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How to fix an XO laptop suffering from problems with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_clock Real Time Clock] (RTC, or clock). If the laptop has security enabled, this problem may prevent booting, usually with the error "Invalid System Date".
This page is how to fix a secure [[Hardware|XO laptop]] locked up due to a problem with the Real Time Clock.


=Problem Description=
= Problem Description =


XO laptops with this problem show one of two symptoms:
Laptops with this problem show one of these symptoms:
# The laptop screen lights up and shows "Invalid System Date" and then powers off, or continues to boot, seeking an activation lease. Activating the laptop will result in the laptop working temporarily, but returning to the same problem on next boot. Affects XO-1, XO-1.5, XO-1.75 and XO-4.
# The power LED turns on, but the screen never turns on (not even the backlight). The microphone LED may flash briefly, but stays off. This symptom can only happen with [[Open_Firmware|OFW]] versions [[OLPC_Firmware_q2d05|Q2D05]] and [[OLPC_Firmware_q2d06|Q2D06]].
# The laptop screen lights up and shows "Invalid System Date" and then powers off. This symptom can happen with any OFW version, but [[OLPC_Firmware_q2d05|Q2D05]] and [[OLPC_Firmware_q2d06|Q2D06]] usually exhibit the first symptom instead.
# The power LED turns on, but the screen never turns on (not even the backlight). The microphone LED may flash briefly, but stays off. This symptom can only happen with very old versions of [[Firmware|firmware]] ([[OLPC_Firmware_q2d05|Q2D05]] and [[OLPC_Firmware_q2d06|Q2D06]]). Affects XO-1 only.
# The power LED turns on for only about 0.8 of a second, then turns off, and the screen never turns on<!-- mechanism: real time clock oscillator manually stopped by firmware or kernel programmer -->. Affects XO-1 only.
# The boot animation never stops<!-- mechanism: time_t is negative due to kernel seeing year 1963, elapsed time calculations fail in powerd, and so powerd never unfreezes the display on boot, see #12621 -->. Affects 12.1.0 and 13.1.0 only.


= Diagnosis =
The problem is caused by bad date information stored in the Real Time Clock (RTC) chip. There are three ways that the date could become bad:

These symptoms are caused by bad date information stored in the clock.

= Cause =

The following diagram shows the causes of the problem. The colours have meaning:
* blue boxes are possible signs, symptoms, or observations,
* green boxes are deduced causes, or diagnosis,
* red boxes are the resultant problems.

[[Image:Ofw-fix-clock-causes.png]]

There are several causes:
* The clock lost all power, which is by far the most common cause. The clock has a "coin cell" battery (ML1220) that powers the clock when the AC and the main battery are not present. Power may have been lost because:
** The battery discharged during storage. This is common.
** Some of the early production XO-1 laptops were made with a defective holder for the clock battery, which can come loose or even pop out during normal handling.
** Leakage from the battery, causing corrision, a loss of contact between the battery and the metal contacts inside the holder. [http://dev.laptop.org/~dsd/20090406/ Some photos here.]
** The clock battery ceased to work.
* The factory did not set the date. This is rare.
* The factory did not set the date. This is rare.
* The user explicitly set the date to an incorrect value, either by mistake or as an attempt to defeat activation security. This is also rare.
* The user set the date to an incorrect value, either by mistake or as an attempt to defeat activation security. This is also rare.

* The RTC chip lost all power. This should have been rare, because the RTC chip has a "coin cell" backup battery that powers the RTC chip when the AC and the main battery are not present. Unfortunately, some of the early production machines were manufactured with a defective holder for the coin cell battery. On those machines, the coin cell battery can become loose or even pop out entirely during normal shipping and handling.
See [[/Background|background for how this works]].

= Root Cause =

This is a firmware bug. The problem is fixed in the latest firmware, compare the diagram above to the new diagram below, which shows how the latest firmware will respond:

[[Image:Ofw-fix-clock-causes-q2f19.png]]

For laptops without a lease, they will boot normally with the date set to 2013. For laptops with a lease, they will boot seeking a new lease from the school network.

However, the bug strikes before the firmware checks for a new version, so you must repair.

= Repair =

The repair process is:
# [[#Check_the_battery_and_holder|check the battery and holder]],
# [[#Set_the_clock|set the clock]],
# [[#Upgrade_the_firmware|upgrade the firmware]],
# [[#Charge_the_clock_battery|charge the clock battery]], and;
# [[#Check_the_clock_is_set_after_removing_power|check the clock is set after removing power]].

Here are English and French diagrams of the process:

{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" class="wikitable"
! English
! French
|-
| [[File:Debrick-4.png|thumb|centre|]]
| [[File:Debrick-4-fr.png|thumb|centre|]]
|}

== Check the battery and holder ==

To access the clock battery, remove the main battery, and power cable, and follow the [[Disassembly_top|instruction for removing the back cover]].

