[qboy]

I still don’t know what’s wrong with the Type-C port of my Hibook.  My Type-C->USB3.0 hub just won’t recognize any USB3.0 devices.  I tested the hub on my brother’s Hi10plus and it works fine without issue.  It also issues an error message of “Unknown  USB Device (Port Reset failed)” under device manager when I plug in a USB2 device (but the USB2 device works OK).
Does any one of you in the forum know which chip(s) on the motherboard control the Type-C port?  I want to see if I knock off any component there by accident.

[qboy]

Thanks for the Woo Wei Xiang and intrax for checking and replies.

intrax, I have provided the bios programming comments in this thread:

http://techtablets.com/forum/topic/hibook-is-dead-anyone-tried-bios-programming/

 

[qboy]

There are holes for the speakers only on the side edge of the metal casing.  Does anyone in this forum dare to try drilling some holes on the lower left and right corners of the tablet touch screen (right where the speakers located) to see if it improves the sound quality?  There is a chance that the touch screen will still be working by doing so.

 

[qboy]

I have tried equalizerAPO but I did not notice any difference.  It was as loud as before.  Did I miss any step?  I think my Hi12 is lound enough w/o equalizerAPO just by adjusting the speaker volume slide bar at the lower right corner.

[qboy]

I kinda fixed my win license key issue above, so please ignore my request above.

I have spent some time comparing the corrupted BIOS file and the official BIOS file (the one without wifi fix).  There are a number of binary chunks that are different.  I tried to replace one chunk at a time to test if the repaired BIOS works and I failed a few times.  Then, I noticed one chunk was like all ‘FF’ in the bad BIOS but not so in the official BIOS.  So I replaced that chunk with the corresponding chunk from the official BIOS file.  I re-programmed using this repaired version of the BIOS (which still contains the original OEM windows key) and luckily it works.
I have attempted a few times of such trial-and-error re-programming iterations before I managed to make it bootable.  I got lucky that it did not damage the tablet during the unsuccessful trials so try this at your own risk.

Next, I checked the windows license key again with ProduKey.  All the 3 keys (BIOS win10 key, win10 key and IE key) becomes the single OEM key like before.

[qboy]

I have used the CH341A programming kit (usb programmer+1.8v adaptor+clip and software) to program the EPROM chip.  It is revived now.  Lucky me!
I messed up my windows registry before it bricked so I also needed to recover win10 too.  I finished these 2 tasks by following the tutorials.

I have read the windows licence key using ‘ProduKey’ before my Hibook bricked and now read it again after it got revived.  It is different now:
– The BIOS windows key is no longer there anymore.  The BIOS windows key was the same as the windows key before my Hibook bricked.
– The windows key is different.  I guess it is whatever coming with the windows 10 image posted in the official download thread.
– The Internet Explorer key is different from the windows key.  Both IE key and windows key were the same before my Hibook bricked.

I hope there is a way to update the IE key, windows key and BIOS windows key to the one that I have before my Hibook bricked.
Any suggestion?

I’ve saved a copy of the corrupted BIOS using the CH341A EPROM programming kit.  Using Hex Editor, I can locate the original windows key in this corrupted BIOS file.  So I think the BIOS provided in the official download thread does not include an OEM windows key.

If someone can provide me the factory stocked BIOS file (with the windows key masked off), that will be great.  I can use Hex Editor to fill in my original windows key and re-program into my Hibook.

[qboy]

Thanks Bill for the answer.  I will also need to reinstall Windows once I revives my bricked hibook with the EPROM programmer later (waiting for the programmer kit to arrive).  I have messed up the registry and Windows could not boot successfully before it bricked.

I have recorded down the windows license key when my hibook was still running fine.  Is there a way to enter a different windows license key to replace an existing one on these tablets?  I don’t understand how the windows license key got stored in the BIOS and whether there is a way to change it.  And I don’t understand why you don’t encounter duplicate windows license key problem after you re-programmed BIOS that should have same win license key as others who programmed their tablets with the same BIOS.

[qboy]

I have use a volt-meter to check the voltage on the BIOS chip.  It has about 2V across pin-8 and pin-4 after pressing power button for 2 sec on my bricked Hibook.

I am waiting for my programming kit to arrive.

I heard from other places in the forum that the BIOS contains the windows license key.  If you program the BIOS with a chip programmer, your tablet will have the same window license key as other people’s tablets who have programmed their tab with the same BIOS image.  Windows won’t work because the windows key is used by other person.  Is this true?  How to work around this?

 

[qboy]

Mitch, do you have windows license key issue with your tablet after programming the BIOS chip?

I heard from other places in the forum that the BIOS contains the windows license key.  If you program the BIOS with a chip programmer, your tablet will have the same window license key as other people’s tablets who have programmed their tab with the same BIOS image.  Windows won’t work because the windows key is used by other person.  Is this true?  How to work around this?

I’ve recorded the windows activation key of my tablet before it was dead.

Still waiting for the programming kit to arrive.

[qboy]

Thank you, Mitch.   I just placed the orders for the programming kit in A**express.  Shipping takes 39-60days (alas).

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