New AMI BIOS tool for performing SSV2/3 and Dynamic SLIC Modification

Discussion in 'MDL Projects and Applications' started by andyp, Jan 7, 2009.

  1. SoLoR

    SoLoR MDL Expert

    Jul 30, 2008
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    @gwrench

    there just doesnt seems to be enough space in 1B module, no matter what you do. But there might be some other way that someone else knows...

    edit: there is one way to mod it, however not with dell slic. Pick Asrock, pick SSV3 in options check always shrink 1b module and use extra space to shrink, pick tohiba tosinv slic and mod. Why tosinv, because its smallest slic when it gets compressed and it seems that then there is enough space for new 1b module. However someone like andyp should check if those options are "safe" for your bios, since i dont want you to screw up your mobo :)
     
  2. gwrench

    gwrench MDL Member

    Dec 5, 2009
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    Thank you for the information. I think I will wait to see what Andy says. This a great community and forum. BTW I managed to mod it for slp *only* which works fine with the winxp currently in use :). Could using an older version of the BIOS help?? Or maybe removing the network boot option rom??
     
  3. andyp

    andyp SLIC Tools Author

    Aug 8, 2008
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    Might be OK, but sometimes 'extra space' shrinking causes problems eg. on my ASUS boards it just means the NEXT time you flash you have to do from DOS as it overwrites some strings used by EZflash. The mod and computer still work fine, however.

    Looking at the BIOS the only other thing that could be tried would be an SSV2 with the SLIC in the bootblock - which works well in core 7 mods but is unproven/tested in core 8.... I could do one if you like... but it would be experimental (more so than SoloR's suggestion).

    Andy

    Andy
     
  4. SoLoR

    SoLoR MDL Expert

    Jul 30, 2008
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    This could work, if you are not using network booting. But this goes again in to trial and error department and unless you are advetures type or have any alternative means of recovery you shouldnt do it. Thing is you have 256kb bios and things are geting tight in there (obviously not in 1B module as i wrongly said few times, but in bios in general). Also using older versions will compress differently since there will be bit different code, however not sure if you can expect any miracles. But sure you can try or that bootblock mod that andy sugested.
     
  5. gwrench

    gwrench MDL Member

    Dec 5, 2009
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    Thank you Andy and Solar for your suggestions. I dont want to try this right now since it is a friends board and I cant afford to brick it. However it has a socketed BIOS and I am willing to try a mod provided by you at a later date when I have spare Bios chip avaliable to hot flash.
     
  6. gwrench

    gwrench MDL Member

    Dec 5, 2009
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    Hi,
    I decided to try again after deleting the network boot option rom. Worked like a charm. Thanks !!! :). With the Dell slic too!!. I need this for server use, so had to be Dell.
     
  7. FelixV

    FelixV MDL Novice

    Nov 5, 2009
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  8. SoLoR

    SoLoR MDL Expert

    Jul 30, 2008
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    Glad it worked, thing is removing PCI option rom is pretty safe, worst thing that can happen is certain function wont work and it can error out at POST. But at the end you should still be able to boot computer and flash original one way or another (aka it wont get stuck on CPU INIT or RAM detection). And you make slic space for cases like yours :) But still i wouldnt suggest people just go and remove option roms they dont need :p
     
  9. FelixV

    FelixV MDL Novice

    Nov 5, 2009
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    in addition
    SLP string (ASUS_FLASH) already present in 1B module without $ODB$.
    Tool can't find it but XP is preactivated.
     
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  10. SoLoR

    SoLoR MDL Expert

    Jul 30, 2008
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    You seems to have same issue as gwrench with SSV3.

    edit: or maybe not. Maybe there are some parsing issues.
     
  11. FelixV

    FelixV MDL Novice

    Nov 5, 2009
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    @gwrench
    Hi,
    I mod 775i65GV(2.40) without any problem

    Use AMITool 1.48
    Dell slic 2.1 (in tool folder)
    Mod method SSV3
    Advanced: SSV3 options - Shrink1B, General options: Always shrink 1B module and Use extra space to shrink must be enabled

    No deleted option rom
     
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  12. FelixV

    FelixV MDL Novice

    Nov 5, 2009
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    Hmmm, I extract original 1B module (used MMTool2) and try to replace with this original, but MMTool2 say "No enough space to replace module" (May be some lock?...)

    I mod ASUS A3L bios use "Dance with shaman tambourine" method :)
    1. Use AMITool 1.48 and try to mod (SSV3 method without any shrink options). Before press Ok, when Error popup, copy modded 1B_SLIC.bin to any folder or rename it.
    (@Andy Please add "Do not autodelete files after mod error" in global options.)
    2. Open MMTool2, press Power MMTool botton then Load original rom file (renamed with .rom extension)
    Delete 1B module, Insert saved 1B_SLIC.bin, extract inserted 1B use As is in the ROM file method (compressed) and save it as 1B_compressed.bin
    Reload original ROM without save changes, Replace 1B with 1B_compressed.bin (you see -x.xx%% compression ratio) then Replace with saved 1B_SLIC.bin
    Save rom as 0220a_SLIC.rom

    I flash this sliced rom with Easy flash in bios setup (F2) and "vuala" Test is Ok. SLIC present in Windows.

    additional MMTool2 info about 1B module:
    Before this operations:
    RomLoc: 8000:1008 Source size:317595 Size in Rom:152208 %%: 52.07
    After...
    RomLoc: C000:C420 Source size:317595 Size in Rom:152532 %%: 51.97

    I think simply delete 1B and reinsert 1B_SLIC may be working
     
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  13. sleid

    sleid MDL Novice

    Jun 9, 2007
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    Hi, Andy

    Can you add to the great Ami tool an option for adjust checksum boot block and bios before modding?

    For example: bios date modified with winhex........
     
  14. FelixV

    FelixV MDL Novice

    Nov 5, 2009
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    Just tested a simple method and everything works fine (ASUS A3L)
    1. Prepare 1B_SLIC.bin with AMITools 1.48 (SSV3 method without any shrink options)
    2. Delete original 1B and insert new 1B module from prepared 1B_SLIC.bin with MMTool2 (reinsert)
    3. Flash BIOS for testing.
    @Andy
    Can you add additional option to Advanced - SSV3 options named "Try to reinsert if replace with error" ?
     
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  15. G.Portes

    G.Portes MDL Novice

    Jan 26, 2010
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    Hi Andy,

    Did You have the time to get some new informations about this modding problem ?

    Did You find something ?

    Thank You in advance for your answers !
     
  16. beppe_7

    beppe_7 MDL Junior Member

    Feb 20, 2008
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    andy. yen anyone.

    i tried doing a dynamic mod to my bios. i have a p55 extreme. bios tool finishes sucessfully. bios cannot activate windows. but SSV2 and SSV3 does. any ideas on this? help would be appriciated


    p.s

    i installed everest. and SLIC is not showing. could there be not enough room? is does dynamic work differently?
     
  17. stme68

    stme68 MDL Novice

    Aug 25, 2009
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    @andyp

    I used the 1.48 to perform a mod... all seems work like in the older versions but I found that if you open a bin file already with slic2.1 inside, will appear an error message:

    Error 6: Overflow of an atithmetic expression

    I try to open the same file with slic 2.1 inside with 1.42 and if gives as normally the message:

    ... SLIC 2.1 already present...

    I suppose a minor bug is in there in 1.48

    Regards
     
  18. sleid

    sleid MDL Novice

    Jun 9, 2007
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    same error....