[Solved] Lenovo Flex 5-14ARE05 bricked/black screen

BIOS/UEFI Modding BIOS Modding Requests
122

Extract latest firmware and search for the known version code, search your dump at the corresponding address

If that doesn’t work:
Check ucode versions with MCE to get a time window, then use a hex editor to compare.

This is a general advice, I don’t remember everything from this thread, if an update did go wrong you may have parts of two firmware versions in your dump

1 Like
123

Replying to notify of success!
My steps were as follows:

  • I got the programmer and 1.8v converter; my model was a CH341B, not A; however, I compared it to an “A” and it had the same chip on the PCB, just different pin out on the pins for jumpers, etc.

  • I tried to extract the bios using windows and AsProgrammer, but it wouldn’t detect the programmer; I then succeeded with a new install of Ubuntu 24, and used the flash ROM utility as described here: [Guide] How to Use a CH341A SPI Programmer/Flasher (with Pictures!)

  • I used md5sum utility on Linux to compare the hashes of several bios chip reads, both without removing the chip clip and after removing and replacing it to confirm it wasn’t misaligned.

  • I compared the extracted Bin to the latest Lenovo bios: I used a tool (I think linked above?) to extract the .CAP file from the Lenovo EXE, then UEFITool to extract the .bin file from there.

  • I used HxD to look at the files; I searched for “IdeaPad” and found the section with my serial number.

  • I put this section into the extracted Lenovo bios; I didn’t try to copy across the other section that posters above said looked important.

  • I flashed this back onto the chip as per the winraid link I referenced above.

  • I read this back from the chip and compared the md5 hash for what I read and what I intended to flash, to check they were the same.

Then it worked!

My takeaways:

  • Linux detected my programmer better, but it didn’t work when it was connected by an external usb hub - had to be direct to the pc.
  • It takes a couple of minutes to read the bios chip, be patient and don’t panic!
  • I checked my replacement bios looked very similar at the start and end, and was exactly the same size.
  • The great thing about flashrom is it automatically detected the bios chip model for me.
124

I’m attempting to fix a Flex 5 15ALC05. I’m having trouble getting the BIN file from the BIOS download. Could anyone assist me please? My wife needs the laptop for school and I don’t have experience with this

125

Extract Lenovo bios file content with UniEtractor, the CAP file is inside a folder, with UEFITool_NE extract as show from the CAP, this is the file to use in the programer.

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126

Thank you for helping me fix my wife’s computer. I only copied B21000-B21280, and it worked; everything else coded itself automatically and is fine now. We couldn’t afford a decent new computer, and her’s had been bricked for a year. She’s a teacher and we live in an impoverished area, so having a halfway decent personal computer is essential for her. Very much appreciated. You’re better at guide writing than you give yourself credit for! Thanks again!

127

Have a Flex 5 that lost power during an update. Sounds pretty common that that BIOS gets corrupted. I was able to pull the data off the chip, but am having some issues rebuilding the full hex. Can yall all me thru getting to the .cap. I can see the contents of the .exe by using 7zip. I can send the .bin from the chip as well as the .exe if that would be easier.