L502X modded bioses download (GPU voltages and more!)

What do you mean by "cant use my usb ports"? You can try restoring BIOS default settings.

 

I did restore the bios defaut's its like there not getting power there dead, even on reboot right from the start like plugging it into nothing

 

Hello !! Thanks for the great help, I'm almost finished my hack ,
3 things I need to do
1-USB 3.0 does not work, even using usb fix clover and using generic kext

2-brightness of dark screen even at maximum

3- bootloader installed on mac "second hd caddy" and it seems the bios n leaves this second hd bootable ,start only usb

 

@dedos
1. GenericUSBXHCI kext. You can easily find it using search engine.
2. No idea. I haven't had any issues relating brightness. It doesn't change at all?
3. BIOS doesn't directly boot from caddy. Can be chainloaded (by other bootloader) or moved to main HDD. Maybe adding boot entry through EFI shell will work too, not tested.

@dragon.rage you can check if on stock BIOS problem exists. Is USB visible in Windows device manager? Not working both 2.0 and 3.0?

 

Ok sorry for the trouble. I fixed it I forgot to snap down the ribbon when i took it apart to replaced the heat sink and cleaning out the fan. computer was freezing due to my ran chip missing but i Thank you for your help again vary sorry feel stupid and smart same time just happy i got it fixed

 

did the usb issues were before flashing the same day?

try restore bios default settings by pressing f2 and enterint bios setup at startup.

GPU freezing can be caused by incorrect voltage settings for your GPU, overheating or unstable overclock, try flash the recomended BIOS voltage settings and reduce GPU clocks with msi afterburner.

 

Hello you guys, I am a noob as far as modding bios is concerned. I have this situation where my BIOS supervisor password has been set and I don't remember setting it.

So here is my noob question, Do I just download the package from CaptainKasar and execute "FLASH_the_original_bios.bat" on my machine?

I have a working machine (my only one!) albeit, the BIOS password set. So will executing the batch file overwrite the BIOS password?

Kindly help. (Is programmer hardware required? Can I not just execute these batch files and let WinFlash do the work for me on my laptop?)

p.s., I do know that there is a fair amount of risk involved. But I am faced with a possibility of spending 350 $ for a new motherboard from DELL support. I can just continue working with my system as is, but I am going in for an upgrade of the HDD (to SSD) and adding extra RAM (16 GB). So I am a little apprehensive about going in for these upgrades without having access to the BIOS.

Kindly advice.

My machine: L502x

 

There have been discussion about clearing password ~15 pages ago. AFAIR only solution is to flash full BIOS image using external programmer.

 

Thank you for the reply.

I wish there was a way we could program it using the same machine. Am wondering why we have to un-solder and program it. I know this is a dumb thought, coming from a computer science background guy, but I wish there was a way we could program it.

Well, I know I wouldn't be needing the BIOS if everything goes alright and the BIOS recognizes the new hardware. Just that in case something goes wrong then having the BIOS would have been handy.

Thanks

 

@ gajee

if the descriptor is already unlocked, you can reprogram the whole flash chip with the same machine and flash any L502X dump, included one without password, the software you need to reprogram the chip from the same machine is fpt , there are dos and windows versions, even a uefi version I think.

anyway, it sounds like you are going to get the external programmer anyway.

or well,maybe not,because there is an easier way, and it is bypassing the descriptor security by bridging two pins, details are already on the first post.

when you have that and you gain full write access , you can use fptw64 and a clean dump, that will overwrite the whole flash chip and you will get rid of the password.

with descriptor unlocked you can enjoy the beneficts of having fast backups and restore of the whole chip, and it also allow to flash my overclocking patch to enable OC on this system.

anyway, if for some reason you manage to brick the system, you will definitly need to do the external programmer stuff since the fpt method needs to have the machine in a working condition.

 

Hi captankasar,
Appreciate your help with this.

I will have a look at the original post and see what 'descriptor unlocked' means. I did read your post yesterday, but am not quite sure whether the descriptor is unlocked on my machine.

And no sir, I am not planning to do any programming, atleast not externally.
I am planning to stick to means which will let me do some flashing on my machine itself, without resorting to any hardware means.

Either ways, I am gonna refrain from doing anything for now. I will upgrade to the new hardware (SSD and RAM) and hope that everything works fine. If not then I would very much like to pursue doing what you fine gentlemen have done before even thinking about shelling out money for a new motherboard.

cheers.

 

Ok I just read the descriptor unlocking procedure and it involves fiddling with the hardware, which at this point of time I am gonna refrain from doing.

Thanks for your help guys.

