in several versions, each one specific to a single or a small set of TI-Nspire systems:

Ndless versionTI-Nspire system version
1.0/1.11.1
1.1 prototype1.1 (non-CAS prototypes)
1.2 prototype1.2 (CAS prototypes)
1.31.3
1.41.4
1.71.7
2.01.7, 2.0.1, 2.1.0
3.13.1

The lack of an Ndless cross version is due to the fact that Ndless is not an officially supported program, and Texas Instruments has actively fought it since system 2.1.
Indeed, Ndless installation exploits some flaws in the TI-Nspire system. But any vulnerability exploited then quickly fixed or blocked by Texas Instruments in the next version of the system, forcing Ndless to always use new vulnerabilities.

Do you think you just don't have to update?
Except that Texas Instruments forces the update through various automated popups.
And eventually, all new TI-Nspire will come preloaded with the latest system - it is therefore not a solution for new users.


You'll tell me you just have to reinstall an earlier version of the system?
This was indeed possible until July 2010. At that date, the last 2.1 system has activated a protection which was there but disabled since the beginning, something we called the "system anti-downgrade protection".
System 2.1 and all subsequent systems are updating a minimal installable version number in a memory area not accessible to users and non clearable by any official menu.
Any previous version of the system is then rejected.





As a solution to those problems, the community did release another little tool, Nlaunch.
The TI-Nspire starts by running three pieces of software:

  • Boot Code 1
  • Boot Code 2
  • operating system
So in order to get to the operating system, there are two safety barriers to be overcome.

Where Ndless did only exploit flaws od the system, Nlaunch goes further as directly addressing the Boot Code 2 and overcoming one of both security barriers.
But as Ndless, Nlaunch is also specific to certain versions of the Boot2:

Nlaunch versionTI-Nspire Boot2 version
Nlaunch1.4
Nlaunch CX3.1 (TI-Nspire CX)

Nlaunch is able to install and run operating systems completely ignoring the minimum version of the system, and even to make a recent system to coexist with an old Ndless compatible system.

Like with operating systems, Texas Instruments quickly responded by including a TI-Nspire CX Boot2 update in its latest 3.2.4 operating system.




The TI-Nspire community wasn't worried about that:

  • current TI-Nspire users should simply be careful not to update their Boot2 when updating their system, thanks to the small TNOC tool
  • in case of omission of this manipulation, it was still possible to reprogram the older Boot2 version using an inexpensive TTL/USB interface (RS232)
  • and owners of new TI-Nspire CX could also apply this last solution




This was without counting on the wickedness of the Texas Instruments development team...

We could confirm that when updating a current TI-Nspire CX to the new 3.2.4 Boot2, it was still possible to reinstall the old Nlaunch compatible 3.1 Boot2.

But we hadn't tested this on new TI-Nspire CX coming preloaded with versions 3.2.4 of the system and the Boot2 ...
And although Boot2 3.1 is flashed successfuly through RS232 on these units, it is simply unable to run properly!  >:(

The boot2 fails on a non-recoverable error (System Error) and the RS232 console tells us a little more with the "BOOT2 Error: posix_file_init() error".

It's an error that has to do with the file system. But it's obviously still intact, as when flashing back the original 3.2.4 Boot2 the TI-Nspire CX boots successfuly.

So, Texas Instruments did probably change something on the new TI-Nspire CX, something that is managed properly by the new 3.2.4 Boot2 but not the old 3.1 Boot2.
Up to date, we do not know exactly what it is

So basically, Texas Instruments just invented us a new antidowngrade protection, "Boot2 antidowngrade protection". But managing to make its own older version of the code crash instead of giving you a clear and related error message is not very clean from my point of view - it just looks like a dirty hack - we were used to much cleaner protections so far...




In conclusion, the new TI-Nspire CX sold from now on are completely closed, with no known way to install Ndless or Nlaunch up to date.  >:(

If you want to use Ndless or Nlaunch, we'd advise you to give up on purchasing a brand new TI-Nspire CX and to look for it on the second-hand market.

In fact on the back of the TI-Nspire CX, on the right of the serial number, is what is called the datestamp, a 7-character code.

