help with flashing (bricked) ASUS a696

[influxx]

I just bricked my a696 in the process of doing the official asus update and have been trying to unbrick it using the information in this forum (particularly here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=328290) and here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=308611)) without any luck. I was wondering if anyone could help me with this problem. this is what I have figured out and done from my reading:

1. I have downloaded the image file for my unit - A696_dump_wm6_2_eng.rar
2. I have also downloaded USBLoader.exe

when I connect my pda, I can get it into the mode where it accepts usb input (POWER + ENTER + RESET). However when I try to run usbloader I get a bunch of errors that seem to suggest that my computer can't open a connection to the usb port.
------------------------------------
C:\usbloader nk.nb0
################################################## ###################
# USB image transfer tool for Intel PXA27X USB Development Board #
# Version: 1220'04 Author: O.C #
################################################## ###################
try to open \\.\wceusbsh001
try to open \\.\wceusbsh002
try to open \\.\wceusbsh003
try to open \\.\wceusbsh004
try to open \\.\wceusbsh005
USB pipe opening error
------------------------------------
I am using vista business, and am running the command prompt in administrator mode. I have also tried doing the same procedure on a windows xp machine and it has given me the same error. When I connect my pda, windows does detect the connection and loads a usb device driver. Active Sync does not start. I feel like I am missing something very basic that I just don't know about. any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

[JohnYW]

OK ..I am now up to the same spot. The next step I am going to try is to try to do it from the SD card using this method (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1721654&highlight=A639_K+.DIO#post1721654). I will let you know how I get on.

Anyone else offer any suggestions?

JohnYW

[JohnYW]

I managed to get my ASUS 696 back again, thanks to the info posted on this forum.

Using the NB0 file plus USBloader.exe finally got it to go. It seems the loader only looks at the first 5 USB ports and if you are plugged into anything higher it doesnt find it. I am using a laptop with a docking station and 2 monitors so had numerous USB ports. When I plugged it into one of the two ports on the laptop itself - Voila - it worked and I now have a working ASUS 696 - no longer a brick!

1. Download the A696_dump_wm6_2_eng.rar file plus USBLoader.exe files.
2. Unzip the rar file
3. Run command prompt and navigate to where these files are.
4. Connect USB cable to bricked unit
5. Hold power and Enter and hit reset and hold till unit goes into USBloader mode
6. From the command prompt run the USB tool with the unzip file and sit back and watch. About 2 minutes and it will reboot. Hopefully all well. :)

To find those files just google them - good luck

[CyBear]

I only have 3 USB-ports on my Laptop and USBLoader works with none of them. :(
The PDA installs himselve as:
-Windows CE USB-device
-- ASUS USB Sync

Outside of the USB-Controller tree.

I get the exact same error as influxx described. Is there any other way to get USBLoader check all the USBs or getting the connection going?

My system is WIN-XP SP2.

[CyBear]

Well, i managed to establish the usb connection by using a 10-years-old Laptop with only two USB1.1 ports.

Now i get to that point:
C:\PDA>USBLoader.exe nk.nb0
################################################## ###################
# USB image transfer tool for Intel PXA27X USB Development Board #
# Version: 1220'04 Author: O.C #
################################################## ###################
try to open \\.\wceusbsh001
The file nk.nb0 was opened
Image total Size 61808640 bytes
NB0 image downloading.....
File nk.nb0 total 61808640 byte read
Size of ACK_PACKET = 20 address of buffer=7c91ee18
<PIPE00> R : request 20 bytes -- 20 bytes read
What we read AckType < 55aa > dwRet < 99 >
Size of ACK_PACKET = 20 address of buffer=55aa

The PDA shows 100% ... but thats all...
No restart, nothing (I waited 15min). If i unplug or reset the PDA i get an infinite number of lines like this:
........
<PIPE00> R : request 20 bytes -- 0 bytes read
What we read AckType < 0 > dwRet < 0 >
Size of ACK_PACKET = 20 address of buffer=0
<PIPE00> R : request 20 bytes -- 0 bytes read
What we read AckType < 0 > dwRet < 0 >
Size of ACK_PACKET = 20 address of buffer=0.........

And my PDA acts like before. Is my Rom dead?

EDIT: No it wasn't. The mainboard kept analyzing the Battery as too low and so everything (flashing included) was locked.