[GUIDE] - Blind-Flashing AMD 7970M modded vBIOS for Clevo P1xxHM Laptops

Unfortunately, I doubt you'd be able to get something from it. I really screwed up, forgot it in the oven, and the PCB is yellowed and bubbled. The card still worked in safe mode, but I was impatient. Maybe the ROM chip still works, but when I insert the card in my laptop, and try to boot, the power light flashes green and nothing else happens. I thought I'd bricked my motherboard, but removing the card it seems to boot to post with the fans running ( and no screen, naturally ).
Here are pictures:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxmquU327mKFb2FGYXJlTkRuWkQ0d1c3eGFyajYyalNHRlQ0
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxmquU327mKFc2NWMUUwLVlPZ0o1dVhEWVBaZTJuaWZ2YWln
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxmquU327mKFSW10ZXN1eDFZUGxlZ01jamx2QkwweGxBdmZF/view?usp=sharing

Edit: I can send it to you if you still want it.

I posted in 2013 that my 7970m upgrade had working HDMI. That was the 4th GPU to go in my laptop after the 3 others died.
Now if I keep the laptop, I'll try to find a GPU that runs at a lower temp...

 

so it was YOU with the working HDMI

Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

 

Hmm ... a bit longer and it'd be carbonized .

Sure, the card is beyond repair now, but eeproms are a lot sturdier than gpu and memory chips. Think there's also another ic which converts analog temperature to digital and sends this to the system, so let's try and find that thing as well. The ' temperature=null/99 -> auto-shutdown' incompatibility issue might be worked around then.

 

hello guys i need your help after the flash of vbios my pc reboot and then the screen is black and I can not see anything become probably my 7970M is bricked, I used this vbios: https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/177709/177709 obviously the wrong one
for the flash I have used this guide: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...modded-vbios-for-clevo-p1xxhm-laptops.688656/

I guess my only option is a blind-flash using the correct vbios for my 7970M but do not know where to find it

and in any case the procedure would be the same? I could use autoexec.bat the linked guide?

sorry for my english I hope is understandable, please helpme

 

would help if you could specify the model of your machine and gpu...

Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

 

yes sorry clevo p370em hd7970m wibledon 1.1 xfire both bricked i think, i7 3740qm 16 gb ram no enduro
master slot gpu vbios BR42768.008
secondary slot vbios 43595.003

i tryed to flash the exact vbios version for each gpu ,i get the vbios from techpowerup

sorry for my english

 

have u already tried removing both gpus and trying each one individually in the master slot to check if both are non-functional?

u can surely use the autoexec.bat in the OP of this thread to try and flash the cards. i would suggest doing both cards in the master slot individually and check what the outcome is... good luck!

Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

 

first of all ty for helping me
yes i already tryed to flash both gpus from master slot the autoexec.bat have option 0 so the flash goes to 1st slot,the vbios i used should be correct its really weird i have this issue,now im fu...d cause my screen its completely black and do a blind-flash is really hard,also im thinking to buy another gpu maybe 970m nvidia and then try to flash again my two 7970m from 2nd slot modifying the autoxec bat file from 0 to 1 my question now is if i change gpu my screen turn back to work just plugged in the new card or i have to flash the new nvidia?

 

I'm still trying to do the blind-flash, but it seems that the various vbios I tried are wrong. I tried these vbios:

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/128794/clevo-hd7970m-2048-120605

in this thread i tryed the vbios provided from svl7 and vbios provided by prema,

none of these worked

the stock vbios for my gpu is BR42768.008 the same that i tryed for do the first flash vbios attempt but maybe that vbios had enduro

I do not know what to do, if someone knows and can help me I would be grateful

 

You haven't mentioned cmos reset, so ... stating the obvious; done that already? System bios may have become confused by the first, corrupt vbios you've downloaded from tPU:

Spoiler: HD 7970M, corrupt vbios

Should really report this to tPU so they can remove that file. Or replace it with this copy of the v024 vbios, it's the same version, except valid:

HD 7970M vbioses, P370EM.7z

There's three good versions inside; v019, v21 (the 008's) and v24 (the 003). The v21 and v24 have uefi support, the v019 is legacy only. The v24 is the only version that support Hynix ***AFR memory chips, so you might want to check that as well.

