[Guide] How to flash a modded AMI UEFI BIOS

nnyymm · June 1, 2021, 7:17pm

hi all,

did something change with windows 10? afuwinx64 doesn’t seem to be working anymore on windows 20h2.

i am constantly getting “30 - Error: Problem opening file for reading.” i was very certain it worked in dec 2020 as i successfully downgrade my asus am4 motherboard.

knowledgeseeker · June 30, 2021, 2:19am

eDITTED

Fernando · July 1, 2021, 8:25am

@knowledgeseeker : Welcome to the Win-RAID Forum!
I have moved your request into this already existing and 100% matching thread, where you can find the required information within the start post.
Good luck!
Dieter (alias Fernando)

knowledgeseeker · July 2, 2021, 6:20pm

Editedd

sonbd2 · July 10, 2021, 7:50pm

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #1
Flash the modded BIOS by running the following Command Prompt as Admin:
1
afuwinx64.exe <NAME OF THE MODDED BIOS>.ROM /GAN
 
The UEFI BIOS should now be fully re-flashed and updated! Reboot and give it a try!

I did as you as you guided, after typing afuwinx64.exe p8z77vlx.cap (original bios) the command prompt said it was not a command so the nothing flashed. Can someone tell me why please. Thanks in advance.

EDIT by Fernando: Quoted post shortened and re-formatted

Spectre73 · July 18, 2021, 11:12am

@sonbd2 :
You need to change your path to where the file is located…

EDIT by Fernando: Added directly addressing

Brainlet · August 4, 2021, 8:56am

@Fernando FYI, the flashrom attachment is outdated (2019). There was a new version release in 2020: flashrom.org/Latest_release

Fernando · August 4, 2021, 11:32am

@Brainlet : Thanks for your hint.
Since I didn’t test the latest Flashrom tool until now, I haven’t yet updated the attachment of the start post. By the way - the release date if such tools is less important than their usability/functionality for the desired purpose.
Did you test the updted Flashrom tool? If yes, did it work for you? Worked it even better than the older version of my current attachment?

Brainlet · August 4, 2021, 1:47pm

@Fernando I haven’t personally tried it yet but there have been a lot of bug fixes in the commit history on github since v1.1

Fernando · August 5, 2021, 10:32am

@Brainlet : Thanks for your reply.
After having successfully used the v1.2 Flashrom tool with my X570 chipset ASRock mainboard I have attached the updated “Flashrom v1.2 Utilities” to the start post. The package contains now the currently latest Flashrom v1.2 tool and the currently latest Rufus tool v3.15.

@all:
Please give us your feedback about the usability of the “Flashrom v1.2 Utilities” and don’t forget to mention the manufacturer and model of your mainboard.

pokuly · August 6, 2021, 4:28pm

The 1.2 flashrom can’t read the ROM of my ASRock B550 Steel Legend. This happens since a few BIOS versions back. I mentioned already a few posts back it worked on older BIOS versions.

Fernando · August 6, 2021, 5:23pm

@pokuly : Thanks for your report.
If I understand you correctly, your issue is BIOS related and doesn’t depend on the used Flashrom version. Is this correct? If yes, a replacement by the older Flashrom version within the attached “Flashrom Utilities” wouldn’t help.
As I already have mentioned, the new “Flashrom v1.2 Utilities” were able to read the BIOS Region of my ASRock X570 Pro4 and to write it as BACKUP.ROM onto my bootable Rufus DOS USB Stick. I didn’t test, whether the “Flashrom v1.2 Utilities” would be able to successfully flash a modded BIOS into my mainboard’s SPI Chip.

pokuly · August 7, 2021, 2:59am

It must be BIOS related, yes. For the B550 flashrom 1.1 stopped working with some BIOS after version 1.90. The new flashrom 1.2 fails also:
Found chipset "AMD FP4/FP5/AM4" with PCI ID 1022:790e.
Enabling flash write… Chipset read write protected flash from 0xfc000000 to 0xfc05ffff, unlocking…Disabling read write protection of flash addresses from 0xfc000000 to 0xfc05ffff failed.

Brainlet · August 7, 2021, 3:01pm

For some reason my BIOS doesn’t detect the FLASHROM USB drive in legacy mode. I used RUFUS to create a FAT32 formatted FREEDOS USB drive with MBR partitioning style, placed the 2 FLASHROM related files into the root directory, enabled CSM in BIOS and set both Storage opROM and PCI opROM to Legacy. Is there anything I’m missing? Also, the images in the dropdown aren’t working, it just says “[[File:Flashrom.jpg|none|auto]]” etc.
edit: oops, forgot to turn on Legacy USB Support

Fernando · August 7, 2021, 3:45pm

@Brainlet :

According to what I see you haven’t attached anything to your post.

Brainlet · August 7, 2021, 3:50pm

@Fernando : I was referring to the guide in the dropdown in your annex:
[[File:HEnBwdM[1].png|none|auto]]

I just tried flashrom 1.2 with a Z590 OC Formula, seems like it’s not supported:
[[File:20210807_154504[1].jpg|none|auto]]

EDIT by Fernando: Fully quoted post replaced by directly addressing (to save space)

HEnBwdM[1].png

20210807_154504[1].jpg

Fernando · August 7, 2021, 5:09pm

@Brainlet : Now I have realized what you meant - thanks for the hint! After having opened all "Spoilers" of the start post I have now realized, that all natively attached pictures have gone lost for unknown reasons.
Meanwhile I have taken a new photo about the creation of the BACKUP.ROM by the Flashrom tool v1.2 and inserted it successfully, but all other screenshots/photos are still missing…

Nekrodamus · August 9, 2021, 6:14am

Hi guys, good evening, I’m new here, although I’ve known about this site for a while. First of all I want to thank you for bringing us so many quality contributions and guides. <3.

Well, I have an ASUS M5A97 R2.0 motherboard.
I have followed your UBU guide @Fernando and updated the cpu microcodes. Now when I put the PENDRIVE 3.0 in the flashblack port and hold down for 3 seconds the BIOS FLASHBACK button, the led flashes a few seconds and then stays on, I waited a few minutes and it stayed on, I guess it failed, what is this due to, is it because of some ASUS security, some hash, the pendrive, (I tried it with FAT16).
Do I need the CH341A programmer?
Best regards

Fernando · August 9, 2021, 10:04am

@Nekrodamus : Welcome to the Win-RAID Forum!
I have moved your request into this already existing thread, whose start post may help you to solve your problem.

No, because your mainboard supports the USB Flashback feature.
The only problem is, that the USB Flashback Port is very poicky regarding the used USB Flash Drive (should be an 2.0 type, small sized and FAT32 formatted one). My tip: Try more than 1 of them. I bet, that you will finally succeed!
Good luck!
Dieter (alias Fernando)

Nekrodamus · August 10, 2021, 5:31am

@Fernando :
Thank you for your attention, good night.
I have not tried your method yet, I will try it tomorrow morning.
How do I know if the network and sata modules I am upgrading are compatible with my motherboard? Or is it automatic? Is there a chance that the system will not power on due to upgrading these modules? I have these concerns.
Best regards.

Edit by Fernando]Fully quoted post replaced by directly addressing (to save space)