VMware Workstation/ESXi BIOS/EFI SLIC Mod

Discussion in 'Virtualization' started by pantagruel, Aug 26, 2015.

  1. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
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    VMware Workstation 15.0.2 Pro/Player | 22 Nov 2018 | Build 10952284

    The BIOS and EFIs are the same as 15.0.0

    BIOS BUILD 474
    EFI ROM version: VMW71.00V.9694812.B64.1808210100 (64-bit RELEASE)
    EFI ROM version: VMW71.00V.9694812.B32.1808210100 (32-bit RELEASE)

    You can get the latest modded BIOS/EFIs on the first post.
     
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  2. zmcjs2004

    zmcjs2004 MDL Novice

    Oct 8, 2011
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    I added a few more OEM SLP strings to the bios:

    Dell 2.3 SLIC
    Multi OEM SLP
     
  3. mysy

    mysy MDL Novice

    Nov 14, 2010
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    Could anyone help to create exsi 6.7u1 bios with Hp slic 2.3?
     
  4. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

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    #144 pantagruel, Mar 15, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2019
    (OP)
    VMware Workstation 15.0.3 Pro/Player | 2019-03-14 | Build 12422535

    The BIOS/EFIs are the same as 15.0.0

    BIOS BUILD 474
    EFI ROM version: VMW71.00V.9694812.B64.1808210100 (64-bit RELEASE)
    EFI ROM version: VMW71.00V.9694812.B32.1808210100 (32-bit RELEASE)

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    VMware Workstation 14.1.6 Pro/Player | 2019-03-14 | Build 12368378

    The BIOS/EFIs are the same as 14.1.0

    BIOS BUILD 464
    EFI ROM version: VMW71.00V.6997262.B64.1710270607 (64-bit RELEASE)
    EFI ROM version: VMW71.00V.6997262.B32.1710270607 (32-bit RELEASE)

    The modded BIOS/EFIs can be found on the first post.
     
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  5. windowsfan3829

    windowsfan3829 MDL Novice

    Mar 17, 2019
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    Does anyone have the original mod for VMWare Player v4.x? Yes I'm using that version for a special task. The download links don't work, and I've searched the net, usenet and torrrents, with no luck.
    The file is called:
    VMware_Man;Auto_Selector_v315-339.7z

    The original thread:
    https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/vmware-workstation-multi-brand-bios-installer.11152/

    I have several sites where I can host the file that don't expire in case anyone else needs it in the future. Please message me and I'll provide a cloud upload link.
     
  6. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
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    VMware Workstation 15.0.4 Pro/Player | 28 Mar 2019 | Build 12990004

    The BIOS and EFIs are the same as 15.0.0

    BIOS BUILD 474
    EFI ROM version: VMW71.00V.9694812.B64.1808210100 (64-bit RELEASE)
    EFI ROM version: VMW71.00V.9694812.B32.1808210100 (32-bit RELEASE)

    You can get the latest modded BIOS/EFIs on the first post.
     
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  7. Mikeeboss

    Mikeeboss MDL Novice

    Nov 16, 2017
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    Hi

    I've spent days trying to get my head around adding another mod into the V15 file but really struggling, i must be missing something. I've collect the information off the BIOS, downloaded the BIOS files, tired to mod the ROM and add the SLC table in but I'm stuck.

    Can anybody add a SIEMENS PG[0344BCA3] SLC in the V15 ROM for me?

    Thank you.
     
  8. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    You know, yesterday you "knew" it all.....
     
  9. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    just fyi, i don't ban you each time you re-appear, the staff does (without any help), and for a reason.
     
  10. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

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    #152 pantagruel, Apr 4, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2019
    (OP)
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  11. Mikeeboss

    Mikeeboss MDL Novice

    Nov 16, 2017
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    Hi

    Yes, it's the SLP 1.0 for XP and I can confirm this works a treat.

    Thank you so much, i can now run this and observe the operation of it before I decommission it.

    I've read so many guides about doing this but they all seem slightly different, do you have something I can follow as I have a few more odd balls to do in the coming months.

    many thanks again. :)
     
  12. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
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    OK, good, thanks for the feedback.

