Custom Firmware fails to install - bad NVRam?

phit03 · May 5, 2016

I should say first off that some of my recollections may be a little inaccurate and my knowledge of how the various memory components in the box are mapped/used is non-existent.

I purchased a box off eBay that appeared OK when I received it. I was able to schedule programs and record them using the base firmware. The box was running the latest Humax base firmware (1.03.12)
I then attempted to install the custom firmware (1.03.12 3.10) which installed OK from a USB stick and I was able to download the rest of the packages via a web browser albeit with some messages that I haven't seen before. I was then able to start loading other packages via the webif. Some package installs came up with error messages, others did not (examples below).

Code:

Collected errors:
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/css/EXTRA.css: No such file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/favicon.ico: No such file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/img/fav/57.png: No such file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/img/fav/72.png: No such file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/img/fav/114.png: No such file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/img/fav/144.png: No such file or directory.

I then decided to revert back to the base firmware and ran the commands via telnet to remove the custom firmware and reset the box to RMA mode.

On trying to re-install the base firmware from a USB stick, I received the E-FE error message although I did manage to complete the install after several retries.

Now the box doesn't seem to be able to save anything to NVRam (my assumption - I rescan the TV channels and save them but the Wizzard always appears on restart and there are no EPG entries ).

I was able to reinstall the custom firmware without any error messages but everytime I try to complete the download of the webif it says that it has completed (with the original error messages) or after a 2nd restart and going through the setup wizzard says that the webif is already installed (see below).

----------------------------------------------------

Code:

This may take some time depending on your Internet connection speed.

Connection to online repository at http://hpkg.tv successful!

Updating package list...

Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/Packages.gz.
Inflating http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/Packages.gz.
Updated list of available packages in /mod/var/opkg/base.
Package webif (1.3.0-3) installed in root is up to date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations, you have successfully installed the full web interface
and supporting packages. Please restart your Humax device using the
remote control to put it into standby, wait for it to fully shut down
and then start it up again.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

On restart I just get the wizzard and have to go through the channel scan again.

I suspect that there is a problem with the NVRam. Are there any tests that I can run to test the NVRam?
I have reformatted the hard disk and ran full checks via telnet on it and they come back clean.
Is the NVRam mounted as a separate partition?
Is the NVRam replaceable by an amateur or should I just consign the box to the bin?

raydon · May 5, 2016

phit03. This forum is the for Foxsat HDR satellite PVR.
Admins, can you please move this to the HD/HDR-FOX T2 Customised Firmware forum.

phit03 · May 5, 2016

Ooops!! Thanks raydon. Can I move this to another forum myself (can't see a way to do it) or does it have to be done by an Admin?

Black Hole · May 6, 2016

It's been done by an admin.

phit03 said:
Is the NVRam replaceable by an amateur or should I just consign the box to the bin?

If it is the EEPROM as you suspect, you're stuffed.

See also Newbies' Guide to the Forum (click), section "Code Listings and Terminal Output"

af123 · May 6, 2016

It's having trouble writing to your hard disk, not flash. Run a disk check from the telnet menu.

phit03 · May 6, 2016

af123 said:
It's having trouble writing to your hard disk, not flash. Run a disk check from the telnet menu.

(post edited to place terminal output in a code window).

I've run both the short and long disk checks from the telnet menu and they both say the disk is OK.

I swapped the disk for one from another machine that no longer picks up a TV signal. I used Windows to delete the partitions first.

On boot-up with the new disk it went through the familiar procees (by now) of running the wizard to set up the box.
It then discovered the hard disk wasn't formatted so I used the Humax menus to format it and restart the box.
It presented the wizard again and I went through the process of scanning the TV channels. Left the box for 20 minutes and checked the EPG - no EPG data and no time had been set.
Restarted again. Wizard again!
Thought that perhaps I needed to re-install the CFW again as it shows the CFW message on startup but I presume it's not on the newly formatted HDD.
Re-installed CFW 1.03.12/3.10 from USB stick. Install complete OK so I use the RC to shutdown the box and wait for the disk to stop spinning.
Restart the box - wizard again!
Telnet in and run fixweb but this fails so I run webif to install the web interface. Runs to completion but with the same errors as originally reported.
Close the box down using RC and wait for disk to spin down.
Restart - wizard again. Scan channels and use a browser to access the box and click on button to complete the install of the webif but it says that it's already successfully installed.

