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#21
Update:
Interestingly my issue with the tablet not booting is slightly more complex. It seems I was looking for the wrong thing in the right place!
I thought I would leave the BIOS chip in place since I have a SOIC clip for my programmer. Tried it, that didn't work, so then I thought ok I will remove the 10k resistor on the HOLD pin, tried that and it didn't work. So last resort I removed the chip and read the BIOS on the programmer. Now everything looked ok on it. Nevertheless, I prepped the new BIOS; cleaned the ME region, transferred across my windows key, etc, no issues.
Then I wondered, if the BIOS looks intact, what is the issue? So I checked power to the VCC pin and was only getting 0.6v when it should be 1.8v. Checked VCC to GND and there was a short. So this explains everything.
I also found a short on a nearby SOT23-5 ic with the marking QW5JA (can't find any datasheets on it), but it looks like its a regulator to provide clean 5v to the usb ports.
Anyhow, I traced the 1.8v rail short to ground back to the processor, and decided to remove it. Took it off and hey presto, short removed and 1.8v rail was back up and running! I will replace the processor since the chip is only about $10 off aliexpress and its a 30 minute job since I have the tools and skill to do it. I hate to see repairable items being tossed away.
Having re-read this thread properly, I am fairly certain that the boot issues people have been having are a result of a faulty processor. I have seen this before on other laptops, and it is usually a hardware fault. When any sort of load is put on the cpu, it fails. Memory chips are usually quite robust and wouldn't necessarily cause this issue.
I also analysed the bios in the InsydeH2O setup utility to check the thermal parameters set there, and it seems as though Linx are pushing the cpu as far as they can to eek out as much performance as they can. Considering the limited cooling solution, the performance comes at the cost of longevity I suspect, especially for some of us unlucky ones.
I am not worried too much about the actual tablet, just the data on it that I am trying to retrieve (the tablet is a family members, who didn't make any backups!)
Now I heard back from Exertis, and it was disappointing to say the least. Not that it matters now since it is a CPU issue, but I emailed them when I thought it was just a BIOS issue, and explained that I was trying to recover data and requested the BIOS from them. This is what I got back from them:
So basically they are saying they could help, but they don't want to. Solely based on this response, I would avoid any Exertis or Linx products in the future, because when it goes wrong they don't give a ****.Unfortunately we are not able to supply Raw BIOS file for flashing devices. The repair process for the Linx 1010 in this case would be to replace the motherboard. Unfortunately as this device has been out of production for some time all spare parts have now been exhausted, and as such we are not able to assist with a repair.
In this instance replacing the motherboard would be absolutely useless as it wouldn't help me retrieve the data if it was just a BIOS issue. They would rather their customers jump through hoops than just help with an EOL product that is years and years old and nearly forgotten. The BIOS file is probably just sitting on some server doing absolutely nothing. Terrible.
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