Winflash "flash bios is not an upgrade" issue; Lenovo W520

[Maxinator500]

result in page fault error in Winflash64.sys

This usually occurs when the driver runs on an unsupported OS. You have Win10 installed?

Ran Winflash with modified environment.dll file from a thread found on this forum.

I checked the dll file. It's already modified to skip bios version checks, "Flash BIOS is not an upgrade (same or older version number)" line. But the file is outdated. This may be the reason flash didn't work.

I attach file with error codes extracted from WinFlashUI.dll. 
  string.txt (Size: 33.32 KB / Downloads: 4)
Both winflash.exe and enviroment.dll call the lines from WinFlashUI.dll.

I also attach patched enviroment.dll up to date with 1.5.63.0 flasher version, and patched WINUPTP.EXE. 
  enviroment 1.5.63.0.zip (Size: 1.46 MB / Downloads: 15)

[apacha]

result in page fault error in Winflash64.sys

This usually occurs when the driver runs on an unsupported OS. You have Win10 installed?

Ran Winflash with modified environment.dll file from a thread found on this forum.

I checked the dll file. It's already modified to skip bios version checks, "Flash BIOS is not an upgrade (same or older version number)" line. But the file is outdated. This may be the reason flash didn't work.

I attach file with error codes extracted from WinFlashUI.dll. 
Both winflash.exe and enviroment.dll call the lines from WinFlashUI.dll.

I also attach patched enviroment.dll up to date with 1.5.63.0 flasher version, and patched WINUPTP.EXE. 

Yes, W520 is currently running Win10.

Ok, copied the files over and tried the update once again.  Didn't receive the "Flash BIOS is not an upgrade" message, but the flash failed with message, "EFI Fail: UNSUPPORTED!"   Unsure about this.  Corrupted BIOS?

I have another modded BIOS, v1.42 and may try that, assuming this Winflash now allows downgrades.  I'll try to downgrade to original BIOS first, then the modded.

[Maxinator500]

Corrupted BIOS?

No way. The mod is confirmed to be working one.
I can try to bypass "EFI Fail: UNSUPPORTED" message if needed.

I'll try to downgrade to original BIOS first, then the modded.

Ok, waiting for a result.

[apacha]

Corrupted BIOS?

No way. The mod is confirmed to be working one.
I can try to bypass "EFI Fail: UNSUPPORTED" message if needed.

I'll try to downgrade to original BIOS first, then the modded.

Ok, waiting for a result.

OK, I used the Winflash program with modded environment.dll and tried flashing 1.42 original.  It crashed with same Winflash64.sys issue.  Should I boot with a Win7 64bit environment and try again or just see if bypassing the EFI fail message is better?  

So weird that this W520 is giving me fits.  I've modded many Thinkpads in the past without a single issue - T60p, W500, T500, etc

Thanks again for your assistance here.

[Maxinator500]

Should I boot with a Win7 64bit environment and try again or just see if bypassing the EFI fail message is better? 

Please try with Win7.
Less effort for me if it'll work.

[apacha]

Should I boot with a Win7 64bit environment and try again or just see if bypassing the EFI fail message is better? 

Please try with Win7.
Less effort for me if it'll work.

  Yes I will try Win7.  I'll update within an hour or so.  Will need to build a boot and such.

[Maxinator500]

I wanted to compare original env~.dll with patched. The patched env~.dll was proposed as a solution for flashing modded bios on IdeaPad U310. So I downloaded 65CN13WW update.
It turned out that origin of the patched .dll is unknown, the file is too outdated even for 65CN13WW version. But it worked!

The fact this .dll is outdated should not be an issue.

If I bypass "EFI Fail: UNSUPPORTED", the bios still won't flash, I think.

results in Windows rebooting when attempting to flash BIOS.

[apacha]

Created a generic Win7PE boot and tried again within Win7x64 environment ...

First tried to flash modded 1.46 BIOS - same issue,  EFI Fail: UNSUPPORTED!
Next I tried to downgrade to stock 1.42 BIOS - this worked, it successfully flashed and BIOS was downgraded from 1.46 to 1.42
Now I tried to flash the modded 1.42 BIOS - same EFI fail issue
Again tried to flash modded 1.46 BIOS - same EFI fail issue.

So within Win7x64 and using the Winflash with modded enviornment.dll I can downgrade stock firmware, but can't seem to apply a modded BIOS regardless of version.

Edit:  I'll also add that if attempting to flash using WINUPTP.EXE, I receive an error that battery needs to be fully charged and flash will not continue.  Laptop is on AC power and battery is fully charged. Additionally, if I attempt to use the original Winflash that came with the 1.46 Modded BIOS, I still get that error  "Flash BIOS is not an upgrade (same or older version number)"  This is despite my BIOS currently at 1.42 now.

[Maxinator500]

Hm. It's confusing.

Would you like trying with EFI flasher? Here's an archive. It's for a different laptop, but pay no attention. It's just for a test.

Ideapad_Z575_54CN20WW_EFI.zip

You'll need to write a little .img file from EFI folder to a flash drive, replace the bios file with needed and boot from the flash drive.

[apacha]

I'm game.  I'll report back soon ...