I-Appliance BBS The Official Source for Internet Appliance Upgrades and Mods Click Here! BBS Main List | Sign In | Sign Up | Search | Help | Linux-Hacker.net Reply to Thread | Printer |

Home / I-Opener Areas / I-Opener General Posts Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions Keep it or sell it?? What do I do?

Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile I just got an I-opener from a friend (who gave me it for helping him out) - but I have some questions. First, a little background: o This was a used unit (I saw it work as an i-openner) - so I opeened it up, went through the threads and "hacked" it. o It's missing the "shielding" - I lost it in my move to a new place. o It now has the following configuration: - New BIOS chip from BadFlash - Mod-1 Kit (from linuxhacker) -- this is the heat sync, IDE cable, and Hard Drive plate - 20GB 9MM high hard drive (from Fry's Electronics) - laptop -- Windows 98 SE with Cyberblade drivers and USB (ethernet) drivers installed - and drive is bootable - USB 10/100 Ethernet - from Office Max - 128 MB Memory (from Fry's Electronics) After all this work - I can't get it to work. I have read over the threads and have pretty much given up. Now, the questions: 1) Should I keep this and try and get it to work?? 2) Should I sell this? (If so, where should I post this and how much should I sell it for?) Please advise. b_jose_salas@hotmail.com Thanks, --Dude 04-25-2001 09:51:15

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Tackhead Profile 1) Yes. If you can tell us more than "it isn't working", folks on the board will help. First thing to check - especially after a move, where vibration could have loosened things - is connectors and sockets. Is everything plugged in inside it? BIOS chip and DIMM properly-seated? Second thing to check - remove the extra hardware (the hard drive) and see what happens. Maybe the cable was plugged in the wrong way? Or the cable has a problem? Third thing to check - when you plug it in and power it up, does the screen come on? How 'bout the green light? If the green light comes on, can you turn it off by pressing the power button again? 04-25-2001 10:45:47

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Here's the scoop up to date: o I removed the Hard Drive, USB Network card (and cable) - but I lost the 32 MB Memory (in the move) - so I left the 128 MB in the i-opener. o The cables, cards, and connections are all OK - don't see any loose or out. o Also, I took out the new bios chip and placed the old one back in - no luck - still the same symptoms as before. Symptons: o Power on - green led turns on - no screen - no sound. o Can't power it off - I have to pull the plug in order to turn it off. Any suggestions? Thanks, --Dude 04-25-2001 11:37:05

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) * StarFish * Profile (You may want to Wash & Dry Your Hands First. some Skin Oils are not Good for Long Life of Contacts) With Power Supply UnPlugged. Remove the WATCH Battery, Short the Holder Contacts together (screwdriver blade), & Press & hold the Reset Button (above the Printer port right) for 5 seconds. ReInstall Battery, watch when Plugging in the Power Supply, Green Light should Flash. Report Back 04-25-2001 11:54:07

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile OK - did that. o Power LED did not flash. o Powered on the i-opener, can not power off with power button - had to unplug from back. bummer Thanks, --Dude 04-25-2001 12:09:29

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) * StarFish * Profile Dude's Symptons: o Power on - green led turns on - no screen - no sound. o Can't power it off - I have to pull the plug in order to turn it off. Any suggestions? I Assume No Change ? I would Say You have a SYSTEM Level Problem. BIOS Chip Contacts, RAM Contacts, CPU Contacts I Built a System for a CoWorker, after a few months it just started beeping. I swapped the Ram & it was Fixed. I checked the RAM Contacts, (with a Microscope) & 1 contact had a Solder Resist SPLASH on it. Bunished it away & it was Good. 04-25-2001 13:05:22

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) * StarFish * Profile I think Multiple Posts are Good ? AnyHow, Unplug Your KeyBoard, If You haven't & Try again. 04-25-2001 13:09:13

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Hmmm, Tried this with and w/o keyboard - no difference. o I cleaned and checked the contacts on the Bios, RAM, and CPU - all OK (as far as I can see with a 10x magnifying glass). I think the RAM may be the issue. Since I misplaced (lost) the origional SODIM, I put a 128 MB (Sync, 100Mhz, CL2) chip in it's place. I am leaning towards this bieng the problem. Any ideas? Thanks Much. Thanks, --Dude 04-25-2001 13:42:19

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Multiple POSTS? -- Is this a diagnostic level? I tried removing and shorting the battery (for about 7 seconds) three times. Did not see any POST diagnostics on the screen. Comments? 04-25-2001 13:44:35

