New Firmware 2.6.1 and NS70 compatibility

NitroPad, NitroPC
1

On the GitHub HEADS, there is a new firmware for many NitroPads.

But it states that:

This release includes all Nitropad variants, note that the NS50 and NS70 are untested

Mine is the NS70. The update is 6 mo old (26 june 2025) and appears to not have evolved and still a “test” update…

I would very much like to benefit from the PR0 SPI write protection
But I’m not very sure what to do - shall I try to install or could I run into problems (at worse even bricking the laptop) ?
After 6 months, there should be some feedback or maybe certainties. Anyone can give an advice?

2

Hello, you can try to perform the update with this version you can also try with the upstream version which is also marked as “untested”.

There are some chances that it brick your computer so makes sure to verify that you don’t make any mistakes during the update process.

If you computer is bricked an external flash can still be performed to recover it.

I recommend also to do backup of your running BIOS so if it gets bricked the old BIOS that was working can be flashed back.

3

Thank you for your advice.
It looks rather creepy…
I don’t have an external flashing programmer, nor would I know how to use one without possibly toasting my MBd (although I guess I could still ship the laptop to you for reflashing the ROM)
So my safest approach for now is to wait for this new 2.6.1 firmware update to be tested and approved on NS50/NS70. Hoping this will be done at some point and reported here…

4

Unfortunately next releases will not be tested with this models.

You can do a internal flashing, external will only be needed if the computer is bricked.

5

Do you mean to say that firmware updates for this model have already been dropped and that there will be no more bug corrections/new features/ upstream coreboot rebasing? But I purchased this laptop not even 2 years ago! It seemed to me that you advertised being committed to long time maintenance and firmware releases in the future - much longer support than common stock hardware UEFI OEMs…
2 years firmware support is rather short - even the worst vendors ship firmware updates for at least a few years, don’t they?

6

For this model on Nitrokey’s repo only security firmware updates will be provided and tested.

7

Ah, OK.
If I understand correctly, there will be firmware updates only if a security flaw is discovered - that’s a good thing at least.
But too bad for new features and rebased coreboot versions that benefits more recent models…

8

Correct, yes I can understand, if you really want to have this new feature you can try to update your board with the upstream version but at you own risks.

9

Sorry to “necrobump” this topic, but I just saw that the firmware (Dasharo/Heads) had a new release v3.0.0.
As was the case in our previous discussion about installing ‘untested’ firmware on Nitropads NS50/70, I see that this newer version is - again - untested on NS50/70 (here, ‘untested’ means risky if you don’t have an external programmer)
I understand Nitrokey’s choice not to update the firmware specifically on this NitroPad model - and eventually I will have to buy myself an external ROM flasher and learn how to use it if I want to benefit from new features, improvements or possibly minor glitches resolution.
But in the meantime, I would like to ask users of this forum if anyone has tried to flash newer untested versions above the last officially tested one (v2.5.0) and if anyone succeeded without bricking the Mbd?

10

Just chiming in to say that I share the OPs disappointment.

Vendor-supported integration of Heads was the main reason why I purchased an NS70. To find out that Heads support has been basically abandoned after upgrading a single release makes me regret this choice. :unamused_face:

Personally I was very much longing for USB keyboard support in Heads, but not at the risk of having to send in my Laptop after a failed upgrade.