I'm new to this board, but am very familiar with ePods discussion as I just went through the full hack over there. Anyways here goes, and up front, I appreciate any help you guys are willing to provide me with.
I was shopping at CompUSA just yesterday and noticed the infamous I-Opener on the clearance table (selling for $100), but I was able to strike a deal with the manager and pick it up for $40.
I turned it on and got a black screen that said I-Opener as it was "Booting Up" then heard the start up sound and came to a blue screen that said something to the extent of welcome to I-Opener and a circle of buttons that are inaccessable. I am also unable to get to the bios or any other screens via the ctrl-alt-esc or ctrl-alt-home key combos with either the IO keyboard or a "normal" one. It doesn't appear that I can do anything with it as is. I also hooked it up to the phone line and it dialed something but I have no clue what, and obviously didn't do much.
I then proceeded to open it up, and I do have the so-called security screws holding the back stand piece on. I also noticed a Rise MP6 Processor and no epoxy on my bios chip.
Knowing that, I have some questions for the more experienced guys (I've been digging for info, but its a little overwhelming and some appears to no longer be available).
My first question is whether or not these things, or hacking them rather, is going out of style. I've noticed several pages being gone and a lacking of more recent posts on here. Also am I still going to be able to get whatever supplies I need from those who were supplying them (such as BIOS, IDE cables, etc.)?
I've been reading the posts and see references to different versions of the IO. How do I know which one I've got, I can't seem to find any specific label or date (other than some on the plastic case FOXCONN, EAIA100...., REV: 3B (and 3A) and DATE: 2000 07 10). From what I've read the RISE processor is newer, like V4 or 5, but I also thought the bios would be epoxied in. Now, how does this Version # relate to the I-MOD kits with their own version numbers? Which mod kit should I be most interested in and all that?
Those are the main questions I feel like I need answered to be able to proceed. Just as everyone else, I'd like to switch out the bios (I can just get a new one from BadFlash.com, right? any other specifics I need to be aware of?) and then plug in a hard drive via a modified IDE cable and have the hard drive with OS setup ready. I assume then also once I get the new bios I will be able to do something more with my IO than turn it on and see the wonderful welcome to IO blue screen. I could then get into BIOS and change the boot order to the hard drive, and go from there?
Thanks again for anyone's help. I look forward to getting this up and running, but I need some slight assurance it is "working" with the symptoms I've got and there are no other hiddens things I need to know about based upon my Version and what not. Sorry its so long, I wanted to be thorough in my descriptions.
-KC5VCX
