04-11-2015, 01:41 PM
Hi there
I'd like to start discussion about BIOS recovery if laptop can't boot up as usually because of bricked/damaged/broken/patched etc. BIOS. Not only user's actions could cause a trouble, but even regular BIOS upgrade as vendor recommends. Or the 2nd OS installation. There are tons of such issues. Also, definitely, it's impossible to start BIOS modding if the customer hasn't such practice for the laptop (BIOS) recovery in his hands.
So...
We know about recovery capability UEFI provides natively - to boot into the recovery mode, using different tricks with power supply and key combinations (fn+r, fn+b, win+r, win+b, fn+esc, del etc...), and apply recovery capsule for recovery self flashing or perform some additional tricks vendor's BIOS image doesn't allow self recovery. Every vendor has its own conditions to perform BIOS recovery. Not every one provides recovery capsule and even reports its file name. Or manuals (PackardBell is one of the exceptions). Additionally, BIOS images from different vendors are packed in the different ways or encrypted, have different extension and files list. Some vendors like Lenovo provides special file FvRecovery.fd, which, definitely, is for the recovery purpose. But how many users know what to do with that file?
Also, it's possible to perform BIOS recovery from EFI Shell. But how to force laptop boot into the recovery mode if:
a)it's impossible to change boot mode (BIOS Setup is inaccessible)
b)SecureBoot option may prevent to boot from external media with unsigned boot loader. So we need bootx.efi loader for every vendor and, may be, different laptop lines
Finally, Phoenix Crisis Disk, package we can find in the net, doesn't compatible with new BIOS types. So, it could be better to use original, native UEFI practice.
There are tons of another questions.
What'd I like?
1. to find solution for my Lenovo ThinkPads: EFI/Insyde BIOS, images are with .FLx extension, package includes FvRecovery.fd file (but not new line of laptops)
2. to discuss about another Lenovo laptops with another BIOS types, InsydeH2O including
3. of course, any other laptop owners and practice are welcome.
It's not a big problem (I think):
- to pack/unpack BIOS images (Andy's tool, UEFITool etc.)
- how to find recovery capsule name for sertain laptop models
- where to get recovery capsule module(s) inside of the BIOS image, in many cases (platform.ini isn't my case)
- what to perform if laptop can be boot up into the capsule
BUT... I can't boot laptop into the recovery mode with my capsule ) and don't know why. And not only me with the same BIOS type and issue.
I know excellent thread here, https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-U...-and-HOWTO , where BIOS recovery method has been discussed over tens of pages. Unfortunately, those advices don't work in my case.
Perhaps, there is somewhere the thread with discussion I'm talking about. OK, please, let me know about, and I'm sorry for this my thread, ready to remove it.
In ideal, some of guys and gurus from that thread (kasar, jkbuha, TimeWalker etc.) as well BDMaster and other gurus are friendly welcomed. ) If we'll can to invite coderush, real HI profi, it will be fantastic.
If this tread will meet attention of forum users and provide solutions, we'll could collect them in this, the 1st post.
Thanks.
I'd like to start discussion about BIOS recovery if laptop can't boot up as usually because of bricked/damaged/broken/patched etc. BIOS. Not only user's actions could cause a trouble, but even regular BIOS upgrade as vendor recommends. Or the 2nd OS installation. There are tons of such issues. Also, definitely, it's impossible to start BIOS modding if the customer hasn't such practice for the laptop (BIOS) recovery in his hands.
So...
We know about recovery capability UEFI provides natively - to boot into the recovery mode, using different tricks with power supply and key combinations (fn+r, fn+b, win+r, win+b, fn+esc, del etc...), and apply recovery capsule for recovery self flashing or perform some additional tricks vendor's BIOS image doesn't allow self recovery. Every vendor has its own conditions to perform BIOS recovery. Not every one provides recovery capsule and even reports its file name. Or manuals (PackardBell is one of the exceptions). Additionally, BIOS images from different vendors are packed in the different ways or encrypted, have different extension and files list. Some vendors like Lenovo provides special file FvRecovery.fd, which, definitely, is for the recovery purpose. But how many users know what to do with that file?
Also, it's possible to perform BIOS recovery from EFI Shell. But how to force laptop boot into the recovery mode if:
a)it's impossible to change boot mode (BIOS Setup is inaccessible)
b)SecureBoot option may prevent to boot from external media with unsigned boot loader. So we need bootx.efi loader for every vendor and, may be, different laptop lines
Finally, Phoenix Crisis Disk, package we can find in the net, doesn't compatible with new BIOS types. So, it could be better to use original, native UEFI practice.
There are tons of another questions.
What'd I like?
1. to find solution for my Lenovo ThinkPads: EFI/Insyde BIOS, images are with .FLx extension, package includes FvRecovery.fd file (but not new line of laptops)
2. to discuss about another Lenovo laptops with another BIOS types, InsydeH2O including
3. of course, any other laptop owners and practice are welcome.
It's not a big problem (I think):
- to pack/unpack BIOS images (Andy's tool, UEFITool etc.)
- how to find recovery capsule name for sertain laptop models
- where to get recovery capsule module(s) inside of the BIOS image, in many cases (platform.ini isn't my case)
- what to perform if laptop can be boot up into the capsule
BUT... I can't boot laptop into the recovery mode with my capsule ) and don't know why. And not only me with the same BIOS type and issue.
I know excellent thread here, https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-U...-and-HOWTO , where BIOS recovery method has been discussed over tens of pages. Unfortunately, those advices don't work in my case.
Perhaps, there is somewhere the thread with discussion I'm talking about. OK, please, let me know about, and I'm sorry for this my thread, ready to remove it.
In ideal, some of guys and gurus from that thread (kasar, jkbuha, TimeWalker etc.) as well BDMaster and other gurus are friendly welcomed. ) If we'll can to invite coderush, real HI profi, it will be fantastic.
If this tread will meet attention of forum users and provide solutions, we'll could collect them in this, the 1st post.
Thanks.