Acer MXM BIOS Mods and discussion (was: x920G vs. 9600M GT)

1.0.0.4 needs XP compatibility mode when running on Windows 7, according to my limited testing.
Also, you should plug in your flash drive and probably format it to FAT (maybe FAT32?) BEFORE running Wincris. (For me, it works perfectly this way.)

Only Wincris v1.0.0.4 can be used for creating USB crisis disks - older Wincris versions and DOS Crisdisk only support floppies.

EDIT: I've prepared a crisis disk image for you. You can download it @ http://ifile.it/2d0cz8n/crisdisk.img.
Write it to an USB flash drive using dd, WinHex, or your favorite tool of choice.

 

Yes, you really need an external floppy drive! It's easier than the USB Flash Drive method... trust me!
I have recovered an Aspire 1650 a.k.a the bane of my existence from a bad BIOS flash using CRISIS Recovery disk, and it worked.
The most difficult part is where you have to find the keystroke! I spent a day for it !!

I think I'll be in your situation sooner. I will try that v2 BIOS on my 5920G with ATi HD4670 (that has problem like fan not spinning, system not recognizing graphic card temp, BSOD 0x00000124 etc....)
It's since I have installed this card that I have problems. A few months ago, with my 8600M GT (now dead with a bad VBIOS flash and a bad reflow of the BGA) no problems!

 

EDIT: There is something I remember from the flash. (About 80% sure remember.)
1. The first SBIOS modded flash I'm sure made 16 operations.
2. The second flash that went wrong made 24, I seem to remember thinking.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I think this is what happened.
Is it possible you uploaded a 6/8920 BIOS to the 5920 link. I may have downloaded and flashed the wrong type, but I double checked which link I used.
Edit: (put in after iJo09's following post) I think the 8920 flash made 24 operations.

@ iJo09,
Thanks, I'll need to get a drive on eBay asap. I'll try NetRolller 3D's prepared download for USB now.
I would have replied to your first post but I left it for NetRolller. That's the person who wrote the modifications and knows what is there. However I doubt the new SBIOS's will change your system the way you want. The HD 4670 I thought was plug and play.
You are right about finding the keys to use. You try every option.
Also I am deeply worried about the constant removing and replacing the power DC, hoping the socket won't give out. (For everyday use I leave the jack in and switch off at the mains.)
For flashing, I've opted for switching off at the mains, then power button on to dischage anything in the adaptor. Switch off the mains. THEN start the flashing. Maybe that doesn't help though.

There are threads on Notebookreview for HD cards. You might glean your info if you read through. I'd attach the links but I can't access my favourites, that were on the 5920. (Basically by accident I've started a format on the 5920 HDD attached to this laptop, instead of prepping the USB flash.)

 

IMHO that happened because the second modded SBIOS have different code also in other blocks of the BIOS

OK guys I have flashed new and old modded BIOS on my 5920G with ATi HD4670 MXM 2.1 and none of the two works!
After the successful BIOS flash, system reboots but it does nothing, only fan and HDD goes on!
To recovery the BIOS I used this : CRISIS DISK - Phlash16_v1.7.0.18_DiffSize.rar

It only needs a floppy drive and a floppy disk!
Simply run Wincris.exe to format and create the bootable CRISIS disk, then overwrite bios.wph with your BIOS file!

The keystroke for 5920G is Fn+Esc

I suggest you to remove the battery and plug in only AC Power
Then you can press Fn+Esc and the Power Button!
After that, you have to wait the reboot. Don't touch anything! Only press the dx touchpad button and/or the Enter key if after ~6-7 minutes the machine don't reboot itself!

@u6b36ef : BTW all my BIOS flashes were started from block 8 to block 24

I want only upgrade the MXM Structure to v2.1 without seeing that black screen/freeze again...can anyone help me?

 

@iJo09: If you are having problems with the OLD version of the 5920 BIOS too, then you are probably using a broken flasher tool.

Have you tried using the crisis disk for flashing the modded VBIOS? (Because we know the crisis disk flashes correctly.) You can also use my new (second) crisis disk image for this, later in this post.

