[REQUEST] Asus Rog Strix Scar SE G733CX 12th Gen i9 12950hx

[cheukhin.tse]

Hi All, this is my first thread in this forum, I recently got this new laptop. This laptop is full of potential with the latest and fastest fully unlocked CPU with 3080ti GPU (175w).

My original goal is just to enable Wake on Lan. However, after digging for a day, I found out there are so many options can be unlocked through AMIPCB.
There is a few default CPU undervoltage and overclocking setting in stock bios but why not go all the way. It is going to be fun!
I am actually at the final stage of the bios modding, the problem I encountered right now is to flash the bios back in. I used the FPTW method through both under windows environment and EFI shell environment.

(Please note that I think I am using the right fptw version, CSME System Tools v16.0 r7 which support Alder Lake, I have successful dump the backup.rom for doing the mod in AMIPCB.)

Under both environment, fptw -bios -f backup.rom gave me the same error as shown below:
Error 167: Protected Range Registers are currently set by BIOS, preventing flash access.
Please contact the target system BIOS vendor for an option to disable
Protected Range Registers.
FPT Operation Failed.

I have also used RU.efi under EFI Shell to disable BIOS LOCK, and the Flash Protection (FPRR) was disabled by default. I have double check both value are 00, the setting stick but I am still getting error.
Can some BIOS Guru give me some advice or next action to do, so that I will be able to flash the bios through FPT. 

I am tired man…… I am guessing may be my laptop is too new, and there is more option to disable instead of just Bios lock and FPRR.

Please find my bios dump and Text file extracted by Universal IFR Extractor7 in the link below, i tried to upload in here but sth wrong. Please download through the link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1...sp=sharing

Tutorial that I use:
[GUIDE] Grub Fix Intel FPT Error 280 or 368 - BIOS Lock Asus/Other Mod BIOS Flash - BIOS/UEFI Modding / BIOS Modding Guides and Problems - Win-Raid Forum (level1techs.com)
[REQUEST] Asus GL504GW Bios Unlock (bios-mods.com)

this guys also got Error
167 but he solved it.
I tired to follow everything he did already.
Your help is much appreciate guys!!

[genius239]

@cheukhin.tse

Some questions.
1. Can you confirm that there are no error occur(0x00000008) when you write to variable via ru.efi?? Because few days ago , user met a trouble about write variables in another Asus 12th gen laptop(GU603ZX) ,see below picture. Fail to write variables under Grub & Ru.efi both ,so he can't test anything. The only soluation for him is spi programmer.
https://ibb.co/mT6MCyN


2. If you're sure ,i would make a test mod for you to test reflash modified bios tomorrow. I don't have time now.

[cheukhin.tse]

I haven’t seen any error in RU.efi, i have tried to change some setting from disable to enable through RU.efi, and it works. the setting stick.

There were some mistake i made in the first place, after i click Cltr Q to quit, it goes bk to UEFI Bios directly and i saved and exit with the original setting, what i know i should do now is restart directly after changing variable in RU.efi

I am quite sure bios lock and FPRR are disabled, but i am still getting error.

There is a work around for me now, at least i can change variables under RU.efi to achieve what i want like wake on lan, memory timing, overclock ration.

I use hex convert to decimal, and it works Amazing!
I can tweak the machines hidden menu without modding the bios, but of cuz it would be nice to have the setting show in bios

[genius239]

@cheukhin.tse

1. Change variables by Grub or ru.efi to tweak bios settings is not a difficult thing ,everyone can do it.

2. I sent a test mod to you ,try it then respond to the result.

[cheukhin.tse]

Thanks Genius239, Tried your test mod, still not able to flash it with FPT, still having the error 167, in fact i am not able to flash the one i dump directly without any mod

one thing i find out weird is the FPRR string, i checked it is 00 disabled under RU, but from what i extracted from the rom, it is weird that it have two default value. I am not sure what it means. I will copy that up in a while, meanwhile you may check it up, in the text file i extracted in the link i provided.

And i just find out wake on lan is enable by default and it actually work….=.=

[genius239]

@cheukhin.tse

1. If you follow my guide and change variables via Grub ,but it still can't be reflash , it mean the only solution is spi programmer if you eant to modify bios.

2. Don't ovetthink ,even there are two default value in FPRR ,the focus is value of variable.

[cheukhin.tse]

@genius239

1. Actually as i said i used RU.efi, it is because I can't boot with Grub somehow. It will be frozen as soon as i boot with Grub. But anyway many thanks for your help.

2. Noted.

I willlearn how to use SPI programmer one day. As I wanted to undervoltage each core seperatly, of cuz i can do it through intel XTU for now.

[genius239]

@cheukhin.tse

Ru.efi & Grub are working under uefi environment both ,so why it frozen?? I'm still hope you try to write those three variables via Grub ,if it still get failure ,it really need to a programmer to solve the problem of read/write bios.

[cheukhin.tse]

@genius239
I just never got to boot to GRUB correctly, I understand i have to launch it through the EFI shell, but as soon as i press launch it become frozen, I tried to download grub from different sources, still the same, but RU.efi always work. I never really have much experience on grub.

May be are there any tutorial on making the grub work for me? So i could follow and try again.

Thanks
P.S. btw i took the case off and checked on the bios chip name, winbond w25r256jv
Are this one flashable, it is a 256MB varient.

[genius239]

@cheukhin.tse

1. It doesn't need a guide ,the same step with you used the Ru.efi ,copy folder EFI to usb stick then boot is as uefi mode then it will enter to Grub shell.( If you are sure you already writing 0x0 to offset 0x1C & 0x73D under PchSetup table and writing 0x0 to 0x43 under CpuSetup table but still can't reflash through fpt ,the only solation is using spi programmer.)

2. You can use parameter -i in fpt to comfirm the bios chip type or directly use this batch file.

3. 25 series chip has high chances to rewrite than 74 series ,after you confrim the chip model ,find a spi programmer that support this chip is now you should to do. (What type of package with this chip?? sop8 or wson8??)