[Request] Help to change settings in a Dell BIOS

BIOS/UEFI Modding BIOS Modding Guides and Problems
1

Hello. my laptop has been water damaged the keyboard/touch-pad, screen and CMOS no longer work, but the laptops still loads via HDMI.

The laptop is a Dell E7240 and the bios used is this one - https://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER04802818M/1/E7240A25.exe

Is it possible to change 2 default settings permanently, and flash the new bios.
BIOS menu settings > general > boot sequence, boot list option (original setting is “legacy” i need it to be UEFI)
BIOS menu settings > system configuration > sata operation (original setting is “raid on” i need it to be AHCI)

Any help or ideas would be appreciated, thank you.

2

@kup - Please download V9.5 Intel ME System Tools from Section “C” in this thread - Intel Management Engine: Drivers, Firmware & System Tools
Inside you will find Flash Programming Tool folder, and inside that a Win32 folder. Select the Win32 folder, hold shift and press right click, choose open command window here (Not power shell)
Then type the following command at the CMD prompt and send me the created file >> FPTw.exe -bios -d biosreg.bin

For the impending flash, you will need to unlock a BIOS Lock setting via grub, here is the general method, you can start at step #6 because I’ve gathered the info for you that steps #1-5 take you through getting

BIOS Lock Var >> 0x75

Setup_var/Grub guide
[GUIDE] Grub Fix Intel FPT Error 368 - BIOS Lock Asus/Other Mod BIOS Flash
Alt boot to grub when no boot to EFI on exit page - [Help needed] Hidden Advanced menu Bios HP Z1 J52_0274.BIN (2) << you will need to use this method, because right now I cannot find exit page of your BIOS to find correct name of .efi file your BIOS will look for.
Or you can wait to do this until I have your BIOS region dump, maybe better luck then

3

@Lost_N_BIOS here is the requested biosreg.bin.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/y63ibxgw4r…iosreg.rar/file

4

Thanks @kup can you show me image of the first setting in the BIOS? Or you can’t see BIOS screen, even with HDMI?

I ask, because this setting in particular, the options are not named like usual other settings are, so want to be sure it’s the one I’m editing (This is only option on this section, so I assume it has to be this one)

Boot Sequence, FormId: 0x8200 {01 86 00 82 D6 07}
One Of: Boot Option #%d, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x0, VarStore: 0x8, QuestionId: 0x454, Size: 2, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 25 00 26 00 54 04 08 00 00 00 00 11 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: , Value (16 bit): 0x0 (default) {09 0E 02 00 10 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: , Value (16 bit): 0x1 {09 0E 02 00 00 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}


AHCI one already done, and as you can see on this one, the options are named like 99.9% of al others in all BIOS

One Of: SATA Operation, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x170, VarStore: 0x2, QuestionId: 0x4D2, Size: 1, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 17 09 1C 09 D2 04 02 00 70 01 10 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: Disabled, Value (8 bit): 0xFF {09 0E 21 09 00 00 FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: AHCI, Value (8 bit): 0x1 (default) {09 0E 1F 09 10 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00} << now default instead of RAID
One Of Option: RAID On, Value (8 bit): 0x2 {09 0E 20 09 00 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}

5

@Lost_N_BIOS check your pm’s

sorry wrong share, please check again in a sec for the pic.

6

Yes, I saw that and replied??? Also, I don’t think the above setting I showed, matching what you mentioned, is the setting you thought it was, since this option is normally where you move disk order from top to bottom.
I checked a few other BIOS, and all have this “Boot Option #%d”, with no names on options, due to it’s what I mentioned not what you thought with legacy/UEFI options.
This is why image will help, then I will find correct setting you wanted instead of one you mentioned

7

OK sent pm.

8

Thanks! Setting you want to change there is not in the setup, that’s why I couldn’t find it how I expected to see it. I can’t find a way to change this option, sorry.
The RAID to ACHI default I’ve already set. But either of these really, you can change and save as default on the exit page of the BIOS and they should be always applied.

Do you want BIOS with AHCI set as default? You will need to unlock BIOS lock first to flash it, using method I outlined above.

@kup - only similar setting in BIOS options I can see is this one, which would be the usual, but it doesn’t match what you see and both UEFI/Legacy already default (I think this is for oroms, sorry)

Boot option filter, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0xBEC, VarStore: 0x2, QuestionId: 0x376, Size: 1, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 5F 0C 60 0C 76 03 02 00 EC 0B 10 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
Default: DefaultId: 0x0, Value (8 bit): 0x0 {5B 0D 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: UEFI and Legacy, Value (8 bit): 0x0 (default MFG) {09 0E 61 0C 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: Legacy only, Value (8 bit): 0x1 {09 0E 62 0C 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: UEFI only, Value (8 bit): 0x2 {09 0E 63 0C 00 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}

9

Thank you for all your help, it is very much appreciated.

The CMOS is broken via the water damge and does not save, so every boot i have to changes those 2 options in the bios manually, and thought there may be a way to set them as default boot option.

No need to send me the bios option as i will still need to edit the other on boot and i do not want to take up any more of your time on this.

Once again thank for your help Lost_N_BIOS.

10

@kup - Did you replace the CMOS battery? If not, try that, since it could be the battery only got fried and a new one will solve the issues.

You’re welcome, and it’s not a waste of my time or anything, wish I could change both for you but Dell BIOS is not always straightforward like others

11

Checked the battery, The laptop has a small daughter board with the cmos and battery on, which attaches to the MB via a ribbon cable, it is at that end of the ribbon where the water damage is.
Do not want to take the bits out and throw it away because its working fine with USB K&M.

Thanks Lost_N_BIOS

12

@kup You’re welcome. Was the battery 3V or above? If you didn’t measure it, or can’t, then simply switch it out with another, just for testing to see if it helps. If may not, but good to test just in case.