MP 1,1-5,1 Highpoint ROCKETRAID 2760A firmware flash help needed (technician recommendation)

[zedex]

One of the greatest cards ever made and I made the mistake of letting Windows 7 bootcamp deploy drivers for use/access to my multi-disk SSD array in Windows as well as Mac OSX..

Windows choked badly on the driver deployment requiring a hard reset "mid" device driver installation.

The problem now is that macOS can 'barely' identify the card in the system info_hardware_pci register

It ONLY shows 1 RAID controller in the register where it used to show 4

Superficially, it looks like I've 'bricked' the card but I don't think it's dead I just want to reset the firmware/chipsets/controllers..

I've seen advanced members (like @tsialex and @joevt) talking about SPI flashing OR maybe some sort of CMOS interface/diagnostic technician tool for fixing PCIe devices..

If I persuaded Highpoint to email me the original ROM.. how would I flash it..?

 

[tsialex]

You are doing this in reverse, the first step is to try get the firmware image from HPT. If you can't get it, everything else you do/buy will be useless.

Btw, some HPT cards are not firmware update-able outside the HPT support labs, nor field or technician update-able. SSD7101A-1 is one for example.

 

[zedex]

Yes - that's a fair call. Maybe a slightly better question is - what would I ask Highpoint for (based on the problems I've described). Is it correct terminology for me to ask them for the original "firmware ROM" for the RR2760A..?

 

[tsialex]

Yes - that's a fair call. Maybe a slightly better question is - what would I ask Highpoint for (based on the problems I've described). Is it correct terminology for me to ask them for the original "firmware ROM" for the RR2760A..?

I'd ask for the firmware dump. Btw, did you tried updating it to the current release?

https://www.highpoint-tech.com/BIOS_Driver/170/RR276x_BIOS_v1.5_15_09_17.zip

 

[zedex]

OK. I'm very grateful for your help. Language is important (we have both seen "motherboard bifurcation" and "PCIe switch" used incorrectly on this forum far too frequently!) and I just don't know my electrical engineering subject matter well enough in this area yet.

Regarding the BIOS update - you are one step ahead of me!! My original goal was to (1) have Windows recognise the device (i.e. install RR2760A Windows drivers) and (2) attempt to perform the BIOS update in the Windows environment.

The instructions [README] seem exceedingly complex though and even if I didn't cripple the card I'm not sure I could have performed the 'firmware update' procedure..

In particular, I was scared off by the following statement..

3. Updating BIOS
====================
The flash utility (load.exe) is used to update controller BIOS.
load.exe must run under pure DOS environment. It cannot run in a DOS box
on Windows system. You should boot from a DOS floppy without any device
drivers.

Can Windows 7 Bootcamp enter a "pure DOS environment" mode..? Don't you need a system BIOS like American Megatrends or Phoenix Technologies..? I was *very* confused by this :/

 

[tsialex]

Can Windows 7 Bootcamp enter a "pure DOS environment" mode..?

No.

Don't you need a system BIOS like American Megatrends or Phoenix Technologies..? I was *very* confused by this :/

Just boot a FreeDOS USB key.

 

[zedex]

Just boot a FreeDOS USB key.

Great, thanks. I will research this solution/approach and get comfortable with it. So.... this feels like a dumb question but - based on your first response - does this mean I cannot successfully perform a FW update like this on a cMP 5,1?

 

[tsialex]

Great, thanks. I will research this solution/approach and get comfortable with it. So.... this feels like a dumb question but - based on your first response - does this mean I cannot successfully perform a FW update like this on a cMP 5,1?

You can prepare a FreeDOS USB key, or a hard disk, and try to update the firmware following the HPT doc.

FreeDOS works with a MacPro5,1 good enough to dump/flash GPU firmwares and upgrade some SSDs firmwares that require a DOS environment.

Use the search, there are threads about FreeDOS and upgrading firmwares.

 

[zedex]

That there is a constructive path forward - CHEERS!

HIGHPOINT really went to the top of the mountain when they released this card - look at that PCIe architecture / card assembly..

FOR THE RECORD that's:

1x PLX Technology, Inc. PEX 8648 48-lane, 12-Port PCI Express Gen 2 (5.0 GT/s) Switch; AND
4x Marvell 88SE9485 SATA / SAS Controllers

PS - you're a legend