i-Series CPU Board (CPUB) Issues: Diagnosis and Repair Solution

[stronghold]

Greetings to everyone on this forum.
I want to share a significant observation about i-series.
Based on my repair experience, I have currently restored CPUB boards from various models with different i-series symptoms. I can confidently state that 90% of unexplained problems are related specifically to this board.

Symptoms:

• Doesn't wake from sleep mode
• Boots to 25%
• Boots to 50%
• E301 error
• Random reboots
• Incorrect time display
• MANY OTHER SYMPTOMS UNRELATED TO MECHANICS

Let me start from the beginning...
05.2022 - The first board that came into my hands was from bizhub C257i. Symptoms: Doesn't wake from sleep mode. Only resolved by unplugging the 220V power, and after a few weeks, it completely stopped booting and froze at 25% loading.
The firmware installed was G00-P8. (!!!Attention!!! At that time there was no solution yet for flashing CPU1, CPU2, BootRom).
At that time, there was only the GX-** service tool for diagnosing boot issues with SPI-FLASH and SSD (microSD) board. Running the Service Tool, it showed me that SSD - NG (Change SSD). Checking Infohub, I found document "RFKM_BT 22 13707 EN" which states "The specification of PHISON and KIOXIA storage boards will be changed from 96 layer to 112 layer due to EOL of supplier around July 2022."

All attempts to unbind the Encryption Key were unsuccessful. The SSD was only visible in READ ONLY mode.
For SSD testing ideas, I decided to install a MicroSD card and flash it with the current (at that time) firmware. When removing the SSD, I saw that I had a PHISON 256GB 64 layer installed. After spending more time searching for information, I came across bulletin 06.2021 "KBA00048401". I'll describe briefly: It says that if you have a 64 layer SSD installed, you need to upgrade the Storage Controller firmware from E8FT10.7(G01-07) to E8FT10.8(G01-08). The bulletin states that for this procedure, I need to download firmware FW_ACM10Y0-F000-GXX-02.

Downloaded, installed according to the manual - the device wrote OK and requested a reboot. Armed with the GX-** service tool, I again tried to unbind the Encryption Key from the SSD to make it exit Read Only mode, but all without success.
Decided to switch the device to MicroSD.
Purchased a 128GB Kingston Canvas microSD Class10 UHS-I U3 (V30). Installed it in the device (pre-formatted as FAT32) and tried to flash. The firmware installed without problems and the device started. It gave an error (I don't remember which now) = Solution: In Service Mode -> System 2 - HDD - select MicroSD. The device booted with a Recovery error, I confirmed the Recovery procedure and voila, the device works!
But the funniest thing is that the problem with the device not waking from Sleep Mode - WAS NOT SOLVED!!!
Everything I tried... Firmware replacement, MicroSD replacement.... Many manipulations I performed until I gave up and ordered a new CPUB and new NVMe.
So, the non-working board was in my hands. Putting it ASIDE, I worked on current repairs. About a year passed, I came across this information.... Problem Solution PSKM_BT2313872EN "System clock of MFP Service Mode loses 80 seconds by updating Other FW"
The procedure is:

1. Connect the USB memory to the USB port and start firmware update.
2. When Firmware Update screen is displayed, enter magic sequence code.
3. Select [Other FW Update] > [Power Control CPU1] and start update.
4. Confirm that MFP restarts normally.
5. Update [Power Control CPU2] and [Boot Rom] as well.

Finding that old board, I TRIED to update all these points.
CPU1 flashed normally, CPU2 flashed normally... Started flashing BootRom - the device immediately rebooted, although at the end of flashing it should itself ask you to power off/on the MFP.
Trying to start the device - it showed no signs of life, EXCEPT for the mechanical part controlled by the Control Board, which has nothing to do with CPUB startup.
LET'S examine the CPUB board design. Noticed that the board has 3 SPI flash chips installed.
Since the board was non-functional in my hands, the SPI flash, installed it on the programmer and tried to do read/write.
Read - works
Write - goes into short circuit, meaning SPI flash read only status.
These SPI have read/write limits. If the limit is exceeded, SPI goes into read only mode.
After some manipulations, I replaced the SPI flash and.... OH MY GOD, the CPUB board started up and allowed updating CPU1, CPU2, BootRom.
I didn't stop there... Installing the old NVMe 64 layer, I tried to reset the encryption key and.... SUCCESS again awaited me!
After this, we urgently began installing updates across the entire i-series.
At this point, I have RESTORED over 20 boards, and CPUB replacement was not required.

