Acer M3970 / AMI support for 3rd Gen Ivy Bridge i7-3770

[cauqazn]

Yes, I have the programmer. Not sure what kind of chip it is though I can barely make out the markings. I'm not sure if the program requires you to put in the exact chip before it can read?

[DeathBringer]

Write down labels from BIOS chip.

[cauqazn]

Write down labels from BIOS chip.

Lol.  Perhaps you missed what I said.  The markings on the chip are not visible anymore.  I'll try and wipe it down with alcohol and pull out a magnifying glass I guess...  If the program will read w/o specifying what chip it is, then shouldn't be an issue, however I am not sure at this point what chip is on there other than it being 8 pin and looks like the chips on Thinkpads which I'm used to seeing.

[DeathBringer]

Make of photo of BIOS chip on this motherboard.

1. Use Rufus to make DOS USB stick.
2. Download Intel ME System Tools v7 r2
3. Copy all files from folder \Intel ME System Tools v7 r2\Flash Programming Tool\DOS to created DOS USB stick.
4. Boot from DOS USB stick and run:
fpt -desc -d desc.bin
5. Make a photo of result.

[cauqazn]

Make of photo of BIOS chip on this motherboard.

OK will do.  I think I found the chip after cleaning it off, it is this one.  I can make out WINBOND it is for sure that brand chip and a 25 and SIG at the end, middle is pretty hard to see.

[cauqazn]

Looks like a W25Q32FV.  Do you want the desc.bin file?
https://i.imgur.com/Ha2GCha.jpg

[DeathBringer]

I need full dump. Read it by hardware programmer.

[cauqazn]

I need full dump. Read it by hardware programmer.

Wow, getting the clip on this chip was a pita.  Dump linked: https://ufile.io/dra93

There was no 25Q32FV option in the programmer, I used the 25Q32BV option. Looking up specsheet on both it seems to be the same...

[DeathBringer]

Your dump is corrupt.

[cauqazn]

Your dump is corrupt.

Awesome...... yeah I pretty much give up on this for now.  Not sure if it's my test clip or the fact that the chip is soldered too low to the board, it is so hard to position it perfectly so the software will detect it and 99% of the time the clip simply slips off.  I'm afraid the legs are going to get cut through or chip get damaged that is how many times I'm messed with this thing.  I think it is just this chip/board because I have never had this much trouble reading the chip off my T430--1 shot and it's on, clipped, and detects. I even modified the clip changing springs to change the pressure, changing the angle of the plastic by shaving with a razor blade, tried a bunch of things I'm fed up with it. Had to resolder like 4 wires messing with it too .

I thought it was positioned fine when I did the read as I got it to FINALLY detect the chip, the other 200 times I tried to hook it up it did not read or would lose connection to the PC (probably a short), which is why it literally took me over an hour to even get that dump messing with that s*** chip/clip.  To make matters worse I accidentally bumped the cable (left it clipped on after figuring out how much of a PITA it was) and spent another hour last night trying to get it set again (no success) but now I know it didn't read correctly anyway.

I'm going to have to desolder the chip and literally solder leads to each pin to read this thing now. I see they do make readers as well I may try that instead if it saves me from trying to solder tiny leads. I have no problem around normal electronics but I do not have equipment for microsoldering. In my frustration, I already bought an ASUS board to take the cpu with all the extra features I wanted with a bios mod.  I'll probably come back to attempting this again once the machine w/ new board is up and running.  Right now I don't even want to look at it  Lol