Not sure any of this will do you any good at this point, since booting may halt on the bricked card, preventing the blind-flash from even taking place. Put something like 'md TESTDIR' in the autoexec.bat and see if that folder is actually created:

Code:

@echo off
set PATH=.;\;\LOCALE
beep.bat
md AUTOATIF
ATIF417.EXE -ai > atiadapt.txt
ATIF417.EXE -s 0 adapt0.rom
ATIF417.EXE -s 1 adapt1.rom
ATIF417.EXE -s 2 adapt2.rom
beep.bat

The '-ai' dumps info of the cards. Even if the system semi-boots, it could be the cards are no longer detected. The beep.bat is a simple echo command with invalid key codes, making the system beep annoyingly. Somewhat useful with a blind-flash since you'll hear when the procedure has started and when it has completed:

BEEP.7z

 

ty so much for your help,I already did the cmos reset and also i have succesfully upgraded the bios to prema mod now i can enabling the full fans spin so the flash gone well.

I had to lift pins 1 and 4 from vbios chip, because otherwise my pc did not pass the boot i did this only on one gpu

for flashing im using this exec.bat

you can edit it for me? or show me the syntax that I should change in the .bat file?

you seem to know what to do, I do not know where put my hands,im sorry to bother you

edit: im tryed to reset cmos again and put the other gpu (without pins lifted)in the master slot,pc dont pass the boot i cant flash it as a prymary maybe as a slave card what you think?

 

Yes, that might work. With 'lifting pin #1', presumably you mean disconnecting it from the pcb? If so, then that effectively removes the vbios entirely from the system. Of course, you wouldn't be able to flash it, either. It's worth a try to flash the slave gpu with this setup.

According to the help output of atiflash, you ought to re-order the commands. Perhaps atiflash doesn't really care, but the sequence should be ' atiflash -> command (+'file.rom or .txt') - > parameter(s) -> option(s)':

Spoiler: atiflash v4.17

Code:

--- ATIFLASH v4.17 ---
-h, -?, /h, /?          Help (this screen)

Format: ATIFLASH [command] [parameter1] [parameter2] [parameter3] <option/s>

[command]:
-i [Num]                Display information of ATI adapters in the system.
                        Display information of adapter [Num] if specified.
-ai [Num]               Display advanced information of ATI adapters on system.
                        Display advanced information of adapter [Num]
                        if specified.
-biosfileinfo <File>    Displays the Bios info in file <file>
-p <Num> <File>         Write BIOS image in file <File> to flash ROM in Adapter
                        <Num>.
-pa <File>              Write BIOS image <File> to all appropriate adapters.
-s <Num> <File> [Size]  Save BIOS image from adapter <Num> to file <File>.
                        First [Size] kbytes (except for Theater in bytes) of ROM
                        content is saved if [Size] is specified.
-cf <File> [Size] [Sum] Calculate 16-bit checksum for file <File>.
                        Checksum for the first [Size] kbytes of the file is
                        calculated if [Size] is specified.
-cb <Num> [Size] [Sum]  Calculate 16-bit BIOS image checksum for adapter <Num>.
                        Checksum for the first [Size] kbytes of the ROM content
                        is calculated if [Size] is specified.
-cr <Num> [Size] [Sum]  Calculate 16-bit ROM checksum for adapter <Num> and
                        compare it to the [Sum] specified.  This command is
                        the same as -cb if [Size] is specified.
-t <Num>                Test ROM access of adapter <Num>
-v <Num> <File>         Compare ROM content of adapter <Num> to <File>
-mi <Num> [ID]          Modify SSID & SVID in BIOS image of adapter <Num> to
                        <ID>.  SSID & SVID in BIOS image of adapter <Num> is
                        displayed if [ID] is not specified.
-mb <Num> <File>        Modify SSID, SVID, BIOS Pin Number, & Boot Message in
                        BIOS image of adapter <Num> to values in <filename>.
                        Input file example:
                           ssid = 715B
                           svid = 1002
                           biospn = "113-xxxxxx-xx"
                           bootmsg = "ATI graphic board"
-pak <File>             Package an executable for BIOS update according to
                        the commands in <File>.
                        Config file example:
                           outfile = update.exe
                           banner = "Update v1.0"
                           infile = a123.bin
                           command = -pa -padevid=715B infile
-isr <Num> <Build Number> <Board Number>  Set ISR number based on the given
                                          build and board number
                                          if not specified, print out ISR Number
-prod <Num> <12 digit serial number>      Set PROD number based
                                          on the given serial number
                                          if not specified, print out SN Number
-checkprodsn <Num> <12 Digit Serial Number>  Comparing the Prod SN based on
                                             existing prod sn saved in ROM

