oops found it

Is that right???

@Tonnage - sorry for not explaining better, we need a good image guided guide here about using these.

No, that is not correct, you are halfway into each block/set of slots. But you do have the red wire on correct side. now move entire block over two places, so you are using only the middle chip block. On your image, move everything over two more places to the right.
There is outer block (Toward end of card/by rear etc) that has 8 slots, and then there is the middle block that has 8 slots. By middle block, I mean the middle block of 4+4 slots.
One side (rear) is for 24xx type BIOS and one side (middle) is for 25xx type BIOS, what you have. The middle block is the 25xxx BIOS type. There should be a little image of two BIOS chips shown on your PCB on other side of the block, or on back, look at that and then you'll understand more what I mean.

got a read and verify on ver 1.29

how do I upload the files?

@Tonnage - Upload in a zip file to any free file host you like. If you don't know any, one of these is what I often used, upload and then post link here once it's done uploading
sendspace.com
filedropper.com
nofile.io

And here they are finally!!

once again..

Thanks for all the patience, advice and help

https://nofile.io/f/jGkoxZr13zc/ga-z68xp-ud4-dump.bin

https://nofile.io/f/oO4pmvdnA5A/backup-chip.bin

Those are not verified backups Both blank/empty (All FF). Please ensure you press read, then verify and only when it says "Buffer/main memory match chip" then save. If you cannot get verify message, try another version of the software.
As a simple check, once it reads, before you hit verify, if all the letters in the area of the software in front of you are FF then it's not good so don't waste your time verifying, try next software.

I just remembered, Gigabyte do not put UUID, Serial in the BIOS, only LAN MAC ID. So if you can send me your LAN MAC ID from the sticker on the LAN metal block, I can make you BIOS from stock image.
But to even be able to use that you need to find working version and method to get a full backup verified, otherwise when you write new BIOS it will fail too.

What Chip ID are you using, or are you letting it auto select (And if so, what's it choosing)? What is your actual full chip ID? Sometimes you can't pick exact ID, only close match, other times you have to pick exact, it all depends.
If I have same chip your board has I will check for you which version software works and which ID to use.

Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #21

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Those are not verified backups Both blank/empty (All FF). Please ensure you press read, then verify and only when it says "Buffer/main memory match chip" then save. If you cannot get verify message, try another version of the software.
As a simple check, once it reads, before you hit verify, if all the letters in the area of the software in front of you are FF then it's not good so don't waste your time verifying, try next software.

I just remembered, Gigabyte do not put UUID, Serial in the BIOS, only LAN MAC ID. So if you can send me your LAN MAC ID from the sticker on the LAN metal block, I can make you BIOS from stock image.
But to even be able to use that you need to find working version and method to get a full backup verified, otherwise when you write new BIOS it will fail too.

What Chip ID are you using, or are you letting it auto select (And if so, what's it choosing)? What is your actual full chip ID? Sometimes you can't pick exact ID, only close match, other times you have to pick exact, it all depends.
If I have same chip your board has I will check for you which version software works and which ID to use.

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That simply means you need to do it again with a different version of the software, and or same, but this time pay attention to what I mentioned about seeing data or not in the buffer window in front of you vs all FF's.
If that is all you can get, either wrong CHIP ID is selected, or connection to chip is not secure (Connected in bottom corner only means connected to USB), or you need to use another version of the software.

I doubt your chip is 100% blank, all FF, but I suppose it's possible, especially since you are getting buffer/chip match.
If you can't get a write to work, then we know there is an issue as described above and you'll need to keep trying backup until you get a proper backup, then you'll know which version, chip ID ect to use to do the write with.

Not sure if mentioned previously, but this need to be done on MAIN BIOS. Thanks for the images, I will test shortly.
To verify chip IS, is this what you see in person 25L3206E, little blurry so can't be 100% sure. I have these chips, testing now to see if exact ID or close is needed for software version 1.29 (All newer after that would work too if 1.29 works, I assume)

I checked, "Detect chip ID" then selected exact chip ID, works fine and reads correctly, so maybe your chip is blank!


