2023-02-19 11:49:28 +00:00
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---
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title: ASUS Chromebook C201 installation guide
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x-toc-enable: true
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...
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2023-02-19 13:30:13 +00:00
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WARNING: This board is known to have non-functioning video init at the time
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of writing, 19 February 2023. It is as yet unsolved.
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See: <https://notabug.org/libreboot/lbmk/issues/136>
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2023-02-19 11:49:28 +00:00
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Introduction
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===========
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This page contains information about assembly and disassembly, for flashing
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the ASUS Chromebook C201 externally. It will also link to internal flashing
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instructions, and information about U-Boot.
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Flashrom
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--------
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A special fork of flashrom, maintained by Google, is required for flashing.
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More information about this is present in the generic [chromebook flashing
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instructions](chromebooks.md).
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2024-01-27 22:35:38 +00:00
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NOTE: Libreboot standardises on [flashprog](https://flashprog.org/wiki/Flashprog)
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now, as of 27 January 2024, which is a fork of flashrom, but the chromium fork
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is another fork of flashrom, and you should use that on chromebooks.
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2023-02-19 11:49:28 +00:00
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Depthcharge payload (obsolete)
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------------------------------
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This board was also supported in Libreboot 20160907, with the Depthcharge
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payload. Support was dropped in later releases, and then re-added in the
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December 2022 release but with *u-boot* payload (not *depthcharge*).
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Refer to older versions of this page, in `lbwww.git`, if you wish to see
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instructions pertaining to Depthcharge:
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* <https://notabug.org/libreboot/lbwww/src/4be2eed23e11b1071cd500a329abf654ab25f942/site/docs/install/c201.md>
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* <https://notabug.org/libreboot/lbwww/src/4be2eed23e11b1071cd500a329abf654ab25f942/site/docs/hardware/c201.md>
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U-boot payload
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==============
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U-Boot was ported to coreboot CrOS devices, courtesy of Alper Nebi
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Yasak (`alpernebbi` on Libreboot IRC).
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Read the section pertaining to U-boot payload:
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[u-boot payload documentation for Libreboot](../uboot/)
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Internal flashing
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=================
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External flashing is possible, but only necessary in the event of a *brick*.
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If you're flashing good firmware, and the machine boots properly, you can
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do it in software, from the host CPU.
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In the past, C201 was the only CrOS device so this page contained information
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about internal flashing. Libreboot now supports many more CrOS devices, so
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the information has moved.
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See: [chromebook flashing instructions](chromebooks.md)
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Write-protect screw
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-------------------
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The chromebook flashing instructions, linked above, refer to a *screw* that
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can be turned, to disable flash protection. This is necessary, for internally
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flashing the C201. This section will tell you how to access that screw.
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To access the screw, the device has to be opened. There are 8 screws to remove
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from the bottom of the device, as shown on the picture below. Two are hidden
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under the top pads. After removing the screws, the keyboard plastic part can be
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carefully detached from the rest. Beware: there are cables attached to it! It
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is advised to flip the keyboard plastic part over, as shown on the picture
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below. The write protect screw is located next to the SPI flash chip, circled
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in red in the picture below. It has to be removed. Refer to the following
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photos:
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[](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/screws.jpg)
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[](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/wp-screw.jpg)
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The write protect screw can be put back in place later, when the device
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is known to be in a working state.
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External flashing
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=================
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If the machine is no longer booting, due to bad firmware, you can unbrick
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it externally. Refer to [external flash instructions](spi.md).
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[](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/spi-flash-layout.jpg)
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[](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/battery-connector.jpg)
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You do not need to correct the `WP#` pin because it is held high via pull-up
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resistor to 3.3v, when the write-protect screw is loosened (when tightened,
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the screw grounds this pin; the pull-up resistor is to prevent a dead short).
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You must remove the battery, prior to flashing. The connector is shown in
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the 2nd photo, above (the big black connector, with the black, green, yellow,
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white and red wires going into it). Simply unplug that.
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