Don't know where to go from here. I assume that it's not a HDD problem could the data on the HDD and in NVRam be out of synch? The box doesn't seem to be able to save the channels before restart and the EPG is never populated. Should I use the telnet menu and run reset and rma to get back to vanilla mode and then re-install the corresponding Humax FW. Although I'm not sure if this will have any effect as I tried this before to no avail (it was while trying to re-install the vanilla 1.03.12 that I got the E-FE errors which made me think I might have a problem with the NVRam). Although after several attempts the vanilla install completed OK. It was at this point that I started getting the wizard on every restart and the EPG never populated.

If I compare the running processes on this box and a good box, there are a lot that aren't running on the problem box

I've appended the output from the telnet webif command below and also the browser output after selecting the "Download & Install the Full Web Interface" button. Also a list of running processes on the problem box.
I've just noticed that on the telnet menu it has a message at the top:

Menu version 1.20
Failed: disk I/O error

Hadn't noticed that before!

Also, the ps command isn't the same as the one on my other boxes. It's more restricted - no -ef option.

Code:

      /-------------------------\
      |  T E L N E T   M E N U  |
      \-------------------------/

  [ Humax HDR-Fox T2 (humax) 1.03.12/3.10 ]

   maint - Restart into maintenance mode.
    safe - Enable safe mode on next boot.
     rma - Enable return-to-manufacturer (RMA) mode.
   reset - Reset custom firmware environment.
   webif - Install web interface and supporting packages.
  fixweb - Re-install web interface.
    stat - Show current activity.
       x - Exit and close connection.
  reboot - Reboot the Humax.
    diag - Run a diagnostic.
     cli - System command line (advanced users).

Please select option: webif
Are you sure you wish to install the initial web interface [Y/N] y

Connection to online repository at http://hpkg.tv successful!

Updating package list...

Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/Packages.gz.
Inflating http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/Packages.gz.
Updated list of available packages in /mod/var/opkg/base.
Installing webif (1.3.0-3) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/webif_1.3.0-3_mipsel.opk.
Installing tcpfix (1.0.0) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/tcpfix_1.0.0_mipsel.opk.
Installing webif-channelicons (1.1.22-2) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/webif-channelicons_1.1.22-2_mipsel.opk.
Installing lighttpd (1.4.39-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/lighttpd_1.4.39-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing swapper (1.0.1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/swapper_1.0.1_mipsel.opk.
Installing service-control (2.1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/service-control_2.1_mipsel.opk.
Installing busybox (1.20.2-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/busybox_1.20.2-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing libpcre (8.37-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/libpcre_8.37-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing jim (0.76-2) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/jim_0.76-2_mipsel.opk.
Installing jim-oo (0.76) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/jim-oo_0.76_mipsel.opk.
Installing jim-sqlite3 (0.76) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/jim-sqlite3_0.76_mipsel.opk.
Installing sqlite3 (3.11.0) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/sqlite3_3.11.0_mipsel.opk.
Installing ncurses (5.9) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/ncurses_5.9_mipsel.opk.
Installing libreadline (6.2-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/libreadline_6.2-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing jim-cgi (0.7-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/jim-cgi_0.7-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing jim-binary (0.76) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/jim-binary_0.76_mipsel.opk.
Installing lsof (4.87) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/lsof_4.87_mipsel.opk.
Installing epg (1.2.3) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/epg_1.2.3_mipsel.opk.
Installing hmt (2.0.9) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/hmt_2.0.9_mipsel.opk.
Installing ssmtp (2.64) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/ssmtp_2.64_mipsel.opk.
Installing cron-daemon (1.18.3-3) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/cron-daemon_1.18.3-3_mipsel.opk.
Installing at (3.1.18) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/at_3.1.18_mipsel.opk.
Installing anacron (2.3-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/anacron_2.3-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing trm (1.1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/trm_1.1_mipsel.opk.
Installing openssl-command (1.0.0.d) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/openssl-command_1.0.0.d_mipsel.opk.
Installing nicesplice (1.8) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/nicesplice_1.8_mipsel.opk.
Installing id3v2 (0.1.11-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/id3v2_0.1.11-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing file (5.0.4) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/file_5.0.4_mipsel.opk.
Installing rsvsync (1.0.8) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/rsvsync_1.0.8_mipsel.opk.
Installing webif-charts (1.3) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/webif-charts_1.3_mipsel.opk.
Installing stripts (1.2.5-3) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/stripts_1.2.5-3_mipsel.opk.
Installing tmenu (1.12) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/tmenu_1.12_mipsel.opk.
Installing ffmpeg (0.10) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/ffmpeg_0.10_mipsel.opk.
Installing bzip2 (1.0.4) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/bzip2_1.0.4_mipsel.opk.
Installing lamemp3 (3.98.4) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/lamemp3_3.98.4_mipsel.opk.
Installing multienv (1.7-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/multienv_1.7-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing tcpping (1.1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/tcpping_1.1_mipsel.opk.
Installing e2fsprogs (1.42.13) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/e2fsprogs_1.42.13_mipsel.opk.
Installing wireless-tools (29-1) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/wireless-tools_29-1_mipsel.opk.
Installing dbupdate (1.0.0) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/dbupdate_1.0.0_mipsel.opk.
Installing recmon (2.1.0) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/recmon_2.1.0_mipsel.opk.
Installing inotify-tools (3.14) to root...
Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/inotify-tools_3.14_mipsel.opk.
Configuring ncurses.
Configuring libreadline.
Configuring sqlite3.
Configuring swapper.
128+0 records in
128+0 records out
134217728 bytes (128.0MB) copied, 3.295214 seconds, 38.8MB/s
Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 134213632 bytes
UUID=d9b6e0f2-ba96-4922-9f40-a568f8853a60
Configuring tmenu.
Configuring busybox.
Configuring lsof.
Configuring multienv.
Configuring ssmtp.
Configuring libpcre.
Configuring openssl-command.
Configuring bzip2.
Configuring tcpfix.
Disabling TCP window scaling
net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 0
Configuring webif-channelicons.
Configuring service-control.
Configuring lighttpd.
Configuring jim.
Configuring jim-oo.
Configuring jim-sqlite3.
Configuring jim-cgi.
Configuring jim-binary.
Configuring epg.
Configuring hmt.
Configuring cron-daemon.
Configuring at.
Configuring anacron.
grep: /mod//var/spool/cron/crontabs/root: No such file or directory
Configuring trm.
Configuring nicesplice.
Configuring id3v2.
Configuring file.
Configuring rsvsync.
Configuring webif-charts.
Configuring stripts.
Configuring lamemp3.
Configuring ffmpeg.
Configuring tcpping.
Configuring e2fsprogs.
Configuring wireless-tools.
Configuring dbupdate.
Configuring inotify-tools.
Configuring recmon.
Configuring webif.
*********************************
* Please wait while any shrunk recordings are flagged...
*********************************
/mod/var/opkg/info/webif.postinst: line 47: /mod/webif/lib/bin/strip-update: not
found
/mod/var/opkg/info/webif.postinst: line 49: /mod/webif/lib/bin/diskattrs: not fo
und
/mod/var/opkg/info/webif.postinst: line 72: at: not found
Collected errors:
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* copy_file_chunk: write: Invalid argument.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/css/EXTRA.css: No such
file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/favicon.ico: No such f
ile or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/img/fav/57.png: No suc
h file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/img/fav/72.png: No suc
h file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/img/fav/114.png: No su
ch file or directory.
* file_md5sum_alloc: Failed to open file /mod/webif/html/img/fav/144.png: No su
ch file or directory.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations, you have successfully installed the full web interface
and supporting packages. Please restart your Humax device using the
remote control to put it into standby, wait for it to fully shut down
and then start it up again.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


Press return to continue:


This may take some time depending on your Internet connection speed.




Connection to online repository at http://hpkg.tv successful!

Updating package list...

Downloading http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/Packages.gz.
Inflating http://hpkg.tv/hdrfoxt2/base/Packages.gz.
Updated list of available packages in /mod/var/opkg/base.
Package webif (1.3.0-3) installed in root is up to date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations, you have successfully installed the full web interface
and supporting packages. Please restart your Humax device using the
remote control to put it into standby, wait for it to fully shut down
and then start it up again.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Menu version 1.20
Failed: disk I/O error

      /-------------------------\
      |  T E L N E T   M E N U  |
      \-------------------------/

  [ Humax HDR-Fox T2 (humax) 1.03.12/3.10 ]

   maint - Restart into maintenance mode.
    safe - Enable safe mode on next boot.
     rma - Enable return-to-manufacturer (RMA) mode.
   reset - Reset custom firmware environment.
   webif - Install web interface and supporting packages.
  fixweb - Re-install web interface.
    stat - Show current activity.
       x - Exit and close connection.
  reboot - Reboot the Humax.
    diag - Run a diagnostic.
     cli - System command line (advanced users).

