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

[kasar]

@Brabbelbla



I think there is a newer version, but not sure, anyway this one works fine for me :3

---

mmm, I found something interesting

intel documentation to create ME firmware.
this one explain how to use the Flash Image Tool wich can be found in the 117 mb file I linked before.
http://faenl.msi.com/ftp/Mainboard/Z77%2...464_MR.pdf

this one contain technical info about the intel 6 series wich contain our HM67 chipset.
http://driveragent.com/c/archive/90e33a3...entre-B520

I think this is worth to investigate, however creating a firmware from 0 is way more dangerous than just mod an existing one o.O








edit: did you guys tried ctrl+P while booting the machine?

I also found this document interesting:
http://communities.intel.com/servlet/Jiv...AMT7.0.pdf

[Brabbelbla]

@kasar:
And you use the dynamic method instead of the (then still default for Dell) module one?

[kasar]

dont modify that setting, I think the program autodetect the correct setting while opening the while file.

for example, when I open the whole BIOS1.WPH file with the tool, it automatically set to dynamic.

and when I open the F33E367F-41D2-4201-9CB7-AFA63DCCEEC9_0_5.ROM file, it automatically set to module.


leave that option untouched, the app will detect the correct setting for it

[crrodriguez]

Hi: First, thank you very much for your MOD, I just installed it my xps15z

Got a question.. This lappy has an INTEL IGD and one NVIDIA PEG I am trying to permanently shut down the NVDIA one and drive the system ONLY from the IGD.. there is a menu option to select the primary display adapter but I dont seem to find an option to "poweroff" the nvidia chip completely.

any pointers ?

[jkbuha]

Updated ME to 7.2 - works but no visible signs of improvement.

@Kasar - where did you download the updated MEs? Also - did you find the FTIC s/w to modify the ME firmware? I'd like to give this a run through.
Also from your post it would seem that ME flashing is possible thru winflash (in theory).

@crrodriguez - not sure you can disable from BIOS. However in OSX thanks to DoiX's fantastic DSDT I've got the nvidia card switched off. But haven't managed to do this in Windows (yet).

[TimeWalker]

hmm... I've just noticed something.
I've installed Intel ME driver v8 straight from Intel as driver from Dell was unavailable.. What I've noticed is that both sleep and hibernate broke immediately, machine acted all weird and would freeze randomly. Today I've got my hands on drivers from Dell's support page and oddly enough after installing Dell's ME driver, which turned out to be 7.1.21.1134 all the paranormal activity has vanished.
The driver is from 22nd of September 2011, so a Windows 7 driver essentially even thought it says on Dell:

Release Date: 10/25/2012
Importance: Recommended
Version: 7.1.21.1134, A01

So this got me thinking if it's worth tampering with ME and trying to swap our v7 or v8 .. or better of we play it safe and stick to what he have been given .. ?

[kasar]

@jkbuha

well, I also didnt notice any improvement.


I downloaded the firmware from this place:

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php...1248/page2


oh, where did you got the 7.2 version of the ME firmware?

I just have 7.1

about the tools to mod the me firmware, I got them by lot of browsing, I dont remember the site, just saved the link file and posted on previous posts.

I also posted some links I considered interesting, specially the one from 3 pages asking how to mod ME firmware to unlock OC features.

with winflash, well, I just tried to flash a normal l502x bios with several flashing options modified to see if I could get the ME version back to default one.

@timewalker

I am running 8.1.10.1275 drivers and no issues.

however still unable to flash any 8.x.x firmware yet D:


well 8.x.x firmware support ivy bridge proccesors and maybe more, but also could brick the system.

so we have to decide if we keep investigating or not ^^

[jkbuha]

My bad - it is your version - 7.1.52.1176.

For some reasont the ME8 FITC cannot open the bin files - are you using a ME7.x FITC?

[kasar]

well, I tried openiong many bin files with the FITC, only a few could be opened, and the ones wich could be opened I was unable to flash them.
I have both version of FITC ME7 and ME8

[jkbuha]

Quick update....

for some reason our HM67 chipsets cannot dump the ME firmware (via fptw.exe or fptw64.exe) in a format that can be read properly by FITC.

The clue is in the error message:

Intel ® Flash Programming Tool. Version: 8.1.10.1286
Copyright © 2007 - 2012, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.

Platform: Intel® HM67 Express Chipset
Reading HSFSTS register... Flash Descriptor: Valid

--- Flash Devices Found ---
MX25L3205D ID:0xC22016 Size: 4096KB (32768Kb)

Error 26: The host CPU does not have read access to the target flash area. To enable read access for this operation you must modify the descriptor settings to give host access to this region.

Any thoughts/suggestions?