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Look.....When the green power lite comes on, try holding the button down for at least ten seconds. It should go off then. Then hit the button again and it should boot. This is rather normal behaviour. 04-25-2001 13:45:28

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile OK - I can now get the power to turn on and off (by holding the power button after it comes on for about 5 seconds). But no screen or sound. - this is hooked up to a microsoft keyboard. 04-25-2001 13:55:28

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) * StarFish * Profile Ah crapola, Sorry for the Confussion, "I think Multiple Posts are Good ?" is an Obscure Reference to a Signature. Yes, as ckbone suggest, I Always Hold My Power Button For 10 seconds, when Manually Powering Off. 04-25-2001 14:08:46

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) BigDog Profile | Email Any idea of the type of memory the 128 SODIM is?? there are issues with using the wrong type of SODIMM As already mentioned, check the contacts of the memory, when I put a 128 stick in mine I had all types of problems which were corrected by reseating the memory several times. I would be lead to believe that the SODIMM socket is not the best quality one money can buy. Also check for any type of foreign items on the board or wedged some where it shouldn't be, I thought I fried my V5 last week when I dropped one of the screws on the board and forgot about it, after 2 hours I found the sucker lodged under the RS232 mod board. I removed the screw and prayed to the IO gods and the V5 came back to life! I was lucky! 04-25-2001 14:55:03

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) bubbagump Profile have seen that very same pwr issue on other PC's; it was the memory. Either to fast or to much. I couldn't evenget into the BIOS. Reverted back to lesser memory and booted fine. good luck. 04-25-2001 15:01:00

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Hmmm, tried changing to another SODIMM (64MB, 100MHz, CL2) - and, no luck. I checked connections, pins, - looked for screws, and nothing. Is there a recommended SODIMM that is required for this box? Is 100 MHz to fast? Is CL2 OK? Questions, questions, questions. Thanks, --Dude 04-25-2001 15:08:48

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Another test - just tried with my laptop SODIMM (64MB 66MHz, Sync, CL2) chip - and no luck. Any ideas? 04-25-2001 15:11:05

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile How's about this. Does anyone know the specs for the origional 32MB Memory Chip? SODIMM, XX MHz, CL2?, Sync? ,... 04-25-2001 15:12:40

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) * StarFish * Profile Memory Swaptronics Sound Good To Me (Specs are Good on what You Have Tried.) BIOS Chip Contacts are Next !!! Do You Have a Chip Puller ? Have You Read About This ? Do You Have 2 BIOS Chips ? 04-25-2001 15:24:46

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Memory Swaptronix? I have two BIOS chips - the origional and the new one from BadFlash. I also have three Memory Chips - 64MB (66Mhz, CL2, Sync), 64MB (100MHz, Sync, CL2) and 128 MB (100MHz, CL2, Sync) Don't have the origional 32 MB chip. Thanks Thanks, --Dude 04-25-2001 15:31:23

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Oops - forgot to answer some of the last post. I have scrapped and lceaned the BIOS contacts - but don't have a chip puller - I used needle to leverage the bios out. 04-25-2001 15:47:57

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) * StarFish * Profile "Swaptronix" is a very Valuable Testing Procedure ! (What You Did was Good, IMHO) Next, I would Check The BIOS Chip, by Swapping in the Old Chip. & With the Hard Drive Disconnected, it could Boot into the Old Demo ? 04-25-2001 15:48:52

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) * StarFish * Profile Also, Dental Floss, tied into a Loop, could be used as a Puller, If You put it under the Chip First ! 04-25-2001 15:52:46

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Tackhead Profile One thing we may have overlooked -- what CPU are you using? If it's not the stock WinChip, are the voltage, FSB, and multiplier settings correct for the CPU? 04-25-2001 15:53:33

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Swaptronix - thanks! Now - the story continues,... I removed the BadFlash BIOS and installed the origional bios - no hard drive connected, no usb - just a microsoft keyboard - and no luck. I then installed the Hard Drive connector - and no luck. I then installed the usb ethernet - and no luck. Hmmm - I wish I had the origional memory - I will look up the specs to see what they should be. Any ideas? 04-25-2001 15:54:21

