[Request] Mod ASUS Z97I‑PLUS BIOS

BIOS/UEFI Modding BIOS Modding Requests
1

Hi

Could you please make a completed CAP or ROM file with the updated modules:

  • ME Firmware

  • Disk Controller

  • Onboard Video

  • Network

  • Microcodes

Currently, using latest official ver 2704, it support native 4G Decoding in BIOS.

Thank you in advance,

Best regards,
VRam

2

@VRam Try this: Z97I-PLUS_Mod.rar (5.0 MB)

I suggest for you to downgrade your bios version 2 or 3 versions lower than current bios, and flash using AFUWIN /GAN method or AI-Suite method with the bios mod. If you decided to use the AFUWIN /GAN method, afaik in my own test, it wont update the ME Firmware, just the bios region, and i never tested the AI-Suite Method, so i gave you 2 files, 1 for AFUWIN /GAN method (.ROM), and 1 for AI-Suite Method (the .CAP). For AI-Suite, i dont know either AI-Suite 2 or 3 will do the trick. You can find AI-Suite 2 here (Choose Windows 8.1 64Bit for the OS, and scroll down to Software and Utility section), and AI-Suite 3 here (Just scroll down to Software and Utility section).

Be sure to FULLY Backup the current bios first, as it contains your motherboard credentials, you can use Intel FPT from this forum to dump it (just do fpt.exe -d Backup.ROM if Possible to dump the whole bios chip), or use AFUWIN /O Backup.ROM, and save the bios backup to anywhere you please, but at least consider putting it in your flash drive.

If flash is successful, please try to Disable CSM (and make sure no legacy settings are enabled except Legacy Usb settings), enable igpu (if you’re not using Xeon), and enable above 4g decoding, see if iGPU works under UEFI with Above 4G Decoding Enabled.

3

Hi
Thanks for the fast and details response

  1. i downgrade bios to v2701 successfully.

  2. try to update Z97I-PLUS-ASUS-2704.CAP via ASUS EZ flash - no support the file.

  3. try afuwinx64.exe Z97I-PLUS-ASUS-2704.rom /GAN ,nothing happen, did i do something wrong ? :slight_smile:

  4. try ASUS AI Suite v3.03.43 - didn’t find any option or menu for EZ Flash..

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    Best Regards

VRam

4

@VRam Which version of afuwin did you use? The latest that support /GAN is Afuwin v3.05.04.

Download the latest bios, do afuwinx64 Asus-Stock-Bios-Name.CAP, wait till it finishes, and then do afuwinx64 My-Modded-Bios.ROM

6

ill download it again via your link v3.05.04 and replace my in (C:\Windows\System32),

I see that I can’t update even using the stock file Z97I-PLUS-ASUS-2704.CAP from ASUS, am i missing something ?

try AFUWINx64 Z97I-PLUS-ASUS-2704.CAP

try AFUWINx64 Z97I-PLUS-ASUS-2704.CAP /GAN

  1. try to update Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 - not helps
  2. think the issue is with AFUWINx64.EXE, it not support in Z97 via win11.
  3. try to update via AFUDOS /P /N /K -still not work..
7

Did you ran cmd as admin? Maybe share a screenshot here so that others could see, since “i can’t do abc” is too vague, atleast post what does it tell, or a screenshot :folded_hands:t6:

8

with AFUDOS /P /N /K i get a msg - BIOS is write-protected
and don’t find any option to disable it in the bios.

9

is this with v3.05.04 of afuwin an using the .CAP?

So have you tried to do the .CAP first, and see if its checking the bios, and after all is done, do the .ROM with /GAN?

Could you list what have you done for this step? I recall that my test with Z97-A with windows 10 its working fine, idk about w11 tho..

Are windows defender local authority something and driver blocklist settings enabled?

Could you try to do afuwin /o backup.rom before you proceed? To see if the afuwin will fully backup the chip, or just the bios region.

10

  1. AFUWINx64 (v3.05.04) doesn’t open also as stand alone app on windows 11 (25H2) with Z97I-Plus.

  2. try to run AFUWINx64 (v4.48) as stand alone get an error

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  3. try to run (mod bios files)

    AFUWINx64 C:\BIOS\Z97I-PLUS-ASUS-2704.ROM
    Or
    AFUWINx64 /o (Save current BIOS into file)

    gets the same error

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11

Extract the content of AFUWIN v3.05.04 to the root ex. c: \AFU3504

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Run it as CMD Admin (AFUWINx64.EXE, not the GUI version), else the AMI utility driver can’t be loaded

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14
  1. i verified that Secure Boot is disable (reset to default and clear the key in the bios)
  2. Memory Integrity = OFF
  3. try copy AFUWINx64.EXE (v3.05.04) + amifldrv64.sys to C:\Windows\System32
  4. try AFUWINx64.EXE (v3.05.04) under Compatibility mode windows 7..

still the same error 10 - Error: Unable to load driver.

and still the same error..

many thanks for the help :slight_smile:

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ok, when i Disable all Core isolation details, now AFUWINx64.EXE seems to work..

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After Reset i change

  1. Above 4G Decoding to Enabled
  2. CSM to Disabled.

Seams to work..

Many thanks Koekieezz and MeatWar !!!

15

So, did the mod work?

16

  1. yes, flashed with your mod file.

  2. here some Pic from Device Manager and GPU-Z

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17

For the GPU, could you try to enable igpu (if you didn’t yet), test display in iGPU, boot to windows, open GPUz, choose Intel HD, and post a screenshot here?

18
  1. windows can’t load while HDMI connect to the motherboard
  2. its active only via the graphic card
  3. but iGPU is Active, you can see
  4. Multi-GPU is disable by the bios (i turn it OFF)
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19

Once it is loaded into windows, could you get a display via HDMI?

20

i try to switch and it’s black screen,

Maybe its need update intel or chipset driver..

ill clear my windows event log and do another test to see what’s going on.

had an error with the driver

  1. The description for Event ID 875 from source Application Popup cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer.

The following information was included with the event:

igdkmd64.sys

  1. The driver \Driver\igfx failed to load.
    Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0412&SUBSYS_85341043&REV_06\3&11583659&0&10
    Status: 0xC000036B
1 Like
21

@VRam Ok this might be expected Since i “move” the GOP for igpu to DXE volume, while it is originally in PEI volume section.

Could you test with stock bios and the same settings, to test if iGPU could initialize normally? I might come up with another test if you dont mind.

22

No need - I can confirm that it works with the stock BIOS v2704. I checked it before successfully flashing, working on motherboard HDMI (iGPU).

Update Succees - Intel Management Engine (ME) 9.1.23.1005 > 9.1.37.1002 (SKU 1.5MB) works great.
Intel ME System Tools v9.1 r7 - i flash via FWUpdLcl64

Do you have any ideas on how this motherboard BIOS / Firmware could be improved ?

1 Like
23

@VRam , could you downgrade the bios to the version you did before flashing the modded bios, and update the bios with afuwin with this modded bios: Z97I-PLUS_Complete.rar

Set all settings the same as the current one, and test the iGPU with Legacy Disabled + Above 4G Decoding enabled.