Official C90/C90S/C91/C80 Owners Lounge

#1 usually is the ground on the mobo and on the cable is marked with red. But better watch the marks on the mobo and the programmer. Don't rush! You should be sure what is the proper connection before to go!

Did you downloaded the BIOS from the link?

 

no marks only a connector snap in in middle typical of these kinds of connectors and the pins on the Jp1 are set to covering 5V so I guess the should be moved to 3.3? and the pins on the board are setup like this 4 and 3 below with first from the left empty, facing front
hope that helps

I just found the BIOS here it's 803A latest Angel has on there.

 

Can you make close pictures of the two connectors? This is the right BIOS. The one from Angel's Download menu is an .ISO image ready to burn on CD/DVD. It is good but we need the clear BIOS .rom file only from the posted link.

You are right - first set the voltage to 3.3v and if we get errors on flashing then you can move the jumper to 5v.

 

I will try to post some pics, as soon as within 10 mins if I can.

 

OK, don't rush! I am here!

 

Ok here they are are, that was fast!

 

Not the cable's connector. I need to see those on the motherboard and the programmer.

 

The motherboard is in pics 1 and 2 I will try to take of the programmer end, battery is vey low on camera.

 

Ok here is the programmer connector pics

 

I wonder if I posted high res pics of the graphics card could you tell which chip went bad? BTW I smelled the card right after it failed and didn't smell any burn or electrical smell, I find that odd, maybe it's the chipset that was fried, who knows.

 

It's too dark. Do you see on the SPI connector (motherboard) a number 1 (one) in white or a triangle mark in white close to some of the pins? This mark should match to the red wire from the cable's connector.

 

I see where it says Jp1 and J2, doesn't that mean jumper? I will try to capture in pic.

 

OK, I saw it! Do you see the white corner of the connector over the motherboard? The pin from this corner should be connected to the pin from cable's connector with the red wire.

Or pin (white corner mobo - top upper right pin - first in the line with 4 pins from right to left) ===>>> red wire from the cable

The cable from the programmer is connected correctly!
After this two connection you are ready to go. Run the application and go to the text menu:

Command-> Read Chip Signature​

After the selection you should see the info about the chip.

For which card you are talking about?

 

That's interesting because, my wife and I intuited that's how it connects.
I was talking about the 8600, which I just tried to blow dry in a desperate hope it might be revived, but I doubt that will do it, if the chip was fried. So how shall I proceed with the programmer?

 

Yes! The moment of the true !

 

Ok so what now? just tried to blow dry another card, no luck I got two of them mixed up not sure which was which, if I tried to bake them I doubt it would work either, at least if I could have reflowed I would have something, what a costly lesson to be learned. Isn't there something that can be done to bring back to life these card short of reflow? I'm really mad at myself I passed a used one out of an Alienware area 51 on ebay for $25 plus $ shipping will probably never see a price like that again, can you believe some these sellers they want $200 or more for this crappy card!

 

Why you are talking about video cards? In front of us it something very important that requires your full attention!

Did you read the chip signature?

 

Because I figured if I could get one to work I could have one to test with, but your right, read the chip signature with the programmer, not yet let me hook up, was waiting for instructions from you. just tried to read chip sig, same problem and error as before.

 

OK, now we have the connection between the programmer and the motherboard, right?

 

Yes correct

 

1) Now run the application
2) Select from the combo box the name of the programmer
3) Read the chip signature from text menu choosing

Command->Read Chip Signature​

What is the signature?

 

Still gives the error

""Error Setting USBASP ISP Clock, error programm enable: target doesn't answer. 1 initialization failed AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions Device singnature =0X000000
Yilkes! Invalid device signature
Expected signature for ATMEGA8 is 1E 93 07


If it helps the red light is on on the programmer and flashes once when you click OK at the error.

By the way seller answered , or should I say tried to answer my question about the BIOS V. she said motherboard Version 2.0 I doubt that helps at all.

 

Do you get the same errors when you are trying to read the EEPROM with:

Command->read EEPROM to buffer​

 

Yes, but correction the error reads,
"error program enable: target doesn't answer. 1
initialization failed rc=1
Double check connections and try again or use -F to override this check.

Could the connector be incompatible with the connector on mother board, I just checked the end of the connector and looks just like the other end.