 

descriptor is ALLWAYS locked by default, at least on this machine, as for unlocking, sadly I didnt found any software method working for this laptop, meset.exe and similars didnt worked for this machine, thats why I went for the hardware way, there were no other alternatives.

the proccess is well documented and it has been simplified, anyway it involve risks since you have to disasembly the machine and mess with the extreme delicated motherboard.

 

Hey Capitankasar, do you think you can lend me a dump without a password for the bios? I'm gonna take apart my laptop sometime this week to override the descriptor and I need a dump for fptw64. Thanks.

 

mmm, I dont have a working L502X since some months, but I think I dumped a bios without a password somewhere before it died, will check it now.

 

mmm, did not found them, anyway, you can use guruji's ones

http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpost.php?p=367831&postcount=6

there are two dumps, the one you need is the bios one, forget about the EC

is also recomendable to mod the dump descriptor before flash it, so you will keep having access to all flash parts even after remove the security bypass bridge.

modding/unlocking the descriptor is quite simple, all you need is a hex editor, the details of the descriptor unlocking are on the first post.

 

I'm don't have a programmer or a solder, and I'm only looking to remove my bios password. Will doing the Descripter security override in the first page fix that?
Also, how would I bridge pin 1 and 5? What do I use, and do I just have them touch then remove it? Or does it have to be there constantly?
Thanks again.

 

well, you still need a soldering iron for bridge pins 1 and 5.

you can use the smallest wire you can find to bridge them

anyway the leds are thin and it need a very small head for the soldering iron , steady hands, and some soldering skills.

well, theorically it only needs to be bridged until bios post is completed so where the OS is loading it shouldn't be required.

the easiest way would be to do the pinmod, then dump the whole flash, modify/unlock the flash descriptor settings with a hex editor (details on the first post), then flash it.
turn down the system, remove the bridge, and voila, you have the system unlocked forever.

just ensure that if you flash again a full flash dump, the file you are going to flash have the descriptor settings unlocked, because if it have a locked descriptor, you will lock your machine flash again and you will need hardware mod it again to access restricted parts.

 

As kasar said, I bridged mine with a wire on pins 1-5 until Bios post, then descriptor was unlocked, no need to keep it on whilst OS is loading (assuming of course you've done it properly). Strongly recommend going down the removable ME option though, even if it involves (some) de/soldering.

On other news, new ME FW 7.1.80.1214 has been released for the 1.5MB boards. Works well.

One final thing, the 1600 and 1867MHz options on the BIOS Memory settings work very well. I changed the SPD timings of the RAM from 1333 to 1867 9-9-9-24 and the system feels significantly faster. Both Windows and OS X correctly report the new clock speed and timings, so it's confirmed that the Dell Sandy Bridge boards correctly clock upwards of 1333.

 

Which RAM exactly do you use?

 

Some unbranded 16GB (2x8GB) 1333MHz sticks I found off eBay. Applied some finely tuned Corsair timings I found around, and now the sticks work at 1867 9-9-9-24.

Bit of a hit and miss to find the perfect sticks. That said, make sure you have a backup working stick ready, as I've flashed the incorrect SPD timings a number of times which resulted in non-working RAM, so you'd need to boot with working RAM, insert the failed sticks as the OS is loading and flash the correct SPD timings.

 

Look at your own screenshot. This might be the root of your machine problems. Your AC adapter is not recognised. Is this a original Dell AC 130watt power supply? It's big heavy and flat.

 

Thank you. Unfortunately I got Crucial 1866-10-10-10 Ram which is recognized as 1866-11-11-11 and more or less unflashable:-(

 

If you're using one of our modded BIOSes, force the RAM to run at 1600. Chances are with Ram timings at 1866 CL11, you will run 1600 at CL9, which is much better in terms of performance.

 

Yes, it is running at 1600-9-9-9.
Some weeks ago i already asked this forum which speed to choose. 1600-CL9 or 1866-CL11?
The answer was 1866 because performance should depend more on frequency. But I could change.

 

Performance actually depends on both (especially if you have an intel CPU). Divide CL by Freq, and you'll get the latency (11/1866 = 59ns, 9/1600 = 56ns). Lower is better.

Try running GeekBench or 3dMark to see if you have any measurable benefits.

 

Intel ME 7 Consumer 1.5MB Firmware v7.1.80.1214


http://www.mediafire.com/download/spep0m7t72lklrk/Intel_ME_Firmware_v7.1.80.1214_(1.5MB).rar

 

Have anyone tried to overclock their 540M graphics? Is that even safe? Should we try a lower voltage bios so it doesn't freeze while being overclocked?

 

when I had this laptop, I overclocked the 525m fine, with custom voltages it ran even cooler while doing fine over the gt540m clocks.

with the 540m it should almost the same, just make sure your cooling is running properly and the heatsinks are dust-free.

cooling pads for laptops are also interesting, specially in summer when the temps go crazy.