<option/s>:
-f              Force flashing regardless of security checkings (e.g. AsicID &
                BIOS file info check OR boot-up card).
-fa             Force flashing bypassing already-programmed check.
-fm             Force flashing bypassing BIOS memory config check.
-fs             Force flashing bypassing BIOS SSID check.
-fp             Force flashing bypassing BIOS P/N check.
-nw             No user interaction on test failure.
-sst            Use SST25VFxxx flashing algorithm regardless of ROMID straps.
-st             Use ST M25Pxx flashing algorithm regardless of ROMID straps.
-atmel          Use AT25Fxxx flashing algorithm regardless of ROMID straps.
-nopci          Do not enumerate PCI adapters, i.e. enumerate only AGP and
                PCIe adpaters
-pcionly        Enumerate only PCI adapters, i.e. do not enumerate AGP and
                PCIe adapters
-agp            Enumerate only AGP adapters, i.e. do not enumerate PCI and
                PCIe adapters unless used with -pcie or -pci
-noagp          Do not enumerate AGP adapters, i.e. enumerate only PCI and
                PCIe adpaters
-pcie           Enumerate only PCIe adapters, i.e. do not enumerate AGP and
                PCI adapters unless used with -agp or -pci
-nopcie         Do not enumerate PCIe adapters, i.e. enumerate only AGP and
                PCI adpaters
-pci            Enumerate only PCI adapters, i.e. do not enumerate AGP and
                PCIe adapters unless used with -agp or -pcie
-noremap        Skip BARs error detection and remapping in PCI configuration
                space
-reboot         Force a reboot of the system after successfully completing the
                specified operation
-keepisrsn      keep the ISR Number on the adapter when flashing a new VBIOS
-keepprodsn     keep the Prod SN on the adapter when flashing a new VBIOS
-siireset       Specifies the GPIO Pin to be used as the Reset when updating
                SiI1930 microcontroller firmware
                Input example:
                   -siireset=7 <No Spaces>
-siiuprog       Specifies the GPIO Pin to be used as the uprog when updating
                SiI1930 microcontroller firmware
                Input example:
                   -siiuprog=14 <No Spaces>
-scansii        Overrides normal adapter detection to enable detecting SSI
                roms with/without TPI firmware
-log            Logs output to atiflash.log, overrides existing file
-logappend      Logs and appends output to atiflash.log
-ddc            Enable DDC support
-padevid=<ID>   Use with -pa command to update adapters of specific device ID.
-passid=<ID>    Use with -pa command to update adapters of specific SSID.
-pasvid=<ID>    Use with -pa command to update adapters of specific SVID.
-pavbpn=<VBPN>  Use with -pa command to update adapters of specific VBIOS PN.
-excl_memtrain_dtable     When flashing on new VBIOS, a pre-determined memory
                           training data table in the old VBIOS will not be
                          overwritten.
-isr <adapter num> [build num] [board num]     If build number and board number
                                               are specified, sets the ISR Number
                                               value in specified adapter.
                                               If only adapter is specified, the current
                                               ISR Number is displayed
-checkpn <adapter num> <filename>              Checks PN of the current product
                                               and compares it to external file
*<Num> = adapter number, <File> = filename
*[Size] = data block size in KBytes, except for Theater Pro in Bytes
*Use command -i to see the adapter numbers in the system.
*Theater Pro supports commands -i, p, s, cf, cr, t, v and options -f, -noremap.

