GTX 880M bricked after flashing unlocked VBIOS how to IGFX?

Hey,
Becuase of power limits sets in stock bios I've decided to flash SVL7 vbios which has power limits removed. However I get no post, just black screen. Blind flash method is not working as the catrds won't allow me to go through POST. I have unlocked A05 bios. Is there a way to boot using IGFX without dissasembling whole laptop and removing both cards?
Regards

 

You are going to have to take the machine apart. It will be unavoidable if the machine refuses to post. If it were only a black screen in Windows it would be easier.

Remove both GPUs, set BIOS to SG mode, shut down and place secondary GPU in primary slot. You can leave the heat sink attached and rest the heat sink radiator on top of the chassis above the HDMI/VGA port. Flash that GPU, then shut down and remove it. Put the primary GPU in the primary slot and flash it. Reboot and change BIOS back to PEG mode. Shut down and put the other GPU back in. You're done... all better.

 

Hey,

Why do you want me to put secondary card in primary slot? Can't I set IGFX in bios, boot with both cards but display to ugfx
and flash them?

 

Follow what Mr Fox says... This is the correct procedure from what I've read before.. You can only flash the GPU's in primary slot...

 

Hey,

I've removed both cards and booted using igfx mode, then I put primary and booted using SG mode however it does not boot after start screen to allow me use nvflash. On igfx mode it boots and bvflash works but no NV card are detected. How to go past start logo on SG?

 

I'm not sure why it is doing that you are talking about the BIOS Alien logo. Are you referring to the Windows Start logo or BIOS? If Windows, use NVFLASH DOS instead of loading Windows.

SG Mode is Optimus, so if that vBIOS is really messed up that may be why it will not load Windows correctly.

 

I'm talking about alienware bios logo. Progress bar goes to 100% and then nothing. Maybe I didn't connected some cables but it should boot without keyboard and touchpad. It's weird that if I don't connect all the cables to the mobo laptop sometimes boots and sometimes just beeps. I think I need to connect everything to get it working but maybe you have another idea why it won't pass me through alienware bios logo?

And secondly: Why that modified bios doesn't work? Cards are from alienware. Manufacture date 2014. Original bios version 80.04.F5.00.07. Checksum C7. I've uploaded stock bios as attachment. Maybe the card is not same as first 880M models.

 

It may be a newer vBIOS intended for UEFI/GOP support, which the M18xR1 does not have. If you are getting 8 beeps, and freezing in the BIOS loading screen, this behavior is very similar to the M18xR1 trying to boot with 980M. If it will not POST with either GPU in the primary PCIe slot (and the secondary PCIe slot empty) with the BIOS set to SG mode, you may need to try flashing it in newer machine, like an M18xR2, Alienware 18, M17xR4 or Alienware 17.

I cannot tell anything by looking at the ROM. I'm ignorant in that regard. Maybe reach out to svl7 at Tech|Inferno to see what he may know about it. Using 880M in the M18xR1 has been problematic for several other M18xR1 owners who, if I remember correctly, finally gave up the effort.

 

Hey,

I got no beeps, just startup and freeze on bios screen. So what should I do? There's no one here with any Alienware computer and espiecally with newer. What about soldering a vbios chip from ebay to one card and then flashing second with one working? What's best way to contact sv7? I assume he doesn't respond to newbies PMs

Gpus were working fine, just power limit limit was set too low. I had not any problems with them and was very satisfied with performance.

 

I've tried it again. BIOS in SG Mode. No beeps, nothing. Alienware logo shows up and bios is loading then nothing happens. Can this be BIOS settings related? I've done a BIOS reset before. It boots in IGFX mode with GTX in slot and SG mode without GTX in slot.

 

Set the BIOS to PEG mode. Put a different GPU (not 880M) in the primary slot and make sure the machine boots OK. If it does, shut down and add one 880M in the secondary slot and see if you can flash the 880M booting from the other GPU. Any MXM that will boot in PEG mode should work without an SLI bridge connecting them, so even an old AMD GPU may work fine in the primary slot if only long enough to flash at least one 880M. If possible, flash it in DOS using USB thumb drive, then you don't have to worry about Windows freaking out about the GPU changes or being unstable while trying to flash the 880M. If that works, flash the other 880M, then put everything back in place.

 

Hey,

Thanks for the answer but currently both radeons are dead I will try to fix them but this won't be fast. Have you any other suggestions? I really appreciate them.

Ah and I never used windows nvflash. I always use dos one.

Regards

 

At this time I have nothing more to suggest, but if a thought occurs to me, I will provide it.

 

Indeed the AW18 I had was flashed with bad vBIOS' and I had absolutely no GPU support. I took my old GX740's 5870Mobility out and placed it in the first slot. I used pennies to cover the card and -13 temps to last long enough before the card gave a completely black screen. My 32MB (yes MB) has a green activity light so I knew when the flash was complete. Worked well but without the negative Celsius temps, it would be impossible .

 

Ok thanks. If anyone is from near Poland countries like Germany or Switzerland is willing to help then I will be very grateful. PM me :[


Regards

 

Cards are working in SLI again. I've pulled one, desoldered bios chip then reprogram it using nand programmer and solder it again. Second card was flashed using nvflash. Total cost is 20$

 

HAHAHA! Nice.. I wish I had your skill level to do stuff like this .. Good to see you spent only $20 to fix this..

 

Yeah thanks.
While reading vBios from cards there were marker: UEFI: YES so think twice before flashing svl7 bios on new 880Ms. Cards are working in M18xR1 with Uefi support->disabled without problems.

 

Yes you have to disable the UEFI support to flash vBIOS.. This is the case for flashing all vBIOS's lol.. There's nothing wrong with his vBIOS's...

 

I had it disabled but after flashing svl7 bios card was bricked so think twice if you have new 880M, it's different than old one.