Unable to verify IC or write/erase/flash BIOS file to XMC QH128AHIG SPI chip using NeoProgrammer/AsProgrammer

[testaccgta]

Hi, everyone!

I've recently acquired two brand new SPI chips to replace the one currently in my Acer A514-54G laptop MB (FH5AT LA-K092P). The reason why I'm replacing the current SPI chip is because I had some difficulties with a third-party IT assistant who pretty much lacked the soldering skills and ended up destroying the current SPI chip soldered to my MB from factory.

I've decided to do this on my own because I spent the past month or so learning some soldering skills and BIOS modding through Badcaps and WinRaid forums, hence the attempt. I've also chosen to buy the same SPI chip that was installed from factory (XMC QH128AHIG) to perform this.

I am currently using a CH341A Black programmer with an SOIC8 200-208mil socket adapter to be able to flash a virgin BIOS file from Acer's website, but I've been facing some issues with the erase/write/verify IC functions. I've tested reading the IC through NeoProgrammer v2.2.0.10 and AsProgrammer v2.0.4 and this works fine-ish, I guess.

Here below is what I've been getting from the software flashing tools:

• Reading: success, but the 3 reading attempts resulted in 3 different dumps, none of each matching each other (dump1.bin, dump2.bin and dump3.bin files attached)

• Verifying IC: error at each attempt (perhaps because it is reading different dumps?)

• Erasing IC: it seems to proceed with the erasure, but when I read the IC again, it is not blank

• Writing IC: leaving all options enabled, it performs the erasing very quickly and the verification process fails right off the bat

I have stumbled across a topic regarding this same XMC QH128AHIG chip here on Badcaps, which even mentioned some alternative chips in case there was no detection through the programmer software:

Re: XMC qh128ahig chip

XMC QH128AHIG (XM25QH128AHIG): Compatible with
W25Q128FVSIG GD25Q128CSIG MX25L12845E EN25QH128A W25Q128JVSQ

These work at 3.3v so no adapter will be necessary

I hope it serves you
Greetings to all

I tested those other chips on both NeoProgrammer and AsProgrammer to see if maybe the problem was with the XMC chip detection, but I highly doubt that, since if it was some detection problem (e.g., misplaced Pin#1 location or something), NeoProgrammer wouldn't have even been able to detect, let alone read the IC in the first place.

Also, below is how my CH341A programmer is set up with the socket adapter, with everything connected, all voltages measuring ~3.3V in the pins they should, and yet these errors keep happening. I tested with the two brand new IC chips I bought, but had no luck on either of them.



I'm absolutely clueless. I've tried switching USB ports (e.g., 3.0, 2.0 from MB; using two different USB hubs testing each single USB port on them), but to no avail. I also thought this could be due to some writing protection enabled embedded in the new chips (SPI chip datasheet attached), as they are new and unused, but using the Unprotect option also leads to different SREG reads:



Do you guys have any idea why this is going on and how I could fix that? I'm absolutely clueless now, and I just wanted to flash a virgin BIOS to then solder the SPI chip on my laptop's MB.

If you guys could help me as soon as possible, I'd be really glad and would definitely appreciate it.

[rogfanther]

You can try with normal usb ports, not usb-hubs.
Also, you can try with a linux boot disk and use "flashrom" to read/write the chip.

[Magician1981]

Hi, everyone!

I've recently acquired two brand new SPI chips to replace the one currently in my Acer A514-54G laptop MB (FH5AT LA-K092P). The reason why I'm replacing the current SPI chip is because I had some difficulties with a third-party IT assistant who pretty much lacked the soldering skills and ended up destroying the current SPI chip soldered to my MB from factory.

Did you got it working with ch341?