Install Libreboot on Intel D945GCLF(2/D)

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!!BACKUP everything!! just in case something fails.

Specifications
Manufacturer	Intel
Name	D945GCLF(2/D)
Variants	D945GCLF, D945GCLF2, D945GCLFD
Released	2008
Chipset	Intel 945GC
CPU	Intel Atom 230 (D945GCLF) / 330 (D945GCLF2/D)
Graphics	GMA 950
Memory	DDR2 SODIMM max. 2 GB, 1x2GB
Architecture	x86_64
Original boot firmware	Intel BIOS
Intel ME/AMD PSP	Not present.
Flash chip	SOIC-8 512KiB

W+: Works without vendor firmware; 
N: Doesn't work; 
W*: Works with vendor firmware; 
U: Untested; 
P+: Partially works; 
P*: Partially works with vendor firmware

Features		Notes
Internal flashing with original boot firmware	N
Display	-
Audio	W+
RAM Init	W+
External output	W+

Payloads supported
GRUB	Doesn’t work
SeaBIOS	Works
SeaBIOS with GRUB	Doesn’t work

Download from release

Build from source

The build target, when building from source, is thus:

./mk -b coreboot d945gclf_512kb

with a 8mb flash;

./mk -b coreboot d945gclf_8mb

Software

Before internal flashing, Disable /dev/mem protection first.

In short add this kernel parameter: iomem=relaxed(linux distro)/kernel.securelevel=-1(bsd distro)

THEN REMOVE THIS KERNEL PARAMETER TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED/MALICIOUS ACCESS TO YOUR SYSTEM AFTER FLASHING LIBREBOOT.

(An important reminder for those who might forget to delete it, even better, replace it with lockdown=integrity / lockdown=confidentiality)

Backup the previous (working) firmware (atleast) twice (to check and compare if reading it gone wrong and backups differs.)

flashprog -p internal -r Backup1.bin

flashprog -p internal -r Backup2.bin

Check and compare those if reading from the flash were successful:

diff Backup1.bin Backup2.bin

For more than 2:

shasum Backup1.bin Backup2.bin Backup3.bin

If those differs, something gone wrong and proceeding further may (DON’T) leave your device unrecoverable (without a reliable backup) if flashing fails as well.

If you’re already running Libreboot, and you don’t have flash protection turned on, internal flashing is possible.

Hardware

For general information, please refer to 25xx NOR flash instructions - that page refers to use of socketed flash.

Backup the previous (working) firmware twice (to check and compare if reading it gone wrong and backups differs.)

flashprog -p serprog:dev=/dev/ttyACM0,spispeed=16M -r Backup1.bin

flashprog -p serprog:dev=/dev/ttyACM0,spispeed=16M -r Backup2.bin

Check and compare those if reading from the flash were successful:

diff Backup1.bin Backup2.bin

For more than 2:

shasum Backup1.bin Backup2.bin Backup3.bin

If those differs, something gone wrong and proceeding further may (DON’T) leave your device unrecoverable (without a reliable backup) if flashing fails as well.

The vendor bios write protects the flash so it requires external flashing to install libreboot on this device;

Without coreboot/libreboot this board is completely useless, since the vendor bios is very bad. It cannot boot from any HDD whether it is connected to the SATA port or USB.

With libreboot it works fine, but the flash chip is very small, 512KiB, so grub2 does not fit, which is why libreboot has to use seabios

This board comes with very crappy disposable loud fan, that one has no bearings, which can not be repaired or oiled properly.

DO NOT waste your time trying to fix it, just buy one chinese same size fan

Make sure that new one has same wiring

This is a new one, with bearing and maintenable

Now remove the both coolers rotating them a bit, slowly, then clean both silicons and both coolers (removing cmos battery first is recommended)

Put a little bit of non conductive thermal paste on both silicons (only cpu silicon iis shown on that image)

Before assembling new fan, some need new longer screws, make sure having these (on the left is original one, too short for new fan)

After that, assemble your new fan into CPU cooler

Finally assemle both coolers on both chips, do not forget put in the CPU fan connector back, and you are done.

Specifications
Manufacturer	Intel
Name/Variant	D945GCLF
Released	2008
Chipset	Intel 945GC
CPU	Intel Atom 230
Graphics	GMA 950
Audio	Realtek ALC662
Memory	DDR2 SODIMM max. 2 GB, 1x2GB
Networking	RealTek RTL8102EL
Expansion Slots	PCI
Storage connectors	2x SATA II, IDE
Other Connectors	Headers; dual USB 2.0
I/O Ports on Back	PS/2 Mouse+Keyboard, SCOM, VGA, Parallel, 4x USB 2.0, RJ-45 100Mbit (Ethernet)

Specifications
Manufacturer	Intel
Name/Variant	D945GCLF2(D)
Released	2008
Chipset	Intel 945GC
CPU	Intel Atom 330
Graphics	GMA 950
Audio	Realtek ALC662
Memory	DDR2 SODIMM max. 2 GB, 1x2GB
Networking	Realtek RTL8111C
Expansion Slots	PCI
Storage connectors	2x SATA II, IDE
Other Connectors	Headers; 2x dual USB 2.0
I/O Ports on Back	PS/2 Mouse+Keyboard, SCOM, VGA, Parallel, 4x USB 2.0, RJ-45 1GbE (Ethernet), S-VIDEO (D945GCLF2 only) , S/PDIF

The Canoeboot version of this page is: https://canoeboot.org/docs/install/d945gclf.html

SPDX-License-Identifier: GFDL-1.3-or-later

Markdown file for this page: https://libreboot.org/docs/install/d945gclf.md

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