@both of you: I've made a new version of the USB image with the 1.7.0.18 Phlash16; you can get it @ request download ticket | ifile.it. This contains the first MXM-fixed BIOS for the 5920G, the one that was confirmed to work by u6b36ef. It can be written to a floppy or a USB flash drive; recovery procedure is the same for both drive types.

 

@ iJo09,
This is good news for me. I have to get a floppy drive and a disc. Thankyou so much for the correct method, with the invaluable keys to press!

I had found that Fn+Esc was the only combination that initiates any response from 5920. The power light and the power button led (circle) flash. (It makes the USB drive lights work too.)

I just can not get the potentially working 1.0.0.4 (USB friendly) WINCRIS to see the usb drive to flash to. It allways says "there is no removable device in the system. Please plug one in and try again."

@ .NetRolller 3D,
I tried downloading WinHex from various places. All crashed while installing. I had to use task manager to close down their unresponding. I can't figure out what dd is. The crisis 'image' I could not understand what I was to do with it really. Only really because I had nothing to 'write the image to disc with'. As such, I don't know the method for writing this type of files to a drive. Therefor where you said use whichever tool is my choice - I was lost. *I'm going to try the image inject function. *

Never mind. I can keep pursuing this route until a floppy arrives. (Not ordered one yet.) It would be more satisfying to get the USB method to work. (Beating the need to buy a new drive.) This feels like I am one step away from a succesful repair. It's better than bungling from one failed attempt to another, after using one method after another.

 

@.NetRoller 3D : Tomorrow i'll try to flash the two modded BIOS with Crisis Disk!
Now it's 11.05pm in Italy...it's time to go to bed!

 

@u6b36ef:I found the right tool for you: https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer/+download

Use this to write the image to an USB drive.

 

I thought I figured out how to do if from inside WinImage.
Select the USB drive from the Disc menu.
'Image' menu, 'Extract', Browse to the removable drive, tick 'extract with pathname', OK. These are some instructions I folllowed but there was no flash.

I keep hitting the same problem with all the image writing software. When I go looking for an image to write, I get lost. The 'crisdisc' download has three files inside, all which make up the image I guess. Getting at them with the writing software is giving me a headache.
Plus the writing software is asking for only one file image. Neither can any of the image writers see the 'crisdisc' file I downloaded. They all can only see folders.

EDIT: I have managed to get the Win32 Disc Imager to see the downloaded file. Trying a flash now. Will add info to this post if it works.
RE-EDIT: No luck, no flash. Can you explain something though. In the download of the image, the bios.wph is 0.626MB, whereas the original BIOS file was 1.078MB.
2nd RE-EDIT: The WinCris that you had in a link for download is showing up as V1.6.9.5 in PHLASH16.EXE. CRISISDISK.BAT is looking for an A drive. Goodness knows how you managed to make an image from it, but that's why it can't see the USB drive here.
That's a pic of my 9600M GT you have in your profile at the side.

 

[off]It is the MSI GX620 card. Rev. A1, 512M GDDR3.[/off]

EDIT: I used the "Compress BIOS image" option to make bios.wph smaller, fitting a floppy disk.

 

I've uploaded a new CRISDISK.IMG again: request download ticket | ifile.it

Hopefully this one will work.
Also, if you install a non-picky MXM card (one that works in a 5520G, like a 8600M GT), it will probably be able to display the recovery progress on screen (thanks to VGABIOS.EXE).

 

OMG I'M SHOCKED!!! I broken my 5920G with CRISIS Disks!!
I started the CRISIS recovery and after 15 minutes it don't rebooted itself I disconnected the AC cable...boom! Now it won't power up anymore! help meeee!!

I'm really shocked!! What can I do now?

 

Try re-doing the crisis procedure with the disk that did work.

Also, by any chance, aren't you trying to boot with a 9600M GT after flashing an unmodded BIOS via crisis disk? That obviously won't work.

 

The problem is that the computer won't power up anymore! If I press the power button it doesn't turn on!
At least before it was broken the HDD and the fan turned on! Now the computer won't turn on either!

 

@ NetRolller 3D
I don't know what the new crisis disc image is for because it has a VGA bios in it aswell. Presumably just remove that VBIOS to make just an SBIOS flash. I'm ordering a floppy drive today though.