=== XO-1 ===

Examine the battery and its holder. Is there any sign of acid leakage? Can the battery move in its holder?

On newer models of the XO-1, the clock battery and its holder may be covered by a circular strip of rubber to try to fix this. You can remove this cover by peeling it off.

Remove the battery from the socket, by prying underneath with a plastic tool. (Just removing the battery will fix symptom #3, when the power LED turns on for under a second). Check for signs of leakage underneath the battery, in the holder, and on the motherboard and components around the battery holder.

'''If there are signs of battery leakage''':
# Remove the leaking clock battery and discard it.
# Carefully clean any leakage/corrosion in the battery holder, using e.g. a damp toothbrush.
# Neutralize the leakage/corrosion area with some baking soda.
# Using a magnifying glass, look for damage to surrounding components or electrical tracks
#* If present, you are advised to treat the motherboard as broken or dead-on-arrival.
# Obtain a replacement cell battery (these parts are very standard) and install in the socket.
#* Any decent electrical/DIY store will stock these, they are known as ML1220 batteries and commonly found in calculators.
#* (Never use CR1220; they are not designed to be recharged, will not run the clock for very long, may leak, and may erupt in fire.)

[[image:white_battery.jpg|thumb|If your battery holder is white, then you shouldn't have a problem here.]]
[[image:motherboard.jpg|thumb|The battery holder in the motherboard.]]
[[image:XO_bad_rtc.jpg|thumb|Bad clock battery holder (from earlier laptops model) - notice the straight grip]] [[image:XO_good_rtc.jpg|thumb|Good clock battery holder - notice the curved grip]]


'''If the battery does not fit well in the socket''', carefully examine the shape of the socket. Early laptops had a defective battery holder, pictured here. The photos do not make the problem very obvious; the issue is that the shape of the battery holder does not 'grip' the battery. In other words, a side angle view of the battery holder should be shaped like this:

(_____)

However, the shape of the defective units is more like:

\_____/

(these crude diagrams are exaggerated)

If your XO has a defective holder, you must re-seat the clock battery and secure it so it doesn't come out again. This can be done by putting a drop of glue where the battery contacts the holder, away from the metallic contact.
* The best glue that Mitch has found for this purpose is clear solvent-based household cement. Technically, it is "nitro cellulose" cement. It is also known as "model airplane glue", marketed under various trade names such as "Duco Cement", "Tarzan's Grip". Loctite "Stik'n Seal", etc (Alleskleber, in Germany, maybe?). The solvent in this kind of cement is toxic and flammable, so keep it away from children!
* Stronger adhesives like epoxy or cyanoacrylate (super glue) would probably work too, but it might be difficult to remove the battery later without damaging the holder.
* Don't use "Gorilla Glue"; that's polyurethane, which foams as it cures.
* Don't use RTV silicone; the common variety releases corrosive acetic acid as it cures - if it smells like vinegar, don't use it on electronics.
* Don't use hot melt glue; because it doesn't stick very well to these materials.
* Ordinary "white glue" (PVA, or polyvinyl acetate) will probably work, but it flows easily and goes down underneath the battery - perhaps okay if you are careful not to use too much.

If your XO had a black rubber strip covering the battery in the holder, install the cover again now.

=== XO-1.5 ===

[[image:Xo_1_5_coincell.jpg|thumb|New XO-1.5 battery holder]]

On the XO-1.5, the clock battery is not in a holder. The battery is encased in shrink tubing, and connected to the motherboard with a short cable. (Eliminating the socket was an attempt to reduce the number of socket issues experienced on XO-1.) The battery, in its protective tubing, is stuck down to the motherboard to prevent it from moving around.

Even though the same standard ML1220 is used, replacing the battery alone is difficult. The shrink tubing will be destroyed as you open it, and it will be difficult, and perhaps even dangerous, to reconnect the wires to a replacement battery.
* It may be possible to repair the tubing with some tape, or to discard the tubing and create your own enclosure with some electrical tape.
* The battery shipped in the laptop is a ''leggy'' battery - it has the wires spot-welded to the battery during fabrication. It is a very bad idea to attempt to solder wires to a new battery (it can explode). It is far better purchase ''leggy'' replacement batteries (e.g. [http://www.pchub.com/uph/laptop/602-25682-4052/Sanyo-ML1220-Battery-Coin-Rechargeable.html here, maybe]).

If available, one could also take the entire component (connector + cable + tubing + battery) from another laptop, or from a spare parts supply sourced from OLPC.

=== XO-1.75 ===

See above, the same battery, packaging, and wiring is used as in the XO-1.5.

=== XO-4 ===

See above, the same battery, packaging, and wiring is used as in the XO-1.5.

