11-01-2016, 09:36 PM
Hi All,
I wanted to drop a note and say thank you to the forum for being a source of information on modding Insyde BIOS. I spent a lot of time reading through various search results which either provided the details or guided me to details located elsewhere. I specifically want to thank espionage724 and Da Vinci Code for showing that it is possible, in this thread, https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-Request-Acer-Aspire-VN7-572G?page=7 .
donovan6000's blog also provided a lot of detail. I do have a professional background in development but, never in this area.
My goal was to be able to add a M.2 SSD NVMe to my laptop. The motherboard had the socket but after installing the M.2 SSD, it would not show up in Device Manager or HWInfo. I figured Acer had it disabled in the BIOS and did not see anything I could adjust in the BIOS. Not taking no for an answer led me on the quest to get around the manufacturers restrictions.
I took a while to read and understand just about everything I could find as I did not want to risk bricking my laptop.
The approach I took in the end was:
Hope this provides some encouragement to those in the community who may be in a similar situation.
[attachment=11345]
I wanted to drop a note and say thank you to the forum for being a source of information on modding Insyde BIOS. I spent a lot of time reading through various search results which either provided the details or guided me to details located elsewhere. I specifically want to thank espionage724 and Da Vinci Code for showing that it is possible, in this thread, https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-Request-Acer-Aspire-VN7-572G?page=7 .
donovan6000's blog also provided a lot of detail. I do have a professional background in development but, never in this area.
My goal was to be able to add a M.2 SSD NVMe to my laptop. The motherboard had the socket but after installing the M.2 SSD, it would not show up in Device Manager or HWInfo. I figured Acer had it disabled in the BIOS and did not see anything I could adjust in the BIOS. Not taking no for an answer led me on the quest to get around the manufacturers restrictions.
I took a while to read and understand just about everything I could find as I did not want to risk bricking my laptop.
The approach I took in the end was:
- Raspberry Pi GPIO, Pomona SOIC8 clip and flashrom
- My bios chip (Macronix MX25L6473F) was different that espionage724's but, in the same family. It was not specifically listed in flashrom either, although flashrom did identify it as one of the other chips in the family.
- I was able to write out a copy of the image, verified with via 3 separate files and md5sum'd.
- Tried a couple different approaches to getting the particular section of the ROM extracted and changed.
- (I already identified where I needed to make the change when looking at the extracted FD file from the Acer BIOS update for v1.10)
- My first attempt at a modded BIOS failed as it would not boot. Lights came on, fan ran, HD spun, then went quiet, no BIOS logo splashscreen.
- I was able to flash the backup image I made and got the laptop working.
- I felt the issue was with the tool I was using and how it repacked the file.
- My second attempt was successful, I could see the two settings I unsuppressed. Which then allowed me to display the Advanced Tab and subsequently enabling the slot.
- I was able to successfully add a Samsung 950 Pro 256GB.
Hope this provides some encouragement to those in the community who may be in a similar situation.
[attachment=11345]