 

I have overclocked 540m. Actually using 720MHz. Sometimes lower. Depends on game, room temperatures etc. Voltage: 0.83/0.83. And feel a little more stable on 0.83/0.85.

 

@ capitankasar
i have problem ac adapter



need change ac adapter
this adapter is Compatibility
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...19&sku=332-1833&mfgpid=223451&chassisid=89027

 

it is showed at the error message, you need 130 watts or higher to keep the system working at full speed.

some members already upgreaded their 130w to 150w due the lack of power were causing issues on their gpus.

90w is probably too little for this laptop.
at least if you plan to use it at the same time you charge the battery.

 

Hello all,

Long time reader, first time poster. I have been using l502x for over 4 years now, dissasembled reassebled many times. Recently I have dropped the laptop and the top harness has failed.. In result, I have removed it completely, hoping to use external screen only since the batter wont hold a charge anymore also.

The problem :

Dell xps l502x wont boot if internal screen disconnected. ( wont pass post, results in 8 beeps)

The workaround :

Connect the LCD panel during boot to pass post... later can disconnect it. Video will output to external screen normally.

The question :

I dont want to use the external monitor to power up everytime.. I have moded BIOS with extra settings from here, but I couldnt figure out how to make BIOS to skip this POST. Can you please help?

PS: Huge respect for the work you have done here. I was surprised this thread is still alive. Any reply would be greatly appreciated

 

Have you tried Fast Boot?
Also I think I have seen switch for default display device, not sure, will check later.

 

hi,

I have tried and changed the default display device. Now I can enter BIOS on my external monitor, but again, only after connecting internal LCD:/

 

There is setting about screen connected to internal graphic - can't check it, as don't have external display atm. System Agent > Graphics > IGD > second option from bottom (over 18 bit color depth). Have you tried it?

 

Has anybody succesfully blind flashed BIOS in L502x? It should be possible through recovery mode - without using special Windows version as recovery environment. I've messed up my NVRAM and no longer have any access to even POST screen, so only way is to clear NVRAM some way.
Probably it only requires putting .wph file on USB stick and starting in recovery mode. But... How should this file be named? As we know, .cap file doesn't overwrite oryginal BIOS.

 

I have done this.. You need a copy of shell where PFlash.efi can behave. Then you need to write a startup script for shell that would map and mount your USB drive, invoke PFlash efi application with /sa and /cvar to skip all version checks and clear nvram. The file to use is the file that would normally be used from recovery, you can scrape it of off there or slice your own. I had an article pointing how to do that on bios-mods.com frontpage for 15Z. The Pflash app is also sourceable on the net. Hit me up if you don't fine one though.

Sent from my H30-U10 using Tapatalk

 

Ah .. You don't even have a POST ing unit. Then recovery is your best bet. It's in the first post.

Sent from my H30-U10 using Tapatalk

 

I've sent it to local service on monday. They have flashed new BIOS externally (don't have programmer and soldering skills). Will get back on monday.
Recovery uses same NVRAM as stock so it can't help in this situation. It seems to be impossible to clear NVRAM or blind flash.
So, there should be added big red warning in the first post about messing with NVRAM (I've broken mine by wrongly using BCFG with -opt params) as it can be dangerous.

 

I've broken mine too, you had to have USB drive first in the sequence no matter what for cases like this.

Sent from my H30-U10 using Tapatalk

 

It wasn't going to any boot sequence even in recovery mode. Not even trying. No POST info, no Dell logo.
But POST test was working - removing RAM was generating error sounds.

Edit. Got my notebook back. Where did they found image of A04 BIOS? Anyway, Service Tag change option works flawlessly.

 

Capitan :

Could it be a moded bios issue if Dell quickset doesn't work (can't install it) after a HD replacement for a SSD ?

 

I dont think that is the issue, anyway you can go BIOS setup, load default settings and boot windows, default settings will load all the settings present at the stock BIOS

 

You're right !
It didn't change anything, but i read somewhere that using UEFI enabled may cause Quickset not to work. I tried to disabled it, but then, it said "Operation System not found" ...

 

yes, UEFI support on this laptop looks incomplete. so it partially works.

but may cause some issues with some stuff.

 

this is strange tho. I installed Dell stock BIOS and still i can't get that Quickset to work ...
This is getting me nuts ^^

 

did you tried to reinstall quickset?

also if your windows installation is already on UEFI mode, the problem will probably persist.

 

Yes i tried to reinstall quickset without sucess !

UEFI can't be disabled in stock bios. and i disabled it with your moded bios, but i had a message saying "operation system not found".

Is there another way to disable UEFI ?