 

I am suggesting to continue tomorrow. It seems that the programmer or the application doesn't support the C90P BIOS chip. I need some time for reading and then will tell you where the problem is.

 

Ok just to let you know just to make sure it's not the program glitch or something, I just tried another program for the hell of it, Extreme Burner AVR and when I tried to read chip it came back similar "cannot communicate with target chip" so I think you are right and onto something, oh well let me know. Will check back tomorrow, good day and thanks

 

I would like to read some documents before to switch the voltage at 5v.

 

Ok let me know

 

Unfortunately I can’t find which EEPROM is used in C90P. There are two ways to find the chip type:

1) Identify the chip’s location on the motherboard and its number
2) Ask Asus for the EEPROM’s type/number
.. and of course if someone share this information.​

Where is the problem with the 3.3v? If the controller and the EEPROM they both can handle 5v there is no problem to set the jumper to 5v. If the 3.3v are not enough for the EEPROM then it will not be recognized by the PIC and we can’t program the chip. The datasheet specify the working voltages for the chip, but without its ID we don’t know how to set up the voltage.

The worst case is if the EEPROM is low voltage version that can’t use 5v then it will be fried. There are EEPROMs that work with 2.5v ~ 5.5v. In our case I don’t have an answer!

Using 5v without the proper chip’s data is a risk!

---

Can you post a picture with the connected cable to the motherboard?​

 

Do you still want me to do this? I understand about the EPROM and voltage.

 

I’ve talked with Angel and he said that tomorrow he will take a look at his C90P. I hope to solve the mystery with this EEPROM.

If we are able to set the proper voltage, BTW it is 3.3v or 5v then you should read and save the current BIOS version. The next step is to flash BIOS 803 and then the mobo should be work with all CPUs and RAMs.

My advice to you is to be made close pictures of the motherboard in a way that can be read the chips identifications/numbers. I think that the EEPROM is from the same side as in C90S. Then post the pictures in a new thread on the main Asus forum. Here on NBR maybe someone can help you out. I will do my best to identify the chip, but I can’t go further without these pictures or documentation.

One of the knowledgeable members here is Nipsen.

 

Ok I will do that, and I am chatting with Asus support to see EEPROM’s type/number.

Well got nowwhere with Asus this is what they had to say

"I do extend my apologies Ken, regretably I would not be able to assist with this as that would be out of our support scope. I do apologise for any inconveniences caused."

When I explained why I needed it they said,
We do not recommend supporting or servicing the notebook yourself Ke, if for any reason there is an issue that hinders the intended performance of the notebook it would be asked to have the notebook submitted to be serviced, to ensure that your issue is appropriately addressed for"

My response "Well considering this is an old unit and is long gone out of support I won't be doing that, but thanks for the suggestion" As you can see no help at all.

 

It will be great if Asus help!
If you have nearby a local computer workshop you can ask for help there too.

Also it will be good if you post a detail picture of the MXM II slot with its contacts on your C90P.

 

Well got nowhere with Asus this is what they had to say

"I do extend my apologies Ken, regretably I would not be able to assist with this as that would be out of our support scope. I do apologise for any inconveniences caused."

When I explained why I needed it they said,
"We do not recommend supporting or servicing the notebook yourself Ke, if for any reason there is an issue that hinders the intended performance of the notebook it would be asked to have the notebook submitted to be serviced, to ensure that your issue is appropriately addressed for"

My response "Well considering this is an old unit and is long gone out of support I won't be doing that, but thanks for the suggestion" As you can see no help at all. I have to look around for local shops, not in a big city and nearest one is almost 3 hours from here.

 

OK, then can you make detail pictures of the motherboard?

 

As soon as my camera battery is fully charged I will take photos and post to main forum.
Thanks

 

Angel sent to me the chip ID, it's not 5v version! Just a moment ...

 

Ok I hope it's 3.3v otherwise what's left? Still waiting for battery to finish charging.

 

The chip is 25P10VP ST, where ST is the manufacturer. The chip location is on the back side of the motherboard with 8 legs and close to the SPI header. With this info now you should select the EEPROM 25P10VP in the application and then to read its signature.

If you get errors please post a picture with the connected cable to the motherboard.