@ iJo09,
Tragic news. Is your AC adapter OK. Does if make the blue line by the power switch light up. If you check the output of the adaptor and it's 19V I'm worried for us both. (Use a voltmeter and touch one probe to the outer part of your laptop charger DC jack plug. Use a piece of wire bare at both ends and put one end inside the laptop charger DC pin. Put the the second probe across the other end of the wire.)

There is a process to try if you laptop charger is ok. Unplug the power + battery, and hold the power button in for a minute. That will discharge anything in the starter circuit that is preventing a start. Failing that technique, I don't know what to suggest.

Which recovery did you use; was it your floppy drive and WinCris version that has worked before? Or various other versions of Crisis Discs from the internet, or NetRollers image. (You said you would try NetRoller's.)

 

Yeah I was going to try NetRoller's image but first I wanted to try to flash the Old modded BIOS with my CRISIS disk.
BTW the laptop charger and the battery Are OK
So now my lappy is dead and I think the solution is to buy a new BIOS chip on eBay pre-programmed with v1.3813 BIOS and desolder/resolder the chip on Motherboard...

 

*You recovered twice before using the normal floppy recovery didn't you?

I am considering I might have to buy a BIOS chip. It looks one small chip though, and thus real scared of the soldering part, (even though I'm fully IEEE accredited/eligable.)

REF YOUR PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS: System not recognising graphic card temp - isn't temperature measured by the drivers. Fan not spinning is probably related to the temp not measured. Fan probably only responding to CPU needs. Google the BSOD code you get. (Allways respond to an error message with an internet search.)

I'll repeat this following info if you missed it.
"There is a process to try if you laptop charger is ok. Unplug the power + battery, and hold the laptop power button in for a minute. That will discharge anything in the starter circuit that is preventing a start."

However the problem seems more deepseated with your laptop.

I'm really puzzled as to why the 1st modded SBIOS failed for you. I had it going happy with a 9600M GT, and 9500M GS, and niether worked before. Another user had it going and had a 9600M GS and a Quadro which before would not run.

It's a bad day. I'm going to press BUY IT NOW for a floppy any minute now, and keep my fingers crossed.

EDIT: There is this.
http://support.acer-euro.com/documents/reports/bootblock.html
You will have to google for the proceedure. I read you will need a voltmeter to find out which pins are which on the BIOS chip. (I think this might need power.)

 

A quick post to say I have just bought a new BIOS chip on eBay!
It comes from Netherlands... Fingers crossed!

 

iJo09: Please check if the following makes your 5920G power on:
1. Remove battery and AC adapter.
2. Press and hold the Power button for 30 seconds, then release it.
3. Plug in your USB floppy drive, and insert a working crisis disk.
4. Press and hold Fn+Esc.
5. Plug in the AC adapter.
6. Still holding Fn+Esc, press and hold the power button for 2 seconds.
7. Release Fn+Esc.

(Note: This is essentially the Aspire 5720G recovery procedure, but with a Phoenix crisis floppy in place of InsydeH2O's recovery CD.)

EDIT: Did you simply replace the stock BIOS image on your crisis disk with mine? Bad idea; apparently you must re-generate the entire crisis disk to change the image. (The order in which the files are written to the disk matters a lot.)

@u6b36ef: The VGABIOS.EXE file I added to my last crisis image is a program that attempts to execute the MXM card's VGA BIOS, to enable visual feedback about the recovery procedure. It is not itself a VGA BIOS.
However, it does not supply an MXM structure for the card (at least not until I mod it to do so ), so you need a card that boots in the 5520G or another machine without an MXM structure.

 

I don't know how I can use info for a 5520. I have the 5920(?).
Like I said I put the 8600M GT back in first thing after the flash that caused failure.
There's no point me trying to flash if the image you have made has a 5520 bios.wph. The VGABIOS.EXE sounds good.

I tried all day again to make a USB flash. I made it an A drive, dos-bootable, and created my own recovery image by initaiting the recovery file writing in DOS.
-Crisdisc on it's own methods, it did everything, said it made the bootable proceedure, then returned a disc read error.
-(CRISISDISC in Windows still refused on grounds of no A drive, from the usual shortcut exe.)
I concluded the problem was the USB drive only appeared as an A drive in the laptop it was made into an A drive on. Basically I put it in another machine and it appeared as removable f drive.