[copyman]

Thanks for the detailed information.

[copyrooks]

Hytec is coming after you! Great report and very interesting

[tsbservice]

Thanks for sharing your experience with that much details. So based on your findings do you think we should start updating CPU1, CPU2 and BootRom on all devices as routine?

[copyman]

Hytec is coming after you! Great report and very interesting

Haha, yeah Hytec is doing the same thing and charging $223 for the "repair"

[adecanmin]

Thank you

[Synthohol]

for as long as i remember, no konica MFP can be trusted to come out of sleep mode. none.
most of us enable the ability to disable sleep and just make power save to the max.
never had any issues after that.

[aberock]

hi sir , i wonder what's the step to reset the encryption key ?

i got 5 board went into read mode only

[Jumping Jack Flash]

Haha, yeah Hytec is doing the same thing and charging $223 for the "repair"

I know 2 companies in Europe that repair CPU-B for the entire "I" series and have been doing so for a long time.
I didn't find out anything groundbreaking here.

[copyman]

I know 2 companies in Europe that repair CPU-B for the entire "I" series and have been doing so for a long time.
I didn't find out anything groundbreaking here.

To bad you don't think detailed explanation on how to repair the CPU and save $200+ (repair) or $500+ (new) is groundbreaking? Keep paying to get them repaired or buy new.

On another note, actually Konica Minolta should pay to repair the CPU. It's their shit design that is causing "i" series to have boot up issues making machine inoperable! I haven't seen the new "1" series yet but hope they corrected this CPU & storage board crap design!

[tsbservice]

I know 2 companies in Europe that repair CPU-B for the entire "I" series and have been doing so for a long time.
I didn't find out anything groundbreaking here.

So, what do you have to contribute to this forum instead of being a constant smart ass?

[Jumping Jack Flash]

So, what do you have to contribute to this forum instead of being a constant smart ass?

I think you are unnecessarily prejudiced.
I really appreciate what stronghold did because we probably went the same way,
but we gave that knowledge to a company that has the tools, capabilities and experience to properly repair CPU modules.
Do you think I'm smart.

[copyman]

Yes I think you are smart....a real SMART ASS!

[copytechtrouble]

Greetings to everyone on this forum.
I want to share a significant observation about i-series.
Based on my repair experience, I have currently restored CPUB boards from various models with different i-series symptoms. I can confidently state that 90% of unexplained problems are related specifically to this board.

Symptoms:

• Doesn't wake from sleep mode
• Boots to 25%
• Boots to 50%
• E301 error
• Random reboots
• Incorrect time display
• MANY OTHER SYMPTOMS UNRELATED TO MECHANICS

Let me start from the beginning...
05.2022 - The first board that came into my hands was from bizhub C257i. Symptoms: Doesn't wake from sleep mode. Only resolved by unplugging the 220V power, and after a few weeks, it completely stopped booting and froze at 25% loading.
The firmware installed was G00-P8. (!!!Attention!!! At that time there was no solution yet for flashing CPU1, CPU2, BootRom).
At that time, there was only the GX-** service tool for diagnosing boot issues with SPI-FLASH and SSD (microSD) board. Running the Service Tool, it showed me that SSD - NG (Change SSD). Checking Infohub, I found document "RFKM_BT 22 13707 EN" which states "The specification of PHISON and KIOXIA storage boards will be changed from 96 layer to 112 layer due to EOL of supplier around July 2022."

