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

[TimeWalker]

Ok, thanks @jkbuha!
Works like a charm.

I would like to get back to sleep issue for OSX... I would like users of L502x to compare A06 to A07 as pointed out by DoiX.
For my Vostro and L502x(from A05 to A07 and L502x from A06 to A07) the changes that are common for both of these models are:

* A07 10/3/2011 Changelog Vostro:
3.Enter S3 and then flash BIOS in OS, system will enter S3 after shutdown.
5.Can't Coldboot to USB 3.0 ODD when set CD/DVD as first boot device in BIOS
8.Does not implement XHCI BIOS Handoff Correctly

* A07 Changelog L502x:
3. Fixed system may stay in S3 state when doing BIOS update
4. Fixed system can't boot from USB3.0 ODD if set CD/DVD as first boot device in Setup Menu.
6. Fixed system does not handoff XHCI controller correctly before enter OS

Just to make sure .. here are the modules that had changes to them for me going from A04 (same as A05, which wasn't available publicly) to A07.

Code:

PlatformSetupAdvancedDxe.efi CFEF94C4-4167-466A-8893-8779459DFA86_1_1073.ROM +++ SystemFormBrowser2Dxe.efi BF646364-2ECE-4D9F-84C7-C33F28689363_1_1027.ROM +++ Freeform 1547B4F3-3E8A-4FEF-81C8-328ED647AB1A_1_413.ROM +++ SystemSmmUsbLegacySmm.efi EF33C296-F64C-4146-AD04-347899702C84_1_1138.ROM +++ SystemBootManagerDxe.efi 73DAB30F-3F9C-4160-B064-439CE16C3EDE_1_1090.ROM +++ INTEL SNB VBIOS 29206FC2-9EAB-4612-ACA1-1E3D098FB1B3_1_951.ROM +++ 2098->2104 <-- doesn't impact anything, tried backporting already MpCpu.efi 62D171CB-78CD-4480-8678-C6A2A797A8DE_1_602.ROM +++ SystemVariableDxe.efi 793CBEA0-DA56-47F2-8264-24310CB75196_1_74.ROM +++ Freeform 221521AE-0A35-44CD-B580-5AEDBB770B1D_1_431.ROM +++ (minor) SystemBootMenuDxe.efi 86488440-41BB-42C7-93AC-450FBF7766BF_1_1095.ROM +++ DellDa.efi 8A3669E3-ABCB-4899-8492-82E22E91C793_1_1063.ROM +++ SystemXhciDxe.efi 949822BC-26D3-4BC6-954B-F2C581342DE1_1_273.ROM +++ (offset 5959h 0x20 -> 0x24) PlatformDxe.efi 2D6F37BF-9AFC-4AA5-A026-32B2FCF30FB9_1_881.ROM +++ (offset 168Eh 0x34 -> 0x37; offset 1695h 0x33 -> 0x39; offset 169Bh 0x35 -> 0x30) SystemDiagnosticSummaryScreenDxe.efi C82919D6-33FD-43ED-800C-635A3369D0F3_1_146.ROM +++ (unicode string changed: Sep 20 2011 -> Mar 25 2011) DellDiag.efi 811FBFF3-BD1A-4D65-8A76-B41F58F91F9E_1_1133.ROM +++ PlatformSetup.efi A4F2909C-5E2A-438A-91BA-272B0923049A_1_907.ROM +++ SystemUsbBusDxe.efi 240612B7-A063-11D4-9A3A-0090273FC14D_1_947.ROM ++++ PlatformSmm.efi CB73C3D9-2F01-4342-AE67-04DDE5264092_1_912.ROM +++ SystemAhciBusSmm.efi B31FF060-8363-11DF-8395-0800200C9A66_1_235.ROM +++ SystemRtcRt.efi 378D7B65-8DA9-4773-B6E4-A47826A833E1_1_1002.ROM +++++ DellMfgBoardDxe.efi F2012072-7493-451B-9B02-106FC694D764_1_1022.ROM +++ (offset AD6h 0x0B -> ox08) SystemFlashCommunicationSmm.efi B9CABA9B-E5C5-41DC-86E2-E7CEF87B81CB_1_103.ROM ++++ (inflated from 3.5Kb to 7.93Kb!!) SystemSecureFlashSleepTrapSmm.efi FCE47C4E-5ECC-4A41-B90E-0BAB09968D02_1_942.ROM +++ DellReadyToBoot.efi C0330B04-CBB8-4CCF-B45B-C7DBD943782B_1_976.ROM +++ DellIdReadyToBoot.efi 12BBC12D-BADE-4FDE-BB22-01A3C6F693E0_1_1036.ROM +++ (holds bios version and model number in unicode strings) PlatformS3SaveDxe.efi 51D4BACC-E70A-4136-9426-546973ED938C_1_892.ROM ++++ <---- tried backporting this as well with no apparent changes InitialProgramLoadDxe.efi 3E4A9DAB-5601-448F-A590-58C13EB0E992_1_1068.ROM +++ <---- and tried backporting this ... no changes whatsoever SystemFlashCommunicationDxe.efi 546AD295-0C64-4CE6-A06F-FB9CD04B41CD_1_98.ROM +++

Please take this list as a reference to check if L502x's BIOS going from A06 to A07 has had changes in these modules... if possible and if there are changes compare the offsets and byte changes to what I've noted in my "report".

[Florin9doi]

with 2137 brightness works. thank you

[nebster]

@TimeWalker
It shouldn't be too hard to limit the amount of modules quickly.
Remember the binary search algorithm (Backport half the files that have changed, if the bug isn't there, you know it's in the other half of the files. If it is, you know it isn't in the other half)

[TimeWalker]

There was crapload of changes regarding BootManager and Platform setup in A07 for my Vostro, I've tried the criss-cross approach already but sadly some of the modules when backported break the booting alltogether, even Dell's splash won't come on and I got quite frustrated needing to reflash from the crisis CD... not to mention I have A11 on there which doesn't really work for Windows 8 because anything other than A13 will freeze the machine as soon as you fire up Windows and it loads to desktop ...
Hence the reason I want to reduce the amount of modules to start backporting from thereafter.

[nebster]

Why flash the BIOS with new modules? Why not just test them off a USB stick. If it boots, then flash.

[TimeWalker]

That's how I do it, unfortunately you can't tell if it boots OS properly or not .. because with A04 I can boot my system of off the USB drive .. with A13 however it's not the case.. can't boot HDD, USB .. only CD/DVD or PXE .. now I get why someone witj L702x earlier was saying it wasn't possible! Only capsule of A04 BIOS can boot Operating Systems on external and internal media ..

[jkbuha]

with 2137 brightness works. thank you

Welcome Florin9doi. As a sidenote I'm still trying to unlock your Aptio bios - haven't forgotten

Just a (offtopic) question - did you manage to find any info on the cypress touchpad source? I'd like to build it into a kext for osx...

[Florin9doi]

your touchpad works in linux with multitouch ?

[jkbuha]

yes it does

[Florin9doi]

what module it uses ?? is usb or ps2?