[Guide] Using CH341A-based programmer to flash SPI EEPROM

Yes, according to the data sheet.

Hello, I bricked my asus laptop because I flashed a bios with incorrect module. Do you know how can I get soic8 and ch341a at aliexpress? After that how can I connect my hdd?

I didnā€™t buy anything at ebay.

@XPWELL64
Which Laptop or which type of BIOS chip is it?

You can buy directly from aliexpress, they have english language, too.
If you know your chip, you could buy soic8/soic16 or dip8/dip16 and maybe also a clamp.

Best regards, MiMo

@Amorphis - Software package, in case you possibly need other general CH341A software versions - http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?filā€¦695330485827902

CH341A Image Guide
https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-Gā€¦341A-programmer << Same as one directly below, but with all images expanded/visible at once
[GUIDE] Flash BIOS with CH341A programmer

I think maybe I already helped you with this on another thread? If not, itā€™s OK, weā€™ll get you sorted out

@jsinfo2 - please link me to stock BIOS package from manufacturer, and attach working BIOS dump from other system, with that include dump from broken system if you made one (before you did anything)
For W25Q64FV you should use software version 1.30 or 1.34 (linked above) and ID W25Q64BV, otherwise writes will fail usually. If you have not touched (written or erased) the BIOS on the broken system, make a new dump with this software version and ID, and include that with above instead of the older dump you made.

@XPWELL64 - you can purchase on ebay if you want, or any store. You need CH341A + SOIC8 test clip, be sure it comes with cable (Some ebay sellers show cable but do not include)
In above linked guide you will see how to use these tools to connect to your BIOS chip (not HDD)

Does the green CH341A works with the test clip? (to read/write without desoldering)

I read that this varies with the board. But I saw a random youtube video where a technician says that the test clip wonā€™t work with the green programmer, only the black one.
Then I saw this message that suggests the same thing:




Which CH341A did you use? Some of them didnt work at all, they use wrong 27Mhz crystal instead of correcf 12Mhz crystal.

I have CH341A in different colors. Black CH341A is able to read data via test clip, my green CH341A isnt able to read via testclip. But both of them read the chip correct if itĀ“s put in the zif socket.

So best is to try to read another chip and take a look if you can read data. If yes then maybe the current is to low to power up some parts of the board.





So iā€™m just looking for people to share their experiences with green CH341A + test clip (chip soldered on board)

@Lost_N_BIOS Thank you for your respond and help to my problem. I used CH341A with software v1.29 to read the spi chip (25q64fv) of working unit and the broken unit. Here are the dumps and the manufacturer bios. I hope you can figure out why when I wrote the working unit dumps to broken unit spi chip, it could not work.
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@Kirfve Regarding the test clip, it really depends on the nature of SOIC spi chip. You have to make sure that all clip pins can clamp the chip pins firmly. I tried several times but not successful yet so I soldered cables directly to chip pins to connect to CH341A

working unit.zip (3.73 MB)

broken system.zip (3.7 MB)

manufacturer bios.zip (2.45 MB)

@Kirfve - yes, just as good as the black one, maybe a little slower to read/write. Access violation error happens with some versions of the software, and can be ignored, does not affect operation.
Probably that users green one was bad in some way? At least in my experiences they work the same, only green is a little slower.

* edit - @jsinfo2 - I also sometimes have connection issues with the clips, this is common due to cheap quality and BIOS were not really made to be accessed like this, plus itā€™s very tiny space to connect.
Keep reclipping and you always get it. Some systems need power connected, and some need it fully removed too, all are different.

Are both of your units exact same model, and have exact same graphics cards? Hhave you ever erased the working systems BIOS and wrote it back? If you havenā€™t, maybe your write back process is flawed and you just donā€™t know this yet?
What is the BIOS chip ID you are trying to write to on the failing unit? If itā€™s W25Q64FV, as I mentioned, you need to use software version 1.30 or 1.34 and W25Q64BV ID
If same chip on the working unit too, I would make a new dump with above info, and then try writing to the failed unit using that same info too. Iā€™ve tested that chip a few times, above method is only way that works, at least with the general CH341A software (didnā€™t test other software back when doing those tests)

Itā€™s not ideal way to fix BIOS on the broken system anyway, youā€™ll have the serial, and LAN MAC ID from the other system. Serial copy may not be an issue, but with incorrect LAN ID the ethernet wont work
I can make you fixed BIOS for the non-working unit. Are you sure itā€™s just the BIOS that failed? How do you know? How did it fail, I mean what caused the failure if you know? It may also need EC FW written to another chip

Please link me to the BIOS download package for this system, from Acerā€™s site. I do not want it uploaded by you, and the above is not complete package anyway, this is why I always ask for manufacturer link

BIOS is configured to look for Storm2X64.fd BIOS On CD for recovery, so if you have the manufacturer install CD, you may be able to invoke recovery from the CD and some hotkey combo (youā€™d have to google brand and BIOS recovery method)
It may be possible to do it from USB too, with stock BIOS renamed that, but itā€™s setup to look for CD for sure, so you may also be able to put on a CD if you do not have the original.

@Lost_N_BIOS Thank you for your additional info regarding the test clip.

Did you see that the dumps from working unit was corrupted?

