Well, I do have a non-working MX100 now so I'll give it a shot! Nice find

I've got the MSP430F chip, adapter boards so I can program them.. next step will be attempting to retrieve the firmware from an update package.

In the MU02 update the core.gz file seems to contain a filesystem with the firmware in /opt/firmware/MU02/. The file with nondescriptive name '1.bin' definitely contains a lot of references to the MSP430. The header 'M430' header fzabkar already mentioned can also be found at offset 0xD7E00. After that follow exactly 3072 bytes (=3kB), which is exactly similar to the fwb.img file.
If the disk is at all detected in isolinux I bet I can flash it with the dosmcli.exe utility from the M500 update. If not, I'll have to figure out how to use a universal programmer with it.

edit: ok, seems my universal programmer supports this chip. More tonight..

Seems the firmware files are in a format specific to dosmcli. Hopefully not encryped...

I've found a total of 3 ways to use these files.
1) as fzabkar mentioned, 'doscli.exe', a 16-bit program ran in FreeDOS environment
2) there's a Win32 tool for updating several crucial devices, it seems like .NET but unpacks native dll's for the actual updating functionality. One of them is named "WindowsUpdateTool.Resources.MicronIOLibConverter.dll" which exports functions 'UpdateFirmwareMode3'/'UpdateFirmwareMode7' and takes as one of its arguments the payload. That could be an entry point for reverse engineering the format..
3) The MX100 update iso isn't based on FreeDOS but on syslinux, which runs a tool found in /sbin/msecli. This file seems to be built without compiler optimizations, i.e. friendly to reverse engineering. That's where I'll be focusing on.

Another update on this. The MSP430F taken from the SSD doesnt appear to be an off-the-shelf component. It's certainly not the same as the MSP430F1232 that I figured could serve as a replacement, which is also the only QFN32-package MSP430 that's available. So I guess grabbing the thing from a donor SSD is really the only thing we can do..

Thanks for the updates.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Can you tell me where this mosfet is located? I have a similar problem with the msata version, but I cannot locate the mosfet ...

Thanks!

fzabkar posted an image with it marked on the first page (download/file.php?id=12608)

Note though that this mosfet seemed to have survived. It was the MSP430 that needed replacing.

Thank you for the quick response! I will need to check the components, on the msata they are located differently. Bit of hide and seek

One other thing: the smd component RAU has different component numbers? I thought the smd markings were for one component type only? Could be wrong though ...

Could you elaborate?

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Well on photo V3 RAU = CSD25401Q3, V2 RAU = CSD25401Q3, but on V1 RAU = TLV62080?

Sorry, that is an error on my part.

RAU = TLV62080
CSD25401 = CSD25401Q3

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

Ahhh OK, makes sense now!

Not wanting to revive a zombie, but I have a situation with 3 failed MSata M500s that maybe someone can help with? These M500s are very vendor specific and customised by the vendor and marked up considerably. Annoyingly 3 of them failed on the same day where other capacity SSDs survived. The vendor seems unable or unwilling to repair them. It seems to me that the mobile situation they were being used in may have meant they were not supplied with enough power. Given the higher than regular cost to us of these, does anyone have any suggestions as to a way of repairing? I probably do not have the eyesight and technical know-how to follow the chip power readouts as you all have done....

Thanks in advance

James

Update:

The following devices appear to have a matching pinout:

MSP430G2x33, MSP430G2x03, Texas Instruments, Mixed-Signal Microcontroller, Ultra-low Power, 1.8V - 3.6V, RHB32:
http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/MSP430G2533

MSP430G2203 Device Erratasheet (Rev. I)
http://www.ti.com/lit/er/slaz412i/slaz412i.pdf

MSP430G2x53, MSP430G2x13, Texas Instruments, Mixed Signal Microcontroller, Ultra-low Power, 1.8V - 3.6V, RHB32:
http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/msp430g2453

MSP430G2153 Device Erratasheet (Rev. I)
http://www.ti.com/lit/er/slaz409i/slaz409i.pdf

The recommended applications for the 2x33/2x03 parts include "power management and sensor interface".



ISTM that the MSP430G2303 and MSP430G2403 devices might be suitable.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

I remember a few yrs ago that Travis Goodspeed did some work on MSP430. I am guessing it was probably something like gaining access to protected code or akin to jailbreaking, but I am thinking there may be some part of his research that could help.. maybe some docs explaining the processor or manuals or something. Might be a nugget or 2 there.

Hi guys!
I have read this topic many times, because got the same problem: installing SSD with wrong PSU cable got reversed voltage polarity or so... (not my mistake, other person connected). But data is importand, so Iˇm trying to ressurect drive.
Drive is Crucial CT250MX200SSD1, F/W: MU01
I have found donor drive CT250MX200SSD1, SB, F/W: MU02
Got replaced one at the time and tested each time: 1) 5505, 2) MSP430 (in original it was V402, from donor I got V592, but hoped, that it still can work), 3) 25P16 and 4) W1A mosfet. But still no initialisation...
I have measured voltages on board, see pisture below:



Donor board is short version, but all power lines seemed same:



So Iˇm asking for help, what can I do to find problem.
Unfortunally I donˇt have any specific hardware to repair HDD/SSD, as Iˇm regular electronic repairman.

PS, sorry for my english, donˇt speak it very well.

1/ I don't know whether the two MSP430 firmware versions are compatible.

2/ A supply voltage of 2.02V for the SPI flash memory seems too low. I would check the small square chip at the bottom left corner of the MSP430.

_________________
A backup a day keeps DR away.

fzabkar, thank you for your comment. I will check it as sion, as will come back from vacation. What voltage is needed for flash memory? Datasheet allows 2.7v-3.6v. Will try to replace voltage regulator.