GOTEK Flashing

By highpuff
January 18, 2015
Projects
21

Introduction

Depending who you talk to, the actual flashing of an GOTEK drive with the Messsinger firmware is either easy or hell itself. Personally my GOTEK decdided to challenge me alot, but after a hile I won the fight. I spent several hours googling around, reading in forums and asked around among the friends I have.

So to spare some of you the trouble I had, I decided to document and publish it.

[styledbox type=”general” width=”512″ align=”center”][imageeffect type=”none” align=”alignleft” width=”25″ height=”90″ alt=”” url=”https://www.ikod.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/important.png” ]This guide could not have been done without the excellent job by Hervé Messinger. All the time and effort he has put in writing and debugging this code it is worth a lot for me and hopefully for you also since you read this guide.

Respect his wish and do not sell GOTEK drives with his firmware on it![/styledbox]

Things needed

Windows 7 Pro/Home/Ultimate ( I used Swedish in this guide ).
GOTEK Drive ( model SFR1M44-U100K was used in this guide ).
STMFlashLoader ( Download it here… ).
USB to Serial cable

The USB-to-Serial cable I used is a very common one that I bought from Kjell.com with part number 87898 and I had to pay around $12,50 USD for it. Sadly the adapter does not work with Windows 8/8.1. For reference the adapter looks like this.

Installing the flash application

Extract CortexAmigaFloppy.exe by dubbel-clicking on the icon.

A warning will be issued, click on “Run”.

Choose the path “C:\”.

Connect your GOTEK drive

The GOTEK model SFR1M44-U100K has the following pin-out.

Before you will be able to do any flash at all on the GOTEK you need to enable flashing by making short circuit “Flash Enable”. I prefer to solder pins instead of using the holes, you can find those at Kjell.com with the part number 87856. After the device has been put into “Flash Enable” you need to connect TX, RX, 5V and VSS, just as the picture below shows.

If you are using the same type of USB-to-Serial adapter as I do, the connection should me done as the picture below.

Many forums state that you have to use an external power source, such as the internal 5V from the floppy power. But using the 3.3V from the USB worked just fine for me. In my example below I will use COM-port 16, that might not be the correct port for you so please check your device manager in Windows 7 for what COM-port number the USB-to-Serial adapter has been assigned.

Every time I use STMFlashLoader.exe I will use the option –pn 16 since that tells the STMFlashLoader.exe that I will use COM-port 16.

It is time to flash the GOTEK

Press the Windows + “r” key to show the “Run” window.
Type in “CMD” without quotes and then click “OK”.
Type “cd C:\Cortex” and then press “Enter”
De-activate any active read-only-mode on the GOTEK with the following command (followed by pressing Enter):
STMFlashLoader.exe -c –pn 16 -p –drp
If the de-activation was successful you will be able to see the following text.

[styledbox type=”general” width=”512″ align=”center”]c:\Cortex>STMFlashLoader.exe -c –pn -p –drp
Opening Port [OK]
disabling read protection [KO][/styledbox]

Initiate the actual flashing with the command (followed by pressing Enter):
STMFlashLoader.exe -c –pn 16 -i STM32F1_Connectivity-line_128K -d –fn fw.hex –v
The STMFlashLoader.exe will reply with the following.

[styledbox type=”general” width=”512″ align=”center”]Opening Port [OK]
Activating device [KO]
Unrecognized device… Please, reset your device then try again
Please, reset your device then press any key to continue

Press any key to continue …

Opening Port [OK]
Activating device [KO]
No response from the target, the Boot loader can not be started.
Please, verify the boot mode configuration, reset your device then try again.
Please, reset your device then then press any key to continue
[/styledbox]

Do a reset on the GOTEK by short-circuit “RESET”. I used a naked copper wire and had it short-circued for about 2 seconds. The same time that you release “RESET, press “Enter” and IF you are lucky the flashing will begin! Please notice that this usually takes some timing and might not work on the first try.

A successful flashing

When the timing is right and you manage to flash the device it will look like something similar.

