Windows 7 & P55 USB Issues

I have seen a few articles (Apple Forums, Engadget Mobile) about sync problems with iTunes and iPhones/iPods on Windows 7 with P55 chipset motherboards

I was also getting the ‘unknown error occurred (0xE8000065)’ when trying to sync my iPhone, but enabling C1E support (Enhanced halt state) in the BIOS seems to have resolved my problems with with synching.  (BIOS release 0711 for the Asus P7P55E-Deluxe has this option enabled in default settings- release 0606 did not).

However- I am also having issues with other USB devices that I did not have prior to upgrading to a P55 chipset.  My Logitech Harmony remote will not sync and my USB headset will not work as long as I have then plugged into a USB port on the motherboard- but plugging them into a PCI USB card works correctly.

Hopefully the latest chipset driver from Intel will resolve these issues (but P55 is not listed as supported under this driver?)…

Enabling AHCI in Windows 7

Most modern motherboard with integrated SATA controllers offer a few options for accessing connected drives- usually these choices are ATA, RAID or AHCI.

ATA is a basic interface and it works well with older operating systems (such Windows XP). This emulation is good as you generally don’t need to load additional controller drivers while installing windows (F6 during bootup)

RAID offers different disc configurations for redundancy and/or performance- and generally requires a driver to setup Windows.

Advanced Host Controller Interface (ACHI) is a newer implantation that allows for SATA drive hot plug and supports native command queuing (NCQ).  This can have some performance benefits to Widows Vista/7.  Most board that support SATA II drives will have this option- it should definitely be an option on the Intel x58 and P55 motherboards…

I found some info about converting an ATA install to AHCI on I Think Different and the PC Perspective forums.

If you installed Windows 7 on an ATA configured drive (like I did), you don’t need to re-install the OS again; a small registry tweak will enable the AHCI driver and Windows will re-detect the drive on next boot up.

The registry key is located in:

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Servuces\msahci.

The Key is a reg_dword named ‘start’.  In non-AHCI system, this is set to ‘3’.  To enable the AHCI driver, this needs to be changed to ‘0’.

After the above change is made, make sure all of your data is backed up, reboot into BIOS and change the SATA controller from IDE to ACHI.  Reboot back into Windows 7, let windows re-detect the drive, reboot again and you should be using AHCI!  :)

PSP Go Price Drop

I guess I should have waited (about two weeks after launch) for the 20% price drop at Fry's...

PSP Go downfall

God of War: Chains of Olympus
At Target: $13.99
From the PSP Store: $19.99

Target version is unusable with PSP Go (UMD format).

If there are hopes for the PSP Go to ever be a (limited) success, Sony is going to need to include a UMD and a digital download for EVERY retail game they sell...

BlackRa1n Jailbreak for iPhone 3.1.2!

Finally- a Jailbreak for the iPhone 3GS: BlackRa1n Tutorial

This does not allow for unlocking the carrier on the phone- this allows the iPhone to install applications from other sources (such as Cydia, Rock or Icy).

Very easy to do:

This version is Windows only.  Your iPhone should be updated to 3.1.2 and connected to the latest iTunes.

Download the BlackRa1n.com app (click on the Windows logo).   Run the app and click the ‘Make it Rain’ button. 

Blackra1n does its work and reboots.  After the reboot there is a new ‘blackra1n’ app on your phone.  Click it to install Cydia/Rock/Ice.

Cydia and WinterBoard- Here I come!

PSP Go Gutty-Works

Rumor is that the new PSP Go is ‘hack proof’.

I was looking over my PSP Go and noticed that the screws to open the back of the unit are easily accessible #0 Phillips head bits.  Removing them allows removal of the back panel, revealing the new LIP1412 battery:

I found it a bit odd that the ‘warranty void’ sticker covers the battery solder points.  Not wanting to immediately void my warranty, I flipped the battery over for a better look:

The PSP Go has the same three connector configuration (+/T/-) as the earlier models- the ones that can be put into service mode via a Pandora’s Battery.  In the earlier PSP versions I believe the third wire is what transfers the information to the unit to put it into service mode?

I highly doubt that Sony would have its support centers de-solder a battery and attach another battery to put the PGP Go into service mode- so there must be some other method that they will use to de-brick PSP GOs that are victim of bad firmware updates.

On the M3 end of the PSP Go motherboard (model TA-091) there are two copper contacts that seem out of place- but then I also noticed that there are matching contacts on the inside of the PSP Go case:

Is this a ‘case opened’ switch?  or are these contacts used for testing/charging the unit at the factory?  I booted the PGP Go with the back cover off (and the two contacts open) and everything appears to play normally.

There also appears to be a red & white checkerboard sticker on the back of the board that may be a water damage indicator:

One other thing that seemed odd was a clear ‘window’ beneath the battery.  This window is located where it will always be covered by the PSP screen:

Sliding the screen open reveals its apparent use: the ribbon cable behind the screen uses this cavity when the screen is opened and the clear plastic is just a divider between the cable and the battery compartment:

Opening the PSP Go raised a few questions for me:

• How would Sony’s official support centers enable service mode for a PGP Go that had a bad firmware flash?
• Why is the ‘warranty void’ sticker over the battery terminals- which connects to a battery that will need eventually be replaced as it has a finite number of charge cycles?
• Why are there contacts on the board that link to connectors on the back of the case?