(UEFI) Dell XPS 15z L511z modded BIOS - and HOWTO

[follow_me]

I'll try to boot linux , it supports Intel RAID - I'll post my results here soon

[Brabbelbla]

@follow_me
No news so far?

Anyway, I tried some of the RAID ROM mods as posted at http://www.win-raid.com/t7f13-AHCI-amp-R...dules.html

The newer versions don't work. They have a different size and a different structure. When using them, the OROM runs but after exiting or skipping the OROM the machine ends up in a UEFI Fn+F2-like state: stuck. Only version 10.1.0.1008 has the same size and doesn't freeze the system. They posted a version that might/should enable TRIM. So if you are interested in TRIM, which you probably (hopefully ) are, you might give this version a try.

[follow_me]

Tested previous one - it works with non uefi setup
As it was expected , TRIM is not available
Will Try this one

[dyingjedi]

@follow_me
No news so far?

Anyway, I tried some of the RAID ROM mods as posted at http://www.win-raid.com/t7f13-AHCI-amp-R...dules.html

The newer versions don't work. They have a different size and a different structure. When using them, the OROM runs but after exiting or skipping the OROM the machine ends up in a UEFI Fn+F2-like state: stuck. Only version 10.1.0.1008 has the same size and doesn't freeze the system. They posted a version that might/should enable TRIM. So if you are interested in TRIM, which you probably (hopefully ) are, you might give this version a try.

Hello will this work with my 3D Dell XPS L702x model laptop? Id like it for the trim seeing as I use my Laptop with 1TB SSD. Thanks in advanced Hi5

DyingJedi

[Brabbelbla]

@follow_me
No news so far?

Anyway, I tried some of the RAID ROM mods as posted at http://www.win-raid.com/t7f13-AHCI-amp-R...dules.html

The newer versions don't work. They have a different size and a different structure. When using them, the OROM runs but after exiting or skipping the OROM the machine ends up in a UEFI Fn+F2-like state: stuck. Only version 10.1.0.1008 has the same size and doesn't freeze the system. They posted a version that might/should enable TRIM. So if you are interested in TRIM, which you probably (hopefully ) are, you might give this version a try.

Hello will this work with my 3D Dell XPS L702x model laptop? Id like it for the trim seeing as I use my Laptop with 1TB SSD. Thanks in advanced Hi5

DyingJedi

If you don't use a firmware RAID setup, I guess TRIM should work fine the way things are. The new thing here is only the ability to get into the Intel RAID option ROM and to have it pass through the TRIM command. If you don't use an Intel firmware RAID setup (which you don't, or you wouldn't ask) the option ROM isn't called and then this mod won't change anything to TRIM functionality.

[dyingjedi]

@follow_me
No news so far?

Anyway, I tried some of the RAID ROM mods as posted at http://www.win-raid.com/t7f13-AHCI-amp-R...dules.html

The newer versions don't work. They have a different size and a different structure. When using them, the OROM runs but after exiting or skipping the OROM the machine ends up in a UEFI Fn+F2-like state: stuck. Only version 10.1.0.1008 has the same size and doesn't freeze the system. They posted a version that might/should enable TRIM. So if you are interested in TRIM, which you probably (hopefully ) are, you might give this version a try.

Hello will this work with my 3D Dell XPS L702x model laptop? Id like it for the trim seeing as I use my Laptop with 1TB SSD. Thanks in advanced Hi5

DyingJedi

If you don't use a firmware RAID setup, I guess TRIM should work fine the way things are. The new thing here is only the ability to get into the Intel RAID option ROM and to have it pass through the TRIM command. If you don't use an Intel firmware RAID setup (which you don't, or you wouldn't ask) the option ROM isn't called and then this mod won't change anything to TRIM functionality.

Thank you for clearing that up for me, Ill just rip in the newer bios L702X_A19.exe for mine. I had assumed I would be gaining hardware TRIM support for my SSD, Not sure if my Bios does in fact support the raid feature or not? The laptop does in fact holster 32 GB of RAM and I would think it would support it again not sure. But does House to SSD storage bays or msata drives!

Thanks again for quick response! I PM'ed you just Igor or delete it was the same question!

I also gave you rating and kuddos!

DyingJedi

---

@follow_me
No news so far?

Anyway, I tried some of the RAID ROM mods as posted at http://www.win-raid.com/t7f13-AHCI-amp-R...dules.html

The newer versions don't work. They have a different size and a different structure. When using them, the OROM runs but after exiting or skipping the OROM the machine ends up in a UEFI Fn+F2-like state: stuck. Only version 10.1.0.1008 has the same size and doesn't freeze the system. They posted a version that might/should enable TRIM. So if you are interested in TRIM, which you probably (hopefully ) are, you might give this version a try.

Hello will this work with my 3D Dell XPS L702x model laptop? Id like it for the trim seeing as I use my Laptop with 1TB SSD. Thanks in advanced Hi5

DyingJedi

If you don't use a firmware RAID setup, I guess TRIM should work fine the way things are. The new thing here is only the ability to get into the Intel RAID option ROM and to have it pass through the TRIM command. If you don't use an Intel firmware RAID setup (which you don't, or you wouldn't ask) the option ROM isn't called and then this mod won't change anything to TRIM functionality.

Thank you for clearing that up for me, Ill just rip in the newer bios L702X_A19.exe for mine. I had assumed I would be gaining hardware TRIM support for my SSD, Not sure if my Bios does in fact support the raid feature or not? The laptop does in fact holster 32 GB of RAM and I would think it would support it again not sure. But does House to SSD storage bays or msata drives!