[styledbox type=”general” width=”512″ align=”center”]Opening Port [OK]
Activating device [OK]

DOWNLOADING …

downloading page 0 @0x 8000000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 1 @0x 8000800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 2 @0x 8001000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 3 @0x 8001800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 4 @0x 8002000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 5 @0x 8002800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 6 @0x 8003000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 7 @0x 8003800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 8 @0x 8004000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 9 @0x 8004800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 10 @0x 8005000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 11 @0x 8005800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 12 @0x 8006000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 13 @0x 8006800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 14 @0x 8007000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 15 @0x 8007800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 16 @0x 8008000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 17 @0x 8008800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 18 @0x 8009000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 19 @0x 8009800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 20 @0x 800A000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 21 @0x 800A800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 22 @0x 800B000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 23 @0x 800B800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 24 @0x 800C000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 25 @0x 800C800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 26 @0x 800D000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 27 @0x 800D800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 28 @0x 800E000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 29 @0x 800E800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
downloading page 30 @0x 800F000 size 1.42( KB ) [OK]

VERIFYING …

verifying page 0 @0x 8000000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 1 @0x 8000800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 2 @0x 8001000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 3 @0x 8001800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 4 @0x 8002000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 5 @0x 8002800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 6 @0x 8003000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 7 @0x 8003800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 8 @0x 8004000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 9 @0x 8004800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 10 @0x 8005000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 11 @0x 8005800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 12 @0x 8006000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 13 @0x 8006800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 14 @0x 8007000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 15 @0x 8007800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 16 @0x 8008000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 17 @0x 8008800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 18 @0x 8009000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 19 @0x 8009800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 20 @0x 800A000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 21 @0x 800A800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 22 @0x 800B000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 23 @0x 800B800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 24 @0x 800C000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 25 @0x 800C800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 26 @0x 800D000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 27 @0x 800D800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 28 @0x 800E000 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 29 @0x 800E800 size 2.00( KB ) [OK]
verifying page 30 @0x 800F000 size 1.42( KB ) [OK]

c:\Cortex>
[/styledbox]

Still doesn’t work??

Q: The STMFlashLoader.exe informs that the GOTEK unit still is write-protected / Read-only.
A: Change the flashing command to:

cd C:\Cortex
STMFlashLoader.exe -c –pn 16 -i STM32F1_Connectivity-line_128K -p –drp -d –fn fw.hex –v

Post Views: 26,065

Comments

Tom says:

November 14, 2015 at 13:06

Hi,

so … what’s the right command for flashing in cmd?

I only removed the write protection using:

STMFlashLoader.exe -c –pn 16 -p –drp

c:\Cortex>STMFlashLoader.exe -c –pn -p –drp
Opening Port [OK]
disabling read protection [KO]

After this i wrote this (the only thing i found in the net):

STMFlashLoader.exe -c –pn 16 -i STM32F1_Connectivity-line_128K -d –fn fw.hex –v (i changed the fw.hex with the firmware CortexAmigaFloppyEmulator_1.05a.hex).

What “STM32F1_Connectivity-line_128K” stands for?

I only get:

Opening Port [OK]
This version is not intended to support the [STM32F1_Connectivity-line_128K] target

What could be wrong and what is the correct commandline command to flash?

Thanks.

Reply
1. highpuff says:
  
  November 14, 2015 at 13:29
  
  Hi!
  
  It seems that my guide had gone back to an earlier version where double dashes had been stripped away and the link was gone.
  
  Please download the file I have on my page and then do everything again.
  
  Please note that some commands have -- instead of -
  
  Good luck 🙂
  
  Reply
Tom says:

November 14, 2015 at 17:15

Thanks pal, you’re great.

It worked great after some problems.

*thumbs up*

Greetz

Tom

Reply
Anse says:

June 6, 2016 at 19:23

Dear Ikod,

First, thank you for this blog. Your shared information is gold.

This question may sound crazy, but I try anyway. After you, have disabling the read protection would it then also be possible to “download” the original .Hex Gotek file down to your PC?

