Alienware 17 R5 (R1) BIOS Unlocked!

Dell A16 or unlocked A16?

What is the difference between unlocked A14 and the A16 anyway?

 

Both.

Difference is one has security flaws fixed though you lose some performance because of that.

 

If you could enlighten me I would be grateful...
Isn't that all about microcode?
Was that not set to v22 on A16+?
Are you saying that the way to go is A14+?

 

You would have to read the Readme or details provided for that information.

 

Well, my two cents is PUBG stopped lagging after I've upgraded to Update 6.
I didn't even change any settings in BIOS (or UEFI, or whatever you call it these days).

The only thing is I have 1070. So I had to swap the GPU for an older one to change the settings to fit a 1070 in BIOS.
In other words, if you have a ten series, go for 14+ (aka 17).
Otherwise, go for 16.

You can go for 16 like I did only if you have a spare GPU that's below 10XX.

 

Anecdotes are lovely.

 

Could be to several reasons of course
1) The difference between unlocked 16 and locked 16
2) The settings I had on stock 16 were throttling my rig
3) The unlocked bios has better optimal settings than the stock version of 16.

But yeah, it's true. I didn't know what it was causing some games to stutter on my Alienware. Turns out, it was some BIOS settings.

Oh, by the way. On page 2 there are some instructions on how to un-throttle your CPU. Well, they slowed down my system. I had to restore defaults

 

Well, all that talk and I'm on dell 17 bios now and that is the least of my problems

 

can't do it
get the
Error 75 fparts.txt not found when flashing

 

Does anybody have an idea whats wrong with this?

Error 75 fparts.txt not found

I cant make sense of very few google results.
One locked thread in this forum but apparently never fixed

 

Move it into a directory that can be found?

 

all the files are at root c:/

 

Is it correct that after flashing the custom bios I have to do the NVRESET? Can I send someone my bios backup to do a custom 1 for my ranger for a donation? (My 880m just died so I'm looking to upgrade to 980m off of ebay)

Also amirite in assuming that if install remek's A16 mod the 980m upgrade should be pretty much plug&play (the only thing is that the link in the original post is dead, would it be too much to ask of someone to reupload it)?

So again, if i flash remek's A16 do i need to do the NVRESET?

Also, me using windows 10 on the machine shouldn't be a problem, right?

Tnx!

 

When I try flashing my ranger with remek's A16+ I get the error message:

PDR Region does not exist.
GBE Region does not exist.

(Error 28: Protected Range Registers are currently set by BIOS, preventing flash access.
Please contact the target system BIOS vendor for an option to disable protected Range Registers).

Is there an easy fix for this without getting into emergency bios flashing?

Thanks!

 

hey where can i find the vbios svl7

 

here : https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/files/category/31-svl7-klem-vbios-mods/

 

Well, looks like I have finally done it!

I was pretty pissed off with the initial problems, getting that fparts.txt error
Looked and looked and there was no meaningful answer to what is it and how to get around it.
Also have some other issues and I was getting around opening a thread about it and thinking it was related...
Main reason why I wanted this unlocked sex was seeing SG/PEG option and since I have an 4930 mx waiting, I wanted to have access to those CPU options as well (again, I am opening a thread - issues=( )
Finally I read that when BIOS flashing apparently what might cause problems is you have to disable virtualization in BIOS prior to flashing?#"/!!???
Was that it?!
I do not know, I know only that it finally worked!

I also got error message like jaximus
PDR Region does not exist.
GBE Region does not exist
as in the picture but flash went through I guess since I have all those extra tabs right now

Also got some bsods after since you have to go to setup and bring back AHCI like it is said.

One other thing, the A16+ readme says:
+ Downgrade Intel Microcode from v25 to v22

Apparently mine was 25 and now its 27 !

Why didnt that work out?
Am I permanently screwed with not v22??

 

hold on.... new bios says microcode is 0000022!
The HWinfo on the other hand says uCU is 27.
One of them surely is wrong

 

Yes if you're a Windows 10 user it looks like Microsoft are now software loading microcodes via WindowsUpdates so its almost pointless having the highest performing one in your bios as OS will override every boot up.

Javers

 

You can write protect microcode in windows. As well also delete the one you got from Win Update.

 

Aah, so that's it
Now how do I write protect microcode?
I get into Registry editor and then to "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor"
There I can see folders 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7
each one of those has some 12 REGs
What do I do?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/the-throttlestop-guide.531329/page-1108#post-10995640

Or delete it...
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/the-throttlestop-guide.531329/page-1106#post-10994270


Delete mcupdate_GenuineIntel.dll the easy way... download and use TakeOwnershipEx

 

Thank you Papusan, that really is some quality help!

I would suggest this info be attached to the original readme since the microcode story without it is incomplete

 

Not sure what you mean, but the story behind the Microcode mess can be found in my thread...
BLACK LIST. Adjustable voltage control/turbo ratio limits are locked out due Win Update/Bios

 

What I ment was adding this info to the unlocked bios readme file

 

Thank you @IVHOTEP , @javers & brother @Papusan I updated the OP (#2 post) with this info, for the mandatory caution step for the Win10 users. Never realized that, I do not use that OS on my machine else would've definitely mentioned it as this is very important for Haswell users.

+rep

 

Got that Win10 feature update 2004, had to do microcode all over again

 

I would like to unlock my bios to operate my GTX 1060 in PEG.

Below is the process that brings me here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/need-help-m17x-r1-with-1060-upgrade.833162/page-2

So I followed the indicated procedure and I downloaded the two zip needed to unlock. Having Windows 10 I took version A17 + v1.3 for the mircocode 22 problem.