All attempts to unbind the Encryption Key were unsuccessful. The SSD was only visible in READ ONLY mode.
For SSD testing ideas, I decided to install a MicroSD card and flash it with the current (at that time) firmware. When removing the SSD, I saw that I had a PHISON 256GB 64 layer installed. After spending more time searching for information, I came across bulletin 06.2021 "KBA00048401". I'll describe briefly: It says that if you have a 64 layer SSD installed, you need to upgrade the Storage Controller firmware from E8FT10.7(G01-07) to E8FT10.8(G01-08). The bulletin states that for this procedure, I need to download firmware FW_ACM10Y0-F000-GXX-02.

Downloaded, installed according to the manual - the device wrote OK and requested a reboot. Armed with the GX-** service tool, I again tried to unbind the Encryption Key from the SSD to make it exit Read Only mode, but all without success.
Decided to switch the device to MicroSD.
Purchased a 128GB Kingston Canvas microSD Class10 UHS-I U3 (V30). Installed it in the device (pre-formatted as FAT32) and tried to flash. The firmware installed without problems and the device started. It gave an error (I don't remember which now) = Solution: In Service Mode -> System 2 - HDD - select MicroSD. The device booted with a Recovery error, I confirmed the Recovery procedure and voila, the device works!
But the funniest thing is that the problem with the device not waking from Sleep Mode - WAS NOT SOLVED!!!
Everything I tried... Firmware replacement, MicroSD replacement.... Many manipulations I performed until I gave up and ordered a new CPUB and new NVMe.
So, the non-working board was in my hands. Putting it ASIDE, I worked on current repairs. About a year passed, I came across this information.... Problem Solution PSKM_BT2313872EN "System clock of MFP Service Mode loses 80 seconds by updating Other FW"
The procedure is:

1. Connect the USB memory to the USB port and start firmware update.
2. When Firmware Update screen is displayed, enter magic sequence code.
3. Select [Other FW Update] > [Power Control CPU1] and start update.
4. Confirm that MFP restarts normally.
5. Update [Power Control CPU2] and [Boot Rom] as well.

Finding that old board, I TRIED to update all these points.
CPU1 flashed normally, CPU2 flashed normally... Started flashing BootRom - the device immediately rebooted, although at the end of flashing it should itself ask you to power off/on the MFP.
Trying to start the device - it showed no signs of life, EXCEPT for the mechanical part controlled by the Control Board, which has nothing to do with CPUB startup.
LET'S examine the CPUB board design. Noticed that the board has 3 SPI flash chips installed.
Since the board was non-functional in my hands, the SPI flash, installed it on the programmer and tried to do read/write.
Read - works
Write - goes into short circuit, meaning SPI flash read only status.
These SPI have read/write limits. If the limit is exceeded, SPI goes into read only mode.
After some manipulations, I replaced the SPI flash and.... OH MY GOD, the CPUB board started up and allowed updating CPU1, CPU2, BootRom.
I didn't stop there... Installing the old NVMe 64 layer, I tried to reset the encryption key and.... SUCCESS again awaited me!
After this, we urgently began installing updates across the entire i-series.
At this point, I have RESTORED over 20 boards, and CPUB replacement was not required.

"Noticed that the board has 3 SPI flash chips installed..." "After some manipulations, I replaced the SPI flash and...."

can you elaborate a bit more on these two points please?
where are the 3 spi chips located on the cpu?
did you de-solder the chips and replace them with a generic chip or one from another cpu?
does this require advance soldering experience and equipment or is it something that could be done "on a budget" in our workshop so to speak?

thanks

[stronghold]

tsbservice[/B];n1617656]

Thanks for sharing your experience with that much details. So based on your findings do you think we should start updating CPU1, CPU2 and BootRom on all devices as routine?

It needs to be updated, especially if the board revision is older than 06/01/2022—it's mandatory. And particularly if a 64-layer NVMe SSD is installed—that one as well.

When you flash CPU1 and CPU2, and a 64-layer NVMe SSD is installed, the 'Storage Board' button will appear in the 'Other FW' section (the firmware automatically detects the type of installed SSD).

image.png