I’ve been attempting to update this bios for the Advantech FWA-3260 but I’m having issues, I’ve used UBU and updated the microcode to the latest version. Now I was trying to use AMIBCP to update 1 flag in IntelRCSetup → Processor Configuration → (178A) X2APIC changing Optimal from Disable to Enabled. When I go to save the file I get the error Saving Defaults to NVRAM failed, I suspect this has something to do with the BIOS not having the NVRAM section? I say this because the vendor supplied the bios and then another image file that is the NVRAM file.
Any help with this would be appreciated. I can supply the files if necessary.
Use onboard jumpers (if available) and dump and write backup the mod with Intel FPT tool from the ME version used on system, one action at the time, mcodes first.
AMIBCP can break and produce unpredictable results on some bios files…
Vendor has flashing done using Ipmitool. They ignore that ME exists on the system. Is there any reason I would not be able to flash my modded microcode bios using IPMI? FPT tool and ME are more difficult since this system doesn’t have a video interface or an easy way to get a gpu into it. I could get a x8 pci to x16 adaptor if I really need to get into windows to mess with the ME.
Usually what prevents it, its bios security implemented by the OEM or bios vendor… your system could accept it… by your statement you never flash a mod bios on that system or did you already and can confirm this?
What i stated before as actions, its only to debug the system response to mods and how it reacts to flash them…
Modern AMI Aptio V bioses can be edited using this tool, old “leaked” AMIBCP tool versions around, cant deal correctly with some Aptio V recent bios releases.
I’ve tried to flash this board with an unsigned bios and that failed. Did this by changing the ME jumper and then dumping using AfuEfi64. This got me a bios file that I could open in UBU and other tools. However, it was only a 8mb dump and not signed, I also was not able to update the microcode in UBU it errored out, I used another tool to inject the microcode. In the meantime, I reached out to Advantech to see if they had a bios version that had microcode updates and they did share a bios img and nvram img that are more update to date but not current. Using that UBU was able to do the microcode updates with no errors at all. I’ve flashed other systems with the Aptio V (AppNeta’s).
I’ll see what the tool you linked can do with the files and circle back. Thanks!
The ME jumper allows the manual (Ex. FPT tool…) access (read/write operations) to the SPI regions of the FD… not primary related to AMI tools like AFU…
A bios_region only dump (dumps made with FPT) can be made and work only in this region, then merged back in to main image.
You should focus on updating only mcodes and see how it goes, then work the variables to unlock and further trials… rushing and messing too much things at the time will lead you to a “death” motherboard.
Nothing more to add, good luck.