@Lost_N_BIOS - I've been trying to read the BIOS chips (2 x MX25L6473E - M-BIOS & B-BIOS) on my Gigabyte mobo GA-Z87-HD3, because it wouldn't boot.

I couldn't get the software to detect the chip (when you click the [Detect] button)
I was just about to give up on this CH341A Programmer & Software V:1.34, when I decided to have one last attempt.

First I cleaned the contacts on the test clip, and then the (B-BIOS) chip.
Then I clicked the [Detect] button, and the chip was detected, then I clicked the [READ] button, and it read OK.
Then I clicked the [SAVE] button, and saved it to a file.

So what do I do next?
Could you please advise, I've attached some images & the file, can you tell if the BIOS info in the file is OK?

NB: This website wouldn't let me upload my .bin file, it says it was bigger than 6KB (at: 8MB)
So I compressed as a .rar but it wouldn't accept that type of file either.
So you can find it here: http://www.mediafire.com/file/v6rxlqb55pvm2f3/read_1.bin/file

Hope you can help.
Many thanks

@macmac - For (Macronix aka MCIX) MX25L6473E Download this package - http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...695330485827902
Use - CH341A v1.31(1.4) (CH341AFree) - choose 8MB/64Mbit - then read, verify, and save once you get "Chip and buffer or main memory match"

You can also try MX25L6465E ID in 1.30, or 1.34 with exact ID

Or ASProgrammer 1.41 has the exact ID also if you want to use that instead - https://github.com/nofeletru/UsbAsp-flash/releases/

Anyway, above is for info or future dump purposes, your dump may be OK, let me check
Looks like you attached rar file OK

Looks like you already attempted programmed in stock BIOS, correct? Or, is this backup chip dump? Please dump main, or confirm you already attempted to program in stock, then I will get you fixed BIOS to program in tonight.
Please look at sticker on board near, or on LAN metal block, and give me your MAC ID

@Lost_N_BIOS - Thank you for you prompt attention.
This is all new to me, so I may not understand some of your terminology.

When I clicked on your 1st link, I get this error message:
'Vodafone Content Controls: Access blocked, You won’t be able to access this page because it’s been blocked by your content control settings.'

Q1: What is it for?

When I originally purchased & installed this Gigabyte GA-Z87-HD3 mobo,
its BIOS Version was: F4 / Dated: 16/05/13
Later, I downloaded & installed their latest (at that time) Firmware,
eg: BIOS Version: F7 / Dated: 20/01/14

The F7 BIOS was working OK until about a year ago, when the mobo would no longer boot.

My mobo has 2 BIOS chips (2 x MX25L6473E)
on the board they are labeled M-BIOS & B-BIOS

I don't know which is the master/backup and which the board normally runs from?
The bin file I sent you was from B-BIOS

Q2: Do I have to 'repair' both of them?

If the M & B stand for Main & Backup, then my bin file was from the BACKUP.
Q3: So do you need a bin file from the MAIN ?

Q4: Is this my mobo's MAC ID ?
This 12 digit number was on a label on-top of the LAN metal block: ************

Many thanks.

@Lost_N_BIOS - After checking further:
I think I also updated the BIOS again to: BIOS Version F8 / Dated: 08/12/14
So it was this F8 BIOS that was working OK until about a year ago, when the mobo would no longer boot.

@macmac - Sounds like you can't download what I linked, due to your ISP or company rules etc? So you need a mirror, correct? If yes, what file hosting sites can you download from, I will upload there instead.
Here, see if you can download package from here - https://ufile.io/8l3oejqj

M = Main BIOS, B = Backup BIOS - System runs from M-BIOS, unless recovering or reflashing backup then backup BIOS would be in use during either of those processes.
Since you dumped Backup that would explain what I see and answer my questions there You need to dump main chip and send to me. No, you should only need to fix Main, and then if you want I can tell you how to copy main to backup once you have main working properly.
That can be done with PS/2 keyboard and certain hot-key combo, or you can use programmer, up to you. Sometimes Qflash will offer to flash both, but if you don't see checkbox/option and it's not major BIOS Update or one with new Qflash in it, then backup will not be flashed.

Yes, that looks like it's probably MAC ID, you can edit it out now, I have saved in txt.

