Factory Test is asking for a password?

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    Hi,


    Using my C64 Reloaded Mk2 and everything is working, except if I choose 'F' it asks me for a password, and as soon as a single key is pressed it says 'nope', I've tried most keys, and I am accessing the menu using the purchased version of 'Serial' on my Mac:


    Factory tests

    Password required

    F

    Nope sorry


    What do I need to do please? And if I need to do a firmware update, where do I find the latest firmware please - I could not find this in the online manual on icomp.


    Thanks!

    Really? Well, I eventually found it but I cannot fathom any reason why it would be so hidden and in a totally different section to the Factory Tests description - what are you protecting by making it difficult to find? At least put it at the top near the Factory Tests menu please?


    The Password to enter the Factory tests menu is here...


    Factory tests

    Press F to enter the factory test menu.

    Code
    1. M - Perform memory test
    2. N - Force NTSC timing
    3. P - Force PAL timing
    4. V - Test voltage selection
    5. Z - Clear settings


    Perform memory test

    Press M to run a simple memory test. You should see output like this:

    As said, its there for a reason. You should read (and understand) the entire section, not just the first paragraph :)

    Quote from dwight01

    but I cannot fathom any reason why it would be so hidden

    The menu lets you set voltages that potentially kill your chips. We want to make sure that you're aware of the risk, but also that you've really read and understood the manual. If you are still asking this question, after reading the documentation, I fear that the "understanding" part isn't complete yet.


    Jens

    The instructions imply you just press F and the menu appears, like on every other option, so it is a surprise and looks like something has gone wrong when I'm suddenly asked for a password that is NOT referred to until the very bottom of the Factory Reset section, and then in a smaller font so that it actually looks like faulty HTML code or a rendering problem.


    The safety could still be achieved by at the top mentioning "press F and then enter the password (found in this section)" - which still has the end user read the section, and likely with even more attention to detail as they are actually looking for something they need - but still slows down access enough to take the time to understand the voltage checks will destroy things if misunderstood.


    I had read the instructions and understood the voltage checks were not something I should run with my chips installed - all BEFORE I tried to access the menu.


    There are numerous things that could be done to enhance the section and highlight "proceed with caution". My first thought (and post) was that there is something wrong with my purchase (there was nothing wrong of course) - 'it should not be asking for a password, the instructions did not mention a password'.


    But I have the password now, and I really no longer care if anyone improves the wiki page or not. Nor do I care if anyone else feels "it's in plain sight" - in my experience it was not. Thank you Tobias and Jens for the responses. Rereading the section before doing search on password did not help, I did a search on 'password' and found it though.

    Quote from dwight01

    The instructions imply you just press F and the menu appears, like on every other option, so it is a surprise and looks like something has gone wrong when I'm suddenly asked for a password that is NOT referred to until the very bottom of the Factory Reset section, and then in a smaller font so that it actually looks like faulty HTML code or a rendering problem.

    Yeah ideally the menu should maybe only ask for the password when you do something dangerous (voltages). As most of the F menu is "safe". But in the flow of the software it was easier to protect the top-level menu with the password instead of each individual entry. As you might have read in other threads the MCU (the device doing the menu magic) is very full. So there was/is very little space for additional help text.


    That said, you immediately concluding something is wrong when a device is asking for a password, that is something I can't help with. And the password is public (though kinda hidden on purpose). As we don't want to lock people out completely, but it shouldn't be accessed by accident. For example when the serial program is sending random data from a file (or a wrong copy/paste etc) and the text contains a F it is nice to know you don't immediately fry 30 year old chips that are no longer made. Same if something falls on the keyboard (remember cats LOVE keyboards) and the terminal is open. Again safe.

  • The last reply was more than 365 days ago, this thread is most likely obsolete. It is recommended to create a new thread instead.

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