DM500S Clone wont start

[andyjf]

I got a DM500s clone just before christmas and was working perfectly with open pli.
I left it on standby over night and it wouldnt tur back on.
after trying to flash it several times, each time it failed half way through flashing, i gave up for a while.
Does anyone have any sugestions how to fix this or did i just get a bad clone?

 

[gsmtech]

How are you trying to flash it ? With dreamup and a null modem serial cable ? If not then that is the most reliable method..also Use dreamup version 1.3.3.4 , any newer versions than this dont work well with clones. There is also an erase image you can flash first to clear out any remains of old corrupt images before flashing a new one,

 

[andyjf]

How are you trying to flash it ? With dreamup and a null modem serial cable ? If not then that is the most reliable method..also Use dreamup version 1.3.3.4 , any newer versions than this dont work well with clones. There is also an erase image you can flash first to clear out any remains of old corrupt images before flashing a new one,

Where can I find this erase image? It might be just what I need.
I have been using dream up 1.3.3.4 and a null modem. When flashing this starts at 10kbs and gets slower as it gets to half way until it stops and fails. Usually takes bout 1 1/2 hours before it fails.

 

[gsmtech]

I will check later tonight I should have a copy, if so i'll upload it into the downloads section for you.

 

[gsmtech]

I have just uploaded the erase image

http://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/index.php?resources/273/

 

[andyjf]

Tried to use dreamup again to erase the flash but it's not seen by the software anymore. The cable is the same one i used before to flash it so its not the fault of the cable.
Tried using dreamup 1.3.3.4 and also the one packaged with dreamoem toolbox v10 which is spicificaly for dm500 clones.
anyone have any sugestions or does it need to be J-Taged?

 

[andyjf]

Just notised that if i leave the box off for a few minutes and only turn it on when dreamup requests it will connect but seems to stop responding very quickly.
I opened the box and left it on for a while to see if anything was overheating but only proccesser is getting warm. Nothing is actuall too warm.

 

[Abu Baniaz]

Have you eliminated the 12v PSU from probable faults?

 

[andyjf]

I tried several psu's including one from a new dm800se clone to no avail.

 

[gsmtech]

Try a different pc or laptop and a different cable just in case, I know you've used the cable before but this way everything else will get ruled out and if it still doesn't work your looking at a faulty box.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[andyjf]

Tried with different null modem cable and 2 different pcs with onboard serial, but it still fails to flash. Dreamup uploads on boot but stays on waiting for acknologe. And after a few attempts it won't even see the box.

 

[gsmtech]

The last option is probably then a JTAG of the box to restore bootlaoder incase it's corrupt then try a reflash. If that doesnt work then you'f definitely got some sort of hadware fault

 

[Julez101]

Something you could also try is connecting to the boxes IP address. Open your favourite browser and in the URL bar type the IP of the box. If you do not remember it the. Take a look on your router to see all the IPs listed. If you are able to connect to the ip then great. What you would do next is similar to dreambox, unplug the power of the machine, hold in the power button then at the same time plug in the power cable, keep holding the off/on button for about 10-20 seconds, the lights in the front will begin to flash. When they do leave the power button and go back to your PC, type in the IP address again and you will have a screen come up, an upgrade/reflash screen. Follow the onscreen options to upgrade to the desires image.
The same thing happened to me on a dreambox 500 and strangest thing was that it ended up being the LAN adapter, I desoldered it, soldered on a new one and bob was my uncle!

hope that might help you

 

[andyjf]

Something you could also try is connecting to the boxes IP address. Open your favourite browser and in the URL bar type the IP of the box. If you do not remember it the. Take a look on your router to see all the IPs listed. If you are able to connect to the ip then great. What you would do next is similar to dreambox, unplug the power of the machine, hold in the power button then at the same time plug in the power cable, keep holding the off/on button for about 10-20 seconds, the lights in the front will begin to flash. When they do leave the power button and go back to your PC, type in the IP address again and you will have a screen come up, an upgrade/reflash screen. Follow the onscreen options to upgrade to the desires image.
The same thing happened to me on a dreambox 500 and strangest thing was that it ended up being the LAN adapter, I desoldered it, soldered on a new one and bob was my uncle!

hope that might help you

The box only shows leds on the front randomly and after being powered on and of a few times not at all.

When you say lan adapter do you mean just the rj45 connector or a chip?
Is there a way to test for this?

 

[Julez101]

Ok well then that is a good sign depending on the lights, do they flash red and green when you powered on like I told you? If so then you are in luck and you are sitting with a bad flash is all. Those blinking lights are signing out an IP address in code.. Here goes, red light, then count the number of green lights, then red light, then count the green lights again. For example you get first red light, 1 green flash, second red light, 9 green flashed, red light, 2 green flashes... Catch where this is going? It should send out an IP address via flashing lights. In the end you should have something that looks like 192.168.0.25

it was the LAN adapter that is attached to the mobo itself. If your box is sending out these flashing lights and you get your ip out then easiest way to test the LAN adapter is to ping it. Open a command prompt, type in

ping (space bar) IPADDRESS

press enter, should tell you all you need to know but before doing that check those lights, grab your IP address and put it into the URL bar of an Internet browser

 

[Julez101]

Ok well then that is a good sign depending on the lights, do they flash red and green when you powered on like I told you? If so then you are in luck and you are sitting with a bad flash is all. Those blinking lights are signing out an IP address in code.. Here goes, red light, then count the number of green lights, then red light, then count the green lights again. For example you get first red light, 1 green flash, second red light, 9 green flashed, red light, 2 green flashes... Catch where this is going? It should send out an IP address via flashing lights. In the end you should have something that looks like 192.168.0.25

it was the LAN adapter that is attached to the mobo itself. If your box is sending out these flashing lights and you get your ip out then easiest way to test the LAN adapter is to ping it. Open a command prompt, type in

ping (space bar) IPADDRESS

press enter, should tell you all you need to know but before doing that check those lights, grab your IP address and put it into the URL bar of an Internet browser

Just to be clear, the command prompt will look like this

ping 192.168.0.25

ip address being the one received from the box but I highly doubt it's the LAN adapter so do this as a last resort and have patience with the process.

good luck mate, let me k ow how it goes

try this tutorial that somebody else has written over at digital chaos... Sent the link to your inbox

 

[Julez101]

Do inform us on your progress, I am dying to know how it has worked out?

Julez

 

[Julez101]

I guess we can say, ''Problem Solved''

 

[andyjf]

Sorry for the delay. The box seems as if the flash memory is shot. Stops working or booting after a few seconds. It's gotten worse since.
Unless I can get a new flash chip for less than 5 euro delivered its not worth the effort of fixing as a new clone is 60 to 70 euro delivered.