Hello,

Computer was updated in several steps (incrementing BIOS revisions) to the newest BIOS FBKTDEA from Lenovo website, then bricked by flashing firmware of embedded controller to FBCT32A.bin from the same package. Computer was put back to life by programming firmware externally to U107 Macronix MX25L8006E (desoldered, programmed, soldered back) with FBCT13A.BIN from this forum.

I tested as well FBCT29A.bin from BIOS FBKT74A package, but it doesn't work either.

Current state of the machine:

BIOS Revision Level: FBKTDEAUS
Boot Block Revision Level: FBDEA
Embedded Controller Version: FBCT13A

ME Firmware Version: N/A

I unlocked flash descriptor with pinmod, dumped the flash with "fptw64.exe -d spi.bin".

Flash Programming Tool with -i option shows:


MEInfo shows:


MEManuf shows:


ME Analyzer shows:


I wanted to clean dumped binary according to the guide on this Forum, I selected:

Intel ME System Tools v9.1 r7
Intel ME 9.0 Firmware Repository Pack r11 / 9.0.20.1447_5MB_PRD_RGN.bin

When I try to drag&drop my dumped spi.bin to Flash Image Tool I get "MFS INIT ERROR!":


fitc.log contains:

Decomposing data...
ERROR: An unknown exception occurred while decomposing the image file!
Please make sure you are decomposing a valid flash image file.

So I cannot go further. Could you help me with it?

Later I would like to update ME to the newest version available (9.1.45.3000) from Lenovo website.

As current ME is corrupted, it is not possible to update it with FWUpdLcl64.exe from the package above. Is there a method to flash it directly (as this package is from Lenovo and prepared for M83)?

(as a new user I cannot post links for now)

Best Regards,
Przemek

I need few more posts to be able to paste external links here (Forum rules) and I cannot attach binaries here directly.

This is what ME Analyzer shows (new Lenovo firmware):


FIT shows:


File ME9.1_5M_Production.map from FIT is:

Start (hex) End (hex) Length (hex) Area Name
----------- --------- ------------ ---------
00000000 008D1FFF 008D2000 Flash Image

00000000 008D1FFF 008D2000 ME Region

So if I understand correctly it should be everything what I need.

So far no luck with finding the dump online.

Regarding my dump, UEFITool shows that indeed file system is corrupted - FPT partition table header checksum is invalid:

For now I found only incomplete dumps - for 8MB chip only.

First one:



https://forum.laboneinside.com/viewtopic.php?t=2426

Second:



http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=45590757181203499492

When I try to open them in Flash Image Tool I get this error as these files are incomplete:



I'm worried that they are not complete enough for my needs.

Zitat von Przemek im Beitrag #7

---

For now I found only incomplete dumps - for 8MB chip only.

---

I generated cleaned file with ME region from 'Lenovo ThinkCentre M83.BIN' with my dump according to your suggestions and Cleanup Guide yesterday, but till now I'm struggling to flash it back.

I get 'Error 280 Failed to disable write protection for the BIOS space!':



I tried to follow this guide, but I cannot find setup module in my BIOS (FBKTDEA) to continue further. I would like to program it without external programmer.

AptioV AFUWIN (link) recognizes correctly File ROM ID:



but it gives information that it's unable to flash and I should use Aptio4 software (link).

Aptio4 AFUWIN gives such screen:



so I'm reluctant to use this software.


Could you please help me to solve it?

It worked like a charm! Big thank you!

Now computer is at following state:

BIOS Revision Level: FBKTDEAUS
Boot Block Revision Level: FBDEA
Embedded Controller Version: FBCT13A
Microcode Revision: 00000028 (11/12/2019)
ME Firmware Version: 9.1.45.3000

Lenovo update tool works now as well:

https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/thinkcentre_drivers/9.1.45.3000.exe (flashed same version)

BIOS flashes without any problems too:

https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/thinkcentre_bios/fbjydeusa.exe (flashed same version)

I haven't lost any UUID or MAC address in the whole process of update/repair but (I'm not sure) I lost Windows license from UEFI. I didn't pay attention whether it was there, but I have license sticker on the computer case.

Can you share the bios file that has been successfully installed ME firmware, sir?
I also use the same computer Lenovo M83 with same problem ME N/A ( sorry for my bad english )
Thank You

You don't want to flash a foreign bios, that would wipe your board specific information and in addition the bios region has additional write protections. And there's probably a flash descriptor that has to be unlocked, too. ([Guide] Unlock Intel Flash Descriptor Read/Write Access Permissions for SPI Servicing)

The links are still working which point to the dumps which were used for creating a cleaned ME region. All is described, you could as well do it yourself...

Unfortunately I don't have these files anymore. I deleted them after repairing my machine.

You can unlock flash descriptor with pinmod - short pin(1) SDATA-OUT to pin(5) DVDD on audio chip (ALC662) and turn on the machine. Then you will be able to dump the flash with "fptw64.exe -d spi.bin".

Follow instructions in this thread to create file for your computer. Please note I used 'Lenovo ThinkCentre M83.BIN' (links above) and not 'Lenovo ThinkCenter M83 is8xm rev 1.0.bin".