Procedure for modding P8H77-V LE BIOS to support NVMe SSD as boot device
Stock BIOS version / file: P8H77-V-LE-ASUS-0236.CAP
Tools used:
UEFI Tool v0.28 and NEA57 (>Link<, newer version available now)
FTK8 Windows version (>Link<)
FD44 Editor v0.9.2 (>Link<)
ASUS AI Suite (downloadable from ASUS website)
Resources used:
NvmExpressDxe_4.ffs (found in the first post in this thread by @Fernando )
Procedure:
tldr;
Using the method of Wishbringer (>Link<) to flash .cap BIOS image using the regular AI Suite III from ASUS.
Therefore extracting the flash image from the .cap file, adding the NVMe driver, and adding the modded flash image back into the .cap file.
1. Backup current BIOS (to save S/N and MAC Address), just as precaution:
Run FTK8 "backup.bat" as administrator and save the resulting "backup.bin" as the BIOS flash image
2.Mod BIOS and include NVMe driver: (according to original and very detailed description >here<)
2.1 Open original ASUS BIOS .cap file with UEFI Tool v0.28 and right-click onto the "AMI Aptio Capsule", choosing the "Extract body…" option and saving it as *.ROM file (details for extracting and putting the .cap file back together are described by Lost_N_BIOS >here<)
2.2. Open the .rom file from above and search for CSMCORE. Add NVMe driver by right clicking on the last module before "Free Space" and selecting "Insert after…", then navigating to the NvmExpressDxe_4.ffs file.
In case there is an error message, look for the more torough description by Fernando, linked above.
2.3. Save the new file as a new .rom file
2.4. Cross-Check the newly generated .rom file agains the original one for changes in the "Pad-file" sections. Ideally open them side-by-side on the screen and look through the section, where the NVMe driver has been added. They should look exactly alike, except for the new entry of the NVMe driver.
2.5. Create the new .cap file:
2.5.1. Open the original .cap file with UEFI Tool NEA57 to check the Offset of the "Intel Image" inside the AMI Aptio Capsule, which should be 800h for the P8H77-V LE, but can be also 1000h for other mainboard’s BIOS.
2.5.2. Use a hex editor to open a copy of the original .cap file and go to the offset 800h. Replace all content from 800h onwards with the content of the modded .rom file that includes the NVMe driver.
2.5.3. Save this new .cap file as a new file
2.6. use the method described by Wishbringer (>Link<) to flash the .cap file:
2.6.1. Start BIOS Update in ASUS AI Suite and select original .cap BIOS file
2.6.2. Before start flashing delete selected original file and replace with modded one (same name, same location)
2.6.3. Start the BIOS flashing
2.7. Voila, it is done
Run FTK8 "backup.bat" as administrator and save the resulting "backup.bin" as the BIOS flash image
2.Mod BIOS and include NVMe driver: (according to original and very detailed description >here<)
2.1 Open original ASUS BIOS .cap file with UEFI Tool v0.28 and right-click onto the "AMI Aptio Capsule", choosing the "Extract body…" option and saving it as *.ROM file (details for extracting and putting the .cap file back together are described by Lost_N_BIOS >here<)
2.2. Open the .rom file from above and search for CSMCORE. Add NVMe driver by right clicking on the last module before "Free Space" and selecting "Insert after…", then navigating to the NvmExpressDxe_4.ffs file.
In case there is an error message, look for the more torough description by Fernando, linked above.
2.3. Save the new file as a new .rom file
2.4. Cross-Check the newly generated .rom file agains the original one for changes in the "Pad-file" sections. Ideally open them side-by-side on the screen and look through the section, where the NVMe driver has been added. They should look exactly alike, except for the new entry of the NVMe driver.
2.5. Create the new .cap file:
2.5.1. Open the original .cap file with UEFI Tool NEA57 to check the Offset of the "Intel Image" inside the AMI Aptio Capsule, which should be 800h for the P8H77-V LE, but can be also 1000h for other mainboard’s BIOS.
2.5.2. Use a hex editor to open a copy of the original .cap file and go to the offset 800h. Replace all content from 800h onwards with the content of the modded .rom file that includes the NVMe driver.
2.5.3. Save this new .cap file as a new file
2.6. use the method described by Wishbringer (>Link<) to flash the .cap file:
2.6.1. Start BIOS Update in ASUS AI Suite and select original .cap BIOS file
2.6.2. Before start flashing delete selected original file and replace with modded one (same name, same location)
2.6.3. Start the BIOS flashing
2.7. Voila, it is done
@Fernando : Thank you so much for your detailed description and dedication to this topic! I probably wouldn’t have been able to use a NVMe SSD in my old system if it weren’t for you
On another topic: I’ve tried to make this post as descriptive and complete as possible so it’s helpful for others. Unfortunately the forum rules don’t allow me to post external links, and not even links to other posts in this forum…
If an admin sees a benefit, please edit my post and revert back the mutilated links.