Image flashing problems

[Shaddax]

I have just been unlucky that my Dbox hung whilst flashing a new image that I'd FTP'd to it. This obviously leaves me with a "Kein system" that must be flashed directly.
I have tried to use IFA but I am getting nowhere. I have connected the serial ports (no scope for error?) and the ethernet ports using a crossover adapter. IFA shows my correct network adapter which is set at 10 half duplex. I have changed the "obtain ip address automatically" to use 192.168.11.3 (my laptop's normal IP). I no longer know the IP of the Dbox as it has no image but I usually have it set as 192.168.11.7
When I power up Dbox I get a whole cascade of error messages "Transmit Comm Character function error" and IFA crashes.
A few months ago I was in the same situation, then I noticed that Dbox manager was running minimised so before hitting the final "start" I restored it and looked at the options. I am assuming it is not necessary to bother with Dbox manager but when I hit the "start" from within it, rather than IFA I get different results. Mostly I get "can't ping Dbox" or some other verbose German message. The last time I used this it worked but I don't know how/why and I can't replicate it now.
I have also tried wiring laptop and Dbox to my router and removing the crossover adapter but this was also unsuccessful.
From what I read, IFA should be the simplest program ever! Somebody has mentioned Easybox 123 as an alternative but I can't find it.
Any and all suggestion welcome please.

[lincsat]

Do you have a proper serial port or are you using a USB-Serial adapter, they can sometimes cause problems. IFA is a frontend for D-Box manager, it just needs to run in the background, you shouldn't have to touch it at all - it is possible to flash using just D-Box manager, but it's more complicated.

That IP address should be OK, the subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0, make sure ALL other network devices are disabled, also disable ALL firewalls and AV devices. If the Laptop has Hyperthreading - disable it. That should do it.

There are many different versions of IFA, I get best results with 1.5.6, the newest is something like 2.3 - the newer versions don't like it if you have ICS or NFS setup.

I've also heard that IFA doesn't like Vista, so use an XP machine if possible.

Keep trying - you'll get there in the end

[Shaddax]

Thanks for your reply Lincsat.
I don't have a serial port on my laptop so I'm using USB -serial (DK-5), I've used this for other things and it seems ok.
Do you have a link to an older version of IFA such as the 1.5.6 that you suggest, the ones I find are the newer 2.x versions?
Would you also have any info on using D-Box manager?

I will keep trying as you suggest but if I see a hammer.....

[lincsat]

I've just put 1.5.6 on the downloads site.

I flashed an image once with download manager, can't really remember exactly how I did it - your image needs to be called flash.img, I believe you need to check TFTP server and point it towards ppcboot_writeflash, I believe that RARP server wants pointing towards your Network card, can't remember if NFS server needs starting or not. You click start to connect, then utilities and if you've done it right the flash image button will be available.

I'm sure it's detailed somewhere on the older tutorials, I just don't have time to search ATM - BTW, try setting your USB-Serial adapter to COM2 and use 9600 connection speed

[Shaddax]

Thanks for 1.5.6. Lincsat.
Changed settings to force Comm 2, whilst there I lowered the buffer speed towards the reliability end of the slider and chose 9600 speed.
Now I don't receive error messages .... but...in the Dbox output window of IFA is the message
"debug: DDF: Calibrating delay loop..."
and there is stays. I think I've made progress but what now?

[lincsat]

Sounds like it's hanging for some reason - try re-booting it a few times and see if it gets passed it.

[Shaddax]

No luck to far but I get more of an error message now. The output log contains the following:
debug:sending TFTP - request for file c/ppcboot4333/ppcboot_nullmodem
Will verify ELF image. start = 0x800000, size = 201596
verify sig:262
boot net: boot file has no valid signature
branching to 0x400000

[MickeyF]

Ohh dear i wish to flash a DBOX.....when i have the knowledge.

[lincsat]

There are a couple of guides in the downloads section