Reply
1. highpuff says:
  
  June 12, 2016 at 11:58
  
  Hi Anse,
  
  Thanks 🙂 Actually I have not tried to download the original .hex from the GOTEK. Might do that to test 🙂
  
  Reply
Garry says:

October 18, 2016 at 02:24

Hi,
I have a Gotek and Q6 Mossfet N Channel is blown. Would you have any idea what would be a working replacement Part number?
Thanks in Advance,
Garry

Reply
1. highpuff says:
  
  October 25, 2016 at 09:48
  
  I’m not 100% sure, but something like this: http://www.digikey.se/product-detail/en/diodes-incorporated/2N7002-7-F/2N7002-FDIDKR-ND/1837844
  
  Reply
mikrotik75 says:

February 23, 2017 at 18:03

Hello highpuff,

I would like to try your firmware. But before I overwrite the original firmware, I would like to make a backup. Do you have an idea how I can backup the original firmware before?

Best regards
mikrotik75

Reply
1. highpuff says:
  
  February 24, 2017 at 20:53
  
  Hi mikrotik75,
  
  With original firmware you mean the one that the GOTEK is shipped with?
  
  Reply
  1. mikrotik75 says:
    
    February 24, 2017 at 21:24
    
    Hi highpuff,
    
    yes, I would save the original GOTEK firmware.
    
    Reply
sknipas says:

November 1, 2017 at 02:14

Try using http://sourceforge.net/projects/stm32flash/
Works without reseting 😉

Reply
1. highpuff says:
  
  November 21, 2017 at 08:57
  
  Thanks for the tip! Will try it ASAP 🙂
  
  Reply
2. Shawn says:
  
  December 8, 2018 at 19:15
  
  This was the only way I could get my GOTEK to flash. Everything else I tried would not work. I used stm32flash.exe COM3 (which is what my programmer showed up as) and got a good response describing the drive. I did notice that it was showing to use a baud of 57600, which may have been a problem with other methods. Then I used stm32flash.exe -k COM3 to disable read protection. Followed by stm32flash.exe -u COM3 to disable write protection. And finally, stm32flash.exe -w fw.hex COM3 to write the firmware to the drive. Then added the speaker mod, OLED mod and plugged it into my A1200 and all was fine.
  
  Reply
3. Neil says:
  
  December 28, 2019 at 13:13
  
  This ended days of misery for me. thanks! This is a much more reliable way of flashing the device. Worked first time. Also worth mentioning that not all usb-serial devices are created equal. My arduino2serial didn’t work at all, but a cheap FT232 clone from amazon did.
  
  Reply
  1. highpuff says:
    
    February 7, 2020 at 13:04
    
    Happy that I could help 🙂
    
    Reply
Roger Hanscom says:

December 11, 2018 at 00:55

Hello Highpuff —
I don’t know what the “Messsinger firmware” is, but I re-flashed my Gotek with the “flash floppy” firmware. Used the ST tool, and it worked well. However, can’t get it to work in place of a conventional 3.5″ floppy on a plain-Jane PC. Get “not ready” or “busy” when I try to access it. Do you know if the Gotek works on a PC? Do you know of a spot on-line that might have a copy of the original firmware (installed on the Gotek when purchased) so I could try flashing that? See if I can get it to work on a PC?
Roger

Reply
1. highpuff says:
  
  December 14, 2018 at 16:48
  
  No, sorry I don’t know where to find the original GOTEK firmware. But what I do know is that FlashFloppy by KierF is said to work on a PC.
  
  Reply
lobo says:

September 28, 2019 at 00:31

Does Cortex firmware support piezo speaker in attacjed tp pins JB ?

Reply
1. highpuff says:
  
  September 30, 2019 at 15:06
  
  I have not tried it but I suppose it does. I have moved over to Flashfloppy now since it is still being developed.
  
  Reply
José Rui Dantas Gonçalves says:

March 13, 2020 at 12:59

Hi there.

Does anyone have the original gotek firmware that can share 1m44 version and the 720k

Kind regards

Reply
1. highpuff says:
  
  March 23, 2020 at 19:37
  
  Sorry, I do not 🙁
  
  Reply