Hey Lost_N_BIOS,
Sorry if it seems that I don't respond for a while, my current time here is 06:24A 3-15-19. I should have been a little better prepared before I started messing with my board, could have avoided this.
Thank you very much for all your time and effort, I think I can get my board to "normal", if not I know how to get it back to workable state, and try again.
I guess it is true you learn by your mistakes, because I learned a bunch in a short time.

Note, I got that Pomona 5250 soic8 clamp, it is a super clip, but expensive.
If anyone has one of these I would advise not to use Lenovo flash from operating system, it is not very reliable. Bootable USB much better..
These boards have the restore jumper position, and you can usually get working with Lenovo bios CD iso.
These boards have ME_DIS jumper, which is very handy.

So Lost_N_BIOS , a huge THANK YOU!!, and have a nice weekend...

Bob

It's OK about slow replies, I'm often not here until late at night once a day, sometimes I have time in afternoon but usually not enough to get through ther 20+ new replies each day.

So you like the Pomona clip too, your the second person that's mentioned those to me. How much did it cost and why do you think it's better than the cheap ones, aside from not being cheaply made? When you answer that, forget yours broke/cable ripped off etc.

You're welcome, and if you need anymore help sorting this out let me know @boooooob

Hey Lost_N_BIOS,

Hope you are having a nice weekend. In the US, this was the cheapest I found, they have free overnight shipping no minimum right now, and take paypal.
If you look at the chip end of the clip, you will see they are open (you can see contacts from outside, also they have common pin spacing at top).
Once connected I think it would almost pull the chip off the board (if you pulled without releasing)
I buy lots of Low ESR, high temp. electrolytic capacitors from them to repair LCD monitor/motherboard power supply sections (they are cheaper then Mouser and Digi-key).

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/search...ona+5250&r=true

I wish I would have bought the programmers BEFORE I started my adventure.

I got the MAC/UUID, used hex editor(search hex/replace hex) and re-flashed both chips, (but on the verify of the 8MB chip with flashrom windows, it complained about something) will research it later..board posts and can access bios settings, has correct info., didn't change serial/type/model yet.

I did some more reading, [Guide] Unlock Intel Flash Descriptor Read/Write Access Permissions for SPI Servicing, got everything unlocked.
Lenovo still has some sort of lock on the bios section, not the desc. ( ME_DIS jumper doesn't help) , Lenovo has a program flash2.exe which allows change of serial/type/model. I think the only way to do any modified bios, is force feeding it by a CH341A programmer, and I think I need to flash both the 2MB and 8MB chips. I thought FPT would allow me to write the 10MB file, but always get bios cannot be unlocked message.
I am also curious with the parseFile: invalid data checksum 5Ah, should be AAh , if I correct it, if it will have negative effect, IMAGE9S.CAP file (newest bios, also shows same error)

Thank you

Bob

Free overnight shipping? So, to me that says it's half the price or more, and I'd rather pay cheapest shipping with cheapest price. But yes, $15 isn't too bad, I'll have to see how much that is on ebay
Looks well built, and easier to replace pins if needed.

I can unlock the lock you're hitting, I think You will have to flash in the mod unlocked BIOS once, and then always replace this unlocked module in any/all future BIOS you flash in (Same for FD unlock), but then you will be able to FPT flash entire BIOS anytime
What error are you seeing in FPT when you run into the lock when trying to flash via FPT? Flash Protected Range Register, or other similar 2xx error?
If yes ^^ since you like to go at things yourself, here is what to edit >>

PchInitDxe >> PE32 (Extract body with UEFITool, edit via hex, replace body)
000000000000123F: 74 >> EB
000000000000142B: 74 >> EB

On checksum issue with stock BIOS, usually you can correct and it's fine, select it in UEFITool and hit rebuild, or direct edit the entire file via hex and edit there.

Hey Lost_N_BIOS,

I just tried a fptw -f 10MB.bin on the board I have been getting working files from , and it went on without a problem.. will look at the other board later to see what is going on..strange.
I really don't now how Arrow is doing the free overnight thing, plus they (usually) have lower prices, (on things I buy anyway) must have cut a heck of a deal with FedEx, it is before 10:30A delivery next day.
I have searched eBay/Amazon/etc., going rate is about $18.50 once you add shipping.

Thanks to you, I know a lot more then when I started..

Thank you

Bob

@boooooob - Does it ship from close location to you, maybe they have warehouses everywhere so shipping on their end is always cheaper too.
Yes, I checked ebay just now, $16-18 with bundled standard gray cable, which is more ideal than ordering a bunch of unbundled Dupont cables. SO I guess that is an OK price, especially with the overnight no wait shipping

Yes, you'll have to see if maybe you made a mistake on the other board with FPT flash, or could just be locked differently. Show me image of the error if it persists and I can tell you how to unlock (as mentioned above if it's Protected Range Register lock)