[Solved] Dell E6520 BIOS executable ROM extraction

[hatdz71]

I have a Dell Latitude E6520 laptop with a corrupt BIOS after a failed/incomplete BIOS update within Windows from version A05 to version A19. Using Phoenixtool256, I have learned that the vendor Dell used for the BIOS type is 'EFI/Insyde'. Although judging from the way the bios on the laptop functions and operates, Dell has clearly made some modifications to its original BIOS system because of the "Secure" nature of the Latitude series from Dell. I know that Insyde BIOS's have a recovery feature built in for emergency recovery of the BIOS and I can confirm that it is there because while pressing the 'END' key and plugging in the laptop's power, the activity light on the inserted USB flash drive lights up showing it is being searched or read for the proper bios rom file. 

Similar to this procedure:    https://www.bios-mods.com/bios-recovery/...-recovery/

Here comes the problem. Using the trick with the old Dell BIOS update executables to get the packaged rom file from it no longer works on newer laptop BIOS executables. I'm referring to the CMD command '/writeromfile' and '/writehdrfile' (I know there are some other commands as well). Opening the exe in WinRAR, 7-Zip and Universal Extractor refuses to open the exe file as well. The BIOS file within the executable seems to be well guarded and compressed as Dell obviously didn't want anyone messing with it or extracting it. After countless hours of searching on Google I found a Python script that managed to extract a compressed .HDR file from the BIOS update executable. 

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads...-UEFI-BIOS

Using the Python script I got the .HDR file from the exe and I thought that's it right? Apparently not, as I tried to use the Insyde recovery procedure, all my attempts with the .HDR file were a failure. (Maybe I had the incorrect file name ???) [attachment=9467]

So I have hit a wall. With my limited BIOS knowledge this is as far as I have got. If someone can extract a proper rom file (With the proper file name for it as well) from the executable, I might be able to recover my beloved E6520 laptop with the Insyde recovery procedure.

Bios exe file:     http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01853343...520A19.exe

I apologise if somehow I am posting this in the wrong section.

[slyone999]

I know that this is an old thread, but did it every get resolved? Or does anyone know how to resolve this issue, I am also unable to recover the BIOS on a Dell E6520 for the same reason.

Any ideas will be gratefully received.

[Mirage2000]

Same for me... Not very cool Dell