And there's no need to specify 'C:\', since the autoexec.bat will be in the same location as atiflash.exe. Try this and use one of the three vbioses I've uploaded and also copy that beep.bat to the root of the stick:

Spoiler: autoexec.bat, beep-backup-flash-beep

Code:

@echo off
set PATH=.;\;\LOCALE
beep.bat
md BOOTOK
atiflash.exe -ai > atiadapt.txt
atiflash.exe -s 0 adapt0.rom
atiflash.exe -s 1 adapt1.rom
atiflash.exe -s 2 adapt2.rom
atiflash.exe -pa 7970M.rom -f -fa -fm -fs -fp
beep.bat

It'll create a new folder ('BOOTOK'), beep, write info of all found cards to a text file, dump all found vbioses to roms and, lastly, attempt to write the proper vbios to all found cards. Since the primary's vbios is absent, that ought to result in finding only card '0', but just in case it's still card '1' it might be easier to use '-fa' instead. It won't auto-reboot; that's what the 2nd beep is for, you can hard-shutdown after that. If there's no beep at all then it isn't booting from the DOS stick, so either the stick is non-functioning (test in different machine without the autoexec.bat) or USB isn't the first boot device; spam F7 to bring up boot menu and (blindly) hit enter or 1x arrow-down + enter, 2x arrow-down + enter and so on. Without a beep there's nothing taking place, so first order of business is to actually reach that step.

Can always fix both cards with a soldering iron and programmer, to be sure, so no worries.

 

I really thank you, but for me what you posted are hieroglyphics! can you edit for me the exec.bat and beep.bat i uploaded in this post?

Otherwise tell me if this is correct:

1 copy atiflash.exe and beep.bat to usb root
edit exec.bat in this way (atiflash.exe -p -fs -fp 7970M.rom -fa
in this way it is correct?

sorry English is not my language

ok recap beep.bat atiflash 7970.rom autoexec(needs to be edited) to usb root
press f7 press enter or hit arrow down then enter until I find the USB flash drive
if dos start i will hear 1 beep
when finish working i will hear another beep then i can shutdown pressing power button

 

No, but you could just copy/paste the commands. No matter, use this file instead and report back:
autoexec.bat

 

ty so much try now

 

I hear the first sound, so the dos start
i do not hear the second sound so the PC does not successfully complete the procedure , I waited 20 minutes

I tried all vbios

i have a bootlog.txt and bootlog.PRV files on the usb root but they are completely empty,
it seems as if atiflash does not find anything, does not create any log
I can only hear the beep of the dos, after that nothing

of course, I thank you for the help you are giving me anyway

edit:

strange

I did this test,
I only put atiflash.exe on the USB root, insert the usb to another PC, I booted the dos and pressed dir

atiflash.exe was renamed atiflas ~

I tried typing atiflash as in the bat, but obviously did not start maybe that is the problem

renaming atiflash in m.exe now works
I created an autoexec.bat with m -i and on another PC, I get response adapter not found, so the .exe working in this way.

but still not complete the procedure on my clevo, it is as if the gpu in the slave slot is not detected, I'm using the autoexec.bat in this way:

Spoiler: autoexec.bat

@echo off
set PATH=.;\;\LOCALE
beep.bat
md BOOTOK
m -ai > atiadapt.txt
m -s 0 adapt0.rom
m -s 1 adapt1.rom
m -s 2 adapt2.rom
m -pa 7970M.rom -f -fa -fm -fs -fp
beep.bat

something is wrong?

