Author Topic: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review  (Read 1441896 times)

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Online ebastler

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1275 on: July 30, 2018, 09:25:23 am »
I've mailed them again and told them that I will not be buying any more products from them nor will any friends or associates unless they rectify this issue.

Probably fall on deaf ears but I urge anyone else that has a Genuine TL866A to contact them.

While I agree with your sentiment that Autoelectric's "crack-down on pirates" is stupid and will do them more harm than good, I am not sure I get your final sentence.

Are there any documented instances where a known-genuine TL866A was harmed by a firmware update? It seems to me that only units were affected where (a) the owners know that they "upgraded" from CS to A versions, or (b) it can't be ruled out that a previous owner or dishonest seller might have "upgraded" them?

I might have overlooked or misread a post here, hence appreciate any pointers.
 

Offline banglanetdhk

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1276 on: July 30, 2018, 09:27:49 am »
which tool you used, I need that tool too, because I want to change serial & code too. Pls help me.
 

Offline TheBay

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1277 on: July 30, 2018, 09:39:45 am »
I've mailed them again and told them that I will not be buying any more products from them nor will any friends or associates unless they rectify this issue.

Probably fall on deaf ears but I urge anyone else that has a Genuine TL866A to contact them.

While I agree with your sentiment that Autoelectric's "crack-down on pirates" is stupid and will do them more harm than good, I am not sure I get your final sentence.

Are there any documented instances where a known-genuine TL866A was harmed by a firmware update? It seems to me that only units were affected where (a) the owners know that they "upgraded" from CS to A versions, or (b) it can't be ruled out that a previous owner or dishonest seller might have "upgraded" them?

I might have overlooked or misread a post here, hence appreciate any pointers.

This is what I'm trying to establish. As far as I'm aware mine is a genuine A model. I contacted them and sent pictures of my device and had this as a reply.

I've replied and said mine is a genuine so why am I getting this message. I will see if they reply.

If anyone else on here has a genuine A model that has not been nodded from a CS can you please let us know your findings. Whether you get the nag screen or not.

"sir,
this just is a warning. not limited .   you can click "don't show agian".
because some sellers changed it from CS to A."
 

Online ebastler

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1278 on: July 30, 2018, 09:45:41 am »
Thanks for clarifying, TheBay,

"sir,
this just is a warning. not limited .   you can click "don't show agian".
because some sellers changed it from CS to A."

But isn't that statement from Autoelectric in conflict with what others have observed with their CS-to-A converted units? I thought the message is not "just a warning", but indicates that the firmware update will not be performed, or will even brick the unit by messing with the bootloader?
 

Offline TheBay

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1279 on: July 30, 2018, 09:50:33 am »
Thanks for clarifying, TheBay,

"sir,
this just is a warning. not limited .   you can click "don't show agian".
because some sellers changed it from CS to A."

But isn't that statement from Autoelectric in conflict with what others have observed with their CS-to-A converted units? I thought the message is not "just a warning", but indicates that the firmware update will not be performed, or will even brick the unit by messing with the bootloader?


I'm not sure if that's the case with 6.82, mine just flashed and updated, but then showed this annoying nag screen. (Granted I can tick the box) But it still shows as a TL866A in the software. I do hope it hasn't changed anything in my hardware.

Has anyone with a converted CS gone straight to 6.82? And it still shows as a A model and the latest firmware?
 

Offline radioman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1280 on: July 30, 2018, 09:53:40 am »
Hi Radioman,
I think I need your help. When I tried it after write & resetting it says Reflash failed
If the programmer is still in boot mode try again.
 

Offline banglanetdhk

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1281 on: July 30, 2018, 11:30:40 am »
Hi Radioman,
Thanks a lot. I recovered it as your suggestion. Thank you again.
 

Online indman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1282 on: July 30, 2018, 12:51:45 pm »
Has anyone updated to 6.82 with a Genuine A model and not had this message?
Yes, is! One of owners of original TL866A when updating an firmware hasn't received any negative results and messages. MiniPro6.82 works for it normally. :)
 

Offline TheBay

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1283 on: July 30, 2018, 06:46:27 pm »
Has anyone updated to 6.82 with a Genuine A model and not had this message?
Yes, is! One of owners of original TL866A when updating an firmware hasn't received any negative results and messages. MiniPro6.82 works for it normally. :)
So we only know of one person that updated to 6.82 and didn't get a nag screen?
 

