Wow - I like that !!

Hi All,
I am facing the following problem I don't know what else I can do. Long story short I stupidity used a Gemini X45 BIOS on my new Gemini J-45-A-8256JDOW64PRO and now it's bricked (doesn't boot at all) probably due to wrong BIOS. I already have a CH341A EEPROM programmer with a clip in order to flash the correct BIOS. I managed to find a BIOS file backup online but not sure if will work. My main issue is that whatever programmer software I used tried CH341 Programmer v.1.18, 1.29, 134, 1.38 and 1.40, also ASProgrammer 1.4.1, flashrom 1.21, Flashrom_GUI (my OS is Windows 10 v1909) , even Flashrom on Linux, I can't complete erase successfully and get the "Chip Main Memory Not Null" error. I have tried every possible solution found here in the forum but nothing worked. I am also a bit confused as some BIOS programmer software detect the EEPROM chip as Winbond W25Q64BV, others as W25Q64FW and others as W25Q64FV. The chip id is EF,60,17,16 which according to Winbond datasheets seems to correspond to W25Q64FV. I have even tried the heat shrink tube on pin 8 but problem persists.
I am thinking to buy some new W25Q64FV and try to flash them but since I am not 100% sure that this is the correct BIOS chip I would like a second opinion. Unfortunately the EEPROM chip ID is wiped out so can't be read.
So please any assistance regarding the matter will be highly appreciated.
Thank you very much in advance, take care and all the best.

@geoal1973 -Read off the ID on the chip, use magnifying glass and flashlight if you need to. You should have never erased or tried to write anything, until you made a backup and someone confirmed it was OK

If chip is W25Q64FV you need to use CH341A software 1.30 or 1.34 and W25Q64BV ID, or it may be OK with ASProgrammer 1.41 as well (not certain, only tested personally with 1.30 and 1.34 and the ID I mentioned is only one that works)
1.30 and 1.34 are in this package, I've dumped and written many W25Q64FV chips (use what I mentioned above) - http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...695330485827902

You do not need to buy another chip That would only be wasting your time soldering/desoldering.
Please link me to your stock BIOS download page for this system, so I can look at the stock BIOS contents. And, upload the file you plan to write too, thanks

Hi,
I highly appreciate your immediate response, unfortunately as I said on my initial post the bios chip details has been wiped out by the vendor so their no way to be sure what is the actual chip.
I have found a bios backup on a review site, the download link is below :
https://mega.nz/#!tbhlxSxS!P8tDr1gnrMBcW...p7Bgjc3zd0Wr6oc

Since you have much experience with this can you confirm that the chip id is EF,6017,16 is actually a W25Q64FV chip? I am afraid that if it's W25Q64FW chip then I need an 1.8V adapter and I don't have one...

@geoal1973
This looks like a W25Q64DW, which indeed requires 1.8V.

I checked again all 3 W25Q64FV , W25Q64FW and W25Q64DW datasheets and they have exactly the same IDs so not sure which is the one I have...

Update : In order to narrow things down I just checked the Vcc to GRD voltage supply on the motherboard and it's actually 1.8V (I measured 1.78V) so I guess we are dealing with W25Q64FW or W25Q64DW chips. So the million dollar question now is if the chip has been destroyed by supplying it with 3.3V all the time trying to recover it?

@geoal1973
If you have a black pcb CH341A it is highly possible that the flash chip was damaged.

yes I have the black pcb CH341A so I guess I should buy an 1.8V adapter try and if can't get it work then buy some W25Q64FW and W25Q64DW chips flash them and try which one will work on the motherboard?

