The Fascinate Development Platform AKA UnBrickable Mod

DroidModderX

Super Moderator
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
5,782
Reaction score
2,133
This is not my work. It was posted on XDA by AdamOutler. This could come in very handy if you have a paperweighted Fascinate on your hands.

FIrst off I'd like to say Thanks to RootzWiki for the device. They gave me a Fascinate and told me to do what I want with it... So I made it into a development device. Thanks to RootzWiki for the device!


introduction
I'm not kidding when I say UnBrickable. Modifying the OM pins means you can boot from USB, UART or MMC. This makes the phone quite UNBRICKABLE. There is nothing you can do software wise to prevent the device from booting into this mode. We are communicating with the unrewritable, efused IROM on the processor. It's the thing that makes the system on a chip into a "system on a chip".I am here now to tell you how to turn your Samsung Fascinates into a KIT-S5PC110 development board. The KIT-S5PC110 development board is the platform used to develop our phones. There are some differences between this mod and the official development platform. The S5PC110 has a removable internal SDCard and no touchscreen.

Why would you want to do this? When you plug in the battery and connect it to the computer in "off" mode, then press and hold the power button, it will become an S5PC110 board awaiting download of a program to run. This occurs long before anything like software or firmware enters the processor. This is the IROM of the device awaiting commands or a power on signal.

Because it is accepting a memory flash, anything may be put onto the device to perform a boot sequence..... Apple iOS (iPhone4 has the same processor) WP7 (mango supports this processor).

This will be a replacement for JTAG once we are able to make some firmware. How could it possibly be better then JTAG? Let's count the ways....
1. The only part required is a wire.
2. No shipping time.
3. No cost for a box to interface the computer.
4. Permanent.
5. Can be done as a preventive measure.
6. Gives the ability to test new Bootloaders temporarily.
7. Allows development of the entire system.
8. Removes worry about flashing and acts as a backup.

After performing this mod:
Remove the battery, replace the battery, your phone will connect to the computer via USB and await commands. Otherwise it will pretty much act like a Fascinate. See the Special Instructions section.

Modification

You will need:
1. Get someone who knows what they're doing with a soldering iron. If they don't know what flux is, then they don't know what they're doing. You can send me a PM (or email my[email protected]) or Connexion2005(aka MobileTechVideos.com) NOTE: I do not work with MobileTechVideos.com.
2. soldering iron - make sure it's sharp, if it's not sharp, then sharpen it, flux it and retin it.
3. flux
4. solder
5. tweezers
6. A relay (possibly- for the wire within to use as a bridge)


performing the modification:
1. tear apart your phone... Make sure to take out your SIM and external SDCard before you do this.
1A. Remove the screws.
1B. Separate the top case from the bottom case
1C. disconnect the display connector and free the camera and button assemblies from the case.
1D. Remove the mainboard

24zw2vo.jpg


2. Perform the mod as follows: Replace the xOM5 resistor from the top position to the bottom position.

*OR: remove the xOM5 resistor and jumper the center pads of xOM5 to the center pads of xOM0 or xOM3.

6r7jnc.jpg



3. reassemble the phone.


Special Instructions

  • This replaces the battery charging sequence. The normal battery charging sequence can be activated by holding power for 4 seconds.
  • To turn on the device, and operate in normal mode, you must hold the power button for 5 seconds.
  • 3 button Download mode works as usual, however you must not have the S5PC110 drivers installed on the computer. You can use your custom rom menu option, adb reboot download, or use a terminal to "reboot download". 301Kohm Factory Mode JIGs work as well, but you must press power to bypass the S5PC110 mode.
  • To enter recovery mode, press and hold power for 3 seconds, then hold volume + and volume - until SAMSUNG is displayed on-screen.


Conclusion

Congratulations. You now have a device which works like a KIT-S5PC110 with an OM Value of 29. Now get to developing some serious custom software. See here for setting up the UART output http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1235219

reading material
Creating your own Samsung Bootloaders: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1233273
KIT-S5PC110 manual: KITS5PC110.pdf
how to use DNW: Google Translate
Flash using openOCD and DNW:http://www.arm9board.net/wiki/index....penOCD_and_DNW
another DNW example: ::: MICROVISON :::
ODroid dev center: odroid development center: U-boot for ODROID: FrontPage


drivers and utilities
This will be an ever expanding list
Windows Drivers http://forum.xda-developers.com/atta...7&d=1312590673
Windows Download Tool DNW: http://forum.xda-developers.com/atta...8&d=1312590673
Windows Command Line Download Tool: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...3&postcount=27
Linux DNW Utility: odroid development center: U-boot for ODROID: FrontPage

firmware
One-Click Resurrector: http://forum.xda-developers.com/atta...2&d=1315349672
Bootloader Hello World by Rebellos http://forum.xda-developers.com/atta...7&d=1314105521
 
OP
DroidModderX

DroidModderX

Super Moderator
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
5,782
Reaction score
2,133
Anyone brave enough to try out this mod?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using DroidForums
 

dgstorm

Editor in Chief
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
10,991
Reaction score
3,961
Location
Austin, TX
droid-from-the-forums.jpg

Get out your soldering iron folks! Its time to make your Samsung Fascinate UNBRICKABLE! Thats right AdamOutler from XDA has developed a method to Modify the OM pins so that the phone can boot from USB, UART, or MMC. This method makes the phone unbrickable, as there is nothing you can do software wise to prevent the phone from booting into this mode. If you know what flux is, have a steady hand, and possibly an old Fascinate sitting around, its time to get your hands dirty!

unbrickable.jpg

By DroidModderX


Instructions posted here on DroidForums
 

kjumper187

Active Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2010
Messages
121
Reaction score
46
Location
Metro Detroit
What if your g/f's Fasinate is a POS and on their 3rd one (and in need of a 4th one) in 3 months? I'd love to try this, but she'd kill me if I screwed it up and had to shell out money for a new phone....outright
 

justin82

Super Moderator
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2009
Messages
3,671
Reaction score
208
no fascinate.. thinking about buying one off craigslist for 100 bucks see what happens
 
OP
DroidModderX

DroidModderX

Super Moderator
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
5,782
Reaction score
2,133
Yea its definately risky... but heck id try it on a throwaway device for sure

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using DroidForums
 

droid2drummer

Silver Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
2,595
Reaction score
9
Location
Ga...
Anyone brave enough to try out this mod?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using DroidForums

Just received one of these ModderX... I need a new gun as pen went out on a bionic job...lol. Awaiting my order from the warehouse... Now. THIS is what I call a true MOD brother... lol Also are there any "surprises" in the breakdown I will need as far as replacement parts? The Motos can sometimes require (though mainly cosmetic) these.ie. speaker cover/tape flex wire clips etc. Thanks brother! Peace!

Sent from my SCH-I500 using DroidForums
 
Top