On the write to chip, do like this, I find this best method. Do this with the stock F6 BIOS (It's .bin file, just choose "All file formats" when opening file
1. Close app and open app, to make sure buffer is clear
2. On auto option, uncheck erase and blank check (Do these manually).

3. Click erase
4. Click blank check
5. Open BIOS file to write
6. Click auto (Which is now write, verify only)
7. If buffer and chip match then all is done!

It's been so long since I opened up Z68 BIOS (Or P55/P67), I cannot remember where LAN MAC ID Is stored on these, so we'll have to do this twice.
Only once with the programmer, second time you will update BIOS from within the BIOS using Qflash with next BIOS I send you, which is how you should always update BIOS moving forward.

Once you've programmed BIOS, boot to BIOS and load optimized and set your SATA settings after that. Then boot to windows and from command prompt run >> Ipconfig /all
Then send me image or text of that complete output, unless your MAC address is still correct/working after recovery.
This will give me the invalid LAN ID so I can find the correct location in BIOS, since it doesn't appear to be the usual 88 88 88 88 87 88, unless it's in a compressed module I need to extract, if it is that then I'll find location via extracting

hi

Ive done as above..but im getting errors...

i downloaded the f6 bios file for the board...i see its a revision 1.3 board...file name is "Z68XPUD4.F6"

I then followed steps 1 - 6

but gives a disagreement error.

i double checked the writing on the chip and it says the following:

MXIC MX
25L3206E

Thanks for confirming chip, I thought that was correct once I found mine to test. You're software image does not match mine, no info on left side like mine, are you sure you are using 1.29 (exe is named CH341A_c.exe)
This may only be due to your image taken mid-process vs mine though, but mentioned in case it matters because I noticed

This can be due to cable moved during programming, keep trying until you get verified. I used your exact BIOS mentioned above in my test (BIOS Chip, 1.3 F6 BIOS file etc, all same)
Remove the PCB part on where the cables go into the programmer, maybe that will make it easier, just be sure to put cable/pins back into correct same slots. Then don't move while it's writing.

I assumed you would have errors trying to write, because you couldn't get a valid dump, I still doubt the chip is blank. But keep at it, you will get it, make sure all connections correct and nothing moves to bump anything loose during process. And be sure you are doing this on the MAIN BIOS.

?????????????????????

could this be the problem?

ive reinstalled the driver allot ..still gives driver error

I've only EVER had to install the driver once. This driver >> CH341PAR.EXE - http://www.wch.cn/download/CH341PAR_EXE.html

Can't detect chip is like I said, most likely connection issues nothing to do with driver, not solid connection always. Likely reason you could not get backup too, same as you can't write to chip, not a good connection entire time. Make connection more stable and move nothing once you start process.

I dont know what to tell you dude...

it just WONT work...

im sure you are just as frustrated with me as I am with this bloody thing!!!

Im starting to think my programmer is faulty.. dont see what else it could be..
I know it doesnt sound like it but im actually a very capable and technical person, so I am very frustrated that this making me look like a idiotic noob!!!!

my son tells me now he smelled smoke at some time when walking past the back of my pc where the programmer is plugged in....

really??

I have been super careful and meticulous on the connections and making sure there are no shorts anywhere, and to confirm PERFECT connections all all time.

so...

I DONT KNOW!!!!!

Ive tried about 10 times to upload the bios trying everything from even holding it in place while my wife clicks auto..

NOTHING...

I'm not frustrated at all, only trying to help you, sorry if anything I said sounded like I was frustrated I didn't mean it to sound that way at all. I am however frustrated for you, because I know how stressful this stuff can be when you can't get it to work. be calm, go gentle and you'll get it working.

If you want, so we can be sure, send me images of how everything is connected again to double check it's all OK. Show how cable goes into programmer, and how it's connected to the board (Not so close I can't see where it's connected)
This is normal, I mean often people have issues with these until they figure it all out. I don't think for a second your programmer is faulty. And no, you don't look like a idiot or noob, it's OK

Smelled magic smoke? Ohh no! Ask him to clarify, does it smell like smoke, or electric/ozone? Do you see any burned or blown traces near the BIOS chips?