== Set the clock ==

There are several methods to fix the clock, depending on the symptoms:

* if the [[#If_the_screen_turns_on_and_you_can_boot_into_Linux|screen turns on and you can boot into Linux]], the easiest situation, which happens if the laptop has activation security disabled, or the laptop without a date is able to retrieve an activation lease,
* if the [[#If_the_screen_turns_on_but_you_cannot_enter_Linux|screen turns on but you cannot enter Linux]], the next easiest,
* if the [[#If_the_screen_does_not_turn_on|screen does not turn on]], the worst situation, the power LED will be on, but a bug will stop the firmware before it turns on the screen, or;
* if the [[#If_the_screen_does_not_turn_on_and_nor_does_the_power_LED|screen does not turn on and nor does the power LED]].

The clock must be set to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTC Coordinated Universal Time] value, rather than your local time.

(The numbers in some of the commands below are the time and date in UTC ({{CURRENTYEAR}}-{{CURRENTMONTH}}-{{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTHOUR}}:{{CURRENTMINUTE}}:{{CURRENTSECOND}}), but in reverse order; second, minute, hour, day of month, month, and year. When you visited this page, our Wiki server used it's own clock to generate this command for you.)

=== If the screen turns on and you can boot into Linux ===

In this situation, you must boot Linux, login at a root terminal (e.g. the [[Terminal_Activity|Terminal activity]], or press Ctrl+Alt+F2 to get to the [[Console]]).

Set the system time, type:
sudo date --utc --set="{{CURRENTYEAR}}-{{CURRENTMONTH}}-{{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTHOUR}}:{{CURRENTMINUTE}}:{{CURRENTSECOND}}"

Then copy the system time into the clock, type:
sudo hwclock --systohc

On XO-1 with releases 12.1.0 and 13.1.0, the above may hang for ten seconds and show a warning<!-- <trac>12622</trac> --> "''wait for clock tick timed out''". The hang and warning may be ignored, the clock will have been set. If you would like to avoid the hang and warning, type:
sudo hwclock --systohc --noadjfile --utc

=== If the screen turns on but you cannot enter Linux ===

In this situation, you must use firmware to set the clock:

*[[collection stick|disable the security system]],
*turn on the laptop and get to the [[Ok]] prompt,
*set the clock, type:
select /rtc decimal {{CURRENTSECOND}} {{CURRENTMINUTE}} {{CURRENTHOUR}} {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTH}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} set-time

You can now turn off the machine by pressing the power button for a few seconds.

=== If the screen does not turn on ===

In this situation, you must:

* connect a [[Serial_adapters|serial adapter]] to the XO-1 and another computer, see [[Serial_adapters#XO-1|where to connect it]],
* use [[Serial_adapters#Software|a serial terminal program]] on the other computer to access the XO-1 via the adapter,
* turn on the XO-1, and you should soon see "Page Fault" on the serial terminal, followed by an "ok" prompt. See [[/Log/Q2D06]] for what it may look like. If you don't see "Page Fault", there are several possibilities:
** if you don't see anything on the serial terminal, either
*** the serial adapter is not connected correctly,
*** the serial terminal is not configured correctly, see [[serial adapter#software|settings]], or
*** something else is wrong with the XO-1, perhaps it is quite quite dead and it's not an instance of this known clock problem after all.
** if you see a lot of startup messages, and the last one isn't "Page Fault" followed by "ok", then the machine is not suffering from the this known clock problem, but may have a broken display or display cable.
* using the serial terminal, type this command to set the clock:
select /rtc decimal {{CURRENTSECOND}} {{CURRENTMINUTE}} {{CURRENTHOUR}} {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTH}} {{CURRENTYEAR}} set-time
* restart the laptop, type this command:
bye
* check that the screen lights up.

See [[/Log/Q2D06]] for what is expected on the serial terminal.

(There are numerous opportunities for error, so if you have more than one XO-1 laptop practice serial communications with working ones before debugging broken ones).

=== If the screen does not turn on and nor does the power LED ===

You must remove the clock battery briefly to fix this problem. If you did that, and the problem persists, then the cause is not the clock. Have the motherboard serviced.

== Upgrade the firmware ==

Upgrade the firmware to make sure this problem does not return. See [[upgrading firmware]] for the latest firmware.

If you had the blank-screen problem, the firmware must be upgraded to the latest version. If not, and the clock loses power again, the repair will need a serial adapter again.

If you wish to manually upgrade, and you used a serial adapter and saw the "Page Fault" message, you must probe the PCI and USB before manually upgrading, type:
probe-pci probe-usb flash u:\q2f19.rom

Or set the clock, allow time for the clock battery to charge, and use the usual [[upgrading firmware]] method.

== Charge the clock battery ==

Leave the laptop turned on for at least 30 minutes to charge the clock battery to normal levels.

