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Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 5:07 pm
by tamanegi_taro2
Hi all,

I’m not here to ask you to share BIOS or ROMs.don’t want to offend forum rules.
I want to dump BIOS from my own FZ-10 console legally.

Because some of you are talking about homebrew and emulator, anybody here can share me technical information about how to dump 3DO bios?

I have one FZ-10 which only display 3DO logo and goes black. CD is not spinning at all. Is this logo a part of BIOS?
If yes, I want to do some soldering on IC’s JTAG pins and try to dump BIOS from JTAG if that’s possible.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:09 pm
by Taijigamer
Hi, the 3DO bios comes on either a 32 pin or 44 pin 5V maskrom. The Bios can be read using an eeprom reader/ writer set to read a 29LV160 eeprom. Check this thread for how to write your own unlocked bios http://atariage.com/forums/topic/280673 ... rom-chips/

I don't think the solder points you refer to are for Jtag programming.

Your problem sounds more like a failing capacitor. Replace the caps on the psu.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:51 pm
by tamanegi_taro2
I’m so glad getting reply from you!!!
OK. I’ll get extra caps and replace old caps.
Part to hold CD is also busted so I think it can’t play games though.

https://tamataro.exblog.jp/iv/view/?i=2 ... 70277.jpeg

It’s been quite a while since last comment on other thread so I thought no one is looking this forum.

Anyway, I came up with 2 different methods to dump BIOS.

Method 1:
JTAG points I was referring was ARM60’s 67 to 71 pins.
They are TCK TMS NTRST TDI TDO, respectively.

https://tamataro.exblog.jp/iv/view/?i=2 ... 55531.jpeg

According to this memory map, 3DO bios is on 0x3000000 to 0x30FFFFF.
http://www.arcaderestoration.com/memory ... +Bios.aspx

So I thought dumping address map above through JTAG pins using Arduino GPIO works.
Problem is, I need to lift five 0.5mm pitch ARM60 IC pins and solder thin wires to each of these pins without breaking them.
I can do this by 80% success rate but I’m sure 3DO will be dead afterwards.

Method 2:
My goal is to dump BIOS. How about running homebrew which reads 0x3000000 to 0x30FFFFF and display all data on screen, then take photo, and do character recognition on the photo to obtain BIOS.

Problem is, I have no idea how to write my own homebrew. Most of links in tutorial threads are dead too.

Method 3:
This is method introduced in your reply.
Reading BIOS directly from EEPROM.

Problem is, I have no experience with removing SOP44 IC from board without breaking it.
Which IC is SOP44 with BIOS?
One is Kanji ROM and another one is BIOS rom but not sure which one is which.

https://tamataro.exblog.jp/iv/view/?i=2 ... 72581.jpeg


I think easiest and most safe way is Method 2.

Thanks,
Tamanegi taro

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 10:55 pm
by Taijigamer
The problem is that the BIOS is on a maskrom. It cannot be written to so it would need removing from the board anyway if you were looking to replace it. Therefore method 3 is the only viable option to successfully read and replace the bios. The Bios is most likely functioning normally.

The spindle is an issue. I'm not sure it's possible to obtain replacement laser assemblies for FZ-10. The only solution is to replace with a spindle from another top loading CD player.

The better option is to purchase a 3DO USB board from http://3do-renovation.ru/USB_Host_for_FZ10.htm and forget about the optical drive.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 5:43 pm
by tamanegi_taro2
Thanks for reply.

I’m not trying to replace BIOS. I’m just trying to dump BIOS and that’s it.
Whole MASKROM bios is mapped to certain memory map location so I tried to read whole memory map.
Anyway, I guess most easiest and most proven way is desolder BIOS chip.

I’ll try to remove BIOS chip from board and read it using 29LV160 Flash reader. Equipments are on the way.
By the way, after I remove BIOS chip on board, write BIOS on MX29LV160TMC SOP44, and solder MX29LV160TMC back on 3DO, will 3DO work?

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 2:53 pm
by tamanegi_taro2
I swapped working 3DO’s power board to non working 3DO’s power board.

Non working 3DO still didn’t work.
Working 3DO still works.

