I’d have to answer that not everything can be done from Windows operation system.
For example I can’t modify and rebuild initrd, rootfs, or the kernel from windows.
Sure, I can use winimage (or the like) to read files but that’s not everything and honestly it’s more effort to achieve even that level of access on windows than using it natively on Linux.
I am very comfortable with Linux having done minor development for a distro. I don’t have a automotive background, but instead an IT background. I realize that not everyone has Linux experience and that’s fine. But it’s a highly effective and versatile tool platform.
FYI, I was able to restore my VCM2. If you find yourself in the same situation:
1 Download and use ExtraPuTTY (Use Ymodem mode for transfers)
2 Download firmware from https://mega.nz/#!utIHlA7b!0EA9jWLptCtQx1-Rlxh5KwcytGsxsS1aGqpZjZKBVG0 (Big thanks to baner)
3 Connect to the serial bootloader
In detail…
4 Run the following commands one group at a time and using the corresponding mtd partition (list below). You’ll need to follow the onscreen prompts.
Code:
setenv baudrate 115200; funlock; saveenv
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off fpga; erase fpga; cp.b 0xa2000000 fpga 0x000a0000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off linux2; erase linux2; cp.b 0xa2000000 linux2 0x00180000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off initrd2; erase initrd2; cp.b 0xa2000000 initrd2 0x00600000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off linux1; erase linux1; cp.b 0xa2000000 linux1 0x00300000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off initrd1; erase initrd1; cp.b 0xa2000000 initrd1 0x012e0000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off jffs2; erase jffs2; cp.b 0xa2000000 jffs2 0x00100000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off linuxvars1; erase linuxvars1; cp.b 0xa2000000 linuxvars1 0x00020000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off linuxvars2; erase linuxvars2; cp.b 0xa2000000 linuxvars2 0x00020000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off serialnum; erase serialnum; cp.b 0xa2000000 serialnum 0x00008000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off macaddress; erase macaddress; cp.b 0xa2000000 macaddress 0x00008000
mw.b 0xa2000000 FF 0x01400000; loady 0xa2000000; funlock; protect off bootvars; erase bootvars; cp.b 0xa2000000 bootvars 0x00020000
reset
MTD Partitions
Code:
Name Location Size Type Source Guard MTD Part.
—- ——– —- —- —— —– —-
fsboot 0x00000000 0x00040000 Flash bootargs Off mtd0
boot 0x00040000 0x00040000 Flash bootargs Off mtd1
bootvars 0x00080000 0x00020000 Flash bootargs Off mtd2
fpga 0x000a0000 0x000a0000 Flash bootargs Off mtd3
linux2 0x00140000 0x00180000 Flash bootargs Off mtd4
initrd2 0x002c0000 0x00600000 Flash bootargs Off mtd5
linux1 0x008c0000 0x00300000 Flash bootargs Off mtd6
initrd1 0x00bc0000 0x012e0000 Flash bootargs Off mtd7
jffs2 0x01ea0000 0x00100000 Flash bootargs Off mtd8
linuxvars1 0x01fa0000 0x00020000 Flash bootargs Off mtd9
linuxvars2 0x01fc0000 0x00020000 Flash bootargs Off mtd10
serialnum 0x01ff0000 0x00008000 Flash bootargs Off mtd11
macaddress 0x01ff8000 0x00008000 Flash bootargs Off mtd12
zImage 0xa0008000 0x00300000 DRAM Initial Off
scratch 0xa2000000 0x01400000 DRAM Initial Off
script 0xa3400000 0x00100000 DRAM Initial Off
Stack 0xa3e9ff00 0x00020000 DRAM System On
GD 0xa3ebff00 0x00000100 DRAM System On
Heap 0xa3ec0000 0x00040000 DRAM System On
Text 0xa3f00000 0x0002e6e8 DRAM System On
BSS 0xa3f2e6e8 0x00044218 DRAM System On
* Be careful to not mess with the fsboot/mtd0 & boot/mtd1 partitions. If you do you’ll need to use a flash programmer or JTAG to recover your VCM2.
If there is any interest, I expect to write a slightly modified version of the most recent firmware that doesn’t block WiFi, always boots to testmode, and has some additional utilities in the web interface (change VCM type, spoof version, web based firmware update. I’m open to suggestions).
@mattydr67 & baner
I’ll be glad to as soon as I have some info to share.