* Half an hour is the [[/Background|minimum charge time]] before testing, for which you can use the main battery,
* The best charging time is 24 hours before storage, for which you must use a power adapter,
* Charging does not happen with the laptop on and suspended; the power LED must be on and not flashing,

Easiest method is to remove all USB drives, then hold down all four game keys while turning the power on; the laptop will eventually fail to boot and wait for you to ''Use power button to power off'', with the start time displayed in UTC:

Boot failed
OLPC C2, 256 MiB memory installed, S/N SHC92805B50
OpenFirmware Q2F19 EC Firmware Ver:1.2.1 {{CURRENTYEAR}}-{{CURRENTMONTH}}-{{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTHOUR}}:{{CURRENTMINUTE}}:{{CURRENTSECOND}} UTC
Use power button to power off

Or boot to [[Ok]] prompt.

Or boot to Linux and disable automatic power management.

== Check the clock is set after removing power ==

Verify that the laptop is able to retain the time and date, otherwise this problem may return.

# Unplug the charger,
# Remove the main battery from the underside of the laptop, (not the clock battery),
# Leave the laptop without power for five minutes,
# Connect a power source (the battery, or the charger) and turn on the laptop,
# Check the clock using either the [[Ok]] prompt or by running <tt>date</tt> in the Terminal activity.

If the clock is still wrong, then 3 situations are possible:
# The clock battery is faulty and must be replaced.
#* You can verify this by installing a known-working battery, reprogramming the clock, and then repeating this verification test. Test pass would confirm this problem.
# There is a problem with the battery holder or the motherboard, so the laptop should be replaced.
#* You can verify this by installing a known-working battery, reprogramming the clock, and then repeating this verification test. Test fail would confirm this problem.
# If you are dealing with a defective shape battery holder, perhaps the clock battery is (still) not maintaining electrical contact with the connector inside the battery holder.

= Automated repair script =


XO-1 only.
"RTC chip lost power" is by far the most common cause of the problem.


Repair center volunteers have made an automated script to repair laptops in bulk or as a method with fewer steps. The script can be run on a Linux computer or on an XO laptop. We call this second computer your "debricker".
=Repair Process=


To use it you must install ''pyserial''. You must be online when running (any of) the three following commands:
Fixing the problem has three phases:
* Securing the battery in the holder so the problem doesn't happen again
* Setting the date
* Updating Open Firmware to the current version


For Ubuntu or Debian, type:
==What You Will Need==
sudo apt-get install python-serial


For Fedora, such as on an XO, type:
See the [[Disassembly|disassembly guide]]. To secure the battery, you will need some glue as described later in [[#Fix the loose battery]].
sudo yum install -y pyserial


Wait for the install to complete.
The requirements for the rest of the repair depend on which of the two symptoms the system displays.
*If the screen does not turn on (symptom 1), you will a special hardware adapter - an [[Serial_adapters|OLPC serial adapter]] - and a second working computer (XO or otherwise).
*If the screen does turn on (symptom 2), you will need a [[Activation and Developer Keys#Getting a Developer Key if the Machine Won't Boot|"developer key"]] for this machine, on a USB storage stick.


Then download and install d6.py, type:
==Fix the loose battery==
wget --timestamping http://dev.laptop.org/~rsmith/d6.py


Connect a [[Serial adapters|serial adapter]] between the bricked XO (serial end of the cable) and the debricker computer (USB end of the cable). Then on the debricker computer type:
To access the Real Time Clock battery, follow the [[Disassembly_top|instruction for removing the back cover]].
python d6.py


The script will search for the first USB serial port on the system that is available for use. (If your serial connection for the XO is not on the first available port then either modify the script to look for the other port first or open the other serial port with another program so its not available for use by d6.py.)
First, you must re-seat the coin cell battery in its holder and secure it so it doesn't come out again. One way to secure it is to put a drop of glue where the battery contacts the holder, away from the metallic contact. The best glue that Mitch has found for this purpose is clear solvent-based household cement. Technically, it is "nitro cellulose" cement. It is also known as "model airplane glue", marketed under various trade names such as "Duco Cement", "Tarzan's Grip". Loctite "Stik'n Seal", etc. (Alleskleber, in Germany, maybe?) The solvent in this kind of cement is toxic and flammable, so keep it away from children! Stronger adhesives like epoxy or cyanoacrylate (super glue) would probably work too, but it might be difficult to remove the battery later without damaging the holder. Don't even think of "Gorilla Glue"; that's polyurethane, which foams as it cures. RTV silicone would be good, except that the common variety releases corrosive acetic acid as it cures - if it smells like vinegar, don't use it on electronics. Ordinary "white glue" (PVA, or polyvinyl acetate) will probably work, but it flows easily and goes down underneath the battery - that is probably okay if you are careful not to use too much. Hot melt glue doesn't work, because it doesn't stick very well to these materials.