Which indicate that root cause isn't on power board.
It might be defective lens unit or defective mother board. Anyway, I guess I need to say good bye to this non working 3DO’s mother board and take off BIOS chip on it.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:13 am
by Taijigamer
At least that rules out a bad PSU. Could still be a defective cap on motherboard but is more likely a defective CD drive. A 3DO USB mod replaces the CD drive and could be a solution. If you are still keen to read bios, check with the dumped bios online for similarities/ corruption. You can replace with a 29LV160 but you need a jumper wire between pin 1 (Reset) and pin 23 (5V) for the new bios to function.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 5:05 pm
by tamanegi_taro2
Do I need to lift reset pin?
It looks like pin1 isn’t connected to anything so I guess I just need to add jumper wire.
I think it’s better to add 10kohm between reset and VDD instead of directly connecting reset to VDD.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 1:02 am
by Taijigamer
That pad is not connected to anything so it doesn't need lifting. I should have recommended MX29F800 instead of MX29LV160, my bad. The MX29F800 is a correct 5V flash rom. The MX29LV160 is a 3V flash rom. It will still work but its best practice not to use 3V signals in a 5V system. If you decide to use a MX29F800, Solder a wire from pin 23 (5V) to pin 44 (Reset). Both pads 1 and 44 are not used so you can leave the chip pins soldered to them.

It is common practice to use a current limiting resistor (1k - 10k) when pulling pins high on some IC but it's up to you.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 3:25 pm
by tamanegi_taro2
OK. I’ll get MX29F800 too and put pull up on reset pin.
I need to find some way to write MX29F800 Flash though. I hope it has compatibility with MX29LV160.

By the way, I found something curious.

https://tamataro.exblog.jp/239140576/
In this link, I uploaded 3DO lens photos.
Round one is lens on working 3DO.
Squashed one is lens on non working 3DO.

Why is this lens squashed...? Applied too high voltage on lens and lasor beam melted the lens? Last owner did something on this but not sure what he done to this.
I want to try swapping lens on these two consoles but I don’t want working lens to be melted too. Maybe I shouldn’t mess around with working one that much.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 9:44 pm
by Taijigamer
If your eeprom programmer is compatible with 29LV160, it should be compatible with 29F800.

That's really strange. I don't think the laser is strong enough to melt the plastic but the previous owner definately damaged it somehow. Have you tried swapping the laser assembly?

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:05 am
by tamanegi_taro2
Sad news. Actually two sad newses.

I did try swapping laser assembly.
Let’s call non working 3DO a 3DOA and working 3DO a 3DOB.

3DOA with laser assembly B didn’t work just like 3DOA with laser assembly A. 3DO Logo shows up and goes black. No CD spinning. Laser won’t move at all.

3DOB with laser assembly A didn’t work either but laser did move. No CD spinning though. Boots BIOS fine. I guess Laser assembly A is dead.

Placed back laser assembly B on 3DOB. Phew, it works.

These investigation result indicate that there’s something wrong in 3DOA motherboard or bad BIOS. I bought junk FZ-1 with bad laser for $20 including shipping for backup option in case bad BIOS.

Another sad news is that I broke tip of white stick which holds laser assembly in place.
https://tamataro.exblog.jp/iv/view/?i=2 ... 75708.jpeg
I broke two of them. If anybody know where I can buy spare, please let me know.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 11:29 pm
by Taijigamer
Good investigating. At least you know that 3DOA laser is dead and there is a fault on the motherboard as well. At this stage you will need an oscilloscope and the service manual to test further where the problem is. It may be a faulty capacitor on the main board or a faulty IC or the BIOS. At least you have a working 3DOB. Not sure where you can acquire a new plastic clip, you may have to salvage one from another junk 3DO.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 3:58 pm
by tamanegi_taro2
https://tamataro.exblog.jp/239145098/

Umm. IC680 is missing from working 3DO. Non working 3DO has IC680 soldered on board. Maybe Non working one is older revision and IC680 is omitted from later revisions.

Another thing I found was some liquid leak from ICs on non working 3DO. Maybe these ICs are damaged.
I’ll desolder BIOS next week and try to read it using reader.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 1:37 pm
by tamanegi_taro2
Thanks Tajigamer!

Successfully desoldered IC and dumped BIOS. BIOS IC isn’t damaged and confirmed 4DO boot fine too using the dumped BIOS.

So, I guess something other than BIOS is damaged on mother board.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 2:01 pm
by Taijigamer
Great work! I think IC680 is not used on newer FZ-10 with the ANVIL combined chip. Do you have any pics of the leakage around the IC. IC don't leak so this must be leakage from a near by capacitor. There may be trace damage. I would recap the motherboard and clean the residue before it causes any more damage. Then continuity test for broken traces.

Re: Dumping FZ-10 BIOS

Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2020 4:27 am
by tamanegi_taro2
Hi Taijigamer,

Sorry I didn’t notice your message reply for long time.
As you can see in the photo of lens, it’s melted with over heat due to over voltage.
I think this damage is caused by lightning and I also think other ICs on board is also damaged.
So this 3DO ended it’s life as physical hardware and will continue to live inside my PC.
Thanks for all the information to dump BIOS!

By the way, I got junk FZ-1 for cheap price and it boots fine but CD won’t read at all.
I see cap leak so I will try to replace them to see if it solves the problem.

Thanks,
tamanegi_taro