[REQUEST] PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK CF-74 CCEAXBM Bios ROM Unlock Request

[jzsax]

Hello,


would like to see if anyone can help me unlocking this BIOS. The reason i need is is to be able to turn on/off AHCI as well as Intel Virtualization which is is currently disabled.

In addition would like to see if i can extract some more performance out of this laptop. Also if anyone can inject proc microcode to support later Socket P processors, this would be awesome...

Thanks to all

jz

-Manufacturer: Panasonic
-Model: CF-74C/D CF74CCEAXBM
-Bios revision: 1.00L14
-Bios Type: Phoenix Technologies Ltd. BIOS (ROM) Not UEFI
-Bios Download Linkanasonic does not provide this there fore i had to use a tool to dump my BIOS into a rom file

PS: this BIOS was dumped from my current machine using a backup utility and the current backup extension is ROM not WPH...

[jzsax]

Please... anyone that can at least unlock intel_VT that would sufice for me

[Sml6397]

Hello jzsax,

I cannot mod a BIOS dump, because it does not contain the platform data that instructs the 'phlashing' program on how to correctly flash the BIOS. Using a hex editor, compatible platform data can be "copied" from another official BIOS image that comes from a notebook with the same chipset and notebook series. I have done this with my laptop's BIOS, but there are slight risks involved with this process, as with any BIOS mod.

You can enable VT-x without a BIOS mod though. This involves using the DOS utility called symcmos to modify the CMOS NVRAM registers. This process is much safer than a BIOS mod and can always be reverted by pulling the CMOS battery for 3-5 minutes and holding the power button for 10-20 seconds while all power sources are removed.

VT-x: Set (028E) [0000] to (028E) [0001] using notepad

DOS Commands for Reading/Writing to the CMOS NVRAM:

Code:

Reading:
symcmos -v2 -LDefault.txt

Code:

Writing:
symcmos -v2 -UModified.txt

You will need to install DOS to a bootable USB flashdrive. You can also use a CD, but a flashdrive is preferable. Instructions for the entire process can be found here.

If you have any questions, please ask.


~Steven

[jzsax]

Hello jzsax,

I cannot mod a BIOS dump, because it does not contain the platform data that instructs the 'phlashing' program on how to correctly flash the BIOS. Using a hex editor, compatible platform data can be "copied" from another official BIOS image that comes from a notebook with the same chipset and notebook series. I have done this with my laptop's BIOS, but there are slight risks involved with this process, as with any BIOS mod.

You can enable VT-x without a BIOS mod though. This involves using the DOS utility called symcmos to modify the CMOS NVRAM registers. This process is much safer than a BIOS mod and can always be reverted by pulling the CMOS battery for 3-5 minutes and holding the power button for 10-20 seconds while all power sources are removed.

VT-x: Set (028E) [0000] to (028E) [0001] using notepad

DOS Commands for Reading/Writing to the CMOS NVRAM:

Code:

Reading:
symcmos -v2 -LDefault.txt

Code:

Writing:
symcmos -v2 -UModified.txt

You will need to install DOS to a bootable USB flashdrive. You can also use a CD, but a flashdrive is preferable. Instructions for the entire process can be found here.

If you have any questions, please ask.


~Steven

Steve,


Thank you so much for you tip... i will try that today to see if i can get VMware WK installed..! Thanks again!

[Sml6397]

Hello jzsax,

You can confirm whether or not VT-x is enabled or disabled by using the utility at the bottom of the post. It is called "securable". If VT-x is enabled, it should show "Locked ON" near "Hardware Virtualization".

[jzsax]

Hi Steve,

do you happen to know which one is the AHCI flag...? i want to make sure that AHCI is actually on...

[Sml6397]

Hello jzsax,

Could you upload a copy of your symcmos dump please?

[jzsax]

Hello jzsax,

Could you upload a copy of your symcmos dump please?

Sure... uploaded! i ran the utility and it displayed that in fact it was "locked on"


The issue is that VMware player 6 still refuses to install on my PC because of lack of Virtualization features on my CPU...

[Sml6397]

Strange...

Could you give me a screenshot of the specific error message please? To make a screenshot, do the following:

1.) Make the error appear on the screen.

2.) Press the "Print Scr" (may also be called "Prt Scr") key on the keyboard.

3.) Open up Microsoft Paint.

4.) Paste the screenshot. You can accomplish this by pressing Ctrl+V on the keyboard.

5.) Save the screenshot and upload it.


~Steven