Once the script is up and running then turn to the bricked XO and power it on. Wait for the script to say it has finished. When it says this, the bricked XO is repaired, and you can disconnect and test.
==Serial Procedure - for symptom 1 (screen does not turn on)==


The bricked XO will have been unlocked.
===Hook the laptop up to another one through the serial port===


The date and time on the bricked XO will have been set to the date and time on the debricker.
# Using an [[Serial_adapters|OLPC serial adapter]], connect the laptop to your personal laptop
# Use a program like minicom (for Linux) or HyperTerminal (for Windows) to access the laptop serially
# The serial port settings should be 115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit


To prevent the problem from returning, upgrade to the latest firmware. See [[upgrading firmware]].
=== How to set up an XO as a serial terminal ===
# Install any build 650 or later
# Boot the laptop, and connect to the internet.
# Go to the terminal and: yum install minicom
# After it is done, type: minicom -s (to set up minicom)
# Go to 'Serial port setup' and hit enter.
# Press 'a' and change it to /dev/ttyUSB0, and then hit enter twice.
# Go to 'Modem and dialing' and hit enter.
# Clear the contents of both 'Init string' and 'Reset string' (you get to those by hitting 'a' and 'b'
# Hit enter to get back to the 'configuration' menu.
# Go to 'Save setup as..' and hit enter.
# Name the setup as 'USB0' and hit enter.
# Go to 'Exit from Minicom' and hit enter.
# Now, all you have to do is type: minicom USB0 (this will open minicom to the settings you want)


= Reproducing =
===Getting to the prompt===


How to reproduce the problem, or test for it in different firmware versions:
''All these commands are typed on the "other" laptop that is connected serially to the one with the bad clock''
* [[Disassembly|disassemble]] the laptop to expose the motherboard,
* connect a [[Serial adapter|serial adapter]] and a terminal, and test it by turning on the laptop,
* turn off the laptop,
* remove DC power cable and battery,
* disconnect the clock battery,
* wait a short time (four seconds on XO-1, 15 seconds on XO-1.75 and XO-4),
* reconnect the clock battery,
* insert DC power cable,
* turn on the laptop,
* note the response, (e.g. ''RTC cleared''),
* turn off the laptop,
* repeat the test with various alternate conditions.


= Measuring Charge Current =
* Connect a serial terminal (115200,8,n,1) and power on the machine. You should see "Page Fault" on the serial terminal, followed by an "ok" prompt. If you don't see "Page Fault", there are several possibilities:
** If you don't see anything on the serial terminal, either
*** The serial terminal is not connected correctly, or
*** Something else is wrong with the machine - the machine is quite quite dead and it's not an instance of the symptom 1 RTC problem.
** If you see a lot of startup messages, but the last one isn't "Page Fault" followed by "ok", then the machine is largely working, but the problem is not symptom 1 RTC problem. If the screen comes on, you should be following the "Developer Key Procedure" below, not this serial procedure.
* To set the date, do the following commands at the ok prompt (hitting enter after each one):
ok select /rtc
ok decimal
ok sec min hour day month year set-time
* sec, min, hour, day, etc in the previous command should be numbers correlating to the current date. For example:
ok 00 48 3 13 12 2007 set-time
* Insert a USB key containing the [[Firmware#Firmware_Releases|latest firwmare version]]. You will need to download the ''.rom'' file and place it on the key.
* To update the firmware, type the following command line at the ok prompt, substituting the correct .rom filename:
ok probe-pci probe-usb flash u:\q2d16.rom


To measure charge or discharge current of the clock battery, locate the series resistor from the following list, then use a multimeter to measure the voltage across the resistor. Use Ohms Law to calculate the current.
* The machine should reboot automatically afterwards. You can then remove the USB stick, and the system should work correctly. You can disconnect the serial adapter and reassemble the machine.


* XO-1, R250 100 ohms for discharge, R275 1k for charge, see [[Media:XO-1-C2-REV-J-R250-R275.jpg|photograph]],
==Developer Key Procedure - for symptom 2 (screen turns on)==
* XO-1.5, R309, 1k,
* XO-1.75, R35, 1k 1%,
* XO-4, R359, 1k 1%, see [[Media:XO-4-C1-REV-D-R359.jpg|photograph]].


= See Also =
''All these commands are typed on the OLPC keyboard of the laptop that has the bad clock''


* [[/Background|How the clock and battery work together]],
* Get a [[Activation and Developer Keys#Getting a Developer Key if the Machine Won't Boot|"developer key"]] for this machine and put it on a USB storage stick
* [[Oatstime]], a tool for use by deployments in setting the clock on a large number of laptops,
* Also put the [[Firmware|latest firwmare version]] on the USB storage stick
* [[Reuse checklist|Refurbishing & Reuse Checklist]],
* Insert the USB stick into the laptop
* [[XO Troubleshooting Guide]].
* Power on the laptop
* When the screen says "Type the Esc key to interrupt automatic startup", type the upper left key on the XO keyboard before the countdown expires. You should get an "ok" prompt. (If you don't see that message, something is wrong with the developer key.)
* Type these commands to set the date (hitting enter after each one):
ok select /rtc
ok decimal
ok sec min hour day month year set-time (sec, min, hour, etc. should be numbers correlating to the current date) (e.g. 00 48 3 13 12 2007 set-time)
* Type this command to update the firmware, substituting the correct .rom filename:
ok flash u:\q2d16.rom
* The machine should reboot automatically afterwards. You can then remove the USB stick, and the system should work correctly. You can reassemble the machine.