They are same model units with same graphic cards. The chip is surely W25Q64FV.
I forgot to mention that I used software v1.29 and v1.30 to read the dump from working unit and the result bin files were identical. And after I wrote the dump to broken unit with v1.29, I did the verification too. Anyway since you have experiences that v1.30 and 1.34 are more stable, I will use them from now on. Can you share the link of v1.34 please?

Even if they are the same model with the same motherboard, is the EC FW different?

The broken unit was turned on and off repeatedly. I tested the electrical functionality and it looked fine. When I tried to write the dumps from working unit to broken unit, the laptop was always turned on but with no display. Therefore I think the possibility of bios problem is high. So I think I need to write to dump that is more specific to the broken unit with the specific information (I cannot figure out now). An unfortunately I dont have the recovery CD.

The manufacturer bios link is https://global-download.acer.com/GDFilesā€¦BC=ACER&SC=PA_6

@jsinfo2 You soldered wires to the chip while it was still soldered on the board, and still didnā€™t work?

@Lost_N_BIOS That is what I thought. Both uses the same IC. There is green versions with ICs that are newer than the black ones.
My test clip has a strong grip, but I only tested with 2 different devices (not desktop/notebook).
One had a cfeon qh16-104hip chip, and other had a mk 25d40btig chip. Despite the leds on both of them lit up, none of them could be read using multiple softwares.
Since they seem like ā€œobscureā€ chips, Iā€™m not that bothered. But Iā€™m a little less confident that the programmer will work on my pc motherboard. (I cannot test it yet)

@jsinfo2 - Youā€™re welcome. No, I did not see anything immediately saying corruption on either, but I didnā€™t dig deep due to assuming you used FV for the dumps and wanted to wait for new dumps using BV before I did anything.
that may only be critical to the writes, I forget since I tested long ago. Iā€™d say try dump working unit again using 1.30 and BV ID, then write back to non-working using same, if that fails there is some other issue with the non-working unit, something shorted/burned out, or EC FW needs re-written as well.
EC should be same, but may vary depending on BIOS versions.

Broken unit turned on/off a lot, do you mean that is what messed it up? Here is CH341A package with 1.30 and 1.34 in there - http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?filā€¦695330485827902

Keep in mind what I mentioned, some systems need power connected, while others need it removed. So if you write and then dump, and file doesnā€™t match, try with/without power and check again.
Be sure you use W25Q64BV to write to the FV chip, otherwise always a failed write from my testing on this chip.

@Kirfve - youā€™ll probably have better luck in your pre-experiments if you use a desktop/laptop, or some other thing with common BIOS chips on it. Or you may just need to use correct/compatible version for those chips you mentioned, or some other software like ASProgrammer instead.


No, it worked.


Thank you @Lost_N_BIOS for the program link. Using program v1.34 and BV id, I read the dumps from working unit and wrote to the broken unit but the result was same. The broken unit still had no display although the power on indicator lamp and fan were powered. Like you mentioned, perhaps it is because the hardware issue. I will look again the hardware. Anyway, thank you for your help and support.

Could be failed video card, or you need to also copy over the EC FW from the working board to non-working board too
Did you dump the BIOS after you wrote it and then compare to the file you wrote in hex, to make sure the write is 100% perfect? If not, check that now.

@jsinfo2 , if you still have the thin wires connected to your BIOS chip, can you please tell us the voltage between pin 8 and pin 4? Thanks.

@jsinfo2 I donā€™t have as much experience as other people in this forum but I think itā€™s worth mentioning this.
While searching about the green CH341A, I saw that a technician got the same problem as you with the green programmer, the only difference was he desoldered the chip. The notebook would turn on but with no screen. He only got it working by writing the same bios file with another programmer (I think it was a TL866). So the problem might not be the hardware but the programmer.
Unfortunately he didnā€™t shared the ic number (of his ch341a). I suspect it was very old tho.

@Lost_N_BIOS Yep! Thanks for the info!

@Lost_N_BIOS EC FW is located within BIOS Region or ME Region?

@Kirfve Thank you for the info

@nikey22 When we connected to programmer the voltage between Pin8-Pin4 : 3.28 V

@jsinfo2 - EC FW is on other smaller chip, 256KB-1MB chip usually, will look like BIOS chip

@Lost_N_BIOS I read you suggesting a lot that the motherboard may be powered on to get the programmer to read/write the chip. That made me curiousā€¦ are you suggesting to just plug to the wall or also turning it on? Is there any danger? Wouldnā€™t it damage the motherboard and/or the programmer?

@Kirfve - No, I never said power on any system to read/write the BIOS chip, NEVER do this!!!
What I said was some systems may need power cable and or main batter connected, not system powered on. Yes, just plugged in, not powered on. Some systems need that, others (most) do not

@Lost_N_BIOS I must have misinterpreted you then. I apologize.

So, just plug in if necessary, never power on, got it!

There is some devices that automatically power on when plugged in. Probably not a good idea to plug in those. Thatā€™s something to be careful aboutā€¦

@Kirfve - Yes, sorry, itā€™s probably how I wrote it somewhere. I try to be careful and say it correctly, but maybe sometimes I forget and donā€™t distinguish power connected vs powered on properly.

Yes, sometimes power plugged in may be required, and or main battery also if laptop. Usually not, so always try without first, until you are sure you may need to try with.
If something auto-powers on when plugged in, stop that from happening, or yes donā€™t use this method on that device