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?
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…
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?
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…
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.
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?
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.
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.
I see that other people in my situation would also like to benefit from the Dasharo/HEADS boot stack’s revisions and features evolution, even on products that are considered EOL for firmware updates.
I would want to go ahead myself and attempt flashing the latest 3.0 Release on my NS70 but I would only try this if I can revert a “brick” situation with an external re-flashing.
So, please @alexandre , would you kindly give some advice on an external programmer suitable for the SPI flashrom of this particular generation of MBd and where in Germany it could be purchased?
I would subsequently report here, more in a manner of "yes or no it did flash and survive". I don’t pretend to do thorough testing if I succeed in flashing and everything seems to be ok - but I will report if I see some instability or crashes afterward.
