NVMe boot at mainboard Asus P8H77-M PRO

BIOS/UEFI Modding BIOS Modding Guides and Problems
1

Reading these:
https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/asus-cg8270-bios-locked-and-update-to-p8h77-m-pro/34848
https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/asus-cg8270-or-p8h77-m-pro-bios-update-please-help-inject-nvme-pilot/33121
https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/howto-get-full-nvme-support-for-all-systems-with-an-ami-uefi-bios/30901
https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/guide-how-to-flash-a-modded-ami-uefi-bios/30627/1
Trying all described methods, but none works. :frowning:
Trying the four described methods in last link above gives following results:

  1. “USB Flashback” feature is not available.
  2. Windows is not installed. afudos with /GAN option fails with: 18 - Error: Secure Flash Rom Verify Fail.
  3. Windows is not installed.
  4. flashrom fails with: BIOS region SMM protection is enabled!

Trying FPT (DOS) method gives following results:
FPT.exe -bios -d biosreg.bin works.
FPT.exe -bios -f biosreg.bin fails with:
Error 280: Failed to disable write protection for the BIOS space!

Hint: NvmExpressDxe_5.ffs module can be insterted into biosreg.bin with UEFITool v0.28.0.

Is there any chance to flash a modded BIOS with NVMe boot support on a mainboard “Asus P8H77-M PRO”?

Hint: Currently I have no access to a hardware flasher.

2

In the last thread you linked, theres 2 methods for boards without USB BFB, the AFUWIN /GAN (Not AFUDOS), specific version is noted and the AISuite method, so read it again please.

FPT method only after mod with AMIBCP for changing Bios Security settings and then it can be read/written.

3

Is there a method available without installing any Microsoft Windows previously on this system?

I’ve found only one version of AMIBCP which requires Windows. :frowning:

If only Windows-based methods exists which Windows version (available: XP 32-Bit, Vista 32-Bit, 7 64-Bit, 10 64-Bit, 11 – all temporarily available for short time “test” installation without internet access & activation only) should be installed?

4

“I’ve found only one version of AMIBCP which requires Windows”…
Plenty of this around the web… this is leaked AMI tools. You need v4.x

FTP EFI/DOS also exists… the rest of methods are windows based.
The mods can be done on another system and the SPI flash can be done with a IC programmer, the IC is SOIC8 3.3v so its straight attached on a simple CH341A device.

No more miracles here to add, good luck.

5

Trying method 2 for Asus mainboards described here with freshly installed Windows 10 pro 64-Bit en_US (to avoid any language mismatch) and chipset driver downloaded from Asus gives following results:

  • Flash the original BIOS by running the following Command Prompt (as Admin): afuwinx64.exe <NAME OF THE ORIGINAL BIOS>.CAP Works.
  • Remove the capsule header from the modded *.CAP BIOS file and save the modded BIOS as *.ROM file. Works, done with UEFITool.
  • Flash the modded BIOS by running the following Command Prompt as Admin: afuwinx64.exe <NAME OF THE MODDED BIOS>.ROM /GAN Works.
  • The UEFI BIOS should now be fully re-flashed and updated! Reboot and give it a try! Fails! Mainboard is dead, no visible screens, no beeps from speaker after reboot. CMOS reset & temporary CMOS battery removal doesn’t change anything.
6

Brute force:

  • Winbond 25QQ64BVAIG (chip) was removed from its DIP-8 socket.
  • Chip was inserted into a CH341A flash programmer.
  • NVMe boot capable modded BIOS was successfully flashed.
  • Chip was reinserted into its DIP-8 socket.
  • Mainboard starts and UEFI offers NVMe SSD as boot device in addition to connected SATA devices.