[[Category:HowTo]]
[[Category:HowTo]]
[[Category:Repair]]
[[Category:Repair]]
[[Category:Developers]]
[[Category:Developers]]
[[Category:Hardware]]

Latest revision as of 05:28, 2 January 2014

  This page is monitored by the OLPC team.
  english | español HowTo [ID# 294501]  +/-  


How to fix an XO laptop suffering from problems with the Real Time Clock (RTC, or clock). If the laptop has security enabled, this problem may prevent booting, usually with the error "Invalid System Date".

Problem Description

Laptops with this problem show one of these symptoms:

  1. The laptop screen lights up and shows "Invalid System Date" and then powers off, or continues to boot, seeking an activation lease. Activating the laptop will result in the laptop working temporarily, but returning to the same problem on next boot. Affects XO-1, XO-1.5, XO-1.75 and XO-4.
  2. The power LED turns on, but the screen never turns on (not even the backlight). The microphone LED may flash briefly, but stays off. This symptom can only happen with very old versions of firmware (Q2D05 and Q2D06). Affects XO-1 only.
  3. The power LED turns on for only about 0.8 of a second, then turns off, and the screen never turns on. Affects XO-1 only.
  4. The boot animation never stops. Affects 12.1.0 and 13.1.0 only.

Diagnosis

These symptoms are caused by bad date information stored in the clock.

Cause

The following diagram shows the causes of the problem. The colours have meaning:

  • blue boxes are possible signs, symptoms, or observations,
  • green boxes are deduced causes, or diagnosis,
  • red boxes are the resultant problems.

Ofw-fix-clock-causes.png

There are several causes:

  • The clock lost all power, which is by far the most common cause. The clock has a "coin cell" battery (ML1220) that powers the clock when the AC and the main battery are not present. Power may have been lost because:
    • The battery discharged during storage. This is common.
    • Some of the early production XO-1 laptops were made with a defective holder for the clock battery, which can come loose or even pop out during normal handling.
    • Leakage from the battery, causing corrision, a loss of contact between the battery and the metal contacts inside the holder. Some photos here.
    • The clock battery ceased to work.
  • The factory did not set the date. This is rare.
  • The user set the date to an incorrect value, either by mistake or as an attempt to defeat activation security. This is also rare.

See background for how this works.

Root Cause

This is a firmware bug. The problem is fixed in the latest firmware, compare the diagram above to the new diagram below, which shows how the latest firmware will respond:

Ofw-fix-clock-causes-q2f19.png

For laptops without a lease, they will boot normally with the date set to 2013. For laptops with a lease, they will boot seeking a new lease from the school network.

However, the bug strikes before the firmware checks for a new version, so you must repair.

Repair

The repair process is:

  1. check the battery and holder,
  2. set the clock,
  3. upgrade the firmware,
  4. charge the clock battery, and;
  5. check the clock is set after removing power.

Here are English and French diagrams of the process:

English French
Debrick-4.png
Debrick-4-fr.png

Check the battery and holder

To access the clock battery, remove the main battery, and power cable, and follow the instruction for removing the back cover.

XO-1

Examine the battery and its holder. Is there any sign of acid leakage? Can the battery move in its holder?

On newer models of the XO-1, the clock battery and its holder may be covered by a circular strip of rubber to try to fix this. You can remove this cover by peeling it off.

Remove the battery from the socket, by prying underneath with a plastic tool. (Just removing the battery will fix symptom #3, when the power LED turns on for under a second). Check for signs of leakage underneath the battery, in the holder, and on the motherboard and components around the battery holder.

If there are signs of battery leakage:

  1. Remove the leaking clock battery and discard it.
  2. Carefully clean any leakage/corrosion in the battery holder, using e.g. a damp toothbrush.
  3. Neutralize the leakage/corrosion area with some baking soda.
  4. Using a magnifying glass, look for damage to surrounding components or electrical tracks
    • If present, you are advised to treat the motherboard as broken or dead-on-arrival.
  5. Obtain a replacement cell battery (these parts are very standard) and install in the socket.
    • Any decent electrical/DIY store will stock these, they are known as ML1220 batteries and commonly found in calculators.
    • (Never use CR1220; they are not designed to be recharged, will not run the clock for very long, may leak, and may erupt in fire.)
If your battery holder is white, then you shouldn't have a problem here.
The battery holder in the motherboard.
Bad clock battery holder (from earlier laptops model) - notice the straight grip
Good clock battery holder - notice the curved grip


If the battery does not fit well in the socket, carefully examine the shape of the socket. Early laptops had a defective battery holder, pictured here. The photos do not make the problem very obvious; the issue is that the shape of the battery holder does not 'grip' the battery. In other words, a side angle view of the battery holder should be shaped like this: 

(_____)

However, the shape of the defective units is more like: 

\_____/

(these crude diagrams are exaggerated)

If your XO has a defective holder, you must re-seat the clock battery and secure it so it doesn't come out again. This can be done by putting a drop of glue where the battery contacts the holder, away from the metallic contact.