1/ Microcode Update
I understand that I must carry out certain operations before proceeding to the major of the bios, but I find it difficult to perceive if they are essential for my need or allow only more functionality. I don't particularly want to control the process tension at this point.

2/ Bios.bin
I can't find the bios.bin file to modify to register my ServiceTag.
I haven't seen anywhere where I could get it.

I thought about getting one somewhere on the net ... but everything leaves me to think that it is not a good idea ^^.

Thanks again in advance for your help ^^

 

Ok, I found what I think is the right file (bios-cpuid40661.bin) in another zip.

Inside there was the Hexa code CHANGE1 which I can replace with my TAG service.

The famous line:


So I renamed the file in bios.bin and put it at the root of my C:

I know that only a real act of time in the mouth of the lion will prove my value ... but I am not against a small confirmation before flashing my bios ^^
I'll give myself 24 hours to have this approval, if I manage to hold out until then ^^

 

End of the game...

my computer keep un full black screen and 8 beep. I’ve try external hdmi screen, no more beep but always the black screen.

That was pleasant to think that I could rescue my old Alienware, probably time to change now...

 

What happened?
Did it just gave up or you did something?
Was it after you tried bios flash?

I recently did this bios unlocked and then tried to set XMP1 memory profile and ended with no post and beeps (2 I think).
Did the NVRAM reset and it came back to life.

 

I had no error during procedur, all seams to be ok. No error prompt on consol when finished.
It’s when I reboot him than I lose control.

I’ve no access to diag, even if I use Fn, crtl+escap or other shortcut.

 

I've try this procedur to restore my bios :
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-17-r5-r1-ranger-emergency-recovery-bios.811870/

But I keep black screen and 8 beep

 

I went for the nvram reset first and, thank God, it worked
Though, it did not go as described...
When I slapped the ram module in, it booted normally right after, no 5 beeps, no powering off...it was just up and running.
I wanted to know if anybody else had that experience or does it mean anything.
Mind u, I have some strange behaviors here and as soon as I get some time I am opening a thread. Thinking of the way to present these issues to this community so as to be understandable so I can get some quality help

 

Hey all, I'm currently running on Stock A17 (Yes, that's the BIOS, confusing, I know).
How/where do I get the Unlocked BIOS for it? Do I need to downgrade somehow, or...?

 

yes you need to downgrade to A16 Stock (From Dell's website) and then flash this modded bios
EDIT : A16 STOCK not A12

 

Sure. Which page in the thread contains the most recent Modded BIOS?

 

Sorry i mixed up with AW18 xD .. You need to download the A16 Bios from Dell and then Go to first page and then DOWNLOAD the ZIP FILE of UPDATE 5.1 or simply click here : https://mega.nz/#!kEUUDRhL!si7Sxei9D67F3vBzXlwJBW6jzjfhqm7vo8-MIjy6JAE
then download the A16 unlocked bios from here and replace the bios file from UPDATE 5.1 FOLDER and then follow the steps : https://www.upload.ee/files/9392483/u_m_A16_mc_rev22.zip.html

 

Okay, back to A16 Stock.

So let me get this straight:

1: Unzip the contents of both files to the root of my C:\ Drive
2: Hex-Edit bios.bin and find/replace the service code
3: Open an admin CMD, put the laptop in Sleep mode from the start menu, then wake it back up
4: Run fptw64 -f bios.bin -bios immediately after waking from sleep mode

Is this correct?

 

Yes

 

yeap

 

Thanks all. The BIOS update went smoothly. Shame the GPU upgrade seems to be dead... Ah well.

 

How come ? Is it even detected in bios ? or not at all ? which model is it ? no sign of failure before?

 

Refer to http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-17-r5-8-beeps-after-980m-upgrade.833263/

Basically, Bought a 980M off ebay, plugged ti in, No POST, 8 beeps. tried quite a fair few things.

 

Hi otterrat, could you please list your system specs as I've been trying to get the unlocked bios on the ranger for months and months and have had zero luck!

Thanks!

 

I'm not entirely sure what to tell you, dude. It would probably be easier for you to provide *your* system specs, in particular, your motherboard revision and Current BIOS.

If you absolutely need mine for some reason, they're in the thread I posted in the reply above yours.

 

i tried flashing once on my own i got 7 beeps ended up changing motherboard so right now i am even willing to pay someone to program the unlocked bios for me.
specs
i7 4710mq
16 gb
gtx 980m 8gb

 

Thanks! I just clicked the link now. I either I didn't see it before or maybe you edited the post and added it in.

Anyway, That helps. So you were in fact running the 780m which I DON'T have, I'm using an 880m which was never supported natively. I think that proves you can't use it with the 120hz screen because I haven't seen a single post from all the threads I've read on here and a few other forums. And I've read most of them!!
Can you just confirm one thing please!!.. Are you 100% sure your 780m with the 120hz screen was in fact running in LEGACY mode? NOT UEFI?

Also, in your case with the 980m, check this link,
https://www.alienowners.com/threads/alienware-17-2013-upgrade-to-980m.6775/
I think it will help you understand everything above 880m's with the AW17R1's and using 120hz screens.

 

The 780M has been running in UEFI since upgrading to Win10, and has seen no issues.

Are you just telling me that it just won't work with a 120hz screen period, and I'm SOL and threw $500 down the drain?

 

So There was never a time you had the bios set to legacy (IDE) with the 780m correct? That would mean maybe it won't work then.

For your issue, everything is possible and nothing is written in stone. But you have to play with microcode for a 980m with 120hz.

Here is a little blurb you might find interesting... (its for an AW17R3) however. But read the last paragraph. The point is your really pushing the bandwidth with the 980m on a 120hz.