Thanks for letting me know. Why not fix the guide or tell people the correct file? Just a suggestion.
Meanwhile I have fixed the link within my guide and added the correct name of the related AMI package. I gave you the working link within my direct reply to help you as soon as possible. Was this a mistake?
Question: Why did I find the correct link and not you?
By the way: Another working link to the "AMIBIOS and Aptio AMI Firmware Update Utility" was and is within point 1 of CodeRush 's guide about "Flashing modified AMI Aptio UEFI using AFU" (>LINK<).
Using the "Search" box of the Forum is always a good idea.
I want to show a simple way for Asus and Arock MBs. The BIOS chip on Asus/Asrock is usually placed on the socket and can be easily extracted and inserted back. Aliexpress is selling Serial EPROM writer CH341A for less than 5 USD including delivery. See, for instance this http://www.aliexpress.com/item/CH341A-24âŚ2280480269.html. As for included software - it is better to check it carefully for viruses or buy from the author the latest version, since the software I received first time was pure malware. I attached the old software version, it works good, I used it. Then You have no problems with bricking MB, flashing etc. Also it helps greatly when ME firmware is corrupted. I think it is no need for curious tricks.
As for Gigabyte et al, where BIOS is soldered to MB, it is not very difficult to remove it carefully and flash using some additional modules from Aliexpress or other similar internet shop. Then solder it back.
Coderush had posted a detailed guide on CH341A with attached software - see [Guide] Using CH341A-based programmer to flash SPI EEPROM
I didnât know, but I think my post will be also usefull.
CH341A V1.18.rar (735 KB)
I think you found the correct link because you knew what you were looking for. I on the other hand was trying to follow a "guide" which was supposed to link to a tool and instead linked to a page full of dozens of files, none with a name similar to that which was needed. Sorry for asking you to take the time to "guide" me, just wanted to get going without "using the search function" and reading another ten pages to fill in the gaps of the "guide." Your work here is appreciated, maybe just remember that not everyone can do it, the reason you are helping in the first place.
Since we have a lot of guides including a lot of links within this forum, it always can happen, that one of the links doesnât work. An info about a broken or misleading link is always much appreciated.
So thank you for the info!
Hallo,
AS there is no emergency flash tool available in the
Asus Z170 Pro Gaming Mainboard i´m unable
to flash the UBU modded BIOS. Is there any trick
i am not aware of to flash the modded BIOS ?
I also tried flashing it with several other UEFI Flashers
but all failed.
Whats the take here please ?
@IngoPan :
Since there is already a âstickiedâ thread about the related topic, I have moved your request into this thread.
Now to your problem:
If your Z170 Chipset ASUS mainboard doesnât offer the feature âUSB BIOS Flashbackâ and CodeRushâs AFU method (look >here<) should not work, I actually donât know a way how to get a modded AMI AptioV BIOS properly flashed into the BIOS chip of an ASUS mainboard.
My advice:
Address your request personally to our BIOS Guru CodeRush by using the @CodeRush option or post your question into >this< thread, which has been started by him.
Hey there,
Iâve read this guide and also this one, but I am still confused;
All I want is to restore the BIOS chip (not modding) to itâs factory state writing a bios version file. At this point I am not so sure, in these conditions, should I remove the AMI capsule or not? I have an Asus H170 Pro motherboard with 8-pin SPI chip Winbond 25Q128FVIQ, The bios file is indeed .CAP file.
I appreciate it,
@JJ1 :
If you want to flash an original (not modified) BIOS, it is not necessary to remove the BIOS capsule.
EDIT: This is only valid for users, who want just to update their ASUS mainboard BIOS, but not for users, who want to repair their BIOS chip content.
@Fernando Thank you, so If I transfer the MAC and UUID and so on from the original Bios chip, It will still works without removing the capsule, the AMI capsule should be removed ONLY on modded bios thatâs the point? Should I make something more like (re)writting ME or something? thanks,
The flashing of an original BIOS file should work (provided you have not corrupted the content of the mainboardâs BIOS chip).
By the way: The removal of the BIOS capsule header of an ASUS BIOS usually doesnât help to get a modded BIOS successfully flashed. This procedure only makes sense with ASRock mainboard BIOSes.
The content for sure itâs corrupted (I guess) thatâs why I am about to write another bios file. Or are you reffering at other content except the bios section? not the hardware bios chip I guessâŚ
?!
@JJ1 :As I already told you, there is neither a need to remove the capsule header of the original ASUS BIOS nor would it make any sense.
Everything else cannot be estimated from my side. I have never made such an operation.
EDIT: The first sentence was only valid for users, who want just to update their ASUS mainboard BIOS, but not for users, who want to repair their BIOS chip content.
I have modded an Asus Z87-Plus BIOS inserting NVMe modules, but I have a problem. AFUWINGUI only let met to save my own unmodified BIOS into a 8.192 KB file (.ROM or .CAP), when ASUS EZ Flash only let me to flash â.CAPâ files (8.194 KB). If I rename my modified .ROM BIOS file with a .CAP extension, the file still being â8.192 KBâ (not â8.194 KBâ) and ASUS EZ Flash donât let me flashin it arguing that is not a .CAP file. How can I convert .âROMâ format (8.192 KB) to TRUE â.CAPâ format to get the extra 2 KB encapsulation?
Anyways I have tried to flash the new modified BIOS file from .ROM and (false) .CAP (8.192 KB) with AFUWINGUI but got an error â18 - Error: Secure Flash Rom Verify failâ, and I need to check Recovery option for skip this error and then apparently flashes succesfully, but I can not verify this and I can not be sure.
