[REQUEST] Maingear Vector Pro 17 AMD BIOS unlock

[razercortex]

https://app.box.com/s/ygkm7r2jnwkscsf5rzoxx7prnx5ollvq

Hi all,
I'd like help unlocking the BIOS on my Maingear Vector Pro 17 BIOS. It's UEFI only with CSM disabled and I'd like to unhide all the menus if possible. The BIOS files are attached above.

Thank you

[genius239]

@razercortex

1. Have you tried update bios from this update package? if so ,please do a test. We can see four flash tools that included bios file under FlashUtil(AfuEfi ,AfuEfi..etc) ,please choose one of them or try all ,open file(GM5ZGxWN121Mai03.ROM) via AMIBCP then edit anything then save. Then testing to re-flash it again. If you meet any message about bios write protection then it mean that you need an hardware spi programmer if you want to this mod continue.

2. I noticed there is a folder name "Recovery_rom" ,do you know how to use it to revert bios?? I guess maybe we could use this feature to re-flash a modified bios because it usually will not verify bios checksum or other verification during the bios recovery.

3. I have checked this bios file ,and already made a plan to edit it. I found out that In addition to conventional Advanced menus unlock , we seem can easily link to external module(AOD_SETUP & AmdSetup) by edit two lines grammar.Above is my ideas ,but it has to be verified through several edit.

4. I'm surprised that this bios has design Overclocking feature ,but it was hidden. You can see "DDR Frequency and Timings" and "Manual CPU Overclocking" under OverClocking on AMIBCP . In fact ,they are two sub-menu under AOD_SETUP ,i will use them to link to AOD_SETUP & AmdSetup to present complete module.

*. AMD Overclocking module(AOD_SETUP) is designed for zen3 processor to do tweaks of cpu and memory or others.

[razercortex]

@genius239,

I've tried updating the BIOS using the file, it succeeds. I used the file in AfuWin64Cap, but they're identical, so I don't think there's a difference. Maybe the recovery ROM is different, I will have to try with that one.

Regarding the modded BIOS, I was able to use AMIBCP to edit it, but it seems it can't be flashed using AFUWIN/AFUEFI due to secure flash failed error message. I think we could try the other methods to update, not sure how effective they will be. My guess is that the recovery ROM is supposed to be used with AFU in recovery flash override mode.

Scratch that, the recovery ROM is the same as the other ROM file.

[genius239]

@razercortex

1. It look like that you still need a spi programmer to read/write data from bios chip if you want to modify this bios. I had thought maybe a bit chance to re-flash a modified bios in AMD platform machine ,but now i know it's almost impossible ,programmer is necessary.

2. I knew GM5ZGxWN121Mai03.rom is the same with GM5ZGxWN121.ROM(compared them in hex editor). My meaning is if there is a method or a combine key to running bios recovery feature when you put bios file in a usb stick.

[razercortex]

@razercortex

1. It look like that you still need a spi programmer to read/write data from bios chip if you want to modify this bios. I had thought maybe a bit chance to re-flash a modified bios in AMD platform machine ,but now i know it's almost impossible ,programmer is necessary.

2. I knew GM5ZGxWN121Mai03.rom is the same with GM5ZGxWN121.ROM(compared them in hex editor). My meaning is if there is a method or a combine key to running bios recovery feature when you put bios file in a usb stick.

I see, unfortunately it doesn't seem like there's any readback option, so that's out of the question. Although I do have a CH341A programmer, I'm not comfortable removing the board to get to the BIOS chip. Is there anyway we could flash some other way?

[genius239]

@razercortex

Currently i think no other good methods or tools to write modified file in AMD platform. Programmer is necessary. Although you own a CH341A ,but it may not support new type chip and new chip package(wson8 6x5 or 8x6)

[razercortex]

@razercortex

Currently i think no other good methods or tools to write modified file in  AMD platform. Programmer is necessary. Although you own a CH341A ,but  it may not support new type chip and new chip package(wson8 6x5 or 8x6)

If CH341A is not compatible, what programmer would you recommend?

[genius239]

Sorry ,i will not recommend any programmers, this is not i should to do as well . First thing you should to do is confirm the chip type and chip package yourself. Then choose a suitable programmer or clip.

[razercortex]

@genius239

I have some very good news! I discovered that AFUWIN DOES NOT check whether the ROM file is intended for the system or not, I know this since I tried flashing XMG BIOS for another laptop with the same ROM size (16MB). So it seems it only checks the signature within the ROM file against the whole ROM file. If there's a way to modify the signature to reflect the mod, we should be able to flash it back.

[genius239]

1. Because of that bios file hasn't be modified yet , but if you edit it you will still get the same error message.

2. AFUwin ,afuefi or even afudos they are the same thing ,the only difference with them is the work environment.