Mistakenly damaged BIOS - help with recovery. Lenovo G500, InsydeH20 BIOS.

[mattcurtis]

Hello everyone!


I've messed up. After flashing a custom BIOS, I modified a BIOS Graphics Memory option, and since then my laptop has not booted (no logo, no screen, no nothing).

On normal boots, the laptop will start, stay on for 5 seconds, and shutdown. It only does this when memory is in the machine (I assume it's trying to allocate more memory than is available, I can't say).

Anyway, I've attempted BIOS recovery several times, with guides such as this one (bios-mods.com/bios-recovery/insyde-bios-recovery/). Specifically, here's what I've tried:

1. Downloaded latest BIOS from Lenovo's site (support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds036474). Extracted "BIOS Update.exe" using 7-zip.
   
2. Downloaded the Phoenix Tool (forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/13194-Tool-to-Insert-Replace-SLIC-in-Phoenix-Insyde-Dell-EFI-BIOSes), ran it on the WinVIWGP203.ROM file from the extracted exe. The suggested file name is "VIWGPX64.F?"
   
3. Copied and renamed the original WinVIWGP203.ROM file to VIWGPX64.FD.
   
4. Format USB drive (in my case, 4 GB, FAT32), copied the new .FD file to it's root.
   
5. Disconnected battery, power cable, etc., from laptop.
   
6. Plug USB in (all ports tried).
   
7. Held down FN+B (FB+R also works on this machine). Plug in AC Adapter, power on.
   
8. LEDs light up, let go of FN+B. Fan spins heavily. LEDs lit are white and orange.
   
9. USB drive flashes twice or so immediately after pressing of power button.
   
10. 30+ minutes, no change. No beeps, no flashes, no USB activity, nothing.
    

Here's all the file names I've tried: i.imgur.com/VeMb7NE.png

Any suggestions? Is there something I'm missing? There's also a thread here that suggests examine the platform.ini file, but none of the strings "model=" or "platform=" were found.

Thanks in advance.

[BDMaster]

I haven't got luck with Lenovo Recovery Procedure !
So I can only suggest to buy the tools like here :

https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-R...5#pid74575

With SPI PGM and Pomona Soic Clip You can Recover the Firmware and I can help You !
Let me know
Regards

[mattcurtis]

I haven't got luck with Lenovo Recovery Procedure !
So I can only suggest to buy the tools like here :

https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-R...5#pid74575

With SPI PGM and Pomona Soic Clip You can Recover the Firmware and I can help You !
Let me know
Regards

Wow, that's...depressing. I wonder why I can't get Lenovo BIOS Recovery to work? I'll consider the bios chip reprogramming (?) as a last resort, if I don't scrap this laptop.

Anyone else have ideas?

[BDMaster]

You can find googleing many experiments and look for Recovery, but I found only few working !
Regards

[mattcurtis]

Will this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOIC8-SOP8-Test-...27fe562167 and this http://www.ebay.com/itm/301443899698?_tr...EBIDX%3AIT be all I need to flash this BIOS chip manually?

[BDMaster]

Yes ! These are enough to make the right job !
Regards

[mattcurtis]

Yes ! These are enough to make the right job !
Regards

Phew, finally got those PINS/Aligned correctly, that was a massive pain. Attached is the BIOS read.

[BDMaster]

Ok I will reply quickly !
regards

[mattcurtis]

Ok I will reply quickly !
regards

Bump?

[BDMaster]

I got error on your Firmware file ME corrupted !
Redo the Dump and upload again the file !
Regards