@geoal1973 - Chip should be fine bud!! Get 1.8v adapter then you will be ready to re-program it. Sadly, it looks like all the cheap sellers on ebay don't list this alone right now, probably due to the coronavirus, hopefully you can find by itself for $2-3 somewhere!
If you will upload or link me to the stock BIOS download page, or re-upload that backup to tinyupload.com or uploadfiles.io then I can tell you what BIOS chips are compatible with that BIOS (I can't download at mega)
However, I assume BIOS chip will be fine, I've tested more than a few 1.8v chips with black programmer and no 1.8v adapter, and all fine afterwards

* Edit - Found a bunch, all using different titles now (search 1.8v adapter SPI on ebay and you fill find plenty under $5) here is cheapest
https://www.ebay.com/itm/193406941379

@Lost_N_BIOS: thank you very much for helping me honestly I didn't got any help from Beelink they just said out of warranty and that was it...
I really hope you are right and will get the ROM flashed using the 1.8V adapter. I already ordered one earlier but will take more than 2 week to arrive from China...

@geoal1973 - You're welcome! Can you please zip those two BIOS into a single zip or rar, and upload to tinyupload.com or uploadfiles.io - Thanks!

@Lost_N_BIOS: you can find the both BIOS files zipped in the following url: http://s000.tinyupload.com/?file_id=11358154542321475004

Hello,

i have winbond w25q256jw. I have tried to programm the chip with ch341a Programmer, but programm cannot find my chip. The same with the flashrom 1.2 posted here and Asprogrammer version also posted here. What can i do or try next? I did not found link online to download colibri. Has someone link so i can download the Programm?

Thanks in advance

@jobyx - 25Q128JV - works with 1.18 (read, not write) or ASProgrammer 1.40/1.41 (maybe OK)
25Q128JV - Colibri ver. 1.0.1.62 confirmed write OK
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...695330485827902

@geoal1973 - Sorry for the delay, I'm always buried here Thanks for new link.
I still need link to download your stock BIOS from the manufacturers site as well, or are those two BIOS all you have until you can dump?

W25W64 -
EF,60,17,16 = FV/DW in QPI mode
EF,40,17,16 = BV/CV/FV/DW in SPI mode (default)

Use 1.30 or 1.34 (and ID BV) or Asprogrammer and correct ID may be OK (not 100% sure, have not tested myself, only tested 1.30+1.34 confirming use of BV is only way write is correct)

Megaupload linked BIOS (Beelink J45 Bios back up AmericanMegatrendsInc.-0.08) is a corrupted BIOS region only dump! That should be used by NO ONE, for ANYTHING!
These are the compatible BIOS chips from the other BIOS in the package you uploaded (may or may not apply to what's currently in or on your board, and your current BIOS may support others as well, unless it's this same BIOS version)
1F4700 (Atmel AT25DF321)
EF6017 (Winbond W25Q64)
C86017 (GigaDevice GD25Lx64)
EF6018 (Winbond W25Q128)

@Lost_N_BIOS : thanks for the update, so if I understand correctly file "Beelink J45 Bios back up AmericanMegatrendsInc.-0.08" is corrupted. That's a 5 Mbyte rom file and I also wondered if was correct, anyway fortunately Beelink support finally provided me with the official BIOS link that you can download from address: http://s000.tinyupload.com/?file_id=89674178218159177357

Regarding the BIOS chip it is definitely a Winbond 1.8V chip so that's narrowing down the chip list to W25Q64DW, W25Q64FW and the newer W25Q64JW. Now according to my research W25Q64DW is the older 90nm version that has been replaced by W25Q64FW (58nm) back in 2013. The latest version is the W25Q64JW (58nm again) and is replacing W25Q64FW. According to Winbond documents all 3 chips have the same IDs and are compatible, since W25Q64JW is quite new (December 2019) and W25Q64DW is too old (2013) I think my BIOS chip is actually a W25Q64FW. I am still waiting the 1.8V adapter to arrive so until then I can't do much. I really appreciate your time and efforts helping me so please take your time and check the official BIOS and let me know of your findings. ( I am a bit confused with the contents of the zip file actually since there an 8Mbyte MPC29V006_GeminiJ45.rom file and a smaller EC_MPC29_V007.bin file.)