EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review

[TheBay]

Wonder if they have seen this thread, as I'm sure quite a lot of purchases came from members on here or anyone that has seen Dave's Video!
They need to pull their finger out as it's really not going to help sales.

[TheSteve]

I don't blame them for being upset over the clones but end users converting CS to A models they need to get over. No question they are just hurting future sales of the new model. Nobody wants to buy a product from a company that plays stupid games with the customers hardware.

[BrianG61UK]

I don't blame them for being upset over the clones but end users converting CS to A models they need to get over. No question they are just hurting future sales of the new model. Nobody wants to buy a product from a company that plays stupid games with the customers hardware.

Bricking TL866As that were converted TL866CSs was a daft move.

But surely they withdrew that software.

Don't 6.81 and 6.82 just pop pup a message that you can click past?

Or do I misunderstand?

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[TheSteve]

I don't blame them for being upset over the clones but end users converting CS to A models they need to get over. No question they are just hurting future sales of the new model. Nobody wants to buy a product from a company that plays stupid games with the customers hardware.

Bricking TL866As that were converted TL866CSs was a daft move.

But surely they withdrew that software.

Don't 6.81 and 6.82 just pop pup a message that you can click past?

Or do I misunderstand?

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Sure, they stopped bricking peoples devices but now we know they have no problem doing it. Kind of leaves a bad taste.

[james_s]

Well that's enough for me to stop recommending these to anyone. Didn't anyone learn from the USB to serial bricking driver fiasco?

[Willem52]

If someone wants the old firmware back: How they suggest to revert the update ?

[radioman]

Hi guys!
Well This autolectric dev. guy is playing hard.
I like this. Playing hard is my way of living, so no problem. Because i know that this guy is reading this thread (i think he is the '@autoelector' user on this forum) listen here: dude learn to respect your clients! this is where your money comes from!
If a device is bricked during a firmware update then is your responsibility to provide me a way to restore it!
Every device like motherboards, routers etc. who have a firmware   running inside can be, if needed restored by flashing a new firmware provided by the manufacturer.
But no! you are afraid to release any firmware in the wild because of copycats. I don't care.

Remember five years ago? my genuine device was bricked during an firmware update and basically you did not do anything. So i got middle finger. Buy another one and f.ck you.
Because of that i have developed my custom firmware updater; to help people to restore their devices. So please remove the picture of my firmware updater from your pirated products section in your site; this is pathetic!
My firmware updater was never intended to be used by people in the black market but as a service tool for people who need to restore their devices.
Think this:
if i want to downgrade to an earlier firmware how can i do this? i can't.
If my device will brick who gives me a new firmware? nobody.
So this is why the firmware updater exist.

The last 6.8x minipro versions detect the converted and cloned devices and disable the bootmode function thus preventing the further firmware updates.
Well bootmode can be forced by soldering an resistor as is shown in my pdf. In fact if you have a steady hand there's no need to solder anything; just keep the resistor leads connected to the two indicated points while inserting the usb cable. Then remove the resistor.
Once entered in bootmode run my firmware updater:
TL866 firmware updater V2.4
1. Browse for update.dat file (any version is good including the new 6.80, 6.81 and 6.82)
2.Select the firmware dumper and click reflash.
3.After reflash click the advanced button
4.Now pay attention: if the copy protection checkbox is unchecked please check this and click write button.
If the copy protection checkbox is checked leave it alone.
This is important if you leave the copy protect bit unchecked then the new firmware will disable the bootmode, so beware!
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.
I still need to analyze the new firmware, seems that there's a serial validation in the firmware.
If you have problems please post here and feel free to send me an PM.

[firewalker]

Thanks you for the update!

If you have the original serial then you're good.
Random generated serials can be detected so beware.
I still need to analyze the new firmware, seems that there's a serial validation in the firmware.
If you have problems please post here and feel free to send me an PM.

Is a CS version serial good for an A variant? The validation can tell the two versions?

Alexander.

[jellytot]

Mine doesn't seem (optically) to be a CS->A conversion. No weird marks on the plastic and the solder joints on the header seems to be same as the others. And bought from a supplier that  started to sell the new model immediately.

Is anyone with the A variant that updated without an issue?

Alexander.

Yes my Original TL866A has updated without issues or messages from 6.71-6.81-6.82 no problems. I must therefore have an original 

[Zucca]

radioman a masterpiece. Thanks.

If you come in Munich Germany you will get a beer on me.

Unfortunately they will not understand. Maybe when the bank account/sale will go down they will look back and realize how stupid they were.
It will be too late then.

[Zucca]

I must therefore have an original 

No, it must be your lucky day.

Be not so sure, probably a SW bug detects an original one as a pirated one and vice-versa.
 

[radioman]

Is a CS version serial good for an A variant? The validation can tell the two versions?

I'm not tested it yet but i think the serials are unique not device version bounded. From what i seen the converted from CS nag screen is given for devices with good serial code but bad checksum and clone nag screen for bad serials or random generated. This must be tested. If your device is converted then do what i wrote in the above post to correct that bad checksum.
However i think that the detection algorithm is bad. While generating random serials i got couple of them valid. What worries me is the bricking routine which is present from V6.50 and above. This routine is running every time you update the firmware.