Offline firewalker

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1284 on: July 30, 2018, 06:53:27 pm »
6.82 may have addressed some issues for the serial recognition. The really big problem was with 6.80.

Alexander.
Become a realist, stay a dreamer.

 

Offline bitseeker

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1285 on: July 31, 2018, 02:58:21 am »
"sir,
this just is a warning. not limited .   you can click "don't show agian".
because some sellers changed it from CS to A."

But isn't that statement from Autoelectric in conflict with what others have observed with their CS-to-A converted units? I thought the message is not "just a warning", but indicates that the firmware update will not be performed, or will even brick the unit by messing with the bootloader?

Version 6.80 was the one that disabled devices that were detected as counterfeit. Version 6.81 removed that "feature" in favor of a nag message (much safer way to go about it).
TEA is the way. | TEA Time channel
 
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Offline mauroh

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1286 on: July 31, 2018, 07:41:41 am »
5.Serial number and device code section.
Just click the write button in the serial number section. This will rewrite the same serial with the correct checksum.
This was a flaw in my reencrypted serial. A single byte checksum was wrong and the autoelectric discovered this after five years! good. I like this.
6.Close the advanced window, check the TL866A firmware and click reflash again.
Now the new firmware is ready.
If you have the original serial then you're good.
Random generated serials can be detected so beware.

Hi radioman, first of all thank you for all the effort and the great tool. I bought a legit TL866CS some years ago only because it was possible to tonvert it to A  :-+.

If I got it correctly, most probably the only way the software can tell if our TL866 is a converted device or a clone is by verifying the incorrect checksum wrote by your tool (this should apply for device converted) or validating the serial number (for clones or random generate serial numbers).

If this is correct I must reflash my device with your new reflash tool (TL866.exe v2.4) keeping my original serial number.
This should fix the checksum and I should be safe to use the new 6.8x software.
At this point the 6.8x will detect a legit TL866A and will upgrade the firmware without any issue.

If this is not correct or something goes wrong I should recover my device with a PIC programmer (I have a PICKit3) loading the TL866A Firmware Generated.hex I saved from your tool.

Make sense?

Thank you
Mauro

Offline radioman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1287 on: July 31, 2018, 11:27:22 am »
If this is correct I must reflash my device with your new reflash tool (TL866.exe v2.4) keeping my original serial number.
This should fix the checksum and I should be safe to use the new 6.8x software.
At this point the 6.8x will detect a legit TL866A and will upgrade the firmware without any issue.

Yes this is correct. If you have the original serial number just do what i said above to fix the checksum and you can upgrade to last version.

As a matter of fact the correct checksum is more important than an random generated serial. So from what i tested so far we can have the following situations:
1. Original serial and good checksum. This case is for genuine unmodified devices or converted devices with good checksum. These are not detected.
2. Original serial code and bad checksum. This will detect as "converted from CS" for A devices and "maybe clone" for CS devices. A simple checksum fix is needed here.
3. Random generated serial code and bad checksum. These devices are detected as pirated, "the infringement of copyright and piracy!" message.
4. Random generated serial code and good checksum. These devices are not detected by the minipro software and you don't get any warning! These bad serials are still detected by the firmware, but so far there's no limitations or warnings, so this is-yet-a good case. The new TL866 firmware updater V2.4 will generate compliant serial numbers so please generate another one to correct this issue.

Regarding to the serial code there's no CS or A serial code but only valid serials. I have tested this. The 8 chars. Device code and 24 chars. serial number are somewhat connected as an unique ID.

A special case is for devices who have the copy protect bit unset in the config bytes. These devices have the bootmode dissabled in the firmware and you can't do any upgrade/downgrade/reflash or else because he can't enter in boot mode; so this is a semi-brick and my updater will report 'Reset error!' when you try to reflash something.
For these devices the bootmode must be forced as i stated above with the help of one resistor.
These devices are those which were  reflashed by an external programmer with a hex file generated by my tool. This generated hex file had the CP bit unset.
So, for these kind of devices you must set the CP bit and correct the bad checksum.

A very special case is for genuine unmodified devices who are detected as pirated durring the firmware update and are deliberately bricked by deleting(overwriting) the bootloader.
These devices can be restored only by an external programmer(pickit) with a new generated firmware.

The bad checksum is actually missing checksum. At that time i was not aware of it. This is a single byte 8 bit checksum of the serial code inserted somewhere in the 80bytes encrypted serial block.