I've given up and ordered a floppy drive and disc from eBay.

I'm inclined to agree that iJo09's got a hardware glitch. I've not read of BIOS stunting power. As far as i know pressing the power button fires up the BIOS to check all hardware is present and working. Then it loads the operating system.

 

@u6b36ef: I think you misunderstood. The WPH in my BIOS image is for the 5920G, not the 5520G.
I used 5520 as an example of a notebook without an MXM structure - I could have said 9920 or 4520 as well. What I meant to say is that if you have a card that is known to work in an 5520G, 4520G, 9920G or any other MXM-structureless notebook, then you will be able to use that card in your 5920G to display the recovery progress.

 

Reflect,
I think that the primary function of the BIOS ( BASIC Input Output System) is to set up the hardware and load and start an operating system. When the PC starts up, the first job for the BIOS is to initialize and identify system devices such as the RAM, CPU, video display card, keyboard and mouse, hard disk drive, optical disc drive and other hardware.
So, if the BIOS is corrupt, the most important System devices can't work!
In the BIOS there is also the ACPI and so the table for the System Power Management (State S3,S2 etc....)
Also, when a BIOS is reprogramming, the voltages of it are altered.
So, if my laptop before the current was off it was reprogramming the BIOS, the tensions of it have not changed! (mmh....Now that I'm thinking....I have to throw away my Motherboard? Then I think that buying new PC [NOT Acer and NOT a notebook] is better than buying a new Motherboard)
And that's why my 5920G won't turn on anymore!

 

Sorry what do you mean? Your explanation is really really confusing!

And i see you are from Italy, i could sell you this 5920g which i have here. Only damaged plastic casing and perfectly working motherboard (with the mxm fix bios). Could sell the display if you want it.

 

iJo09: Does your machine still fail to power on even if you follow the steps I provided?

(From my own experience, the 5720G also fails to power on at all with a corrupted BIOS; and even the charging lights break after a bad flash. However, holding Fn+Esc while plugging in the AC will bypass most of the BIOS, allowing the fan to spin up and the recovery process to commence.)

 

@FragZero: I will probably buy your 5920G if mine, after the BIOS chip replace, don't work

@.NetRoller 3D: yes, my machine still fails to power on even if I follow your steps!
And yeah, also my 5920G doesn't display the battery charge state anymore!

 

@ .NetRoller 3D,
I see what you mean now. Yes I remember you mentioning how the MXM structure is for the 9920 and others at the beginning of this thread. (Also some info earlier in this thread, and over here, http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/475196-9920g-gpu-options-10.html). However though I don't know if it would be visible because the 9920 8600M GT in the 5920 image is a mess. If you look on the 9920 GPU Options link and go back a page there's a lengthy post of mine. It says how the 5920 and 9920 cards won't interchange. Maybe though they will display at the level you're intending though, i.e. pre-SBIOS: loading SBIOS.

I could pluck the 8600M GT from the 9920, but I think I prefer to leave it. It's tricky to remove and re-fit. The 8920 is the worst though. The MXM III card pops in and then the heatsink fits over the top. The MXM II cards need brackets fitted which the heatsink clamps to. They make fitting very awkward.

@ iJo09,
Yeah you're most likely right. Your catastrophe happened right at the time of flashing. I'd just not read of it before. Your chip should arrive soon. (It kind of looks like I am one step behind you since you did the FDD first.) I hope I don't need to follow with a replacement chip. I'm going to flash to the Acer website standard SBIOS first, for safety. Then I'll move to the modded SBIOS after then; and flashing in windows. That's how it worked for me before. Maybe I should include a screenshot if it all goes OK. (I have the 1st modded SBIOS file saved.)

Ref your 5920: I hoped at most it was just a discharge you needed in the start button. Then no more than maybe a new AC adapter: they can make the green LED on the charger 'light up', but be damaged and deliver a reduced voltage. (I.E. Not enough to power up the laptop with.)

I laid all my ideas out so there was no need to write what things had been tried backwards and forwards. You most likely knew of the things I said though. Anyway my ideas are there for others to follow. I am still de-stressed somewhat by your encouragement that the FDD flash will be OK, and the keystroke info.