 

Well, in DOS there's a file name limit of 8 characters as far as I know.
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365247(v=vs.85).aspx

 

Yes, but 'atiflash' is exactly 8 characters, so ... a bit odd.

At least it's booting, so that's good (there is a 'BOOTOK' folder, yes?). And quite right; the card can't be found, perhaps because there's no master, so it doesn't look further to enumerate the slave slot. Try moving the slave to the master slot and run the procedure once more.

 

no i dont have any BOOTOK folder,i can try one more time but if i put 2nd card to master slot my system dont pass the boot anyway i try now give me 10 minutes

edit: no boot

so recap if i put the card with lifted pin from pcb i can be able to pass the boot but i cant flash the vga in slave slot to be flashed the card must to be active i think and if i put the 2nd vga in the master slot my system dont pass the boot because vbios probably are corrupted (thanks to technopowerup) so im completely ****ed! am i rite?

If hypothetically, I take off these two vga, I buy a 970m (clevo) my system should return to work normally even no need to do a blind-flash on the new nvidia card right?
and there is a way to flash at least 1 amd gpu inserting in slave slot and flash it from windows or dos?

 

no one can help me?

 

A second card would work fine, but just get the cheapest compatible card you can find. Can also send them to me and I'll fix them with programmer. Won't be for another week or so then (analogue vacation).

 

so if i buy another card (nvidia) this should work on my sytem

then i can send to you both my amd and you fix them for me? really?

 

Sure, but better get a cheap AMD (due to the heatsink). And don't mind fixing bricked cards; with decent soldering station it isn't much work, 10 minutes at most, post-office is bulk of the job. Send a pm with details and I'll get back to you. Can't reply sooner than a week or two, though; non-internet vacation.

 

I need to know your address to send cards to you! You can send me a pm with the address?

I have no Soldering Station or anything like that

I took a look and the only gpu I found was another amd 7970M at 250 euro each, also i found an amd 6770 from india with shipping cost around 120 euros taxes excluded so really expensive

 

Pm send.

And yes, still terribly expensive, eh? These things depreciate at an unbelievably slow rate, unlike cpus. Thing is; every system has a cpu and plenty of them socketed, but an mxm gpu is relatively rare and their failure rate is something like ten- or perhaps even a hundredfold that of a cpu. Consider also the original cost of an mxm (=gaming/power) laptop and the law of supply & demand kicks in.

 

Hi all,
Anyone had issues downloading the files ? Cannot seem to be able to get them at all.

 

hey there @Stefoss, the files are all stored on my box cloud storage account. thing is, it sometimes takes a mobile browser to properly download them, so go ahead and try with ur phone, should work

Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

 

Thanks, was able to download the files now.
Now It've tried the whole process, on my P170HM, but for some reason, It does not seem to work: the light on the USB key does flash at the very beginning, but nothing after. I've waited for 10/15 mins, but cannot detect any activity. I had set the UBS key as top priority for the booting, so not sure how to take it from there.
Any lead ?

 

lets cover the basics first: have u tried booting from the usb stick without the rom files? just to check and see if it actually boots. naturally, ull also need a gpu that works and gives u display output

also, did u make sure u have a clevo 7970m version 1.2? thats the only one this flashing procedure works with in the HM machines!

Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

 

Hum, good point, I checked the USB stick was in first position for boot, not that it would boot from there. It should show a DOS console ?
My 6990m is dead, but I can still see BIOS and log to Windows in safe mode (VGA kind of display)

Card is definitely Clevo 7970m version 1.2, spent a lot of time looking for this very one. Should even be new, but I have no way to check it is or even if it works. Other machine I have is an ultrabook, so won't help for that matter.