I'll get you updated to latest BIOS again (F8)

Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #5

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@macmac - Sounds like you can't download what I linked, due to your ISP or company rules etc? So you need a mirror, correct? If yes, what file hosting sites can you download from, I will upload there instead.
Here, see if you can download package from here - https://ufile.io/8l3oejqj

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Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #5

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@macmac - ...You need to dump main chip and send to me.

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@macmac - Odd that you can't download from tinyupload.com or uploadfiles.io - But, I know how it is, I can't download from Google or Mega.z often too.
Here is package uploaded to mediafire - https://www.mediafire.com/file/tt95sd0kn...A_Tools.7z/file

In your images, I see you did not use the information I gave you These are corrupted dumps, due to incorrect read and invalid size as well, sure there may be corruption from the bricked chip too but this is aside from what I see.
Please redo the dumps using 1.34 and the ID I mentioned. I do not need to see images, just dump it and send to me, and I do not need two dumps from same chip with same software (waste of time there)
Additionally, I would like a 2nd dump with this >> CH341A v1.31(1.4) (CH341AFree) - choose 8MB/64Mbit
And if you're bored, go ahead and make third dump with ASProgrammer 1.41 and exact ID too, that way I can compare them all.
Please zip/rar all three into single max compressed archive, thanks. You will have to upload to some file host site and send me link, will probably be too large to attach here even if you use 7zip and max compress

Best we know which ones read your chip OK, that way less chance it will fail when you do the write, otherwise it's not going to boot if you can't do a proper write to the chip.

Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #7

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@macmac - Here is package uploaded to mediafire - https://www.mediafire.com/file/tt95sd0kn...A_Tools.7z/file

In your images, I see you did not use the information I gave you These are corrupted dumps, due to incorrect read and invalid size as well, ... Please redo the dumps using...

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@macmac - Only for the MX25L6473E chip use what I mentioned. I do not want you to use 1.30 at all, unless you want to try adding in an additional copy for us to check, using the ID I mentioned
Use what I sent of 1.34, it may not be the same thing you have installed (especially since what I send is not install-able), people edit these often so sometimes different files out there with same version #

There is only one driver, install it from the package I've sent, the folder name means install this first then you're good to go
Yes, works in Win10

Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #9

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@macmac -

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@macmac - Re: CH341A v1.31(1.4) (CH341AFree) - 8MB/64Mbit = Expected << I mentioned to do that at post #2
This is the only valid dump you've sent = M-BIOS_V1_31.bin / taken with: CH341A v1.31(1.4) (CH341AFree) - So use this to write back

Here is fixed F8 BIOS with your original NVRAM in place M1, if this fails, then erase and write in M2 instead this same but with only stock NVRAM in place (so BIOS profiles will be gone)
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...436402412780150

Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #11

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@macmac - Re: CH341A v1.31(1.4) (CH341AFree) - 8MB/64Mbit = Expected << I mentioned to do that at post #2

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Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #11

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@macmac - Here is fixed F8 BIOS ...
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...436402412780150

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@macmac - Yes, I was just saying that I mentioned you would not be able to pick by ID at post #2
Very sorry about the upload to tinyup, I forgot!! Here is re-up to mediafire
https://www.mediafire.com/file/tv4ihxhf9...c-Fixed.7z/file

Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #13

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@macmac - ...Here is re-up to mediafire
https://www.mediafire.com/file/tv4ihxhf9...c-Fixed.7z/file

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@macmac - First, you need to do things little differently, no matter what version you are using.
Erase, then blank check, then open BIOS file and write/verify. This is the steps to do to write to chip, you do not need to read or erase then read anything, you already have made backups so that is waste of time and maybe messing you up
You can however, go ahead and read once I guess, if you feel you need to be sure it's connected properly? If you do that, I'd close program and re-open once you're sure contents looked like it's connected and able to read chip.

Use - CH341A v1.31(1.4) (CH341AFree) - choose 8MB/64Mbit - Then erase, then blank check, then open BIOS file and write/verify - This version and your chip ID confirmed to be 100% working in other threads

Or use MX25L6465E ID in 1.30
Or 1.34 with exact ID
These two versions (1.3/1.34) may fail for write, not 100% sure, so probably not ideal here ^^

Or ASProgrammer 1.41 has the exact ID also if you want to use that instead

ONLY do this on the MAIN BIOS Chip, backup chip we can do later via hotkey or it will auto-recover on first bootup