Gateway LT31 AHCI unlock Bios request

[Calab]

You said that you have access to the official BIOS update from the manufacturer. You should be able to recover the BIOS using the CRISIS program and a 2 or less GB flash drive. Look at the top of this webpage and hover your mouse over "BIOS Recovery" (2 to the right of "Forums"), click on "Phoenix." Follow the instructions there. I will compile a list of possible CRISIS key combinations and post it later on.

Thanks VERY much for the FAST and VERY helpful reply!

I'm trying to upgrade this laptop for my son to use. Hoping to put an AMD TK-42 processor into it, and I keep seeing that a modded BIOS upgrade adds AHCI and other features that help with stability. Guess I grabbed the wrong one - or had a bad download.

Thank you again!

[Sml6397]

Here is the list of possible CRISIS key combinations (I may have forgotten some) in case you still need it:

•Ctrl+Esc
•Alt+Esc
•Fn+Esc
•Win+B
•Fn+B
•Win+R
•Fn+R
•Ctrl+Home
•Fn+Home
•Alt+End
•Ctrl+End
•End
•combinations of Ctrl, Fn, Win, & Alt with the other options

If you do manage to successfully activate CRISIS, please post the key combination that you used in case other people need it in the future.

I am currently looking into which NVRAM register controls the "SATA Class ID" option (The options available would be "IDE and AHCI without modding the BIOS), but the process is complicated by the fact that the BIOS has multiple languages (English, Japanese, etc.). If you do not already know, the NVRAM settings are a much safer way to modify BIOS settings regardless of whether they are actually present in the BIOS menu or not. If you modify a bad setting, all you have to do is remove the CMOS battery for 30+ seconds to reset the BIOS to default settings. There is no flashing involved in this process.

You said that you have access to the official BIOS update from the manufacturer. You should be able to recover the BIOS using the CRISIS program and a 2 or less GB flash drive. Look at the top of this webpage and hover your mouse over "BIOS Recovery" (2 to the right of "Forums"), click on "Phoenix." Follow the instructions there. I will compile a list of possible CRISIS key combinations and post it later on.

Thanks VERY much for the FAST and VERY helpful reply!

I'm trying to upgrade this laptop for my son to use. Hoping to put an AMD TK-42 processor into it, and I keep seeing that a modded BIOS upgrade adds AHCI and other features that help with stability. Guess I grabbed the wrong one - or had a bad download.

Thank you again!

[timgatton]

Have you tried the unlocked BIOS ! please leave a feedback .

Might be too old a thread, but I dl'd the BIOS, flashed it, and is shows as STILL at V1.3307 ... log file shows failure ... thoughts?

--- Log started: 05/14/14 10:34:41
Initializing...
Log file : D:\winflash\PHLASH.LOG
Settings file : D:\winflash\PHLASH.INI (found)
Executable : D:\winflash\Winphlash.exe
Version : 1.7.24.0 Build : WinPhlash
Date : 5/14/2014
Resource file : D:\winflash\PHLASHLC.DLL (loaded)
Help file : D:\winflash\WINPHLASH.HLP
App name : Phoenix WinPhlash
OS Information : Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 - supported
isNT_AUTHORITY_SYSTEM_account: Admin. => False.
gVBL_Flag = False(0h).

[05/14/14 10:35:28]
Preparation stage

Processing parameters...
Image file : D:\winflash\BIOS1.WPH
Backup file : D:\winflash\BIOS.BAK

Loading new BIOS image file...
Opening file D:\winflash\BIOS1.WPH...
Allocating 1097090 bytes...
Reading 1097090 bytes from the file starting at 0...

Looking for interface descriptors and code...
cbSearch= 8192 (0x00002000)
cbSearch= 12288 (0x00003000)
cbSearch= 16384 (0x00004000)
cbSearch= 20480 (0x00005000)
cbSearch= 24576 (0x00006000)
cbSearch= 28672 (0x00007000)
cbSearch= 32768 (0x00008000)
cbSearch= 36864 (0x00009000)
cbSearch= 40960 (0x0000A000)
cbSearch= 45056 (0x0000B000)
cbSearch= 49152 (0x0000C000)
cbSearch= 49152 (0x0000C000)
BIOS image size is : 1048576 (0x00100000)
Descriptors and code size is: 48487 (0x0000BD67)

Verifying interface descriptors and code...
Allocating 48733 bytes for interface data and code...
Copying interface data and code...
Looking for the part table structure...
Part table contains 4 device(s)...
Looking for part descriptor...
Looking for part descriptor...
Looking for part descriptor...
Looking for part descriptor...
Looking for the text descriptor table structure...
Looking for Text descriptor...
Device name : W25X80 (001300EF)
Version label: ALPHA
Block info : 16X64K
Looking for Text descriptor...
Device name : EN25F80 (0013001C)
Version label: ALPHA
Block info : 256X4K
Looking for Text descriptor...
Device name : A25L080 (00130037)
Version label: ALPHA
Block info : 256X4K
Looking for Text descriptor...
Device name : MX25l800 (001300C2)
Version label: ALPHA
Block info : 16X64K
Looking for the platform descriptor ...
Looking for the keyboard table ...
Looking for the IBM table...
Looking for the nic descriptor ...
NIC descriptor signature "ZFNIC" wasn't found
Verifying the block table ...
4GB flash area is 100000h bytes: FFF00000h-FFFFFFFFh

Combine flags from the platform descriptor with flags from UI or command line
Platform descriptor flags : 00000820
UI or command line flags : 009109A2
UI or command line masks : 01D121A6
Effective flags : 009109A2
DMI update mode : 3
Stage completed

[05/14/14 10:35:50]
Analysis stage

[05/14/14 10:35:50]
Loading and initializing driver...
Installing and loading Windows NT driver: D:\winflash\PHLASHNT.SYS
Error: Failed to start service "WinPhlash": 1275
Installing and loading Windows NT driver: D:\winflash\PHLASHNT.SYS
Error: Failed to start service "WinPhlash": 1275

Error code : 1275(0x000004FB)
Description:
This driver has been blocked from loading
Error code: 1275

Exit with RtnStatus=1604(0x644).
--- Log stopped: 05/14/14 10:35:58

[Sml6397]

I am not sure if you are flashing from Windows, but if you are (not recommended), try running the program in admin mode. Without admin, the program cannot flash the BIOS properly.