 

hmm i seem to have produced a bad flash aswell
i do have a crysis disk,
and now it has been running for a couple of hours, but still no restart
it is reading the diskette,
tried several versions of wincris
allso with the vgabios so i can see the process, but it does not show anything, and reads the diskette forever

 

@raserdk: Did you try using CRISDISK.BAT in DOS? Apparently some BIOSes only accept disks prepared using CRISDISK.BAT, and not with WinCris.
Also, check you disk for sector defects - only a perfect disk can be used for crisis disk purposes (because bootblock cannot skip bad sectors).
And a question for you: exactly what BIOS file did you flash? I want to compare it with FragZero's (working) version.

@u6b36ef: You do not need a card DESIGNED for a 5520G or a 9920G; you only need one that WORKS in either of these (one that is known to work in a 5520G is probably a safer bet, as apparently 9920G has more issues than just the MXM structure). AFAIK the 8600M GT works in a 5520G, so it should also work for recovery on a 5920G.

(The reason why you need a card that works in a 5520G is that such a card is guaranteed to use safe defaults when faced with a lack of an MXM structure. This is important because when VGABIOS.EXE is called, the MXM interrupt handler is not yet loaded. Again, there is no "magic" behind the 5520G; it is merely an example of a machine without an MXM structure. Could have said Asus G60Jx as well.)

@FragZero: Can you upload the 5920G BIOS image that you used for your flash? Somehow we are getting a mysteriously high number of bad 5920G flashes nowadays - I fear the BIOS image on ifile.it somehow got corrupted.

 

i used the latest one, i downloaded it before the warning about producing bad flash

the previous bios worked just fine

i never thought about the diskette but i have tested them now,
it has zero bad sectors, tried 2 diskettes one with wincris
and one with crisdisk.bat,
but it just keeps reading,
i let be for about 5 hours and still reading the diskette

 

Guys, the GPU in my 8920G just died and decided to try replace it with a 9600M (DDR3 512mb, A1 revision - couldn't find a C1). From u6b36ef's post ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/ace...-vs-geforce-9600m-gt-issue-9.html#post7543809) it seems I can use the modded BIOS to make the card work with the internal display. Could either u6b36ef or someone else please confirm that the BIOS u6b36ef refers to is the one linked in the first post? Thanks

Also I see references to CRISIS and various methods of flashing. For reference I'll be flashing from the standard 1.16 Acer BIOS. If there is a particular set of instructions I should follow, I'd much appreciate if you guys could help me point to the right directions.

I'll make sure to report back on any issues (hopefully none )

 

@raserdk: Which BIOS did you write on your recovery disk?

@ugly_bear: Use the same flashing method as you would use with any other BIOS on your machine. The crisis talk is because I posted a broken BIOS a few days ago (that I took down since then), which bricked some people's laptops. Only the 5920G was affected, however.

 

I'll try later today, the laptop isn't here atm.

 

i have tried a couple of originals from acers website, the oldest called
ZD13508

one in the middle called
ZD13808

and the latest from acers website
ZD13813

edit: i did order a new bios, cheap really, so maybe ill be able to do a hotflash when i have solderd the old bios off, IF I CAN SOLDER IT OFF
edit2: dont worry i dont blame you and keep up the good work,
edit3: hmm now my laptop does the same as iJo09
doing the crisys thingy again with v1 of your bios the one that worked,
the laptop read the diskette, and then it stops, allso it stops the blinking on the power butten, it kind of froze
i left i like that for 30 min, and i took out the power cable, because it did not respond to pushing the power butten, and now it does as iJo09 no response to anything,
im going to have a lot of fun with this

 

@ iJo09 and rasredk,

This is all grave news.

- From what I can determine iJo09 has recovered twice from flashes of both .NetRollers 3D's 5920 BIOS's. I think iJo09's said that both attempts were made using WinCris which caused bad SBIOS and boot failure. Recovery was using WinCris and the Acer website SBIOS. Using Wincris, and adding the modded SBIOS however for the third time didn't work, and system power failed.
- Raserdk I think I understand every attempt at a flash has resulted in system not booting and then system power failure. Again using Wincris - floppy flash.

