Cool - Beta stage. Thank a lot to Andy - it turns out I simply cannot stand repetitive work I would like to remind you there is a thread on Dell notebook recovery. Please do rollback to previous BIOS version using BIOS recovery method. Check BIOS boot screen to make sure the notebook actually runs the version you just flashed. Then use Andy tool to patch latest BIOS version – flush it any way you like. Please report you results here. Thank you. For desktop owners: remember there is no any BIOS recovery built in... But the desktops patch process is somewhat easier than notebooks one. Actually, both are pretty straightforward.
I was thinking to find “int 1Ah” calls. I hope, BIOS configures ICH7-M chip at some point… OpiPlexes 620 and 745 have ICH7DH chip and should be able to run SATA Extension ROM to create RAID. They even have menu options to change RAID options but they are blocked. I hope the code is still there, but always set SATA to compatibility mode. If case of ICH7-M we should be able to get ACHI mode at least… That’s where I stopped until you showed up. I.e. we make mistake – we get a brick. Since you able to recover you BIOS, we can try to fiddle to get working solution for everybody.
One more - could somebody identify 25P40VP chip manufacturer from the printed logo (picture on post 322), please?
Still unclear for me,you power up mainboard but chip is conected to smsc controller I think and he take controls on spi bus,I don't know if putting on hold will let you take controll over spi,that's why I never try or use this method. Forgive me for a little confusion,since I use some devices on LPT I use a extension cable (to be more easy) you can do this (few resistors and few diodes for taking power from usb port) onto 25pin socket. If you want to try in circuit reading programming try to use an extension cable and keep short wires max 20 cm I think,from socket to chip. For usb flash drive as spi programmer I don't know. And for 93 series never tested if can work,for 93C I use willem programmer,and for this bios I build one like in previous link,was to easy to built than to experiment an possible to damage chip.
Got it. No mobo power to take SMSC SCH5504-NS out of equation. Do you mean LPT extension cable – the one with built-in buffers/amplifiers? Or straight cable and few resistors and few diodes (I saw a diagram this morning – can’t find it now) BTW: Some forum suggests using two AA batteries to get 3V for writing. With straight cable only, right? Out of curiosity – can you use willem programmer to program 25X "in-board"? I.e. just wire it up to the chip?
If mobo has spi header maybe can then can get power from it. If power line is somehow separated from others chip then maybe works too. Could be two or more possibilities. Rail power 3,3V go straight to more chips,including smsc and bios then you need a strong power to power them. result in circuit programming doesn't work. Rail power 3,3 power few chips on mobo then through some switches (electronic,like mosfet transistor) or one diode -|>|- go to bios chip power pin in that case if you apply power to bios chip that diode or switch prevent power to go to others chip let just bios to pe powered. in that case in circuit programming may work. Yes, I use usb only for 5V. On my laptop is like on rayer site I mount a socket onboard and bios chip on socket too,like in picture,there are 2 socket one is on motherboard and one is as chip support.
In theory should work.But depends by what are connected to data lines,if is high impedance then should work.
Supposedly "powered off" SMSC SCH5504-NS only. (Still cannot find any data sheet on it) What else might be on SPI bus?