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) ckbone Profile Dude...if you have a normal keyboard hooked up straight to the I-Opener, it won't work. You need to go thru a splitter...either that or use the stock keyboard. If you need to get into the BIOS, you will need this splitter setup. You need a splitter that says mouse on one side and keyboard on the other. The keyboard must plug into the mouse side....I'm not sure if a problem like this will keep you from booting however. A badly seated ram chip will cause your symptom...clean it well....I had to clean the ram contacts with very fine sandpaper(800 grain) before my IBM sodimm would boot...same symptom as you describe. Same thing goes for the BIOS chip...same symptom exactly...Try seating it at different heights. Don't just push it all the way in. Try bending the legs of the chip out slightly. Be careful. These last two things have caused much grief for many people on this BBS. 04-25-2001 15:54:42

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile CPU - It's stock - the Winchip 200,... <--- Will the memory work with this w/o changing any jumpers? Also the keyboard is hooked up via the "y" adapter - but on the keyboard side - yikes. Just changed it, retrying,... no luck. Do I need to remove the battery again? 04-25-2001 15:58:48

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Just pulled the bios and placed in the BadFlash one - I lightly sanded (with 800 Grit) the contacts - and used a vacuum to suck up the filings. Keybaord in a "y" with it on the Mouse connection. And the result is,... no luck - bummer. So close - but yet so far. 04-25-2001 16:02:13

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) * StarFish * Profile You Need to Find Another I-Opener Local & Swap Stuff ! is My Thought @ this Time ! Plus gotta Run For Now, Computer Meeting, (Hot Wings & Drinks) Good Luck, * StarFish * 04-25-2001 16:11:53

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile Thanks for all your help StarFish - I appreciate it. I going in that direction. Thanks, --Dude 04-25-2001 16:12:52

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) hayfever Profile | Email Dude, don't worry about the jumpers, the ones they are referring to are on the V4 & V5 iopeners that came with Rise 266 chips. As for the originals, I have a V2/V3 and a V5, and both have a sticker on them that says: Mosel Vitelic V43644Y04VCTG-10PC PC100U-222-612-A Taiwan 9949 It is a 32 mb SODIMM that would appear to be PC100 by the sticker. Also, try adjusting the bios chips to different heights, some people have reported that the bios chips can't be pressed fully down. 04-25-2001 17:38:57

RE:Help: Just got an I-opener - two questions (modified 0 times) Dude2222 Profile I got it to work! Thanks to the help of all of you. It was a combination of things. 1 The BadFlash bios - I had it in wrong (actually 180 degrees wrong - doh!)! - I confused the front and back - but it STILL worked! 2 The Ram - the 128MB RAM worked on the laptop - but failed on a second laptop - there was a small metal filing on it - from when I filed the socket(s). 3 Putting the BIOS in halfway helped - a bunch - all the way down and no go - so I put a piece of yellow sticky paper in the socket to keep it elevated. I installed: o Windows 98 SE o USB Ethernet Drivers o CyberBlade Video Drivers The system is working woderfully - and on the network at 100 MB! Can't wait to copy my CD collection to this. I will need to solder in a headset adapter - but that should be OK. Again, thanks to all the help of you! Thanks, --Dude 04-25-2001 19:52:58

Reply to Thread | Printer | All times are PST Powered by UltraBoard v1.62

I-Appliance BBS General - NEWS, Breaking NEWS - linux-hacker.net BBS on CD Questions - User Groups in Your Town - E-Bay, Yahoo Auction LINKS ONLY (MODERATED) - Jokes & Humor - usdtv box I-Opener Areas - I-Opener General Posts - I-Opener Technical Stuff - I-Opener Technical Info Reference (MODERATED) WebSurfer Areas - WebSurfer General Posts - WebSurfer Technical Stuff - WebSurfer Technical Info Reference (MODERATED) Other I-Appliances - Virgin Webplayer - WebPal - MailStation - 3Com Audrey - ThinkNIC / Oracle NIC - Gateway/AOL Connected Touch Pad - Philips/AOL-TV - ACER NT-150 STB - MSN Companion - Compaq IA - Emachines IA - IBM NetVista IA - Intel dot.station - MSNTV2 Network Computers - Fujitsu-Siemens Scovery Linux Net Computers - GallantWeb Server Consoles - Dreamcast - xbox hacking Web Pads - Epods One General Post - Panasonic CF-01 - Fujitsu Stylistic 1200 - Cybiko Thin Clients - Thin Clients DigitalVideoRecorders - DTV Recorders, Replay, TiVo, Etc... - Tivo Hacks Linux - Midori Linux General Board - ITX MotherBoards Single Board Computers - Earth Computers mARMalade Elite Member Area MISC Areas - The Swap Meet WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY TRANSACTION HERE AND NO COMMERCIAL POST PERIOD !!! - Wireless Net - Cameras - Robotics - Routers/Gateways - Mattel JuiceBox