[Problem] Quanta QL4 TW9 w/o Graphics Output

BIOS/UEFI Modding BIOS Modding Guides and Problems
1

Hi there, a customer left me a QUANTA QL4 DA0QL4MB8E0 Rev E with i7-720qm which has a burnt GPU. I disabled the GPU (due to schematics) but the laptop didn’t boot. Then I checked the bios and realise that it’s full of FF. Overwrite orginal QL4Q3F82 crisis bios, tested with i7. Laptop boots, blank screen, no logo, HDD led blinks, Windows chime, nothing else… Then tested with i5-540M (SLBTV integrated hd graphs) which I’m sure working, power up but not boot. Can anyone help me? Is it about ME region? Bios attached to the post… Thx
QL4Q3F82WIN7.rar (1.2 MB)

Model: Quanta QL4 - DA0QL4MB8E0 Rev E
CPU: i7-720qm (SLBLY)
GPU: Nvidia Geforce GT335M (N11P-GS1-A3)
Chipset: HM55 (SLGZS)


Edit by Fernando: Thread title customized

2

This seems to be a stock firmware, so ME region should be OK and ME doesn’t affect graphics output on older systems. I assume this is more like a ‘MUX’ problem as described here:

If you have look into setuputility with an IFR Extractor you find:
…
0x7390F End Form {0B 02}
0x73911 Form: InsydeH2O Setup Utility, Form ID: 0x25 {01 06 25 00 11 00}
0x73917 Subtitle: Video Configuration {02 04 43 00}
0x7391B Subtitle: {02 04 14 00}
0x7391F Setting: Display Mode, Variable: 0x20A[1] {05 09 0A 02 01 1F 03 20 03}
0x73928 Option: iGPU, Value: 0x0 {09 09 21 03 00 00 00 00 00}
0x73931 Option: dGPU, Value: 0x1 {09 09 22 03 01 00 00 00 00}
0x7393A Option: Hybrid, Value: 0x2 {09 09 24 03 02 00 01 00 00}
0x73943 End of Options {10 02}
0x73945 Grayout If: {19 03 00}
0x73948 Variable 0x85[1] equals 0x2 {12 07 85 00 01 02 00}
0x7394F Variable 0x86[1] equals 0x1 {12 07 86 00 01 01 00}
0x73956 And {15 02}
…

BUT: This depends how this mainboard is configured, there were setups where video output was routed through the GPU even if it came from iGPU.