That would be quickest, and I assumed you'd rather play with actual settings you use more than waste time on testing things you don't use

Yes, EFI Shell is often used to make a BIOS change to a setting you can't see, or disable a BIOS setting locking you out from FPT write (Flash mod BIOS via FPT)

Dragon center disabled does not = dragon center uninstalled, and when you uninstall it, it leaves stuff behind too and that may be why you couldn't do anything when it's removed.
XTU is the only way dragon is changing CPU related stuff, it installs this during install - 6.4.0.5, you can find this version in the install folder you linked too, if you wanted to try it by itself (after uninstall of dragon).
Never mind, it wont install without MSI app installed, they coded it that way, but you can install it with dragon installed, and see if you have better luck using it by itself. I will see if I can find proper standalone one from Intel for your CPU

I see many people using this XTU (The latest one, I linked above) and your CPU, make sure you install as Admin and run as Admin. If it fails still, then something to do with Dragon being installed still probably
If stuff is displayed wrong, maybe some were using an older version and didn't mention, you can get V3 here - https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/int...u-download.html and a different v3 here - https://www.techspot.com/drivers/driver/...ormation/15671/
Others I'd have to hunt down one by one, since Intel is hiding them now

Here is a v6 standalone direct from MSI, little older than the latest one I linked you from Intel - http://download.msi.com/uti_exe/mb/extre...g_6.5.1.330.zip

See reply by unclewebb here for info about your CPU and the multipliers etc
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/...tlestop.802282/

* Edit - Here is maybe final BIOS, at least for now? Back to base of dupes removed, and put exit page back to OG
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...264467187523285

Never a waste of time to learn from you and see your work, even for things I will never use. But in this case, I really doubt I will use any of the stuff mentioned in the save tab so I do not think you should bother with it anymore - if you feel restoring the default tab is necessary I will flash again, but so far everything works great with the exception of certain settings in the save tab, and I am fine if you do not want to make any further changes, I think I am already overstaying my welcome with this incredible modded BIOS you have provided me with!

Sure dragon center disabled does not = dragon center uninstalled, however it does have an option to confine in accordance to Windows's battery settings, judging from my past tests, dragon center does respect whatever options you have set in Windows (and follows Intel's specs for performance). It could however, not respect Windows/BIOS settings 100% under this setting, but this is something that requires time to investigate. Currently, I enabled SpeedShift technology in the BIOS, something that was disabled by default in it, and it is also something that needs to be disabled for Dragon Center's profiles to work. SpeedShift actually does on its own what Dragon Center is trying to do with it disabled, benchmarks score the same (1-2 points variance in benefit to Dragon Center's profiles), so I will test performance on it as well because I did notice slight office performance burst, but it could be placebo at this point.

So in order to properly run tests I will need to uninstall dragon center and test the XTUs from newer to older. In reality, if dragon center creates some hard hardware lock between its software and the BIOS, ideally I should fresh install and try XTU there without ever installing dragon center before it. Regardless, reading unclewebb's post in the ThrottleStop thread, I think me trying ThrottleStop first would be best, they have a deeper understanding on the subject that I will ever have and I see my CPU being discussed as well. I will experiment on it too.

All these are very helpful guidance because although I never needed any of these tools on desktops, I was struggling with the laptop. To be honest, there is a significant number of BIOS settings you have unlocked, a number of them are completely new to me, so maybe there are solutions, but such a thing would take time.

Thanks again!

EDIT: Just saw the BIOS, will test now!

Well the BIOS is there if you want, or you can leave as you have it now, whichever is best for you. I know some that would drive crazy, seeing settings and then them not working directly, that's why I made you the back to OG exit (and you didn't need anything there anyway, so more reason to put back to OG)

No, I make BIOS like that for people all day long here, so you're more than welcome to stick around, test, tinker, discuss etc. Feel free to even make more threads for your other systems around the house and I'll unlock their BIOS for you too

I noticed that, on install, and or uninstall from programs/control panel, all that is installed individually the dragon center, the battery thing, the help center etc.
Yes, throttlestop should be able to help you control much of this too, I'd uninstall dragon before testing that. It shows you what's enabled/disabled in the BIOS too as far and throttle stuff, so if something is not working like you expect that usually can help you see what is enabled/disabled that you need to change.
I think the main struggle here is the new CPU's and how Turbo works these days, vs the older days with more simple turbo and or before turbo. Then overclocking was much more than same on destkop as laptop too, once you could access full BIOS on laptop that is

You're welcome!

Flashed it and it works great, everything is great. As a report, and only a report, vt-d is still there, but that is good because I was meaning to tell you to maybe leave the dupe as is because it helps me not forget to disable it when I reset the BIOS settings, since it is located on another sub-setting instead of the CPU.

Personally, I only struggled first time a bit with when the Haswell CPUs came out, but in general, I have no problems with the desktops, only laptops give me the chills!

Thanks for all your work again man, I know I become repetitive with my thanks, but I feel I am obliged to; I already said what I had to say some posts before, but thanks again for your amazing work, saving my laptop, giving the old girl a new life, taking your time informing me and sharing your knowledge!

Thanks, good to hear! Vt-d, yes, I left this time, because you said not to worry. Ideally I'd remove, but unsure which is more convenient to leave in place.
You're welcome, and it's OK to keep saying, I appreciate hearing it no matter how many times! Happy you are now able to get more enjoyment and have more control over your laptops performance!