[SEE OP/HOWTO] Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 Mk7 unlocking SATA3 and faster memory speeds

BIOS/UEFI Modding BIOS Modding Requests
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EDIT: See this post by Lost-n-BIOS if you can’t be arsed to read the entire thread: [REQUEST/Offer] Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 Mk7 unlocking SATA3

To hell with Panasuckit’s engineering, I want my CF-19 to run at SATA600! Apparently some guy on Notebookreview unlocked his CF-52 to use SATA2 and some other dude researched how to unlock SATA2 on a CF-19 Mk3: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/…g.765901/page-2

And the 19 Mk5 has SATA3 natively, why Panasonic reverted to SATA2 on the Mk6 and up is beyond me.

Also, is it possible to unlock the Advanced Menu like the ThinkPad xx30 models? For some reason my 19 doesn’t like 1866 MHz RAM and it sticks to 1333 instead.

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Bump, I guess.

3

@User32 - sorry this post was missed for so long!

Please link me to your stock BIOS download from Panasonic website, there’s too many similar for me to simply guess, I see 3 MK7 and none match what you mentioned.
I want the link from their site to download the stock page, nothing extracted and reuploaded etc.


Please post CPU-z motherboard tab image too, thanks

4

https://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/dl/downloa…_19_V700L16.exe

CF-195, which is my 19.

5

Thanks, then to me that model would be just as displayed >> CF-195 MK7, however, I still guess any of those three could apply (Stupid Panasonic! )

Please post CPU-z motherboard tab image too, thanks
https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Please also provide me a zip or 7zip package of a single image of each of your main BIOS pages, such as Main, Advanced, Boot, Save and Exit etc.
Please resize these if you use a camera, I don’t need 2-5MB images, nor 4K resolution, 100-500KB JPG or PNG - 1000Px wide images are plenty

Check BIOS main page and see if ME FW version is shown, if not then download HWINFO64 and on the large window on left side, expand motherboard and find ME area, inside that get the ME Firmware version.
Once you have that, go to this thread and in the section “C” download the matching ME System Tools Package (ie if ME FW version = 10.x get V10 package, if 9.0-9.1 get V9.1 package, if 9.5 or above get V9.5 package etc)
Intel Management Engine: Drivers, Firmware & System Tools

Once downloaded, inside you will find Flash Programming Tool folder, and inside that a Windows or Win/Win32 folder. Select that Win folder, hold shift and press right click, choose open command window here (Not power shell).
At the command prompt type the following command and send me the created file to modify >> FPTw.exe -bios -d biosreg.bin

Right after you do that, try to write back the BIOS Region dump and see if you get any error, if you do show me image of the command entered and the error given >> FPTw.exe -bios -f biosreg.bin

If you are stuck on Win10 and cannot easily get command prompt, and method I mentioned above does not work for you, here is some links that should help
Or, copy all contents from the Flash Programming Tool \ DOS folder to the root of a USB Bootable disk and do the dump from DOS (FPT.exe -bios -d biosreg.bin)
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-add-c…creators-update
https://www.windowscentral.com/add-open-…menu-windows-10
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/open-…ator-privileges

* Edit @User32 - If chipset supports it, then yes, you can use SATA 6/Gbs, this can even be changed without a BIOS mod if that is all you really want changed (If yes, let me know, I’ll get started on telling you how to do that instead of a BIOS mod)
SATA Controller Speed, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x11D
One Of Option: Default, Value (8 bit): 0x0 {09 0E AC 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: Gen1, Value (8 bit): 0x1 {09 0E AD 01 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: Gen2, Value (8 bit): 0x2 (default) {09 0E AE 01 30 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: Gen3, Value (8 bit): 0x3 {09 0E AF 01 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}

6

It’s got the QM77 chipset so it should support SATA3. And I somewhat know how to work with a UEFI shell, I overclocked a Dell Precision M6700 that way by unlocking the 400 MHz Turbo Bins.

Would love to know how to set it to SATA3!

