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Microsoft Windows CE

CE Flash, CF and PCMCIA

FlashFX Disk missing / reformat Flash disk

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KnowledgeBase

296 Posts

Posted - 26 Feb 2002 : 11:16:35

Q: During development I made a mistake, and now "FlashFX Disk" doesn't appear in Windows Explorer. How can I get it back?
Q: How can I reformat the flash disk region?

There are two ways to format the Flash disk.

The easiest is to execute the EraseFXdisk.exe application in the Windows folder (you can find this application in CE builds beginning August 2001). The system will restart once the format is complete.

In production or other volume/automated processes, you can place a file named SYSLOAD.FMT in the root folder of a CF or SD card, insert it in the unit, and reboot. The bootloader will reformat the flash disk region. More below.

You can also force a reformat the flash disk by erasing the flash disk region of the onboard flash from the boot menu. However, with availability of the erasefxdisk application, Eurotech no longer recommends erasing the flash disk this way.

Further Reading:
- Flash disk topic index

Edited by akidder 9-Jun-2003: Remove the following text, as it only applies to older products that used 5V Intel StrataFlash (pre-2002). Current systems use 3.3V flash.
"The flash file system is vulnerable to fluctuations in the 5V power supply. These problems often appear in the system integration stage when the customer's power supply is being added. Make sure that your 5V power supply is within tolerances at all times. PCMCIA cards, external devices, the backlight or flat panel your may be drawing the 5V supply out of tolerance."
Edited by akidder 28-Dec-2012: Add SYSLOAD.FMT to the list, above.

hongqi

10 Posts

Posted - 19 Aug 2003 : 17:33:56

How should I do it with CE.NET(Bitsy Plus)if "FlashFX Disk" doesn't appear in Windows Explorer and I also could not find "EraseFXdisk.exe" file from CE.NET Windows folder.

ctacke

877 Posts

Posted - 20 Aug 2003 : 09:00:10

Note that while this method may work on your product, bootloaders since the mid-2000s have supported simpler ways to accomplish this task, as listed above.

IMPORTANT: The following instructions are for a Bitsy system with 32MB flash and a flash disk that starts at 16MB.

Every CE build has a different starting location, as determined in the registry. E.g.:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Drivers\BuiltIn\FlashFX]
    "Start"=dword:1400000
    "Length"=dword:C00000

Make sure to use the correct start and ending addresses, or you may erase the CE image, boot code, or both.

You'll have to erase the Flash using the boot ROM itself. Follow these steps:

Power down the device then set your boot switches as follows:

1-ON 2 OFF

Restart the device and you will get this menu out the debug port:

 
 *********************************************************************
 *                 ADS Bitsy Loader                                  *
 *********************************************************************
 

 1]   Display Register
 2]   Set Register
 3]   Dump Memory
 4]   Set Memory
 5]   Erase the block of Flash.
 6]   Display Files in the Flash.
 7]   Move an Image from Flash to RAM
 8]   Display Ethernet Information
 9]   Set Up Ethernet Information
 0]   Download Image Via Ethernet(ESHELL)
 A]   Download over Serial (XModem)
 B]   Execute HWT(Hardware Table) from Flash
 C]   Start Windows CE @ c3800000
 D]   Fill Memory with a Pattern.
 E]   Set MAC(Media Access Control) Address.
 F]   SA1111 Test.
 G]   Find PCMCIA Card.
 R]   Erase Saved Registry.
 U]   Unlock Flash.
 T]   Memory Speed Test.

Select 5 (erase Block of Flash) and you will get the following response:

 
1] Select by Block Address(Minimum 256KB, 40000h) 2] Select by the file name.

Select 1 (erase by address) and you will get the following response:

 
You can use the address range(000000h ~ 2000000h) Address(000000h ~  800000h) : ADSLOAD Files Address(800000h ~ 2000000h) : FLASH Disk
 

Please Enter Beginning Address for Erasing in Hex ==>

Enter 100000 (5 zeros) and hit return and you'll get the following response:
```
 
Please Enter Ending Address for Erasing in Hex ==>
```
Enter 2000000 (6 zeroes; for 32MiB flash) and hit return. It will take a few minutes to complete. When the menu appearas again, reload NKLOAD.BIN, ADSLOAD.REG, ADSLOAD.HWT as before.

Edited by akidder 20-Aug-2003: Correct final step: Value C000000 to 200000.
Edited by akidder 5-Dec-2011: Add warning with reference registry keys.

akidder

1519 Posts

Posted - 05 Dec 2011 : 17:22:17

#sysload.fmt

Using SYSLOAD.FMT

Newer Eurotech CE bootloaders will reformat the flash disk if a file named SYSLOAD.FMT is on the root folder of a removable storage device at boot (some older systems use the file ADSLOAD.FMT).

This feature allows you to ensure a "factory" load in production environments.

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