Sony Vaio VGN-AW11XU - BIOS bricked; recovery?

Discussion in 'BIOS Mods' started by Rodent, Feb 28, 2018.

  1. Rodent

    Rodent MDL Novice

    Feb 19, 2011
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  2. LatinMcG

    LatinMcG Bios Borker

    Feb 27, 2011
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    wincris disk!
     
  3. Rodent

    Rodent MDL Novice

    Feb 19, 2011
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    thank you.
    I have no clue how to enter recover bios mode in this laptop.

    I tried so far:

    Home
    CTRL-Home
    Esc
    CTRL-Esc
    B
    CTRL-B

    and FN / Windows / Alt Key instead of CTRL.

    nothing works...

    thanks
    Alex
     
  4. tqhoang

    tqhoang MDL BIOS Modder

    Apr 29, 2008
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    #5 tqhoang, Feb 28, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2018
    Have you tried using different USB ports? Sometimes it only works with one of the USB headers...at least on Dell laptops it does.
     
  5. tqhoang

    tqhoang MDL BIOS Modder

    Apr 29, 2008
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    I just realized you said you used AFUDOS to flash the BIOS. This means your BIOS is an AMI type and the Award/Phoenix Crisis method is not applicable.

    Try the AMI Recovery procedures listed here: https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/bios-recovery-procedures.870/
    Namely you need to name the BIOS file "AMIBOOT.ROM" on the USB floppy (if smaller than 1.44MB) or USB flash drive.
     
  6. Rodent

    Rodent MDL Novice

    Feb 19, 2011
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    Hi,

    thank you, but I tried this already, with no success.

    • The USB Card is the same, which the previous Bios was flashed from (so the USB card works).
    • The file dedicatedly is named AMIBOOT.ROM, and is the only file on the USB Card (FAT16)
    None, of the Recovery Shortcuts (FN-B and alikes) work. Tested on all USB Ports.

    Please, does someone know EXACTLY, which is the Recovery Shortcut for SONY VAIO VGN-Models?

    Thanks!
    Alex
     
  7. Rodent

    Rodent MDL Novice

    Feb 19, 2011
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    #8 Rodent, Mar 4, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2018
    (OP)
    Hello,

    sorry to bother so much!
    I am still not having figured out the Shortcut to activate bios recovery.

    Any help is appreciated!
    Thanks
    Alex

    EDIT: Used Andy's Tool to figure out recovery filename; which is "Y2.rom". No luck so far.
    Also, its an insyde biuos it seems (also andys tool).
    tho, the proclaimed insyde recovery procedure does not work as well.
     
  8. tqhoang

    tqhoang MDL BIOS Modder

    Apr 29, 2008
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    #9 tqhoang, Mar 5, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2018
    Did you try this guy's method?
    https://forums.mydigitallife.net/th...se-andys-tool-to-obtain-possible-names.13095/

    Some people mention using FN+ESC and also FN+R.
     
  9. LatinMcG

    LatinMcG Bios Borker

    Feb 27, 2011
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    could be FN X on some

    if it dont work u can try CH341A with flashrom command. .but need a full dump .bin file for your model too.
     
  10. Rodent

    Rodent MDL Novice

    Feb 19, 2011
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    Summary:
    There is no case on the internet of successful recovery mode on sony vaio.
    opposite sometimes is proposed: there deliberately is o insyde recover from sony in place.

    I am left with the CH341A flashing method, which would be easy for me.

    not so easy part: obtaining a suitable .bin

    if i understood this correctly: I'd need one dumped from an actual working unit of the same model, right?

    Any clue where to obtain?

    thx /A
     
  11. Thunder0616

    Thunder0616 MDL Novice

    May 4, 2019
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