QL flash programming

[Dave]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of any JEDEC compliant programs or utilities that can erase and programme flash in a QL? If so, would they be willing to share? I normally use socketed parts but I'm now using an SMD part on this almost finished board. I don't want to put a huge header on it and would like to program it in system in the QL using the QL

If such a thing doesn't exist, it could be the first bounty!?

For bounds, if it were a BASIC instruction it would have a way of reading the flash capabilities block using the JEDEC standard knock. With that data presented it could offer menu options to erase or write sectors. During the write cycles, multitasking needs to be disabled or the QL needs to be running off an OS image that isn't stored in the flash. In erase/program mode all cycles to the flash must be only abut programming. Other accesses elsewhere are ok, just not on the flash chip.

FLASH is taken *doh!* so I'll just give an example like so:

Code: Select all

JEDEC_R $E00000        [read datablock of flash starting at 14MB boundary]
JEDEC_EA $E00000       [erase ALL sectors of flash at 14MB]
JEDEC_E $E00000, N     [erase sector N of flash at 14MB]
JEDEC_W $E00000, N, flp1_myrom.img  
                       [write sector N of flash starting at 14MB with the image in file given]

The JEDEC_EA erase all command could have a flag and "Are you SURE?" for force erase of the boot block (brick's card). Otherwise, the boot block should never be erased.

Anyone wishing to know more about the JEDEC standard for flash can read:

https://web.archive.org/web/20090306191 ... d68-01.pdf

[Pr0f]

I don't know if you are aware of retrobrew - but there's a chap there - Will Sowerbutts - who wrote a flashing utility for Z80 - I think source is available - but I understand it runs standalone - so doesn't need the OS - in fact, flashing the ROM on a QL would need it to be 'out of the OS' when running anyway. Conveniently some Flash devices allow part updates and offer protected blocks or the abilty to flash some parts from code running in a protected part.

I seem to remember a mention of flashing on the forum here - possibly MK?