  • The best glue that Mitch has found for this purpose is clear solvent-based household cement. Technically, it is "nitro cellulose" cement. It is also known as "model airplane glue", marketed under various trade names such as "Duco Cement", "Tarzan's Grip". Loctite "Stik'n Seal", etc (Alleskleber, in Germany, maybe?). The solvent in this kind of cement is toxic and flammable, so keep it away from children!
  • Stronger adhesives like epoxy or cyanoacrylate (super glue) would probably work too, but it might be difficult to remove the battery later without damaging the holder.
  • Don't use "Gorilla Glue"; that's polyurethane, which foams as it cures.
  • Don't use RTV silicone; the common variety releases corrosive acetic acid as it cures - if it smells like vinegar, don't use it on electronics.
  • Don't use hot melt glue; because it doesn't stick very well to these materials.
  • Ordinary "white glue" (PVA, or polyvinyl acetate) will probably work, but it flows easily and goes down underneath the battery - perhaps okay if you are careful not to use too much.

If your XO had a black rubber strip covering the battery in the holder, install the cover again now.

XO-1.5

New XO-1.5 battery holder

On the XO-1.5, the clock battery is not in a holder. The battery is encased in shrink tubing, and connected to the motherboard with a short cable. (Eliminating the socket was an attempt to reduce the number of socket issues experienced on XO-1.) The battery, in its protective tubing, is stuck down to the motherboard to prevent it from moving around.

Even though the same standard ML1220 is used, replacing the battery alone is difficult. The shrink tubing will be destroyed as you open it, and it will be difficult, and perhaps even dangerous, to reconnect the wires to a replacement battery.

  • It may be possible to repair the tubing with some tape, or to discard the tubing and create your own enclosure with some electrical tape.
  • The battery shipped in the laptop is a leggy battery - it has the wires spot-welded to the battery during fabrication. It is a very bad idea to attempt to solder wires to a new battery (it can explode). It is far better purchase leggy replacement batteries (e.g. here, maybe).

If available, one could also take the entire component (connector + cable + tubing + battery) from another laptop, or from a spare parts supply sourced from OLPC.

XO-1.75

See above, the same battery, packaging, and wiring is used as in the XO-1.5.

XO-4

See above, the same battery, packaging, and wiring is used as in the XO-1.5.

Set the clock

There are several methods to fix the clock, depending on the symptoms:

The clock must be set to the Coordinated Universal Time value, rather than your local time.

(The numbers in some of the commands below are the time and date in UTC (2024-11-25 04:44:35), but in reverse order; second, minute, hour, day of month, month, and year. When you visited this page, our Wiki server used it's own clock to generate this command for you.)

If the screen turns on and you can boot into Linux

In this situation, you must boot Linux, login at a root terminal (e.g. the Terminal activity, or press Ctrl+Alt+F2 to get to the Console).

Set the system time, type: 

sudo date --utc --set="2024-11-25 04:44:35"

Then copy the system time into the clock, type: 

sudo hwclock --systohc

On XO-1 with releases 12.1.0 and 13.1.0, the above may hang for ten seconds and show a warning "wait for clock tick timed out". The hang and warning may be ignored, the clock will have been set. If you would like to avoid the hang and warning, type: 

sudo hwclock --systohc --noadjfile --utc

If the screen turns on but you cannot enter Linux

In this situation, you must use firmware to set the clock: 

select /rtc decimal 35 44 04 25 11 2024 set-time

You can now turn off the machine by pressing the power button for a few seconds.

If the screen does not turn on

In this situation, you must:

  • connect a serial adapter to the XO-1 and another computer, see where to connect it,
  • use a serial terminal program on the other computer to access the XO-1 via the adapter,
  • turn on the XO-1, and you should soon see "Page Fault" on the serial terminal, followed by an "ok" prompt. See /Log/Q2D06 for what it may look like. If you don't see "Page Fault", there are several possibilities:
    • if you don't see anything on the serial terminal, either
      • the serial adapter is not connected correctly,
      • the serial terminal is not configured correctly, see settings, or
      • something else is wrong with the XO-1, perhaps it is quite quite dead and it's not an instance of this known clock problem after all.
    • if you see a lot of startup messages, and the last one isn't "Page Fault" followed by "ok", then the machine is not suffering from the this known clock problem, but may have a broken display or display cable.
  • using the serial terminal, type this command to set the clock:
select /rtc decimal 35 44 04 25 11 2024 set-time
  • restart the laptop, type this command:
bye
  • check that the screen lights up.

See /Log/Q2D06 for what is expected on the serial terminal.

