My problem is almost identical to Bodgeup's but I have an X38 T2RB.  I have my cmos battery wired into the circuit.  When I test the battery it shows 3.2v.  I have the + for the battery wired into pin1 and I connected a ground wire from the - side of the battery that is connected to a motherboard screw.  I show 3.2v when connecting my meter to pin1 on the header plug and grounding to anywhere on the pc chassis.  I am still getting the FF's & h chip id and unknown manufacturer.

I have triple checked my cable for continuity and it checks out fine.  I don't think the cable is the problem.  My board is still in the case with all components attached.  I have my PC power off when trying this but I have the power supply switched on and the standby power light on the mobo is illuminated.  I have tried this with the switch on and off and get the same results.

I typed CWSDPMI and then run SPIPGM and Richard Burke's SPIPGM2.  I'm really stumped and i'm wondering if my problem is how i'm injecting the voltage into the chip?

Try this command to see the content of the SPI chip :

SPIPGM2 /r 0x0 1000

Let me know what you see.

Since then ive been tring different things.  First I tried disconnecting the target boards PSU, this gave me a different message that indicated the lead was working.  Then  I dug out a new CMOS BAT which was 3.3V and hey presto i got the correct manufacturer & chip ID.

But after all this my Motherboard still wont post.  Its still stuck powering on for 5 secs then powering off for 5 secs ...........  The Debug LED doesnt really have a number as all the LED's are lit.  Do i take that as an 88 Code??

I booted to DOS,
Ran "CWSDPMI"
Then ran "SPIPGM2 /i" to check cable was working
Then "SPIPGM2 /u" which returned a message saying it was now unlocked.
Then "SPIPGM2 /e" which also appeared to complete OK
Then "SPIPGM2 /s x48dd504.bin" this also completed OK

I then removed SPI cable, re-fitted the CMOS BAT then powered up.  Same problem!!!!!

I only have the CPU & a stick of DDR2, I only want to see the DEBUG LED showing the board is functioning.  But its still all lit 8.8.

Anyway does anyone have any more suggestions for me to try??

Thanks

Bodgeup

how can i tell if my cable is working??  I have tested the continuity on the pins several times?

I am using a CMOS Bat for power and i have connected pin 1 of SPI end to + and pin 2 of SPI end to -, is that right??  I have also tried a bat at 3V & a bat at 3.3V.

Every time i run SPIPGM2 /I I get manufacturer unknown every time.

When i run / u, /e & /p it always says done after does that mean its worked or does it do that anyway??

I have a DFI DK X48-T2RS motherboard running an SST BIOS chip.

can anyone point me in the right direction??

Thanks

Bodgeup

[AlexC]

Hi,

Could you post a schematic for me? I keep getting BE08CFh as ID.

I used a 15cm cable with 4x220Ω resistors and 1x1000µF 35v capacitor as mentioned by AlexC at the Blog

Btw I used an external psu for the 3.3v and the mobo is still in the casing with all the components in it.

Thank You.

For an ASUS P5B or equivalent board , use SPIPGM2.EXE, available at http://richard-burke.dyndns.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/SPIPGM2.ZIP. Download a good xxxx.ROM BIOS file from the ASUS web site. After everything is hooked up, you need to create a bootable USB key with Mkbt.exe at here: http://www.nu2.mostlycreativeworkshop.com/files/mkbt20.zip. Create your bootable USB key then copy the ROM file and SPIPGM2.EXE to it. Boot your recovery PC with the USB key then type SPIPGM /U to unlock the chip, SPIPGM /e to erase it, then SPIPGM2 /S xxxxxx.ROM. This will reflash your erased BIOS chip through the SPI interface. It worked for me and it will work for you. I guarantee it. If you have any problems feel free to contact me at anthony@yourbrainiacs.com.