I have not flashed yet as the floppy drive I purchased on eBay has not arrived. I had only intended to use Wincris and make an Acer website version unmodded flash, to recover. (Then move to the modded BIOS as I had done before, when I used the flash in windows and all was good.)

Generally, it seems this is a more than normal very risky proceedure. Maybe I might be better making an SBIOS chip order instead of flashing, as I still have power. (Though iJo09 had made good recoveries, and it makes sense flashing is the obvious route.) No one knows until either of you change the BIOS chip, if it will effect a repair in your cases. From what iJo09 has said the chip change should work.

I've been looking for info from Phoenix about the SBIOS. (Why they do not issue a download of one-step repair is unbelievable.) I found nothing of use so far.

- Elsewhere there are some pages about the BIOS and what it does at boot-up. These may be of some interest or use, without having direct repair info.
This page has a section; Phoenix BIOS Post Procedures:
Phoenix BIOS Post Codes - BIOS Central

Beep codes:
Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes - BIOS Central

Computer hope website:
Computer BIOS help, support, and information.
Additional information and help with BIOS updates

The Phoenix website has nothing of any use (that I can see):
Phoenix Technologies - Home - Phoenix Technologies Ltd

Also Wikipedia on ACPI that you mention iJo09:
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There's a table in there that mentions the S2 S3 states, you quoted. If S2 is down which is mentioned as 'CPU power off' then that may be your power on failure. (CPU would need to be active to wake from a sleep state I guess.) A dead CPU I believes is a symptom like your 5920 now. Nothing starting. Though clearly I am not suggesting your CPU's have gone down; only the assumption that power managment has failed for them.

I am confused though as to where the ACPI is based. IJo09 you mentioned it's in the BIOS, yet it appears Wikipedia is suggesting it has moved to the op system. Again please forgive me if I have misunderstood.

Since iJo09's made recovery I was hoping to find the version of Wincris that was used, that had Phlash16 1.7.0.18 version in it. The only copy of Wincris I have managed to find has Phoenix Phlash Utility Version 1.3 build 47. Already then I'll be using an untested version, if I use it.

I think I'd be less worried using a Wincris disc I constructed my self, rather than use an image. I wonder at which point is best to add the bios.wph file you intend to flash to. Exactly how that is affected if you add a bios.wph file after the image is created, I don't know. Therefor I am going to add it to the WinCris files and then create the floppy.
(Also, I struggled making an image earlier, and worry about it, probably too much.)

@ .NetRolller 3D,

I got the point about the 5520G MXM-less SBIOS before. The point about the card ' designed' for the 9920 is straightforward, and I re-iterated it. Only a card designed for a 9920 works properly in a 9920. All other cards only partly work. I assumed that the MXM-less SBIOS for the 9920, has the same principle for the 5520, and the other card you mentioned.
Your last post mentioned that only the 5920G is affected. Actually no one had reported having tried your 2nd modded SBIOS for the 6/8920G's.

Also you need to add the 8920 is tested ok with 9600M GT to the opening page article. (Maybe a mention that the 5920 has hit performance level issues as yet.)
Thankyou for your help in trying to resolve this, of course. Unfortunately after the initial success this is a tragic set of results.

-------------
This is a link of successful Acer Phoenix flashes. It has the recovery process description and recovery software Phoenix Phlash Utility version 1.6.5.4 on it.
http://aspiregemstone.blogspot.com/2009/10/acer-phoenix-bios-emergency-recovery.html

 

@u6b36ef: Only the 5920G is affected, because it seems nobody ever downloaded my 2nd-gen BIOSes for the 6/8920G before I took them down for safekeeping. So, there should be no problems for 2nd-gen users.

Also, a suggestion: have you tried booting with the MXM card removed? If you can hear Windows boot up, then you may be able to blind-flash by removing the HDD (to force CD boot) and creating a DOS boot CD with Phlash16 and your BIOS on it.
(The reason why this may work is that the only changes between v1 and v2 of the 5920G BIOS are in the MXM structure & the MXM interrupt handler, which are bypassed if there is no MXM card installed.)

 

guys - i did use the V2 8920G bios.