(There are numerous opportunities for error, so if you have more than one XO-1 laptop practice serial communications with working ones before debugging broken ones).

If the screen does not turn on and nor does the power LED

You must remove the clock battery briefly to fix this problem. If you did that, and the problem persists, then the cause is not the clock. Have the motherboard serviced.

Upgrade the firmware

Upgrade the firmware to make sure this problem does not return. See upgrading firmware for the latest firmware.

If you had the blank-screen problem, the firmware must be upgraded to the latest version. If not, and the clock loses power again, the repair will need a serial adapter again.

If you wish to manually upgrade, and you used a serial adapter and saw the "Page Fault" message, you must probe the PCI and USB before manually upgrading, type: 

probe-pci probe-usb  flash u:\q2f19.rom

Or set the clock, allow time for the clock battery to charge, and use the usual upgrading firmware method.

Charge the clock battery

Leave the laptop turned on for at least 30 minutes to charge the clock battery to normal levels.

  • Half an hour is the minimum charge time before testing, for which you can use the main battery,
  • The best charging time is 24 hours before storage, for which you must use a power adapter,
  • Charging does not happen with the laptop on and suspended; the power LED must be on and not flashing,

Easiest method is to remove all USB drives, then hold down all four game keys while turning the power on; the laptop will eventually fail to boot and wait for you to Use power button to power off, with the start time displayed in UTC: 

Boot failed
OLPC C2, 256 MiB memory installed, S/N SHC92805B50
OpenFirmware  Q2F19   EC Firmware Ver:1.2.1   2024-11-25 04:44:35 UTC

Use power button to power off

Or boot to Ok prompt.

Or boot to Linux and disable automatic power management.

Check the clock is set after removing power

Verify that the laptop is able to retain the time and date, otherwise this problem may return.

  1. Unplug the charger,
  2. Remove the main battery from the underside of the laptop, (not the clock battery),
  3. Leave the laptop without power for five minutes,
  4. Connect a power source (the battery, or the charger) and turn on the laptop,
  5. Check the clock using either the Ok prompt or by running date in the Terminal activity.

If the clock is still wrong, then 3 situations are possible:

  1. The clock battery is faulty and must be replaced.
    • You can verify this by installing a known-working battery, reprogramming the clock, and then repeating this verification test. Test pass would confirm this problem.
  2. There is a problem with the battery holder or the motherboard, so the laptop should be replaced.
    • You can verify this by installing a known-working battery, reprogramming the clock, and then repeating this verification test. Test fail would confirm this problem.
  3. If you are dealing with a defective shape battery holder, perhaps the clock battery is (still) not maintaining electrical contact with the connector inside the battery holder.

Automated repair script

XO-1 only.

Repair center volunteers have made an automated script to repair laptops in bulk or as a method with fewer steps. The script can be run on a Linux computer or on an XO laptop. We call this second computer your "debricker".

To use it you must install pyserial. You must be online when running (any of) the three following commands:

For Ubuntu or Debian, type: 

sudo apt-get install python-serial

For Fedora, such as on an XO, type: 

sudo yum install -y pyserial

Wait for the install to complete.

Then download and install d6.py, type: 

wget --timestamping http://dev.laptop.org/~rsmith/d6.py

Connect a serial adapter between the bricked XO (serial end of the cable) and the debricker computer (USB end of the cable). Then on the debricker computer type: 

python d6.py

The script will search for the first USB serial port on the system that is available for use. (If your serial connection for the XO is not on the first available port then either modify the script to look for the other port first or open the other serial port with another program so its not available for use by d6.py.)

Once the script is up and running then turn to the bricked XO and power it on. Wait for the script to say it has finished. When it says this, the bricked XO is repaired, and you can disconnect and test.

The bricked XO will have been unlocked.

The date and time on the bricked XO will have been set to the date and time on the debricker.

To prevent the problem from returning, upgrade to the latest firmware. See upgrading firmware.

Reproducing

How to reproduce the problem, or test for it in different firmware versions:

  • disassemble the laptop to expose the motherboard,
  • connect a serial adapter and a terminal, and test it by turning on the laptop,
  • turn off the laptop,
  • remove DC power cable and battery,
  • disconnect the clock battery,
  • wait a short time (four seconds on XO-1, 15 seconds on XO-1.75 and XO-4),
  • reconnect the clock battery,
  • insert DC power cable,
  • turn on the laptop,
  • note the response, (e.g. RTC cleared),
  • turn off the laptop,
  • repeat the test with various alternate conditions.

Measuring Charge Current

To measure charge or discharge current of the clock battery, locate the series resistor from the following list, then use a multimeter to measure the voltage across the resistor. Use Ohms Law to calculate the current.

  • XO-1, R250 100 ohms for discharge, R275 1k for charge, see photograph,
  • XO-1.5, R309, 1k,
  • XO-1.75, R35, 1k 1%,
  • XO-4, R359, 1k 1%, see photograph.

See Also

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