Hi CodeRush, Is it possible to use one of your tools to extract Thinkpad T420 UEFI bios and create a capsule file? I have a bricked T420 and tried many methods to recover it with no luck. Please let me know if there is a method. Your hard work always appreciated.
@blakeniel, it's possible, I think, but rather pointless. If the capsule header has a signature - nether I nor anyone without private key can forge a right capsule, and there is no signature there - just use hex editor to transfer the whole capsule from BIOS update file and you are done. To unbrick your board I would buy or built a hardware SPI programmer (20-30 bucks on ebay), download a full dump from the same laptop (such dumps can be found on repairmen's sites) and flash it into your SPI chip. You can also dump it's contents before reflashing to be able to extract all individual board data and transfer it to new image, if they aren't corrupted by bricking.
Thanks CodeRush. Will I be able to use a Bus Pirate to do this. If I can use BP, can you direct me to a detailed tutorial. I've seen some online, but non is detailed. As I have a very limited knowledge regarding usage of BP, a detailed tutorial would help greatly. Thanks a lot.
Serg008, there is no free space to fit the modified module. Try removing all useless version and unknown sections to save some space.
Open backup with Uefitool and just try rebuild it (without of any modifications): View attachment 30201 add. Phoenixtool can't open this bios correctly too (with both - backup & original
They used EFI1.1 compression, but GUID says that it's Tiano, that is why recompressed module appears too big to fit in. I hate the fool that changed EFI1.1 to Tiano and back without any change in compression type. Will try to debug it.
I don't think so. What I can't really understand how they managed to compress it with Tiano/EFI11 and have the size of compressed data of about 0x220000, and can have no less then 0x2b0000 after recompression (this is the real source of that bug, BTW). They are using much better compression code or some interesting setups, but AFAIK, there is nothing to setup for Tiano algorithm. Weird as sh*t.
@adrian_p, thanks for report, I have seen your PM, just have no time to answer. Please explain why do you need to replace VTF and PeiCore, it's not a common task at all. I will try to make the mod manually then.
I am doing some tests on that board with Xeon ES cpus Thx EDIT: Mine Idea was to swap VTF then reinsert PeiCore to fix path in newer bios (changing VTF) Or simply add older PeiCore to see will it go beyond instant reboot (changing PeiCore)
How are VTF and PEI Core are linked to that? I know you need to insert a microcode for that CPU, but it has nothing to do with that 2 files.
I have microcode for CPU in new and old bios. That is not problem to insert. I have found two bioses with minimal changes one: 813 (08.2013) and another 913 (09.2013) 813 works 913 goes instant reboot bouth bioses have cpumicrocode for Xeon ES after examining with diff some modules in DXE Volume are changed, but in Boot volume PeiCore and VTF. That is reason I am testing this.
Ok. Now I clearly see where the bug is. I'm replacing or moving the PEI code, calculating it's new entry point and then trying to search that new value in old VTF, which of course fails. Will correct it ASAP.
Thx for your time, I will update the progress here. I have dirty FTDI breakout board so flashing is done quickly and easy...
0.18.6 is out. Changes: - solved a bug with unneeded recalculation of original PEI Core entry point, thanks adrian_p for reporting. - the name of opened file is now shown in window title. - compression type and decompressed size information added to compressed GUID-defined sections --- @adrian_p, I hope the problem with VTF is solved in 0.18.6, please check and report here. @il_gaby, SP5 can be modified, I think, but SP6 can't because of cryptographic sugnature check that occurs on every boot. Try posting a requiest on bios-mods.com/forum or here in BIOS Mods subforum, I don't familiar with HP systems and therefore don't know haw to flash modified BIOS there.