EDIT: setvar 0x11d 0x03 just gives me “invalid argument” and “unable to set UUID something something 00E098032B8C”

7

You need to use grub, not actual UEFI Shell. Here is a general guide, and the attached file has the grub you need to use, use the attached .efi file instead of what you are using now, rename it to same as you’re using now
[GUIDE] Grub Fix Intel FPT Error 280 or 368 - BIOS Lock Asus/Other Mod BIOS Flash

Then at grub prompt type the following >> setup_var 0x11D 0x3

If that is what you are doing exactly, from grub, show me image of the command entered and error given. You may need to use other tool instead, or you may have to use mod BIOS instead, sometimes nothing works but mod BIOS.

Give me your FPT dump if you want mod BIOS, and tell me what error you got when trying to flash it back right after you dumped it.

8

Holy FUCK it’s working! I’m getting 560mb/s reads from a 860 Evo! Thank you so much!

EDIT: BIOS dumped, it’s write protected however, as I expected.

biosreg.zip (2.75 MB)

9

@User32 - You’re welcome, glad you finally got it working now!!
Please show me error you get when trying to write back the BIOS region via FPT, or tell me the error #. Usually this can be disabled or bypassed via edit or tricks etc.

10

Error 280 related to Write Protection.

11

That one can be overcome a few ways, sometimes easier than others, one you can test to see if your BIOS has the S3 sleep bug. Put system to sleep (S3) for one minute, then wake it up and try FPT flash again from windows
If it still gives same error then at grub prompt, try the following to disable FPRR or SMI/SMM and BIOS Lock. Sometimes this lock is also enabled in another file that only BIOS mod can disable, so may not work, and it looks disabled by default in your setup module so maybe no luck without mod
SMI Lock, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x4B
BIOS Lock, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x4C

So at grub prompt, one at a time
setup_var 0x4B 0x0
setup_var 0x4C 0x0

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0x4B was set to 0x0, 0x4C was set to 0x1 but I managed to set it to 0x0

And the flash descriptor is unlocked!

13

FD is unlocked!??? Do you mean you can now dump entire BIOS, and you checked FD in UEFITool and see it’s unlocked, or did you just mean you can now FPT write BIOS region from windows?
If you can write BIOS region in widows now, that’s all you need to flash in mod BIOS anyway.

Yes, I saw in setup SMI Lock was disabled by default (this usually source of error 280), but BIOS lock was enabled, which usually gives error 368.
That’s why I just gave you both to disabled in case it was pulled from NVRAM or SetupData instead of Setup.

14

If i do fptw64 -bios -f biosreg.bin it tries to flash but it fails because the BIOS dump file is identical:

15

That is success, if it was still locked you’d get 280 or 368 error, or 26/28 etc. Send me FPT BIOS region dump now, so I can use that as unlocked source, so next subsequent flashes you wont have to keep redoing the grub stuff.

So now BIOS region is unlocked to write in mod BIOS, if you wanted. So now, we can do mod BIOS if you want, try unlocking menus, making stuff visible to you etc.
Please zip up some images of your BIOS for me, one of all main pages (main, advanced, boot, save and exit etc), and then additional ones showing all you can see in Advanced so I can unhide anything hidden.
Then, I’ll get back to you tonight and let you know what can be done, or send you mod BIOS with it all unlocked etc. Sometimes I like to go one step at a time, but depends on BIOS, hope you are OK with a few tests before any final unlock of all at once.

16

Working on it, would love a modded BIOS as long it doesn’t brick my Toughbook.

How do I make a FPT BIOS region dump?

DCIM.zip (4.37 MB)

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FPT Dump is same as you did before at post #8 , only now it will have your unlocks applied already >> FPTw.exe -bios -d biosreg.bin

I will only send you edits I think would be safe, if I think it’s a risky edit I wont send, unless/until you purchase cheap flash programmer setup (CH341A = SOIC8 test clip cable, less than $7 total for both shipped on ebay, let me know if you need linked examples)
And yes, I think I can unlock all BIOS for you, everything hidden in advanced and the chipset tab too, also even the “Debug Tab” which is really the usual hidden advanced renamed (Actual debug folder cannot be enabled ever on AMI BIOS)

Or if you want, I can simply make that one ATA Controller Speed setting visible for you?

18

Unlock everything that won’t brick my laptop.