[timgatton]

I am not sure if you are flashing from Windows, but if you are (not recommended), try running the program in admin mode. Without admin, the program cannot flash the BIOS properly.

I ran WinPhlash as Administrator and same problem.

Thoughts?

[Sml6397]

Could you upload a copy of the BIOS image that you are attempting to flash please?

The issue could be the lack of platform data (contains platform information/instructions for the "phlashing" program).

I do not have a lot of experience with flashing issues, but I can look at the image and see if certain issues are present.

I am not sure if you are flashing from Windows, but if you are (not recommended), try running the program in admin mode. Without admin, the program cannot flash the BIOS properly.

I ran WinPhlash as Administrator and same problem.

Thoughts?

[timgatton]

Could you upload a copy of the BIOS image that you are attempting to flash please?

The issue could be the lack of platform data (contains platform information/instructions for the "phlashing" program).

I do not have a lot of experience with flashing issues, but I can look at the image and see if certain issues are present.

I am not sure if you are flashing from Windows, but if you are (not recommended), try running the program in admin mode. Without admin, the program cannot flash the BIOS properly.

I ran WinPhlash as Administrator and same problem.

Thoughts?

Got this from this thread (from a year or so earlier) that said it worked for Gateway LT31's.

thanks for looking into it.

tpg

[Sml6397]

Hello timgatton,

I cannot tell from the image what the issue with the BIOS is. You said that this one worked in other LT31 notebooks. This means that the issue is the flashing program and its specific configuration on your computer as it worked in other notebooks of the same model. My ability to help you ends here though. If you haven't already, recheck the "BIOS UPDATE" section of bios-mods.com. Sometimes, different versions of the program are needed to correctly flash, but try the suggestion below before you try that.

The issue could be DEP. Go to the following article and try making a DEP exception. I believe you have Windows 7 from looking at the log file.
https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkStatio...a-p/597545

Could you upload a copy of the BIOS image that you are attempting to flash please?

The issue could be the lack of platform data (contains platform information/instructions for the "phlashing" program).

I do not have a lot of experience with flashing issues, but I can look at the image and see if certain issues are present.

I am not sure if you are flashing from Windows, but if you are (not recommended), try running the program in admin mode. Without admin, the program cannot flash the BIOS properly.

I ran WinPhlash as Administrator and same problem.

Thoughts?

Got this from this thread (from a year or so earlier) that said it worked for Gateway LT31's.

thanks for looking into it.

tpg

[timgatton]

Hello timgatton,

I cannot tell from the image what the issue with the BIOS is. You said that this one worked in other LT31 notebooks. This means that the issue is the flashing program and its specific configuration on your computer as it worked in other notebooks of the same model. My ability to help you ends here though. If you haven't already, recheck the "BIOS UPDATE" section of bios-mods.com. Sometimes, different versions of the program are needed to correctly flash, but try the suggestion below before you try that.

The issue could be DEP. Go to the following article and try making a DEP exception. I believe you have Windows 7 from looking at the log file.
https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkStatio...a-p/597545

Could you upload a copy of the BIOS image that you are attempting to flash please?

The issue could be the lack of platform data (contains platform information/instructions for the "phlashing" program).

I do not have a lot of experience with flashing issues, but I can look at the image and see if certain issues are present.

I am not sure if you are flashing from Windows, but if you are (not recommended), try running the program in admin mode. Without admin, the program cannot flash the BIOS properly.

I ran WinPhlash as Administrator and same problem.

Thoughts?

Got this from this thread (from a year or so earlier) that said it worked for Gateway LT31's.

thanks for looking into it.

tpg

You said that "from Windows" isn't a good idea. Do you recommend a boot from USB or ? Can you direct me to where that might be covered?

thanks

[Sml6397]

Some BIOS manufacturers release Windows BIOS flashing utilities for the average user, but they are more prone to failure from within Windows. I recommend booting from a boot-able USB Flash Drive with DOS as the OS. Do NOT use your own DOS image. For the full process (Phoenix BIOS) click on the "BIOS updates" section of bios-mods.com. Read the entire article very carefully. You will be following the instructions for Phoenix BIOS's.

Standard Precautions:
DO NOT mistype ANY commands and do NOT do anything unnecessary. Make sure that your notebook's battery is 100% charged and that the battery works. The power cord must also be fully inserted and working. Make sure you have a copy of this BIOS someplace other than your laptop and that you can access the internet with this other computer. If you get a brick and you need help activating Phoenix CRISIS recovery (assuming it works on that model - If it does, you will need a USB floppy drive and/or a 2GB or less flashdrive), please post a message.

I ran WinPhlash as Administrator and same problem.

Thoughts?

[/quote]

You said that "from Windows" isn't a good idea. Do you recommend a boot from USB or ? Can you direct me to where that might be covered?

thanks
[/quote]