    There's a pretty good guide to VMware SLP/SLIC modding here . It's a bit dated so I made a few notes below.

    Guide Notes:
    1. For a VMware BIOS you can skip the RW File (AcpiTabs.rw) by placing an empty PhoenixTool.ini file in the PhoenixTool root directory.
    2. Chapter I (SLIC using vmware-vmx.exe)
    - vmware-vmx.exe is no longer used for bios modding, use BIOS.440.ROM.​
    3. Chapter II (SLIC using ROM)
    - for a SLIC only mod best to use SSV2 method
    - manufacturer - select 'other'.
    - no need to extract anything, use BIOS.440.ROM
    - 6006 = BIOS.440.ROM ​
    4. Chapter III (SLP 1.0)
    - use module method
    - for SLP 1.0 use advanced options
    - in advanced select 'Allow user to modify other modules' etc.
    - don't click the OK button on the 'Dump' dialog until you have made changes to BIOSCOD2.ROM
    - OFFSET = ADDRESS - 77ED is used. For VMware 15 it's OFFSET = ADDRESS - 773D.
    - for example, e076 - 773d = 6939. Place the string in range starting from OFFSET 6939.

    screenshot 2.png screenshot 3.png screenshot 4.png screenshot 5.png screenshot 6.png

    Have fun!
     
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  13. Mikeeboss

    Mikeeboss MDL Novice

    Nov 16, 2017
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    That's great thanks. Managed to replicate this. :), learning all the time.

    I'm looking at another one now, which must be SLP 1.0 as it's XP SP3 OEM , however it certainly has SLIC in it also but by making a BIOS with just the SLIC info in it (slic toolkit dump) it doesn't activate my VM. Looks like the hardware could do Win 7 also but the OEM sticker is XP Pro.

    By you explanation I should find some form of SLP 1.0 string in memory area above 000F773d . Working on the fact that if you take off 773D the number needs to be a positive number. However, I can't find any thing that looks like a SLP 1.0 string in any memory areas above this.

    I have the current hardware to look at and also a recovery image. I'm using a few tools to look at the memory areas - RWeverthing, HWDirect to look at the 000F areas. Am I missing something?

    Mike
     
  14. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

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    #156 pantagruel, Apr 11, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2019
    (OP)
    What OEMBIOS set do you want use?

    With Siemens it was

    [OEMBIOS]
    F000,E076,0104,SIEMENS PG

    so E076 - 773D = 6939

    0104 is the ReadSize or range the string can be placed in. This varies by OEMBIOS set, so the set you are working with is important.

    Then, for example, with SIEMENS PG, 6939 + 104 = 6A3D. The string can be placed anywhere in the range from 6939 to 6A3D, provided the location is empty (00s). Don't overwrite anything.

    EDIT:
    To find the OEMBIOS string in a physical machine running XP, use SLIC Toolkit V3.2 or OEM BIOSTEST. These tools will identify the valid OEMBIOS strings/sets, from which you can mod the VMware BIOS.440.

    https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/slic-toolkit-x86-x64-includes-pkey-cert-backup.6925/
    https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/the-windows-xp-oembios-archive.9795/page-18#post-373708

    Also, 773D is only relevant to the VMware V15 BIOS.440.
     
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  15. Mikeeboss

    Mikeeboss MDL Novice

    Nov 16, 2017
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    All sorted now, it was a different OEM manufacturer. Took a while for the penny to drop for me to realise i had to decrypt the OEMBIOS_DA file to obtain the string and location. All now put in the VM bios and works great.

    Thanks again getting me going on this. :)
     
  16. tstolik

    tstolik MDL Junior Member

    Jan 18, 2011
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    can be done bios/efi files with Fujitsu SLIC 2.5 for VMware 15?
     
  17. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

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    #159 pantagruel, Apr 13, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2019
    (OP)
    Sure.

    You can find VMware15_FUJ25_EFIs_BIOS.440.7z on the first post.
     
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  18. tstolik

    tstolik MDL Junior Member

    Jan 18, 2011
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    Attached Files: