x230 FHD mod not supported

[n4ru]

Seems the latest version of heads does not support the nitrocaster or KK FHD mod.

Wondering if there's a workaround? The "FHD patch" being reviewed over at coreboot IIRC only works on coreboot 4.9+, and heads is still on 4.8.1.

[tlaurion]

@n4ru: Would need a x230-fhd specific board, coreboot and probably a linux config?

[n4ru]

I got it to work by simply taking the vbt from the FHD patch in coreboot, and swapped it with the stock vbt file. A config with just that change should work.

[arl4223]

n4ru are you able to help we with some more detailed instructions? I have a x230 with the nitrocaster FHD mod and core boot running. But now I would like to switch to heads with a Nitrokey.

[tlaurion]

@arl4223
1- what is your working coreboot config? look at referenced blobs in that coreboot config (not sure we can host vbt on github)
2- modify x230 board, coreboot config and linux config under heads.
3- when working, propose a PR for x230-fhd board!

@PatrickRudolph's #709 is still not mergeable. I can't wrap my head around it for the moment to upgrade all (coreboot still supported) boards to 4.12. Help welcome.

[tslilc]

I have back-ported (really they basically all work verbatim) the patches in the Coreboot merge and created heads-style patches, but they won't do much (anything?) without the VBT blob, and heads does not distribute such blobs. I did not need to use a newer coreboot in the process.

In particular i forewent the external voltage source, bridged J1, and set up early power-on and so on to save a few joules. This all seems to work perfectly with heads, and i've been using it for some time.

I would be happy to share these later when i return home, but again, it depends on the VBT blob.

EDIT: Here they are, @arl4223 and @tlaurion.

To the boards/x230-$variant/x230-$variant.config file add EDIT to config/coreboot-x230-$variant.config add

CONFIG_INTEL_GMA_ADD_VBT_DATA_FILE=y
CONFIG_INTEL_GMA_VBT_FILE="src/mainboard/$(MAINBOARDDIR)/fhd-data.vbt"

and put the patched VBT in that location (and name it fhd-data.vbt). The other two patches are for matching the modified VBT and for using VCC3P respectively,
0062-src-x230-fhd.txt
0063-src-x230-fhd-vcc3p.txt
and they go into the patches/coreboot-4.8.1 directory.

To be clear, the modified VBT disconnects the internal LVDS interface which is useful for energy saving and sparing headaches later with OSs that are confused by both displays existing (especially for brightness control purposes). It also allows, as i understand it, ``bios'' graphics to function -- but this point is a little moot as heads boots Linux anyway.

[computer-user123]

I am trying my best to follow these instructions, but I am having troubles building coreboot with the x230-FHD mod,
I keep getting errors building. My skill level is not very high, and I don't know where to begin to solve them.

Any chance one of you kind folks could upload the x230-FHD "VBT blob" ? (perhaps rapidshare, or something similar?)
I am confident that if I get this file, I can (hopefully) follow tslilc's comments (the one right before mine)

I had heads+qubes working on x230, with a clean qubes install, but after installing the nitrocaster mod, and 1080p lcd, I can no longer boot into OS. Some live distro's seem to boot ok, booting from usb, but I am having issues booting from HDD.

Thankfully, I was only beginning to learn about qubes, and didn't have anything valuable there that was not backed up!!

Any help for this n00b is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time!

[Thrilleratplay]

@computer-user123 The VBT is available in the coreboot 230 FHD patch. Although from what I have been told, the VBT does not impact how operating systems display. I have a nitrocaster mod in my x230 but it runs coreboot, not Heads, and am using coreboot without the patch. Your issue could be related to video settings in the kernel params but I honestly have no idea.

[computer-user123]

Thank you Thrilleratplay,
I did find the VBT file, and I have edited some of the configs, in hopes of building heads properly with the patch,

I am now stuck at building heads. I can't remember what system I was using, I have tried fresh ubuntu 16.04 / 18.04 / 20.04 VM's without any success.

I do remember building heads, and successfully flashing with a RPi3 and the chip clip. I built heads on the x230 machine with ubuntu 18.04 install on the HDD , IIRC.

Here are the errors I am getting while attempting to "make BOARD=x230"
https://pastebin.com/mRs1rYLw

Any help is GREATLY appreciated. I am now stuck with a machine that has display issues on every boot. :(

edit: added: @Thrilleratplay , I re-read your last comment, and I do agree that the VBT doesn't impact how OS's display, but I don't know what boot commands/arguments to add to get it to boot correctly with the EDP display.
The ultimate goal is to have HEADS remove the LVDS display altogether, as it does cause multiple display issues.

Thanks again for you time!

[tlaurion]

You are missing host build tools. From the logs, it seems that you do not have gnat?

[computer-user123]

@tlaurion , Just installed gnat, it gives the exact same errors.

tlaurion, maybe you could kindly recommend a distro (exact .iso, kernel/version) that you know will 100% work?

Thank you guys, for the quick replies, and the help.

[tlaurion]

Instructions for building are here, pointing to circleci recipe used to build boards with host dependencies, which builds with Debian-10 for each commit.

http://osresearch.net/Building/

Yes. Documentation needs love.

[computer-user123]

I have back-ported (really they basically all work verbatim) the patches in the Coreboot merge and created heads-style patches, but they won't do much (anything?) without the VBT blob, and heads does not distribute such blobs. I did not need to use a newer coreboot in the process.

In particular i forewent the external voltage source, bridged J1, and set up early power-on and so on to save a few joules. This all seems to work perfectly with heads, and i've been using it for some time.

I would be happy to share these later when i return home, but again, it depends on the VBT blob.

EDIT: Here they are, @arl4223 and @tlaurion.

To the boards/x230-$variant/x230-$variant.config file add

CONFIG_INTEL_GMA_ADD_VBT_DATA_FILE=y
CONFIG_INTEL_GMA_VBT_FILE="src/mainboard/$(MAINBOARDDIR)/data.vbt"

and put the patched VBT in that location. The other two patches are for matching the modified VBT and for using VCC3P respectively,
0062-src-x230-fhd.txt
0063-src-x230-fhd-vcc3p.txt
and they go into the patches/coreboot-4.8.1 directory.

To be clear, the modified VBT disconnects the internal LVDS interface which is useful for energy saving and sparing headaches later with OSs that are confused by both displays existing (especially for brightness control purposes). It also allows, as i understand it, ``bios'' graphics to function -- but this point is a little moot as heads boots Linux anyway.

I have tried compiling heads (spec. x230-flash) and (x230) with the changes you mention, and I haven't been able to succeed.

nothing I have tried will allow internal-edp to display. I can tell the bios is working, (with 2nd 8mb chip , ME_CLEANED , and 4mb x230-flash.bin flashed.)

I have tried 20x to compile, using "virgin" heads directories, and then applying changes and trying to get a different .bin from the changes.

Can you please go into more specifics?

so far, have a "virgin" heads directory, lets say "~/heads/" ,

To the boards/x230-$variant/x230-$variant.config file add

CONFIG_INTEL_GMA_ADD_VBT_DATA_FILE=y
CONFIG_INTEL_GMA_VBT_FILE="src/mainboard/$(MAINBOARDDIR)/data.vbt"

and put the patched VBT in that location. The other two patches are for matching the modified VBT and for using VCC3P respectively,
0062-src-x230-fhd.txt
0063-src-x230-fhd-vcc3p.txt
and they go into the patches/coreboot-4.8.1 directory.

I do this, and re-compile, with all needed software, and successfully generate a "heads-x230-flash-v0.2.0-1010-g22396fb-dirty-top.rom" in build/x230-flash , and heads-x230-v0.2.0-1010-g22396fb-dirty.rom in build/x230/

I have tried 10x++ calculating the sha256sum , and keep thinking that this time I compile, will be the one that works!!!!

[computer-user123]

I am literate enough to follow directions, and provide needed logs/build files, but I have tried many times to replicate an x230-flash or x230.(full.bin) , through heads, that works with nitrocaster x230-FHD mod ,

meanwhile, I have a working x230-FHD nitrocaster setup, but with coreboot alone, not heads.

[computer-user123]

worse case scenario, (obviously, this goes against the whole concept of heads) , can someone who has 230-flash (w/fhd) working , please DM me or PM me the top.bin file ? I have literally tried 20+ times in the last few weeks, and whatever i try, it will "work on the x230" , but the nitro-caster-enabled display is dead.....

I have not tried 2ndary VGA output or anything, but the 1080p panel, just wont light up and work, after compiling 20 diff times.
It works with coreboot, and works with orig bios, im astounded.