Basically this routine is checking the serial code and if there is a match then deliberately is destroying the bootloader by writing garbage at the address 0.
The problem is not that he is comparing two strings (as should be) but two hashes which are 32 bit CRC's. Well 32 bit crc used as hash or unique id is a very bad idea. This means collision; many serial strings have the same crc.
So if you are the lucky winner of one of these serials which collide with the bad crc then your device is destroyed after the firmware upgrade.
This was happened when the V6.50 was released, see couple of pages back in this thread.
Here is the delight for those who understands asm.
https://pastebin.com/i5iLGPs1
My firmware updater can tell you if you have such a serial code.
For those who are using the minipro software under wine in linux this routine is disabled in the usb wrapper so no worries.

[banglanetdhk]

The last 6.8x minipro versions detect the converted and cloned devices and disable the bootmode function thus preventing the further firmware updates.
Well bootmode can be forced by soldering an resistor as is shown in my pdf. In fact if you have a steady hand there's no need to solder anything; just keep the resistor leads connected to the two indicated points while inserting the usb cable. Then remove the resistor.

I am newbie. Pls tell me where I find the pdf.

[firewalker]

The last 6.8x minipro versions detect the converted and cloned devices and disable the bootmode function thus preventing the further firmware updates.
Well bootmode can be forced by soldering an resistor as is shown in my pdf. In fact if you have a steady hand there's no need to solder anything; just keep the resistor leads connected to the two indicated points while inserting the usb cable. Then remove the resistor.

I am newbie. Pls tell me where I find the pdf.

Here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/330bs8t4uucnyi9/TL866.zip

[TheSteve]

I have a legit CS converted to A. When I get home today I will try radioman's new release to fix the checksum and then I will update the PC software to 6.8x and see if I get the error/warning or a brick etc. Pickit 2 on hand in case anything "bad" happens.

Edit:

Used radioman's new tool to reflash my TL866CS (modded to a TL866A), and performed the serial # correction as he recommended.
I then installed MiniPro v6.82 and let it update my TL866, it went without any issues and so far there are no nags or errors. My TL866CS modded to a TL866A so far is working fine.
The original version and update.dat that I used were both from version 6.60. So radioman's fix is all good or v6.82 removed all nags.

[banglanetdhk]

I was using Minipro TL866CS. When I converted it to TL866A & it,s software upgraded to 6.82, it,s firmwere reflashed & after that the device is not working properly. When I run the software it shows "This is a changed programmer from TL866CS!! Do tou wish to open the official website to see the pirated product information?" I tried to reflash the device with TL866 firmware updater V2.4, it says reset error. Pls help me.

[radioman]

I was using Minipro TL866CS. When I converted it to TL866A & it,s software upgraded to 6.82, it,s firmwere reflashed & after that the device is not working properly. When I run the software it shows "This is a changed programmer from TL866CS!! Do tou wish to open the official website to see the pirated product information?" I tried to reflash the device with TL866 firmware updater V2.4, it says reset error. Pls help me.

This is normal. You get the reset error because the firmware have disabled bootmode so the firmware updater cannot  enter the bootmode.
You must force bootmode manually with the help of one 100 ohm resistor. Have you read the indicated pdf?
If you don't get it i will guide you step by step.

[banglanetdhk]

Hi Radioman
I shall try but in case of failure i shall knock you, thanks.

[okurka]

What worries me is the bricking routine which is present from V6.50 and above. This routine is running every time you update the firmware.

Is the bricking routine also present in their new software for the new TL866II Plus programmer?

[radioman]

Is the bricking routine also present in their new software for the new TL866II Plus programmer?

I don't think so. The new TL866II Plus is too new to be counterfeit. I will take a look in the code when I'll have time.

[TheBay]

Has anyone updated to 6.82 with a Genuine A model and not had this message?

[malagas_on_fire]

This reminds me the old days when programming PIC12F and PIC16F using homemade JDM, propic 2 ohh god... Then the bootloaders arrived and it was a relieft ...
Then the Pickit 2 and no more bootloaders, no more waiting and EEPROM programming.

So cheap now the ZIF sockets have now come

Does this programmer supports flash N25Q128 ?  ( aka Flash SPI from OpenWRT compliant routers )

[TheBay]

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.

[BradC]

Used radioman's new tool to reflash my TL866CS (modded to a TL866A), and performed the serial # correction as he recommended.
I then installed MiniPro v6.82 and let it update my TL866, it went without any issues and so far there are no nags or errors. My TL866CS modded to a TL866A so far is working fine.
The original version and update.dat that I used were both from version 6.60. So radioman's fix is all good or v6.82 removed all nags.

I converted my CS to an A last year. I grabbed the latest tool and write-protected the bootloader, then installed v6.82. It identified the device was not original.

I then used the tool to re-write the serial & checksum and the Minpro v6.82 software no longer complains. So there is most certainly a nag in v6.82 if it detects the serial/checksum isn't right.

[banglanetdhk]

Hi Radioman,
I think I need your help. When I tried it after write & resetting it says Reflash failed