For last I have tried to download directly from ASUS web the latest BIOS file for my mobo (8.194 KB) and modify too. I have flashed the modified BIOS file with the NVMe modules with the AFUWINGUI aplication, checking the âRecoveryâ option for skip an â18 - Error: Secure Flash Rom Verify failâ. I rebooted the PC, and when I open AFUWINGUI again and click âSaveâ for verify if the new BIOS has the NVMe modules incorporated, I can not find them. How can I be sure that I have correctly flashed the new modified BIOS and it has the NVMe modules incorporated?
I have tried to flash the BIOS with the ASUS USB BIOS Flashback too, because the ASUS EZ Flash give me an error âSecutiry verification failedâ and when I go to verify with AFUWINGUI I still can not find the NVMe modules in the BIOS file. I need to be sure that I have flashed correctly the BIOS.
@APoL0 :
You should not use the âAFUWINGUIâ Utility, if you want to flash a modded BIOS into an ASUS mainboard, which has the USB Flashback feature.
These are the steps:
1. Modify the AMI Aptio IV UEFI BIOS by using the AMI Aptio4 MMTool.
2. Rename the BIOS according the ASUS USB Flashback rules.
3. Copy the modded and renamed BIOS into a FAT32 formatted USB 2.0 Flash Drive and attach it to the special USB Flashback port of your mainboard.
4. Shut down the computer, but donât turn off the power.
5. Hit the âFlashbackâ button, which is on your mainboard, for several seconds.
6. Wait, until the Flashback light gots completel off.
7. Power off completely your computer for a minute.
8. Remove the USB Flash Drive.
9. Restart the computer and enter the BIOS.
10. Set everything to âOptimized DEFAULTâ and then redo your previous BIOS settings.
I did, but how can I verify that I can plug NVMe SSDs as bootable device now? I have not NVMe SSD here, I was planing buy the upcoming Samsung 960 EVO⌠I was checking in CSM option in the BIOS boot menu, and I can select boot from storage devices and boot from PCI-E/PCI Expansion Devices in UEFI mode. Legacy OPROM and UEFI controller to choose in boot from PCI-E/PCI Expansion Devices. I have flashed correctly?
The only thing you can check is the presence of the NVMe module within your modded BIOS by opening it with an AMI Aptio UEFI MMTool.
The reality show begins, when you have inserted the NVMe SSD and try to get Win10 installed in UEFI mode.
Hello!
I read the topics about the BIOS modding and I registered to ask a few questions, since some of the things are not quite clear to me. I hope you can help me out a bit.
I have a Gigabyte GA-X79-UD5 motherboard and I recently purchased a samsung NVMe stick (SM951) along with an pcie adapter, Ill come to that later. <br /><br />My question is. The latest official BIOS available for this motherboard is F13w, I have flashed it because I had some issues with stability with v. F12.<br />Now, I read the topic about the UBU tool and I "played" with it a bit and Im wondering if there are any consequences to having the latest versions of the BIOS components -ROMs? (raid, lan, cpu microcodesâŚ) or is the latest always greatest?
Another question I have is about the NVMe component insertion. Before I came across this forum I found a website which said to extract the NVMe parts from x99 or z9x motherboard BIOS (in my case I found all the parts in a Z97X-UD3H motherboard BIOS) with MMtool and then insert them into my own BIOS.
Then I come here and I see there is only ONE file you use to insert into the BIOS to acquire NVMe support (so instead of nvme.ffs, nvmeint13.ffs and nvmesmm.ffs just one file named NVMeExpressDxE.ffs). Do both of this procedures work or is it better to use yours. I am also wondering if the uncompressed version of the NVMeExpressDxE.ffs is the correct one for me since there are 3 available, BIOS size is around 8MB (8192KB).
And one final question. What is the safest way to flash BIOS of a Gigabyte motherboard?
ps. This is what I created with UBU tool. Link to Pic1
I hope I`m not too confusing, but I want to make sure before I go and make a mess.
Greetings and thank you for your time!
@pawx :
Welcome at Win-RAID Forum!
There are people, who just want the latest of everything, but I do not belong to that group. I only update BIOS modules, when I think, that I resp. my computer may benefit from it.
Many BIOS modules, which can be updated by using the UBU tool, will never be used by the big majority of the users. Do you use the "Wake-On-LAN" option of your computer? Do you have a RAID array within your storage configuration? If not, an update of the related Option ROM and EFI modules doesnât make any sense.
I have tested both methods and both worked fine with my Z68 system. So it is up to you which method you want to use. I personally prefer to insert just the NvmeExpressDxE module according to the start post of this thread, because it is easier, needs less space within the BIOS and the module itself may be better compatible with other systems.
The total size of the BIOS has nothing to do with the available space for additionally inserted BIOS modules. I recommend to take the uncompressed module (unless you will get the message, that there is not enough space) and insert it "compressed".
I donât know it for sure, because I never had a Gigabyte mainboard with an UEFI BIOS. All I know is, that it is not recommended to flash a modded BIOS from within Windows. If you should get an "Invalid BIOS Image" message while trying to flash the modded BIOS, please look into the start post of >this< thread.
Good luck!
Dieter (alias Fernando)
Hello Fernando!
I managed to insert the module and I flashed the BIOS with success from within BIOS using QFlash. I left some modules alone until there is need - no raid atm.
I`m now preparing for windows installation and I hope it will work.
Greetings!
Edit: Everything is working, all the drivers installed with no problems so far 