The new TI-Nspire CX crashing Boot2 3.1 which have been reported to us up to date have the datestamp 'P-0313J'.
This means that they were manufactured in the TI factory code P (China) in March 2013, and that they include the hardware revision J (11th version) of the motherboard.

On the second hand market you'll be able to ask the seller the datestamp of the calculator, and to buy only TI-Nspire CX whose datestamp ends with a letter from A to I.




This is a sad day for the community. For the third time, Ndless and all its compatible programs have been beaten to death, and even stronger than the previous times. Will they be able to survive this time? ... :'(




Source:
http://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=147130&lang=en

219
General Calculator Help / Re: New CX
« on: August 26, 2013, 07:49:24 am »
Forever?
If they remove them, they can't repair bricked TI-Nspire.

220
General Calculator Help / Re: New CX
« on: August 26, 2013, 05:13:09 am »
The Dock connector is not a problem on TI-Nspire CM, as the RS232 pins are also available on the internal J04 connector.

221
General Calculator Help / Re: New CX
« on: August 25, 2013, 08:55:46 pm »
I know fortytwo.
The (bad) news is coming.

But I would have liked to get a confirmation from someone else before.



Edit: the first news about the problem has just been posted in french on TI-Planet:
http://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=12883#p147130

It's coming in english soon - but this is very bad news.

You cannot downgrade the Boot2 to version 3.1 anymore on new TI-Nspire CX hardware revision J which come preloaded with Boot2 3.2.4, not even by using RS232.

The Boot2 3.1 just crashes if flashed on those models:


So, no Ndless and no Nlaunch for new TI-Nspire CX.

222
General Calculator Help / Re: New CX
« on: August 25, 2013, 03:43:31 pm »
Limesoda & Showboo, could you please report us the datestamp written on the right of your TI-Nspire CX serial on the back?

We'd like to make a rule for determining if a calculator comes with the new 3.2.4 OS based on the datestamp.
For example, we've been reported datestamp P-0313J came preloaded with OS 3.2.4 (manufactured in march 2013, hardware revision J)


And I'd like to know if you've tried the RS232 adapter and if it did work.
Thanks.

223
Other Calculators / Re: Have you seen BSOD on nspire before?
« on: August 22, 2013, 07:09:39 pm »
It seems so - the Datamath museum and me both have PLT-FHH1/SU1 prototypes which won't boot into the OS and remain stuck in the shell.

The Datamath museum and Adriweb both have PLT-SHH1 prototypes which do include the OS.


But with so few prototypes, it might be to soon to jump to conclusions ;)

224
Other Calculators / Re: Have you seen BSOD on nspire before?
« on: August 22, 2013, 06:55:48 pm »
Ok, I will have a try after fixing my CM-C prototype.
And I hope you'll succeed in both :)

(I'm also trying to find a PLT-FHH1 prototype and read the flash with my programmer.)
That would be great too.
Are you looking for a working prototype?

My PLT-FHH1 has no OS and remains stuck in the shell. But Adriweb has a PLT-SHH1 which fully works :)

By the way, the guy who has a 64MB Clickpad told me, nPal works well!
Great!
Could he take a picture of the back with the serial so that we can understand what kind of prototype it is?

225
Other Calculators / Re: Have you seen BSOD on nspire before?
« on: August 22, 2013, 10:05:14 am »
On ClickPad/TouchPad, they were stored in the Boot1.
I haven't investigated this on CX/CM yet.

As far as I can tell from various experimentations, it seems that the Boot1, which is common to CX and CM models, knows about both CX and CM keys, but adds a model check for running the Boot2 and Diags.

But the Boot2 only knows about the model specific keys.

That's why for example you cannot directly run a CM Boot2/Diags on your TI-Nspire CX.

But if you flash the TI-Nspire CM manuf splashscreen (which have no header with the model ID unlike the Boot2/Diags) on a TI-Nspire CX, the Boot1 will accept to load the splashscreen and the Boot2 will reject it.


Edit: Sorry for the delay, but here is a better picture of the TI-Nspire Color prototype external Flash-NOR chip:

It seems to be a MXIC MX29SL402CBTI-90G.

Reflashing this with a patched TI-Nspire CX Boot1 will let you do everything you've allways dreamed of ;)

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