 

@ .NetRolller 3D,

Yes, removing the MXM card was one of the earlier tactics I tried.
It behaved oddly when I did.

Normally the laptop boots, and the backlight illuminates when the Acer screen would normally be seen. Now all stays black for a while, then there is dimmer partial illumination. Then after more time there is more lighting up.

It might be worth a try with your new suggestion, again having had a rest from it for a day. The tricky part was getting WINCRIS to initiate. It says the removable A: drive is not present, and had to be executed in DOS. (I had been wondering about boot order and proirity. I kind of concluded maybe the recovery process will only take from the FDD.)

 

@u6b36ef: IIRC the recovery process can only read FAT12 partitions, possibly also FAT16; this is why a floppy is needed. However, an USB floppy is not special to the BIOS like a regular floppy drive would be - it is merely a removable USB mass storage device. It is possible that the HDD (or maybe anything not on USB) is skipped, though.

However, my suggestion is to avoid the (buggy) recovery process altogether, and instead use the regular boot sequence to boot into a DOS boot CD that is configured (via autoexec.bat) to flash back a working BIOS.

As for the HDD issue, I can recommend GetDataBack.
Also, you can still test if the system boots with the MXM card removed, by observing if it responds to pressing Caps Lock if powered on. Or, you may try plugging in the HDD from your 8920G (the 5920G and 8920G are similar enough HW-wise to allow a Windows installation for one machine boot on the other one; though recognition of the sound card may be a problem).

 

@u6b36ef: The recovery process only uses FAT12 disks (possibly also FAT16, but not FAT32 or NTFS). Also, it probably ignores anything that has a partition table (as opposed to having a single file system begin in sector 0 of the disk). It is not floppy-only, however - an USB floppy is just another removable USB storage device from a BIOS standpoint; only regular (legacy) floppy drives are special (by virtue of being Drive 0, and hardware-wise the easiest-to-access drive on PCs, for IBM-compatibility reasons).

Even without a HDD, you can still test if the laptop POSTs with the HDD removed; by observing if it reacts to Caps Lock. Also, you may try transplanting the HDD from your 8920G - the two are similar enough to allow a transplanted Windows installation to boot.

@mookill: I suspect that somehow my BIOS never actually got programmed into your machine's BIOS flash chip (perhaps due to using the wrong flasher tool), so I haven't counted you for this.
BTW, did you get the extra tweaking menu ("Workaround Control") show up in your BIOS setup after flashing my BIOS? If you didn't, then you are not actually running my BIOS.

EDIT: Apologies, I thought my previous post got lost.

 

@ .NetRolller 3D,
It's getting the files onto anything but a floppy that is the problem. If I click the WINCRIS icon, it reports please insert a floppy and press start. (It will not see a USB drive assigned to letter A.)

I used the DOS proceedure by clicking CRISDISC from inside the same Wincris folder. The DOS window opens. It asks for an A drive. With the USB drive re-assigned as A drive the proceedure executes. However no flash.

I could I suppose re-assign the DVD drive as A, and make a flash.

Thanks for the GetDataBack recommendation, I hope it's free. I pulled the HDD on USB out when I saw what was happening.

By the way, this autoexecute. thing that keeps being mentioned, I never see that. I think you have to show hidden folders.

A. In answer to your question, there is zero response to 'caps lock'.

 

@u6b36ef: Are you using WinCris v1.0.0.4 or later? For me, v1.0.0.4 accepts any removable drive that Win32 Image Writer can write to. v1.0.0.2, on the other hand, only accepts a floppy.

Also, if there is no Caps Lock response even with the MXM card removed - that means, it was not the MXM mod that broke the BIOS, but rather, the new method I used for reassembling the BIOS image.

 

I have managed to recover the 5920 back to the Acer website BIOS version 1.3813.

This recovery in this case is thanks to iJo09.
Please let me explain why.
I tried every option to get a recovery floppy disc created with many versions of Wincris to recover the BIOS. None worked, and I was questioning the technique I was using to make the recovery disc. I was thinking, should 'quick format' option be chosen, or 'make bootable MS-DOS' be the option to choose. Other things I wondered, like should I be adding the required BIOS file right from the start.

I tried to get iJo09's recovery Wincris version to run but it would not. I receieved error messages: 'Failed to open SCM', and a driver fail message. Then I right clicked the Wincris icon and ran it as administrator, and it started and made the disc.
(Reference iJo09's post: 05-30-2011, 05:35 PM; see file CRISIS DISK - Phlash16_v1.7.0.18_DiffSize.rar )

When running the recovery disc on the 5920, the proceedure started identical to all my other failed attempts. The floppy accessed for one and a half minutes then stopped. Soon though, (with this iJo09's copy of Crisis Disc,) the floppy accessed again. Then very quickly the laptop had re-started and the old familiar BIOS boot screen was present.

I had no idea why all versions of Wincris I tried failed. After every attempt I had to manually shut down. All versions downloaded and extracted perfectly. The only hint I noticed was that in the file I downloaded from iJo09, there were two more files present. {Namely a file called Wincri64.sys, and one called Wincris.sys.} To compare for own reference, download and view contents of copies of wincris and iJo09's file.

Naturally I had to up rep power for iJo09, thankyou.

@ .NetRolller 3D,
Even more good luck. I put the 5920 HDD back in and it booted. I can't believe it, after I partially formatted it.

 

heey congrats on the recovery
i allso used Phlash16_v1.7.0.18_DiffSize.rar
but i did not get as far as u did unfortuntly

 

Guys - ran into my first issue: the stock 8920g heatsink is sized for MXM-III, but the 9600M GT is MXM-II, and some components on the replacement card don't allow the heatsink to fit (there would be zero contact between the GPU and the copper plate).

My question to those of you who put a 9600M GT into the 8920G (I think u6b36ef and mookill), how did you deal with the heatsink issue? I can only think of sawing it down (video card memory wouldn't be covered though, is that a big issue?) and drilling new holes for the screws.

Any alternatives? Also, any issues for trying to boot up without any heatsink on for now (just to test the card out and install the new BIOS)?

Finally, for NetRolller: you mention plugging in an external monitor via HDMI, but I assume DVI or standard D-SUB would work as well?

Thanks again everyone for answering all my questions.

 

@u6b36ef : Thanks a lot buddy! I'm glad that you have recovered your BIOS!
Excuse me if i'm not always on the forum, but now that I've "lost" my 5920G I'm only with an iPhone and an iPod Touch

News for my 5920G:
The BIOS chip and tools for a correct disassembling and soldering (example: No clean flux, ESD protection, solder wire....) haven't yet arrived! I'm waiting....

 

@u6b36ef: Great news! Now that you have a working recovery disk, can you test the following BIOS file: Removed because it turned out to be broken.? This is the V2 (MXM v2.1) BIOS, but rebuilt using the same method I used for V1 (apparently the new method triggers a bug in Phoenix BIOS Editor).

If it works, I will regenerate all V2 BIOSes using the same method as used for this one.

@ugly_bear: I say the best method is to use a cooler from a 6920G, or a 8920G that shipped with MXM-II graphics. Otherwise, the "usual" solution to such issues is a dremel.
As for the external display: D-Sub should work too. AFAIK there is no DVI port on any of the x920G-series notebooks.

 

edit: I went ahead and tried booting without the heatsink on, just to see if I can hear windows booting in the background - unfortunately it doesn't get there, the screen (backlight) flashes for a moment, and then no booting takes place. Not sure if this is an issue of no external display being plugged in, no heatsink (highly doubt it, as the chip barely heats up in such a short period), or something else.

The problem is, without the card booting into windows, I won't be able to flash NetRolller's bios, and I'll have to return the card to the seller. Any ideas?

 

my 8920G came with a 9500M which was an MXM 2.1 size card.

same size as the 9600GT i bought off ebay.

what did you get?

 

Same thing - 9600GT, which is MXM 2.1. I had a 9650 GS before, which is MXM 3 though, so my heatsink is not compatible with the new one. I'm afraid I might have to return it and just go with a 9650 gs again

edit: this is your heatsink setup, right? found this in another thread here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/gallery/uploads/158561/8920G_MXMII.jpg

 

@ugly_bear: If you are unable to boot with a 9600M GT attached, then my BIOS won't help - it only fixes the issue where no POST output is displayed (i.e. blank screen until Windows boots).