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Rockbox mail archiveSubject: Re: GMini 120 disassemblyRe: GMini 120 disassembly
From: Laurent Giroud <laurent.giroud_at_libertysurf.fr>
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 01:19:52 +0100 OOps, I just realized that this material is certainly not available anymore because of Archos legal threat. Sorry for this dumb question to which I already had the answer... Anyway, I have already written to telechips, makers of the Gmini's CPU to get more informations on its machine code and existing compilers/disassemblers so I'll probably have part of it soon. Does anyone here already know more about this chip ? A search on google did not reveal much apart from a commercial compiler being available... Thanks. Laurent On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 00:34:55 +0100, Laurent Giroud <laurent.giroud_at_libertysurf.fr> wrote: > I found your original in the archives and it mentions this URL : > http://www.linenberg.com/gmini120.zip > > however the file it points to doesn't seem to be there anymore. > > Is there additionnal data in it that you did not mention within your mail or do you think there is more useful material in it ? > > Thanks, > > Laurent > > On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 11:37:32 -0500, elinenbe_at_umich.edu wrote: > > I had already taken apart the Gmini, but did not go further then listing all the > > chips, etc. You can check it out in the archives. This was about 2 months > > ago. > > > > -eric > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > given the low number of answers, I decided to disassemble the GMini > > > yesterday. So, here's what I found so far. > > > > > > I made a few pictures, they haven't been sorted or appropriately scaled yet > > > so they are quite crappy but it's better than nothing for those who may be > > > interested : http://lgiroud.chez.tiscali.fr/photos/ > > > > > > Note that many of them look the same, it's raw material and not a > > > presentation/documentation of any kind :) > > > > > > The Gmini is quite hard to disassemble without any insight and I broke a > > > screw "support" and bent three pins during the process so take care if you > > > are willing to try it too. > > > > > > A tork screwdriver size 6 is needed to remove the two screws on the cover, > > > after this, the back cover must be removed first, it can be acheived by > > > inserting a flat screwdriver in the separation between the two covers and > > > gently pulling one cover up while pushing the other down (I'll take > > > photographs, it's not easy to get it textually ;). > > > After that, a copper plate must be removed (easy) and then the hard drive can > > > be pulled off after "squeezing" one of the two rubbers on the sides and using > > > a flat screwdriver to separate it from its plug. > > > > > > Here's what the inside looks like after the hard drive is removed : > > > > > > http://lgiroud.chez.tiscali.fr/photos/IMG_0182.JPG > > > > > > The writings on the only visible chip of the board can be read on this > > > picture. > > > -> the chip is a USB97C202, ie an "USB 2.0 ATA/ATAPI Controller" which data > > > sheet can be found here : > > > http://www.smsc.com/main/catalog/usb97c202.html > > > > > > I have no idea if it's better than the ISD 200/300 chips on the other archos > > > models. > > > > > > The grey rectangle on the above picture seems to be the battery, it's > > > soldered on the mother board on at least two points and I had to stop the > > > disassembly there since I haven't got my soldering iron with me now. I hope > > > to have one within two days at most. > > > > > > I guess the CPU lies under the battery, but there are screws maintaining the > > > front cover stuck to the mother board and those screws are lying under the > > > battery. So the CPU cannot be seen without removing the battery and thus > > > unsoldering at least two points. So I can't go much further for the moment on > > > the hardware side. > > > > > > Until I have a soldering iron again, I'm going to have a look at the firmware > > > files now and try to descramble/disassemble them. I will start with the > > > hypothesis that the CPU is the same than on the original archos since I > > > haven't been able to get that information yet but I don't think I will get > > > anything interesting without knowing the CPU type. Once again, if anyone has > > > more information it will be much faster. If you fear legal assault from > > > Archos, then I can bear all responsability for this "work", all this is > > > perfectly legal in France and probably even under the DMCA if I understand it > > > well. > > > > > > Also, please tell me if I'm off topic and should not post here, I don't want > > > to bother you with this if this is not the place ;) > > > > > > Regards, > > > Laurent > > > > > > > Received on 2003-12-26 Page template was last modified "Tue Sep 7 00:00:02 2021" The Rockbox Crew -- Privacy Policy |