 

I don't see where to select the EEPROM in the AVR programmer application only the AVR itself. ATMEGA8
Thanks

 

Here it is a picture:

​

It seems that the programmer doesn't support this chip. Where was the programmer's link?

 

I see well to get a picture of it and post it, I will have to take the board out again of the unit, I don't want to do that if I can avoid it, as for the programmer's link I'm not sure what you mean by link?

 

There is no need from a picture, the work was done thanks to Angel! Can you ask the seller is the programmer/software supports our chip?

 

I just messaged them and attached the pic of the chip you posted. by the way the two programmers I purchased are from the same seller, just that one ships out of U.S. and cost more, so now comes the one from China maybe sometime in Jan. Now I understand what you meant by link, if you still want it here it is. Also I just looked at a back photo of the C90p and it looks like the chip could be under the mylar protector where the HDD goes, take a look if you like and see. So do you still recommend I post photos to main forum or not necessary at this point?

 

It will be interesting to me to see the picture, but probably it will be difficult for you to take one. So don't worry.

I trust at Angel 100% and don't need confirmation from someone else who doesn't have even C90P. You saw what was the Asus's answer - commercial and useless against free and useful. Looks strange!

Unfortunately from the programmer's link is visible that it doesn't supports our chip! Sorry!

 

Yes Asus is useless, that's too bad about the programmer, just wanted to share this and maybe you can pass it on to Angel, I just powered up the C90p board with battery only and then with battery and AC plugged in and when I hold down the button and not let go, the HDD starts to spin up and after a min, the fans go on sounds like full speed, as soon as I let go of the button it stops, but if the battery is in only by itself then you have to pull out the battery for it to go off, it's very weird I'm going to pull out the CPU and see if it does the same thing, at this point it's looking more and more like this board is defective, I seem to remember somewhere you warned about buying a board from China, if you can't get it there where are you going to get it. Did Angel buy a C90p or did he too do the motherboard upgrade? Do you know?
Well I guess this is the end of the road for this motherboard. Now I'm back to solving my GPU problem, I want to make sure I understand correctly the VBIOS for C90s is not on the GPU chip but in the BIOS of the C90s and therefore any GPU that has BIOS on chip will not work? So that leaves me to either buy another C90s with most likely 8600 card in it, or buy one of the higher end Nvidia cards like 240m or 9650m made for Asus or buy any Radeon card that either came out of an Acer Aspire or goes in one, and that will require heatsink mode, BTW did you know there are copper shims/pads you can buy and replace your regular ones? I'm pricing copper material on ebay just thinking about maybe doing the mod, what happens if the heatsink isn't thick enough? I'm just thinking if the copper is thinner it would be less work to cut, but then again the trade off may not be worth it. Anyhow I'm pretty depressed about all this and not sure which way to go, at the moment I'm keeping my out for another cheap C90s since if the video works I know the card does, if I buy a card without knowing it will work, I may find myself in the same position I am now with the motherboard, on the other hand if there is a slight possibility that I can find a used Acer with one of the higher end cards mentioned and I guess if had Nvidia in it the Bios would be on the chip and locked, but if it had acer and it was mxm or mxm ii, the I'm assuming that might work, if not at least I have another working laptop not upgradable like C90s or p but nevertheless, oh and doesn't the Nvidia 8400 work with C90s and wouldn't that another way to at least get my c90s working again? So many questions.
Thanks for all your help.

 

Just a moment maybe I am not right about the programmer because I forgot to ask Angel what is the controller on C90P. It could be the one that the programmer supports.

I will answer at your questions 30 mins later. Don't forget that the only officially supported GPU is 8600m, all other cards are on the principle of the try and the error. The video BIOS is on the video card and should be there. Video cards without video BIOS will not work 100% in C90S/P.