Thanks again for quick response! I PM'ed you just Igor or delete it was the same question!

I also gave you rating and kuddos!

DyingJedi

I guess I still do have questions, will it harm my laptop at all? And you mentioned earlier that it will show more features like unlocked menus like what would it be unlocking etc? curious cause if I could tinker with my CPU or change voltage etc. to lower temps or do some over clocking that would be fantastic!

Would it work just for that purpose or would it mess up my whole system fully make it non functional etc?

Thanks

[Brabbelbla]

I had assumed I would be gaining hardware TRIM support for my SSD, Not sure if my Bios does in fact support the raid feature or not?

AFAIK the chipset supports TRIM, if the SSD does too and you have a proper driver installed it should work. Your BIOS = my BIOS, I own an L702X too. A non-3D model, but those BIOSes are the same. We don't know yet if RAID works. It looks like it will in some way, but on the few prior pages you can see what I stumbled upon.

I guess I still do have questions, will it harm my laptop at all? And you mentioned earlier that it will show more features like unlocked menus like what would it be unlocking etc? curious cause if I could tinker with my CPU or change voltage etc. to lower temps or do some over clocking that would be fantastic!

Although always on your own risk, flashing that BIOS (which version exactly do you point to?) shouldn't do harm, provided that you don't go crazy with the flash options. It is rather the unlocked features you have to be careful with. In the setup utility, some options are useful, some don't do anything, and some shouldn't be tampered with. To cite @TimeWalker: don't enable ports that are disabled. And UEFI boot is tricky. It can ruin your boot entries and in worst-case you can end up being locked out of your machine. Taking precautions, having a working recovery disk, it shouldn't happen, but don't rush into something.

Earlier in this thread there was a picture, showing what is unlocked. Overclocking and voltage changes are not among them. For the GPU, some VBIOS mods are here, but I never touched them: http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps...-bios.html. Overclocking the CPU is not so easy, it requires a modified Intel Management Engine firmware. Kasar succeeded in this, but had to take out the chip and flash it externally.

[Brabbelbla]

I noticed that with the TRIM modification (if it works) my UEFI Clover boot entry doesn't work, while with the same version, umodified, it does work. Adding the entire drive as a boot option works, though.

Furthermore, against better judgement, I tried to get some TPM functionality. "Current TPM state" remains "Unknown", so it really isn't there. I did notice another option on the Security tab, "Flash Controller Lock", which is enabled by default. Sounds fancy, but I don't know what it does and don't think I will need it, could it have to do something with the descriptor locks that were so nasty with ME modding? And I once said something about Intel AMT and hardware, I read now that actually ME has its own processor, so maybe AMT is reachable. On that menu there is a setting called "Unconfigure ME", interesting maybe?

@kasar
You once said something about integrating the XTU modules. Have you tried that? There is mention of a variable store XtuNv7 on in advanced setup module.

[kasar]

well, I just replaced existing modules, but never integrated newer modules wich wasnt there before (allways needed existing or older modules), I dont know how to integrate new modules, I also asume you will have to "link" them to somewhere in order to load them at system start, I basically have no idea.

however I had sucess while flashing a modded ME region, wich enabled BCLK overclocking at intel XTU software.

well, I has been away for a few weeks, so I didnt noticed about most changes.

anyway , I see you unlocked an option wich says "Flash Controller Lock" and you can disable it.

this can be really interesting if that option unlock the descriptor without the need of mess with the hardware like I did.

I attached fptw64 to this post.

can you post the result of the "fptw64.exe -i" command output with both "Flash Controller Lock" settings enabled and disabled?
you can just run the show info.bat script

[forsaken123]

Im trying to revert back to an older bios, i have a lenovo u310. however winflash says "can not open firmware device file" i removed the dellbios file and put my own lenovo bios file and renamed it BIOS1.wph, its a .wph originally. is it something more i have to do to make it work? change the bios.cap perhaps?

Awesome recovery iso btw, a real fine job.

I just tested the whole procedure and it worked like a charm

procedure.

1- bricked laptop, my recovery cdrom inside the cdrom.
2- power cord unplugged, you press end button.
3- you plug the power cable, and then you relase the end button.
4- the bios start reading the cdrom, it load BIOS.cap file from the cdrom.
5- you have to hit f12 fast when the dell screen is at the screen, it will bring the device boot menu, then select cdrom.
6- windows xp is loading.
7-when you are at the main screen, click no on the network message box. then click the go button and click "Command Prompt(CMD)" open a cmd prompt. and type "repair" without the quotes, that will launch my main script (Dont close the CMD window, it still needed to reboot the system.)
8- follow the script instructions, it is a little modified script from my main custom bioses.
9-since the automatic reboot didnt worked for the winflash in that boot cd, my script will do it, just wait after the winflash window is closed and the system will autorestart.
10-black screen for some seconds and the flashing screen will appear , woot

I noticed I was unable to get this working by conecting the cdrom via the esata port, so I had to remove the second hdd caddy I installed and plugged the dvd-rom drive in its original location, then it worked like a charm





















and here is the download link of the image

warning: this recovery package is only for the l502x system, it you have another system ISO modifications will be needed!

recovery cd image: L502X BIOS Recovery package 1.0

here is the app I used to edit the iso file ^^

http://www.mediafire.com/file/gjomz3fenz...6.2750.zip