HP 15C LE Memory Corruption After Self Test Performance
#1

In other threads today I reported failure of the self tests normal to the 15C and described on page 261 of the 15C LE manual.

But now, I can report that attempting to perform the "ON plus *" self test not only results in immediate "Error 9", but also corrupts any program that is in memory.

I had a Savage benchmark in memory consisting of the following steps:

001-42,21,12

002-44 0

003-43 8

004-42,7,9

005-0

006-42,21,0

007-1

008-40

009-11

010-43 11

011-43 12

012-12

013-43 25

014-25

015-42,5,0

016-22 0

017-43 7

018-43 32

(FWIW, putting a number in the X register, followed by "f" and "B" executes the Savage Benchmark for the number of iterations in X. If X holds the traditional 2500, the results will show in about 48 seconds.)

After turning the 15C LE off, then executing "ON plus *", I get "Error 9".

Then, when I go to program mode, here's what's I find there now:

001-42,21,11

002-44 1

003-43 8

004-42,7,9

005-0

006-42,21,0

007-44,20,12

008-11

009-43 11

010-43 12

011-12

012-43 25

013-26

014-42,5,24

015-22 0

016-43 7

017-43 32

Really really strange!

I did a reset with "ON plus -", got the expected and proper "Pr Error", then reprogrammed the 15C LE. I was able to get this conditionn to repeat.

I conclude that one won't want to try any self tests if there is something in program memory!

What else lurks out there? I've only spent a couple of hours with my new 15C LE.

I'm not all that happy with this, but it seems to have some, er, possibilities. :-)

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:50 p.m. after one or more responses were posted

#2

Programming synthetic there we will :-)
And for $79 what do you want?
Maybe changing the system and putting the WebOS

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:06 p.m.

#3

An updated 15C with micro SD card storage would have been a quantum leap in technology. never mind about keeping true to it's original specs.

#4

But...any SD card capability would likely eat the 2032 batteries up.

#5

Those are not valid self tests. They were supposed to be disabled or removed. I also told them to remove any mention of that in the manual. Apparently it was left in.


Simple solution, don't do it. :-)

TW

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:31 p.m.

#6

So when will the errata sheets be available ?

#7

Monday, when I give it to the support guy to put in the call center. And they are never availiable.

TW

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:41 p.m.

#8

The SD card spec allows the cards to draw 150mA at 3.3V, and even more in some of the newest high-speed modes. Coin cells are rated for a few mA maximum.

#9

Quote:
Those are not valid self tests. They were supposed to be disabled or removed. I also told them to remove any mention of that in the manual. Apparently it was left in.

Simple solution, don't do it. :-)


Well, er, of course.

But I have the honor to suggest that is not an elegant solution to something that is, after all, canonical in the 15C LE manual.

It is a condition fairly easily detected. :-)

Edited: 9 Sept 2011, 9:48 p.m.

#10

That's something beta-testers missed :-)

Well, I hope ON/. works. It does on my 12C+.

#11

Quote:
That's something beta-testers missed :-)

Time for the master betas! :-)

#12

Quote:
But now, I can report that attempting to perform the "ON plus *" self test not only results in immediate "Error 9", but also corrupts any program that is in memory.

Huh, sounds like something is getting stomped on elsewhere as
a result of the test. The system self test does cycle through
memory alternately writing "55555555555555" and "aaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
patterns but takes care not to permanently alter data.

#13

Will updated firmware be made available that either locks out those tests that aren't suppose to be there, or implements them?

-Katie

#14

I think the beta testers were told the self-tests were not there so they assumed they were not there! Doh!

#15

Quote:
The SD card spec allows the cards to draw 150mA at 3.3V, and even more in some of the newest high-speed modes. Coin cells are rated for a few mA maximum.

True. But demountable SPI EEPROM in the new HP Voyager Flash
Card format would have worked quite well from all concerns.

Looks like a missed opportunity to seed a proprietary media
design into a captive market.

#16

2000 line programs written in the cryptic numeric codes? :)

Quote:
An updated 15C with micro SD card storage would have been a quantum leap in technology. never mind about keeping true to it's original specs.

#17

These really could be limited edition collectors items :)

Daniel



Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  HP-42S ESD self-test Yriarte 2 1,516 10-24-2013, 09:08 AM
Last Post: Yriarte
  OT - A lucky find - Busicom Handy-LE LE-120A Cristian Arezzini 2 1,782 09-26-2013, 04:43 AM
Last Post: Cristian Arezzini
  So I took a test with my Prime today ... kris223 12 3,362 09-25-2013, 07:19 PM
Last Post: kris223
  Best way to test HP-71B RAM modules (the 32K/96K ones etc.)? Philippe Lasnier 4 2,351 09-25-2013, 09:54 AM
Last Post: Philippe Lasnier
  Low power warning for HP-15C LE and batteries Nick_S 1 1,380 09-16-2013, 09:34 AM
Last Post: Hans Brueggemann
  Concern about Voyager keyboard test Matt Agajanian 2 1,403 08-30-2013, 07:56 PM
Last Post: Matt Agajanian
  HP 15C-LE replacement still available? Borja 16 5,381 08-22-2013, 11:16 AM
Last Post: Michael de Estrada
  JTAG on HP-12C and HP-15C LE Ingo 5 2,385 07-01-2013, 06:37 PM
Last Post: Paul Dale
  HP 15C LE extremums Richard Berler 29 8,542 05-20-2013, 03:26 PM
Last Post: Dieter
  Voyager Self Test Mike (Stgt) 5 1,914 05-16-2013, 03:28 PM
Last Post: Mike (Stgt)

Forum Jump: