Insyde hacking - New Vaio Z - Advanced menu in BIOS

That's what I was doing, but it wouldn't load from the USB. (until I tried another stick)

 

Hey guys,

Just bought a VPCZ2190S (serie Z 2011 model) and found out about this forum which seems to be talking about the older version (Z1). I've tried different flash_t tool and each of them gave me some errors while trying to dump the BIOS (/g):
"Error: BIOS did not support this version of flash!"
"Error:Not support AT-p information CL Registry:0x2"


Anyone ever succeed in dumping the BIOS on this model (Z2)?
-If so, what flash_t tool did you use? Where can I get it?
-If not, do you have any idea how I could get a workable version?

FYI: The "VAIO BIOS tool 1.2.0.04300" give me this info: current version: R0170H5, new version: R3030C3. Should I install this update? Could it have any impact on the "advanced_menu.py" script?

Thanks

 

Just found how to retrieve the rom using "Universal BIOS Backup ToolKit 2.0" which I found on some other thread.

However, "advanced_menu.py" doesn't work on this one. I get an Invalid VSS signature. I'll try to find the VSS number and post it back.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

This will kill your laptop. Do you like to volunteer and upload the file that universal BIOS backup created so we can make a mod for the Z2?

 

Sure, after stripping stuff such as the serial number.

Any other info I should strip out?

 

Here it is: https://www.mantor.org/~northox/misc/VAIO-Z2190S.INSYDE-R0170H5.rom

I changed the serial number at 0x001C5078 to 12345678-1234567.
VSS is at 0x001D1048.

 

Thank You all!
It works for my Z11XRN_B (R2169M3).

VSS_OFFSET = 0x3b0048
VSS_SIZE = 0x00ffb8

PATCH_OFFSET = 0x25A
PATCH_VALUE = 0x01

 

Has anyone tried reading bios dump or flashing a VPCZ2 with FLASH IT?
When I tried it in DOS it seem to give me an error that says like..... "Error: BIOS did not support this version of flash!".

The advancedmenu python script worked though on the rom file created with "Universal BIOS Backup ToolKit 2.0" with the VSS offset above for me.

 

Hi, I read all the posts on this topic and to avoid risks i would like to know if I could enable advanced bios on my Vaio VGN Z11 VN / B. Thanks and sorry for my English

 

Same thing here. Can't find anything

 

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It would be good if someone can also confirm whether that the hidden recovery method of re-flashing the BIOS (holding window key + B then press power button) will also work for the VPCZ2. I also can't seem to get this going.

 

hi.

I couldnt get past the flashz1 dump.rom /g command. It gives me error.Here is the screen shot.Help please!!

 

You could try this way, with different flash tool download.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...vaio-z-advanced-menu-bios-44.html#post7932873

 

yah flashing works now, thanks paul

 

hey guys.... my laptop is VPCEG13EL... I couldn't make it work with that flash_t version (read or write bios).... so i used universal bios backup toolkit with default options that program gave me a 2MB file with VSS offset at 0x001D1048 so i edited the script and then ran it and found no error... but with no software to write the file back I searched another flash_t version and found 2.0b with that version I was able to read bios and gave me a 4MB file with VSS offset at 0x00351048 (same as original script) so i ran the original script and found no error

my doubt is that looking through flash_t 2.0b commandline options I see that "/g" is for reading bios , but I don't see any "/f" option (to write) , there's a lot of "/f*" options but no "/f" exactly so I don't know which should I try

@pokerart you said flashing works now... which software did you used? did you flash it back already?

Here's the version of flash_t (2.0b) that I used MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service in case any of you would want to try

 

So I've been at it all day, trying to backup my bios.

I have a bootable USB stick with unetbootin, I have Python installed and the advanced_menu.py inside the App folder. Also Fla sh i t.exe in the root.

I boot into the menu, hit enter, enter and I get a driver installation error which I ignore.

Type C:
fla sh it dump.rom / g

And I get an "Error: This FD file can not open"



I know some people have been getting the same error, but I have yet to see a solution. Any help/advice/things to check?

I stumbled around blindly for a bit trying different commands, typing nothing but "fla sh it" also gives me the error. It's like it refuses to respond to anything.

 

For those who have done this and/or understand how it works, do you think it'd be possible to mod the Z1 BIOS in such a way, that only the "VGA Switching Policy" hidden advanced option appears (but all the rest remain hidden as by default)? Or is it more of all or nothing ordeal?

 

use the link that I posted... with that version I was able to backup and I think I'll be able to write it back (haven't tried that yet)

 

All or nothing

 

Hey. I tried following the steps that Paul3000h did to hack the BIOS. Every step works flawlessly up until the final step. For some reason, I keep getting the "bad command or filename" error for "fla" whenever i tried to do the command. The .exe is still on the drive so I don't know what could possibly be wrong.

Please help. Thanks!

 

You need to follow instructions EXACTLY, note the file fla etc name must be exactly as named on the usb stick and same spelling/spaces etc.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...vaio-z-advanced-menu-bios-44.html#post7932873

 

I can't seem to patch the recent updated BIOS rom (R3031C3.ROM) in linux (Archlinux).

Code:

./advanced_menu.py R3031C3.ROM new.rom
  File "./advanced_menu.py", line 10
    PATCH_VARIABLE = u"Setup"
                            ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

I must be doing something wrong.

I used file-roller to extract the new rom from http://support.vaio.sony.eu


edit: I have a bigger problem I can't even update to the new unpatched rom with FLASHZ1.exe R3031C3.ROM:

Code:

Error: This ROM file size isn't correct
Error: Rom size 21355E  Current BIOS size: 400000

I have no clue how to get around this. Anyhelp is appreciated

My current BIOS is patched version RC3030C3

 

That's because the update from vaio it's around 2mb and the one that you extract with flashz1 it's around 4mb

if you wanna flash that 2mb you have to do it with the software that you downloaded from vaio InsydeFlash.exe or just run the file that you downloaded (it has to be for your model)

 

Thing is I don't have windows. Archlinux here.

Bummer

 

What you want to try is:

- Flash the new BIOS using the Sony tools
- Dump that BIOS to a usb drive
- Patch the BIOS with the existing tools, should work
- Flash the patched BIOS

Can't see why it wouldn't work...

 

Since I run Linux exclusively, when I get around to it I´ll install Win XP to a USB stick so I can run the Sony BIOS update utility.

Whole lot of work to update the BIOS. Damn you Sony!!!

 

ComputerCowboy, you mind having a look at the new BIOS? I think it should be patchable using my method two posts higher, but I'm hesitant to try right now since my VAIO is going in for repair again on Monday...

 

Already flashed it and works great!i didn't seen any performance changes like others wrote

 

It's not really performance... It's just POST that's smoother.

Where when booting the PC you used to get:
- VAIO logo
- display off
- display on (black with backlight on max)
- display off again
- Windows starts booting

now it's just
- VAIO logo
- display off
- Windows starts booting

much cleaner if you ask me. And switching between Intel and nVidia graphics does indeed give a little less artifacts.

 

I only had one USB key and it broke. I am not in a super big hurry to get another one. I might have one somewhere, I'll have to look.

 

Oh okay. Well, no rush, just thought it might be nice go get your expert opinion

 

Hi guys, I've got some trouble with flashing my BIOS:

My bios is ver: R3031C3
My vaio is: VPC-Z13C5E
thanks for your help

 

Dude!You should use flashz1.exe whit this one works 100%

 

Hi, mine is VPCZ115FC, which is an Asian model. Can I still use the same method to hack BIOS?

 

Yes but you have to do first the upgrade of the BIOS from Sony Asia just after you can do your BIOS hack by using the same processes

 

LOL, IDK why everyone thinks I am so smart, people like pyr0, nando4 and and nautis are smart, I just mess around.

 

Thanks for your answer but
I did it and it doesn't work.

 

I think is something you do wrong because for me it worked by the same method

 

I just did the BIOS hack on the new BIOS and it worked great. I now have all the advanced menus in BIOS R3031C3!! Thanks Profy X!

 

glad I could help you!

 

Just successfully got the advanced menu on my BIOS, and installed the latest Intel HD Graphics drivers and Nvidia drivers.

However, there is a problem. My boot time have lengthen significantly. I used to be able to boot in under 35 seconds. Now, it takes over 1 minute and 20 seconds!

I am convinced that it is due to this advanced menu hack because only the boot sequence when my screen is displaying the VAIO logo has lengthened (before the blinking cursor). That portion of the boot sequence now takes exactly 52 seconds (Longer than my old entire boot time)!

Anyone else having this problem? This is quite a bummer for me... Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have the new bios hacked and it boots much faster than before.

 

I think I fixed the problem by disabling USB Legacy in the BIOS. Booting in the 30 to 40 seconds range again.

Are there anything else I can disable to speed up my boot time?

 

So I did this for a new SE I picked up, changes made successfully in python - can see the difference in the roms when compared but no advanced menu. The dumps are here if anyone is interested in looking

 

Howdy, have you (or anyone for that matter ) messed around with windows 8 power settings for vaio? Seems Battery Care is not yet supported, couldn't get it right after 5 clean installs (with http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/467565-vaio-z-vpcz1-clean-install-10.html#post6155868)

 

Any news regarding the VPCZ2190S ?

 

I would like to move up to the latest bios but am unsure of the exact proceedure. I originally did the hack as my instructions here:

NEW INSTRUCTIONS WINDOWS WAY

Could you or someone please amend these to a step by step for the new/latest bios to be hacked. Thanks.

 

Looking again at what Ambroos said:

1. Does the new bios from the sony site contain all the full un-modded items/options within it and therefor if it does will updating to it and then using the exact same old instructions as above to hack it work?

2. Having already hacked the bios will having the hybrid drivers disabled in bios matter if the sony update re-enables them, before hacking again to re-set the "VGA Switching Policy" = "Static" ?

 

General clarification:

The only difference between the new VPCZ BIOS version R3031C3 and the older R3030C3 is an updated VGA BIOS image so the laptop screen does not blink 2-3 times at bootup. This improves the boot time approx. about 1-2 seconds.

I disassembled the BIOS and can confirm that the rest of the BIOS is 100% the same and can be hacked via the same method as described in this thread. I do run the new R3031C3 BIOS with the BIOS hack applied with no issues. No changes to the python script had to be made at all. If you get errors during the hacking procedure, check if you are following the instructions properly or let someone more DOS-savvy do it.

>>>>> I can also confirm that all the advanced options that could be accessed in the prior BIOS versions are still there. <<<<<

For flashing/hacking, just follow the given instructions. Dump the BIOS, run the python script on it (if you do it like described there will not be any error) and flash back with the DOS flashing tool.

Please note that all the settings made in the BIOS setup get overwritten to the default values when doing the original BIOS upgrade in Windows. That means if you are currently running on a hacked BIOS with static VGA mode enabled, you will fall back to the default, i.e. the dynamic switching policy setting after the upgrade. Do the BIOS hack and you can simply set back the VGA switching policy to static.

I hope that helps all ppl that are unsure about the new update.