I am using a EEPROM BIOS USB Programmer CH341A black PCB, flashrom v0.9.9-r1954 on Linux 5.0.0-25-generic (x86_64) to reflash the bios.
I tried to modify this bios and I bricked the machine. I did back up the bios but after a reflash using flashom under ubuntu it still does not boot.

Here is a link to the original bios:
https://global-download.acer.com/GDFiles...C=ACER&SC=AAP_1

Here is the backed up file.


Thanks for any help!

@snakeman - Please clarify, what "Backup" is the attached file, after you bricked it? Where is your backup from before you did anything? That is the file needed here.

What is the BIOS chip ID? And, are you a Linux user? If not, why are you using Linux/Flashrom to do this? I can't help with any of that, but if you are a windows user I can help you with the general CH341A software if this is a software version read/write issue.

@Lost_N_BIOS The backup is a file that I backed up with the provided software from ACER. The Bios ID is "MX25L3206E". This is what I used to program it with; sudo flashrom --programmer ch341a_spi -c MX25L3206E/MX25L3208E -w bk_4630g.bin
[sudo] password for owner:
flashrom v0.9.9-r1954 on Linux 5.0.0-25-generic (x86_64)
flashrom is free software, get the source code at https://flashrom.org

Calibrating delay loop... OK.
Found Macronix flash chip "MX25L3206E/MX25L3208E" (4096 kB, SPI) on ch341a_spi.
Reading old flash chip contents... done.
Erasing and writing flash chip... Erase/write done.
Verifying flash... VERIFIED.

I used the windows software because i was having problem getting it recognized via windows software.

snakeman

It may be fine, or it may be due to flashrom, I'm not familiar enough with it to know what may cause it to error, what versions work best with what chips etc.
I would find the solution to the windows issue and use it, but that's just me. You probably need to find a compatible version for your chip is all, or use ASProgrammer instead, either one would get it done in windows.

Please clarify for me when you made the above backup file with Acer software? Was that made before you did anything else here? Before you tried to flash your MOD bios, after that, or before you tried to recover with flash programmer etc?
If you have backup from before you flash mod BIOS, please upload that. What did you modify, the stock BIOS from Acer, or a dump/backup?
And what is this Acer software? Is it something included in that stock BIOS package you linked, if yes OK I will check it.

That backup was made before any modifications were done. I was trying to unhide some features. I wanted to use onboard video with DGPU. I could not do it with stock bios. The file I uploaded is the true backup. Do yo need my nightmare file that I tried to mod, oh yeah and I was trying to add slic 2.5 for server stuff also.



snakeman

You usually cannot enable this graphic and disable that graphic, so if your SLIC edit was OK, BIOS is probably fine, you just have no display output due to nearly all laptops it's not possible to disable the iGPU
Or, could be due to how you programmed it? Yes, go ahead and upload your mod file too so I can see if I notice any obvious issue that could possibly have caused the bricking, also it would be best to compare this and your backup too since stock BIOS would not be similar to your backup.

I see what could be the issue, this is a split BIOS, you need to dump both chips, compile the BIOS, edit it, then split again. You may be able to edit just the BIOS and reprogram it, but sometimes that may cause a problem, so something to add to the list of possibilities here
So, make sure when you are programming that you are programming the correct chip! The 4MB one is the BIOS region (What you are editing), the 8MB one is FD/ME region. If you've mixed those up, you need to reprogram the 8MB one with the 8MB file in the ROM folder of stock BIOS package.

* Edit 2 @snakeman - looking over your edit in general, this is all wrong For starters, you can't set blank named items to user (What are you doing there, do you need extra blank or spaces ), and you can't set anything in the debug folder to use either.
In general, this BIOS is not setup for AMIBCP editing, I would advise no edits be made with AMIBCP. The structure and layout is all wrong in AMIBCP, settings do not correspond to option values etc.
Wow, what do you think all those blank ones are that you've set to User, and how did you come up with those ideas that xx blank = xx setting? Ohh! I see, did you compare AMITSE and Setup IFR's side by side?
If yes, good idea in general, but for this kind of edit it would need to be done manually (@AMITSE/SetupData) since AMIBCP is parsing the displayed data incorrectly from AMITSE instead of setup
Magic string at SetupPE32 looks to be in control of the main menu visibility, but I can't be sure until I see images of your BIOS, and maybe until you test 1-2 BIOS I send you

I assume this is the issue, any single edit with AMIBCP is going to break this BIOS, even if it is a setting that looks correct and actual option matches.

Please zip for me a single image of each of your main BIOS sections, so I can have a quick glance at each visible main page. No need to go into each individual submenu or anything like that.
Then tell me your overall goal.

I bricked my laptop's bios two times because of intel's enabllng disabling settings

@XPLAKE8175 - do you mean you tried to enable/disable graphics? If yes, that is normal, it's not bricked, just no display output. One byte in the BIOS needs corrected via programmer, to undue the setting change

This is a desktop computer or really small form factor (SFF)
https://www.acer.com/ac/en/CA/content/pr...el/DT.VLAAA.008

Just trying to enable intel igpu with dgpu the newer models had it enabled when shipped.


snakeman

With desktop, it should be possible, unless they have some gimped motherboard in there, or hybrid laptop board etc. Sorry, I just assumed this was a laptop

I see BIOS has SATA4 Support enabled, I wonder if that is SATA4 12Gb/s or simply means SATA ports 1-4 are enabled/disabled? How many SATA ports is there?

I assume you checked and confirm your CPU has internal graphics?
Internal graphics is on auto, so you want this changed to a hard enabled, correct?

One Of: Internal Graphics, VarStoreInfo (VarOffset/VarName): 0x316, VarStore: 0x1, QuestionId: 0x14D, Size: 1, Min: 0x0, Max 0x0, Step: 0x0 {05 A6 AD 06 AE 06 4D 01 01 00 16 03 10 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: Auto, Value (8 bit): 0x2 (default) {09 0E A2 06 30 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: Disabled, Value (8 bit): 0x0 {09 0E A5 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}
One Of Option: Enabled, Value (8 bit): 0x1 {09 0E A4 06 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00}


What do you want these set to? Please copy this back, bold and notate your desired changes

Away for awhile can we just unhide all the options for now. I need to get it booting again!.


snakeman

Did you see my comments at #6 about two BIOS chips on this board? If you flashed the correct one always, then your backup should restore the system to running state. Until you can do that with your backup nothing I do would help, there's nothing to edit/change in your backup since it was from running state
If you are not sure, and maybe reflashed the 8MB chip with 4MB BIOS, then you need to reprogram both. Let me know if you think this could be the case, if you are not 100% sure, dump both for me now with programmer, make sure you know which chip has what contents (name them as such too for me)
Then zip and send both to me.

I can only find one chip on the motherboard!
I'm putting the board aside for now, thanks guys. moving on to my Z370N wifi board. I will open a new topic

@Lost_N_BIOS I found the other chip and I have my new programmer!

Thanks,
snakeman

No need to leave it bricked, lets fix it Show me image of the motherboard, there is two BIOS chips for sure.

@Lost_N_BIOS I'm ready to get this brick going now. I found the other chip, like you said. What should I do now. I uploaded the files in the prior post.



snakeman