ROM keying guide

Introduction

EcuTek ProECU allows licence-holders to protect their intellectual property (their modified ROM files) by keying or binding the ROM to a specific dongle.

By creating a keyed ROM with a Customer ID (dongle ID), the ROM file is effectively protected from being edited or programmed by any other user.

However, a ROM file can be created with a second customer ID so that the tuner may pass it on to a customer cannot read the ROM file, let alone edit it.

Example:

A tuner with an EcuTek dongle ID of 66 66 66 keys a ROM file for a customer with a dongle ID of 77 77 77. That ROM file can only be selected for programming using dongle 66 66 66 or dongle 77 77 77. However, the ROM file can only be opened for editing using dongle 66 66 66; if this keyed ROM file is sent to any other EcuTek tuner they will not be able to open the file for programming or editing.

Creating a ROM keyed file

To create a ROM keyed file, first open a ROM file then go to the Keying tab (see picture below). Type the customer’s dongle ID into the box under Allow reading by another Customer ID.

The dongle ID used to open the ROM file will be saved under Customer ID of ROM file Creator, and this ID will become the only dongle ID that can open this ROM file for editing.

The Creator of the ROM keyed file will have full editing and programming permissions, but the customer will only be able to program the ROM.

Example:

Dongle 77 77 77 will only be able to programme this ROM, not edit it. Only the dongle used to create this ROM keyed file will be able to edit it.

To save the ROM keyed file, go to the file menu of the ROM editing window (not the main ProECU window) and select Save Customer Keyed ROM File As…

Give the ROM file a logical descriptive name, such as ZA1J700E-enc-ROMKEYED-77 77 77.bin

Resetting a ROM keyed file

Change the Allow reading by another Customer ID to 000000 so that it can be opened for editing by any dongle. Then select Save ROM File As… and save the file with a new filename.

Troubleshooting

The following error message will show when a ROM file that has been ROM-keyed to a different customer ID (dongle) is opened for programming.