Thank for your help

 

yes, you should get a dos console if the stick properly boots. and that should also work and be visible as long as u can get safe mode to work

Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

 

Ok, I've just tested, and it does boot correctly on the USB stick with my old GPU.

 

where did u buy the gpu? did u get any warranty with it, DOA or otherwise? if you inspect the card visuall, do u see any burn marks, blown capacitors, or anything like that? have u checked correct installation, thermal pad placement and thermal paste application?

 

Bought it from a german ebay seller (likely pro given the number of items), new with 12 months warrnty.
Visually, it looks new (no burn mark, no thermal paste visible), though not sure how to check the capacitators. I'll take a proper picture.
I applied thermal paste normally, I kept the same thermal pads as for my 6990m (they seem to be at the same place).

 

If the problem is only the vBIOS and you are confident the GPU itself is OK if you know someone with an SLI notebook they should be able to temporarily install it in the slave GPU slot and flash it for you. That would be the easiest solution.

AMD GPUs can sometimes have the vBIOS flashed using a programmer with an alligator clip connector without removing the EEPROM chip. (Cannot do that with NVIDIA except by removing the chip.)

 

sounds like CEG. if thats the case, u can trust that the card should be fine hmmm... which .bat file are u using? the autoexec?

 

Good guess
Yes, I'm using the autoexec. Should it still be on C drive (as in, when DOS console opens, does it consider the only drive is the USB Stick ?), or should I amend it to the drive the stick would likely appear on ?

 

try the following: use the stick with the autoexec file, but without the vbios rom files on another computer. that way u can check if it properly executes. itll give u an error that the rom file wasnt found or that the detected hardware is incompatible. naturally, also make sure to include the atiflash tool on the usb stick

setting it as first boot priority should suffice, although u could also remove the optical and hard drive to be 100% sure. then the stick will be the only choice left for the machine...

Sent from my Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

 

On the same computer, with old GPU, it tells me the file 7970.rom is not found / Error 0FL01

 

Hey All if anyone was interested in a HD7970M, i have one for sale on ebay. I finally got to try it in one of my friends p170ems and it worked like a charm, could never get it to work in my p150hm.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-HD7970M...203009?hash=item1c70a8ec41:g:n5cAAOSwCGVX5dDl

Can give me a PM for any questions =D.

 

Anyone with further lead for my case ? Else I'll just declare defeat and stop wasting money on that machine, and just buy a new one.

 

I've never got a 7970m running on my previously owned P170HM. I found out that on the P170HM not all Panels were compatible with the 7970m. Will check my old posts and report back!

 

Here we go:

[GUIDE] - Blind-Flashing AMD 7970M modded vBIOS for Clevo P1xxHM Laptops

If you have the LG Panel you would need a special EDID firmware to get it working. If you want to keep this rig, you can upgrade it with a GTX 680m, which runs cooler and has better ocability in general.

 

I had seen this a while ago, but assumed I didn't have an LG panel (from memory, it was a different brand). But I could not find a way to actually check it. Which tool could help me with that ? Additional issue being i'm in safe mode, as it's the only mode I can still run with my dying 6990m card

 

Try HWinfo or this one:

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

 

hwmonitor almost has no info, and hwinfo won't start (because of the safe mode

 

Sorry, posted the wrong link. This one should provide you the Infos:

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/moninfo.shtm

 

Thanks. Cannot get live, but the only 17 inches screen in registry is the CMO1720 (Chi Mei) with EDID revision 1.3. So not the LG problematic one (at least a good point). That said, not sure if there could be something similar happening

 

Good to know! Dunno, if you wanna change to GTX 680m instead. Should be p&p. You only have to deal with modded drivers, which isn't a hassle like blind flashing is!

And 4GB helps a ton in recent games....

 

Well, already wasted 300 on a 7970m, which was supposed to work. Don't think I'll risk another loss. Plus not sure where I would find it at a decent price