[UEFITool] UEFI firmware image viewer and editor

Discussion in 'MDL Projects and Applications' started by CodeRush, Oct 8, 2013.

  1. CodeRush

    CodeRush MDL Member

    Jun 20, 2011
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    @Badawa, I don't know any other good ways to flash modified BIOS corrently on notebooks then using external SPI programmer and SOIC-clip, as BDMaster suggested.
    Make full dump of your BIOS, mod it and the flash back - it's the only working way for almost all machines right now.

    @BDMaster, I would rather not add this feature, because it brings to little, but requres various code paths for different UEFI firmwares. I don't like writing vendos-specific code, and I can't write AMI-specific code because of NDA, so of you need an utility to determine platfrom version - form UEFITool and add this function yourself. :)

    @RustyX, thank you for using it. Build process is simple, install your compiler and Qt library, cd to UEFITool folder "qmake" and "make release". I do make additional stepps including compilation of special static version of Qt and modifying mkspecs for both Windows and OSX builds, but if you just need working version of the tool and have no plans to distribute it - qmake and make are enough.
     
  2. billdh2k

    billdh2k MDL Novice

    Sep 12, 2014
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    CodeRush, thank you for your explanation. As I said earlier, my main interest is to add the newer Intel microcode to the BIOS to enable the full support of the 771 Xeons on the pre-2010 Intel 775 boards. Do these pre-2010 boards have the BIOS protection from any modification, even using SPI programmer?

    If I understand it correctly based on your suggestion as well as replies from others, I would need the following hardware: 1) SPI programmer (there are a few on eBay, ~$20-30); 2) May be a Pomona SOIC Clip‎ (if there is SPI header pins on the board).

    Next are the challenging steps: 3) Dump the BIOS content from the BIOS chip on the board to get un-encrypted codes using the SPI programmer, 4) Analyzing the BIOS code to identify the microcode section, and then replace or add with the newer code, 5) re-program the BIOS chip with the modified BIOS using the SPI programmer.

    The difficult part is the step 4 where expert knowledge and software tools are needed. I just wonder if my goal could be accomplished, with the kind of resource/help I might get from this forum, considering the fact every few expert are available on this one, even an expert like you are only volunteering their spare time here. I would like to hear your comment here.

    BTW, I consider myself a handy person with good hardware/software knowledge in general.

    Thank a lot in advance!

    Bill
     
  3. CodeRush

    CodeRush MDL Member

    Jun 20, 2011
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    billdh2k,
    I'm sure not.
    Your assumption about tools needed is also correct.
    I don't think that old 775-socket boards are UEFI-compatible, that is why you need MMTool v3 or other similar utilities (depending on original BIOS vendor, which is not Intel AFAIK) to work with them.
     
  4. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
    Staff Member

    Nov 30, 2009
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  5. Badawa

    Badawa MDL Novice

    Jan 27, 2013
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    Thank you CodeRush. At least there is hope o_O. Saw some YouTube videos on SPI programmers, in process of figuring out to build Arduino or buy from China. Am good with building electronics components. Too much effort for changing 1 byte of code though :confused:.

    Edit: Under $20 for clip and programmer shipped on ebay. Buying it is but a month to receive it.
     
  6. keepclubbin

    keepclubbin MDL Novice

    Sep 17, 2014
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    i have some errors :/ anyone help to me? should i extract the bios and flash with these errors?

    Thank you so much

    View attachment 30779
     
  7. CodeRush

    CodeRush MDL Member

    Jun 20, 2011
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    keepclubbin, it's normal to have this type of errors, no reasons to worry.
    g5, you need unpacked version of exe file, then run extractor from commandline like this "extractor iflash.exe bios.bin", if bios.bin file is produced - it's your extracted image.
     
  8. g5

    g5 MDL Novice

    Sep 16, 2014
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    Thanks for replying. I'm still having problems. when i type in
    "extractor iflash.exe bios.bin" i get "input file cannot be open no such file or directory".
    But when put in "extractor insydeflash.exe bios.bin" it says "Insyde BIOS image signature not found in input file"
    Is my insydeflash not compatible?
     
  9. CodeRush

    CodeRush MDL Member

    Jun 20, 2011
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    g5, give me the link to your file, I will try to extract it.
     
  10. g5

    g5 MDL Novice

    Sep 16, 2014
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    CodeRush, don't worry about it i just restored my bricked laptop. It works now. Thanks
    Well i still need the files tho.
     
  11. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
    Staff Member

    Nov 30, 2009
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    @g5

    It isn't possible to decrypt 2nd gen RSA encrypted HP bioses yet.
     
  12. BDMaster

    BDMaster MDL BIOS/EFI Modifier

    Aug 2, 2009
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    Hi Tito,
    this is not properly true as there is a way to Decrypt HP RSA Sign Bioses 1st and 2nd :

    Flashing Original Bios It leaves always a Decrypted copy into HP_BOOT partition

    The problem is to re-Crypt It, but seems that Donovan has got a solution !
    Regards
     
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