EDIT: I would especially love to know if there is a way to select RAM speed as it’s (artifically?!) locked at 1333, probably because XMP isn’t enabled by default.

biosreg.zip (2.76 MB)

19

Yes, it’s limited by a setting, one “Default Profile” is default instead of Custom or XMP, and there is actual Freq Limiter set too (at 1333)



DIMM profile, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x20C, VarStore: 0x1, QuestionId: 0x432, Size: 1, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 6B 04 6C 04 32 04 01 00 0C 02 14 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}
0x58F58 One Of Option: Default DIMM profile, Value (8 bit): 0x0 (default) {09 0E 6D 04 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x58F66 One Of Option: Custom Profile, Value (8 bit): 0x1 {09 0E 70 04 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x58F74 One Of Option: XMP Profile 1, Value (8 bit): 0x2 {09 0E 6E 04 00 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x58F82 One Of Option: XMP Profile 2, Value (8 bit): 0x3 {09 0E 6F 04 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x58F90 End One Of {29 02}
0x58F92 One Of: DDR Selection, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x207, VarStore: 0x1, QuestionId: 0x1E7, Size: 1, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 77 04 78 04 E7 01 01 00 07 02 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}
0x58FB8 One Of Option: DDR3, Value (8 bit): 0x0 {09 0E 79 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x58FC6 One Of Option: DDR3L, Value (8 bit): 0x1 {09 0E 7A 04 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x58FD4 One Of Option: Auto, Value (8 bit): 0x2 (default) {09 0E 26 03 30 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x58FE2 End One Of {29 02}
0x58FE4 Numeric: DDR Reset Wait Time, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x208, VarStore: 0x1, QuestionId: 0x1E8, Size: 4, Min: 0x14, Max 0x2DC6C0, Step: 0x1 {07 A6 7B 04 7C 04 E8 01 01 00 08 02 10 12 14 00 00 00 C0 C6 2D 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x5900A Default: DefaultId: 0x0, Value (32 bit): 0x1E8480 {5B 0D 00 00 02 80 84 1E 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59017 One Of Option: DDR Reset Wait Time, Value (32 bit): 0x1E8480 (default MFG) {09 0E 7B 04 20 02 80 84 1E 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59025 End {29 02}
0x59027 One Of: Memory Frequency Limiter, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x204, VarStore: 0x1, QuestionId: 0x1E9, Size: 1, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 7D 04 7E 04 E9 01 01 00 04 02 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}
0x5904D One Of Option: Auto, Value (8 bit): 0x0 {09 0E 26 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x5905B One Of Option: 1067, Value (8 bit): 0x1 {09 0E 7F 04 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59069 One Of Option: 1333, Value (8 bit): 0x2 (default) {09 0E 80 04 30 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59077 One Of Option: 1600, Value (8 bit): 0x3 {09 0E 81 04 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59085 One Of Option: 1867, Value (8 bit): 0x4 {09 0E 82 04 00 00 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59093 End One Of {29 02}
0x59095 One Of: Memory Frequency Limiter, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x205, VarStore: 0x1, QuestionId: 0x1EA, Size: 2, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 7D 04 7E 04 EA 01 01 00 05 02 10 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}
0x590BB One Of Option: 1067, Value (16 bit): 0x42B {09 0E 7F 04 00 01 2B 04 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x590C9 One Of Option: 1333, Value (16 bit): 0x535 (default) {09 0E 80 04 30 01 35 05 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x590D7 One Of Option: 1600, Value (16 bit): 0x640 {09 0E 81 04 00 01 40 06 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x590E5 One Of Option: 1867, Value (16 bit): 0x74B {09 0E 82 04 00 01 4B 07 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x590F3 One Of Option: 2133, Value (16 bit): 0x855 {09 0E 83 04 00 01 55 08 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59101 One Of Option: 2400, Value (16 bit): 0x960 {09 0E 84 04 00 01 60 09 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x5910F One Of Option: 2667, Value (16 bit): 0xA75 {09 0E 85 04 00 01 75 0A 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x5911D End One Of {29 02}
0x5911F One Of: ECC Support, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x1FB, VarStore: 0x1, QuestionId: 0x1EB, Size: 1, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 97 04 98 04 EB 01 01 00 FB 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}
0x59145 One Of Option: Disabled, Value (8 bit): 0x0 {09 0E 29 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59153 One Of Option: Enabled, Value (8 bit): 0x1 (default) {09 0E 28 03 30 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
0x59161 End One Of {29 02}


I will work on BIOS soon and get back to you with first quick test before I start unlocking it all

20

Can I enable XMP with grub?