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IA-2 Hacking
Info on the IA-2 so far any help would be appreciated

New MessageIA-2 Hacking (modified 0 times) scarebear
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Ok Ok Ok what about the IA-2?

I bought 2 units from tigerdirect an IA-1 and an IA-2. The IA-1 I shipped to my sister for Xmas. (go figure)
So far I have succesfully installed 2-128 MB SDRAM into this thing. It has a standard IDE channel on the board also but every time I try to boot a HD I get an error of course. This board has an M-systems 16MB DiskOnChip amd an Atmel BIOS chip... So far I have had no success clearing the BIOS or getting into it. I have tried almost every key I can think of...the Compaq screen only shows for a split second.. does anyone know maybe how the disk on chip is configured I know it is supposed to emulate a standard IDE drive but Im not having any luck so far.

What is the paperclip trick??? I have read several posts with it mentioned but have yet to read any instructions.

If anyone would like to help I am willing to upload pics and whatver else I find to help the cause. This unit would make a worthwhile little linux machine with 800x600 16 bit color.

ScareBear
12-23-2001 09:07:41

New MessageRE:IA-2 Hacking (modified 0 times) keith721
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the 'paper-clip' trick involves shorting together two jumper pins that reset the BIOS. originally, folks completely disassembled their IA-1, removed and re-positioned the jumper to reset the BIOS, then re-placed the jumper and re-assembled the unit. a bit of work, but fun for some folks. more enterprising folks figured out that you didn't have to 100% dissasemble the unit, you could crack it open on the side, and use a paper clip to short the RF shield against one of the two pins, achieving the same result with far less dis-re-assembly effort.

if the IA-2 has a similar BIOS jumper, the procedure might be similar. this type of 3-pin jumper is usually located near the CMOS battery or near the BIOS chip. i'm sure other IA-2 users will appreciate if you make pictures available.

some reasons hackers like the IA-1: smaller size and LCD flat screen
what I wish it had: real IDE header, integrated NIC

12-23-2001 09:39:06

New MessageRE:IA-2 Hacking (modified 0 times) scarebear
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thanks for defining the paperclip trick

I have had no luck getting the bios to reset I have tried everything imaginable. Is there some way that they made the bios unaccessible? I have noticed a few things that look like they may have been added when they refurbished ths machine. anything I do to the BIOS has no effect what so ever I can remove the jumper completely, leave it on clear, leave it in its deafault positon, remove the battery, and any combination of these and it still quickly boots MSN. I know there are IA-1 users who have had this BIOS problem has anyone figured out what they have done to these things maybe added something and yo have to clear it elsewhere???

12-23-2001 09:55:03

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