Please select option: cli

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Humax HDR-Fox T2 (humax) 1.03.12/3.10

To return to the menu, type: exit

humax# ps -ef
ps: invalid option -- e
BusyBox v1.20.2 (2013-01-02 19:13:09 GMT) multi-call binary.

Usage: ps

Show list of processes

        w       Wide output
        l       Long output
        T       Show threads

humax# ps -l
S   UID   PID  PPID   VSZ   RSS TTY   STIME TIME     CMD
S     0     1     0  1248   392 0:0   00:35 00:00:02 init
S     0     2     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [migration/0]
S     0     3     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [ksoftirqd/0]
S     0     4     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [migration/1]
S     0     5     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [ksoftirqd/1]
S     0     6     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [events/0]
S     0     7     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [events/1]
S     0     8     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [khelper]
S     0     9     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [kthread]
S     0    10     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [kblockd/0]
S     0    11     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [kblockd/1]
S     0    12     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [khubd]
S     0    13     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [kseriod]
S     0    14     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [pdflush]
S     0    15     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [pdflush]
S     0    16     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [kswapd0]
S     0    17     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [aio/0]
S     0    18     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [aio/1]
S     0    19     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [ata/0]
S     0    20     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [ata/1]
S     0    21     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [ata_aux]
S     0    22     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_0]
S     0    23     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_1]
S     0    24     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:02 [mtdblockd]
S     0    25     9     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [kpsmoused]
S     0    26     1  1240   404 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 {rcS} /bin/sh /etc/init.d/rcS
S     0    87     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [jffs2_gcd_mtd1]
S     0    88     1     0     0 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 [jffs2_gcd_mtd2]
S    99   153     1   936   388 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 /usr/bin/dnsmasq
S     0   160     1   816   176 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 /sbin/utelnetd -l /bin/tmenu -p 23 -d -B
S     0   188    26  1248   432 0:0   00:35 00:00:00 {S90settop} /bin/sh /etc/init.d/S90settop start
S     0   198   188  326m 29108 0:0   00:35 00:01:19 /usr/bin/humaxtv
S     0   369     1  1252   192 0:0   00:39 00:00:00 udhcpc -t 5 -T 10 -p /var/lib/humaxtv/udhcpc.eth0.pid -i eth0
S     0   407     9     0     0 0:0   00:39 00:00:00 [kjournald]
S     0   415     9     0     0 0:0   00:39 00:00:00 [kjournald]
S     0   447     9     0     0 0:0   00:39 00:00:00 [kjournald]
S     0   680     1  9164   408 0:0   00:39 00:00:00 /sbin/bootstrapd
S     0   739   160  1284   504 pts0  01:24 00:00:00 {tmenu} /bin/sh /bin/tmenu
S     0   776   739  1240   408 pts0  01:24 00:00:00 /bin/sh -l
R     0   786   776  1344   380 pts0  01:24 00:00:00 ps -l
humax#

Ezra Pound · May 6, 2016

It would help if you could place the above text in a :-

Code:

Code window using insert >> Code Icon

phit03 · May 7, 2016

Ezra Pound said:
It would help if you could place the above text in a :-

Code:

Code window using insert >> Code Icon

Sorry, I'm a bit thick

. How do I do that.

phit03 · May 7, 2016

Sorry, just found the option in the bar at the top of the reply window. Do you want me to resubmit with those bits in code windows?

Ezra Pound · May 7, 2016

No, #6 is O.K. now

Black Hole · May 7, 2016

phit03 said:
Sorry, I'm a bit thick . How do I do that.

See post 4. Then you can go back and edit post 1 as well.

Regarding your problems, I suggest going in and disconnecting the HDD. The HDR-FOX should then still work as a tuner. If it doesn't even do that, it's stuffed.

Steps for Resolving HDR-FOX Crash/Reboot Issues (click) - see section 3.

Custom Firmware fails to install - bad NVRam?

phit03

Member

raydon

Well-Known Member

phit03

Member

Black Hole

May contain traces of nut

af123

Administrator

phit03

Member

Ezra Pound

Well-Known Member

phit03

Member

phit03

Member

Ezra Pound

Well-Known Member

Black Hole

May contain traces of nut