 

Ok well I hope your right and there still is a chance, because I have this feeling that if you try to do what I"m doing with a C90p board you will run into this with any board with an older BIOS, consider the fact that these CPUs and ram were not on the market when the older BIOS were written, thats why ether need to uxe a much older CPU or fkas the BIOS, so here's what I suspect is going on based the on the last test I just did. You will see in the following pics both with CPU out, the lights that are on, first one taken with battery in, second one taken with AC and battery In, then I tested without CPU, no photos taken, but here's what I found except for the fact that it stayed on for a few mins VS. going off right away with CPU in, there was no difference, you still couldn't push any keys especially caps lock or num lock, no affect, so what I believe is going on is that the old BIOS is in conflict with the at minimum CPU,didn't try to remove RAM, I guess I should have thought of that, but I doubt it would make much difference. I truly believe as I stated earlier that this will be encountered with any C90p board that has a much older BIOS, and more than likely will only work with a Celeron CPU, what I don't get is how did the seller test it with an E6850 if the BIOS won't accept a newer CPU? Ok as for the GPU looks like I had it backwards, the BIOS needs to be on the Chip and there is no way to program that? As for 8600, I don't want to assume but that's what you have in your C90s, but you made the necessary cooling mods and it's running cooler and smoother and not giving you anymore problems?
Thanks

 

A time ago I intended to buy a C90P motherboard from eBay and just before to do it I decided to ask Angel about his opinion. I was terrified when he told me about his problems with the extremely incorrect and the only one seller with C90P motherboards on eBay.

This person has sold a motherboard with damaged CPU socket pins and caused a lot of troubles with its behavior. Two months later he was able to test the motherboard and the result has been a non-working motherboard. The entire CPU socket has been replaced and only after that the motherboard was able to go. Then he found out that the card reader was damaged too. The seller has been very rude with the motherboard. This put the end of my interest to the C90P motherboards.

GPU
I have in mine two C90S Nvidia 9600m / 512M / DDR3 and ATI 3650 / 512M DDR2 with ASME heatsink. ATI 3650 is colder than 8600m and probably will be easy to mod the original 8600m heatsink for ATI. Nvidia 240m is an expensive and untested card in C90S. Angel told me that he mod Toshiba 4650 / 1G / DDR3 card for C90S/P adding EEPROM and video BIOS.

I saw copper pads on eBay a long time ago. The problem is with the thickness. On Angel’s site are all memory pad dimensions for Nvidia and ATI.​

I see … and I am sorry! For me any modification is difficult and with all my respect to Angel, his mods are not for everyone including me. He did gigantic work and it is obvious that he is very resourceful. As you see there is no one to help, also our laptop is very old. I don’t think that it deserves to keep running at this higher price. As a hobby – yes, but when your budget is limited – no.

If you want to stabilize your C90S the only good resource for me is “C90S Unleashed”. Unfortunately this work is not easy and requires a lot of time.​

 

So then I guess, nothing further about the programmer, since you didn't mention it and I have not had a response from the Programmer seller as if will support the EEPROM. I suppose it's possible the motherboard is defective, it's a shame I didn't buy the celeron CPU to test with. I remember you asking and suggesting that I check the pins on the CPU socket and I did and posted a photo of it and they don't appear to be damaged, so I don' t know what to to think, it's starting to look like the only good C90p is one you can buy rather than replace your existing C90s board. By the way I just searched on Craiglist for a C90s and found one in Boise Idaho, the guy is crazy he want's $400 it, calling it a gaming laptop the last one I bought on ebay last month was $60 only problem was the cam doesn't work, so I will replace it, but $400 for a loaded C90p sure but for C90s, that's dreaming, maybe back in 2009. As for the GPU, am I to understand that if I find a Toshiba with a 4650 I can mod the Vbios and add something to the EEPROM, wait I can't do that with the C90s it has no EEPROM, so how do you do it? Ok so you have two GPUs that means you have two working C90s with 9600 and 3650, that means you have done ASME 1.0 or 4.0? So you are saying I can mod my original 8600 heatsink to work with a 3650 with ASME 1.0? how do I get a 3650, can I pull one from a Acer Aspire, for example like this one, if I find one for the right price? I will still have to do ASME? It seems to me to make more sense to go with something that is working that I can pull rather than a card like this one, at least I know the card works in a working system. I hope this makes sense, and yes C90S Unleashed is great work and I am thankful for Angels work.
Oh I almost forgot this is the 9600 I was considering buying, but probably wouldn't work because of Vbios and will need the ASME. So then I guess this 8600 that I didn't buy probably wouldn't work either? Both of these card are MSI, so is the problem that they are locked in the Vbios? I really am trying to understand this.
Thanks