At the development time (five years ago) i was expected to such actions fom the manufacturer. This is why the advanced window in my firmware updater have all those settings.
I don't know what manufacturer want. After five years and a programmer no longer in production to have these anti-user actions is...
« Last Edit: August 11, 2018, 09:39:24 pm by radioman »
 
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Offline mauroh

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1288 on: July 31, 2018, 09:49:09 pm »
Success!!!!!  :phew:

Everithing worked just fine on my TL866CS convetted to A long time ago.
I reflashed it following the instruction and the new MiniPro_V682 is working fine in ICSP mode without any warnings.

Thank you radioman  :clap:

Mauro

PS: is there a bug on the forum? Why all my pictures are followed by a random picture full of test gear??
Edit: I think this happen only on old browsers... Never mind.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2018, 10:22:57 pm by mauroh »
 

Offline bitseeker

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1289 on: July 31, 2018, 10:52:59 pm »
Hmm, old browsers are now being afflicted with TEA? :-DD
TEA is the way. | TEA Time channel
 

Offline Brumby

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1290 on: August 01, 2018, 12:44:36 am »
Not "afflicted" ... it's bonus content  ;D
 

Offline radioman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1291 on: August 01, 2018, 03:29:19 pm »
Another minor update in my firmware updater. It will generate compliant serial numbers.
Here's the link TL866 firmware updater V2.4
Enjoy!
 

Offline erhanzeynel

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1292 on: August 01, 2018, 11:04:05 pm »
Hi all from Turkey.

My TL866A was from a known good dealer as used and it's labelled as TL866A but it also recognized as changed form TL866CS.
Package seem like original and labeled as A, enclosure labeled as A, also ICSP cable seems like original but damn I'm getting that rubbish warning too.

Only I noticed, device serial number is different at enclosure label and software. Is it fine?

As luckily I passed that bricker updates  ;D   

I backed up radioman's flasher and minipro V6.82 for any future events. Also I have my diy powered LPT ICSP programmer. 8)
« Last Edit: August 01, 2018, 11:08:20 pm by erhanzeynel »
 

Offline art-666

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1293 on: August 04, 2018, 09:08:03 am »
At the development time (five years ago) i was expected to such actions fom the manufacturer. This is why the advanced window in my firmware updater have all those settings.
I don't know what manufacturer want. After five years and a programmer no longer in production to have these anti-user actions is...
Yes I find it Strange that they start messing about, after they stop production.
Maybe their new toy, is not as good as they believe it to be.
 

Offline jpham

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1294 on: August 04, 2018, 04:21:04 pm »
Just wondering if anyone ever program a PEEL 20V10 using the TL866?  from the device drop down
there is no PEEL only GAL 20v10 is listed.  So can one use the GAL 20v10 to program a PEEL 20v10?

 

Offline pelule

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1295 on: August 04, 2018, 05:37:17 pm »
I did not pogram a PEEL 20v10, but several variants of 20v10 from pther suppliers without issues.
See at: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/datron-cpu-board-pal-data-(1271-1281-)/msg1346121/#msg1346121
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Offline Marcustv

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1296 on: August 05, 2018, 08:42:27 am »
I'm trying to apply the change with the TL866 V 2.4
I have a TL866CS modified in TL855A

I have the problem that once the reflash has been done, the "advanced" label does not appear.
Why ?

If I use the update.dat file from version 6.81 the reflash does it correctly, while if I use the version 6.82, it gives me a failed reflash error.
 

Offline Marcustv

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1297 on: August 05, 2018, 10:58:15 am »
I solved the problem, I did not set frmware dumper but TL866A.   ;)
Now it works correctly.
I tried the procedure several times using the version 6.81 and 6.82 as upload.dat files.
Almost always that of 6.82 gave me problems.
 

Offline radioman

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1298 on: August 05, 2018, 12:10:18 pm »
I tried the procedure several times using the version 6.81 and 6.82 as upload.dat files.
Almost always that of 6.82 gave me problems.
Hi Marcustv and welcome to the forum!
Regarding to the update.dat issue, the two versions are identical. So there's no difference between the two files.
The most likely the reflash error message is due to the usb communication error. Use another usb port or update the minipro usb driver. Another problem I've encountered on some machines is something software or driver which is interfering with the usb communication (filter driver or else).
 

Offline sathex

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Re: EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review
« Reply #1299 on: August 05, 2018, 03:49:06 pm »
I solved the problem following the procedure with some difficulties
because using the "firmware dumper" puts me a bad crc!

so I did it again with "TL866A firmware" and it's ok

thank you radioman
 


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