Several methods exist to erase the eMMC, those, including the button(keys) method, can be found here.
Thanks. Just thought other new customers would wonder, âWhat do these three buttons do?â A concise function table in the Beginners Guide would answer that.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your feedback @TheHermit. Yes maybe the manual should just contain tables / diagrams of the GPIO, button presses, etc. And then just add links for more complicated procedures.
Prototype GPIO and Button card, would this be useful @RDFTKV?
@TheHermit for the other SBCs, it would be possible to create a table describing the various functions (alone and in combination) of the buttons.
Yes. The hardware pictures show the interfaces. Below that could be a brief description of the functionality of each interface, something like:
Function Buttons- Key combinations select various boot modes.
(Table of key combinations and boot modes)
Or:
IR Receiver- Receives input signals from the Khadas Remote Control
Then, as you mentioned, links in the table and descriptions could point to detailed webpages, such as âHow to upgrade the eMMC and SD cardâ, âHow to use the Khadas Remote Controlâ, âHow to enable GPIOâ, âHow to communicate over I2Câ, etc.
So, the customer goes from opening the SBC package and seeing the hardware to pictures of the hardware, showing the interfaces, to brief descriptions of what functionality each interface provides. At this point, the customer has become generally familiar with the hardware, the functionality of each interface, and links to documentation that explains how to achieve that functionality. (This could also be a powerful marketing tool, showing off the capabilities of each product.)
Ideally, the customer would go from studying the printed version of the Beginners Guide () to a similar looking web page, with live links (Printed links donât work very well). Either way, the customer is given a general overview as a starting point (dashboard) to obtain more detailed information.
Hope this helps
Thank you for the customer services you provide.
Looks good. Might be nice, if possible, for the card to be scaled 1:1 with the actual GPIO, so it might serve as a template. Though may not be practical because of the tiny font required to fit the space.
Yes @TheHermit, I think you should! Likely have to ask @Frank & @numbqq what could be the issue. Maybe hardware related - if all the images arenât working. From my experience, these images are flash-and-play.
@RDFTKV interesting idea! Though cutting out a slot might be adding an extra step during production.
@TheHermit finally understand your idea; basically a pictorial guide to the SBC, starting from a hardware layout. Kind of like the old picture encyclopedias I used to read as a kid.
Hehe, The user would cut out the shaded area if desired, yâall have enough to do already.
Update to the GPIO card, this could be a mini-manual that points to docs.khadas.com for more (pictorial, as @TheHermit suggested) instructions.
Prototype 2 of the full-page manual, A5 sized, double-sided, vertical for easy handling. Ideally, this will be replicated onto docs.khadas.com, with clickable links as @TheHermit mentioned.
Beautiful graphical artwork. I see that you are more than just a teckie nerd. lol
I noticed two things that differs from my limited experience w/EDGE-V.
1: Perhaps itâs due to having upgraded to Ubuntu, but I donât need to do Step 3, under the Boot from SD-Card section.
2: Step 3 (above) was required in order to Enter into MaskROM mode, under Flash eMMC, Step 1b. Perhaps Boot, Step 3 would be more appropriately placed as the step following Flash, Step 1.
Also, since the image and USB Upgrade Tool are prerequisites, shouldnât the steps be as follows:
- Download and unzip the desired image firmware
- Download, install, and run the USB Upgrade Tool
- Select the downloaded firmware
- Connect the USB-C cable to the SBC and PC
- Enter MaskROM Mode by pressing the Function Key 3 times, within 2 seconds
- Use the USB Upgrade Tool to Upgrade Firmware
But, otherwise, Iâm impressed with what you have produced. It reflects the professional image that I have noticed in most of Khadasâ documentation. But, I have also noticed that several customers have accidentally erased their eMMC (as I did) while attempting to follow other instructions in the same document to âPower on, hold the Function Key for 10 seconds, then press resetâ. I didnât know how to recover until I stumbled across your User Manual Prototype.
IMHO, it is obviously a major challenge to keep documentation current with ever changing procedures, software upgrades, and patches. New customers and novices depend upon the accuracy of this documentation. If it is incorrect or outdated, we end up jumping down the rabbit hole, aka spending hours searching the forums for solutions. Failing that, we post new topics and consume the resources of customer service reps. Obviously, the CSRâs time is best spent receiving bug reports and resolving them, not putting misguided customers back on track.
Perhaps, there needs to be a method of closing the gap between the front end documentation (the âHow Toâ docs that your manual links to) and current front line CSR knowledge. For example, if there is a problem with a firmware package, the customer should be informed before downloading it, not after spending several frustrating hours fighting a known issue, searching the forum, and consuming CSR time.
Perhaps footnotes could be added to the relevant instruction(s) on the appropriate document, with a link(s) to more current forum discussions, which are dated.
Of course, now I have gone beyond the objectives of your User Manual. But, I thought it was worth mentioning. Perhaps I am motivated by having the HDMI display problems with the eMMC Ubuntu firmware (previously posted) and am currently going through the above mentioned process. I have no idea whether my issue is due to defective eMMC or a known issue with the firmware. But, Iâve seen other posts regarding eMMC firmware not working. As you know, Iâve posted the issue elsewhere, others have acknowledged the post, but Iâm still waiting in limbo for a reply. Iâm not complaining, because I understand the challenges of providing customer support (retired MS CSR). But, Iâm only using that as an example of how important it is to ensure front end documentation is current. Itâs all about customersâ expectations. Customers expect vendor dtbâs to simply work, as advertised.
If thatâs not going to happen, an âOut of Orderâ icon on the download would avoid a lot of frustration and explaining. Better yet, perhaps an icon that links to a dated list of forum topics relating to that dtb, sorted on most recent date. I believe thereâs already a âResolvedâ field that could be included. With a single click, customers would be able to see what they are getting into, before hand. Then, the CSR folks could focus upon fixing the dtb, instead of hand holding folks like me.
Thank you for considering my opinions.
Yes @TheHermit you are right, @hyphop has a similar thought pattern as you.
Personally, being a relative âSBC noobâ myself, as compared to veterans like @RDFTKV, I have to agree with you.
@hyphop recently finished his first build of krescue. Our vision is that some time very soon, all you need to do to get a new OS working will be:
- Burn krescue to an SD card
- Boot krescue
- Select an OS from an online repository (online list)
- krescue burns the image into your EMMC
Since the image was produced from a standardized, functioning Khadas SBC, it is guaranteed to work. And the installation procedure is standardized across all distributions, OSes, bla bla. Very noob friendly.
Oh yes, and if you are an expert, like say @Robert, you can produce your own âflavourâ of OS, use krescue to make an image, and then upload it into the repository to share with others.
Hehe, my SBC experience started with Khadas SBCs. Based on what I have yet to learn, I am still a noob. Just trying to keep up.
That sounds excellent. hyphop is a productive fella.
Iâve updated VIM3âs documentation according to @TheHermitâs recommendations. @Gouwa will review the changes in a day or so. Will work on the Edge docs tomorrow (thatâs a bigger document).
WOW!! Now thatâs what Iâm talking about! Itâs as if you read my mind (small font).
Itâs the perfect starting point, describing the hardware and its capabilities. From there, cmrs can dive into whatever details they wish, with a single click.
Thank you so much for paying attention to The Hermit.
Well done!
Alright, all the âBeginner Guidesâ for Khadas Docs have been updated. #firstpass
Incomplete areas:
- Indicator LED states
- Some sub-pages here and there
- There may be bugs
Somebody has been putting in some full days.
Easy to recognize much effort has been expended. Looking great.
Now i can find out what I suppose to do not just switch it on and wait
great work work well done.