Sony Vaio SA/SB/SC/SE Advanced Menu BIOS Hack

Indeed - Let's do it!

 

Wow! that's great!!
Are you open to test some of the risky BIOS settings, for the benefit of us mortals following this thread?

 

Good luck! Please report back. Maybe Camilo can help you with some custom bioses

 

Had a lack of time so far ... Only tried to set the RAM frequency to 1600 MHz. It resulted in default 1333 MHz (checked with CPU-Z).

Following settings will brick your BIOS:

* disable Intel GPU
* set first GPU to PEG

 

great to know. please keep posting your findings here.

 

i think this is too late for me to read that becuase this is just what happing to me right now
at least they should put "Warning don't disable the intel graphic card" before we download and update the bios

 

I'm sorry for you Naji!

Yeah, Pyr0 should add a warning to the first post. Yesterday I thought about Intel Management Engine and if you can access it with a bricked BIOS.

 

First post updated. I will see if I can remove the dangerous options from future BIOS upgrades. First I will start working on SATA3 in a few days.

 

I don't mean to abuse your time, but it'd be great to test if enabling the following settings will prevent the PEG bug (this is, that selecting PEG won't brick your machine):

• Video config --> PCI Eexpress graphic --> PEG Workaround [default: Disabled]
  
• PCI Express configuration --> PCIe-USB Glitch W/A [default: Disabled]

Another setting that intrigues me is the following:

• Chipset configuration --> ME FW Image Re-Flash [default: Disabled]

Is the above something that allows re-flashing your BIOS/settings automatically, maybe from an USB stick, to eventually recover a bricked machine without the need to open the hatch and touch the hardware??

And finally, will the following change to 24-bit improve the screen quality?:

• Video config --> Internal graphic device --> Panel control depth [default: 18 bit]

So... it's great to have all this settings at dispose. Unfortunately the lack of documentation on each setting makes it all too risky. Fortunately some unofficial documentation will emerge from this thread...

@pyro: does your hacked firmware keep all default settings of the official release? I mean, after a fresh-flashing of your version, am I changing some other setting besides enabing the Advanced menu?

Thank you both for the good efforts!

 

Video config --> PCI Express graphic --> PEG Workaround
(PEG Workaround for some CRB,enable will increase delay time to make sure PEG can display)
A bit more time ... we'll see.
EDIT: fail

PCI Express configuration --> PCIe-USB Glitch W/A Disabled]
(PCIe-USB Glitch W/A for bad USB device(s) connected behind PCIE/PEG Port)
I guess that USB devices don't interfere with the GPU init.
EDIT: fail

Video config --> Internal graphic device --> Panel control depth
That is a save setting! Check it by yourself.

Chipset configuration --> ME FW Image Re-Flash
ME means Intel Management Engine. I guess that prevents user to flash a configured system, because different ME versions seems not to be fully compatible.
BTW - You can disable the ME, but that will cause the fan to run at 100%.

I compared the original BIOS and Pyr0's. He changed twice the Op-Code 0x27 to 0x28 and adjusted the checksum. Means that only the advanced menu got unlocked.

 

Do you think enabling SATA III is possible? Maybe by comparison to the R101 series BIOS and seeing what was changed?

Do you know if these BIOSes are good for the SA4?

 

Many thanks for the previous answers kruegsch!

You mean this setting causes the FAN to overdo?? because in fact I have this one Disabled (I think it's by default as I don't recall changing it) and indeed my fan blows like crazy; it NEVER rests or even slow down...

 

I mean the ME as it not the ME FW Image Re-Flash option.

 

I talked to SONY recently and they told me that SATAIII was disabled due to stability/data integrity issues with their chipset - but apparently they're planning on re-enabling it when they fix the bug....I don't know if this is likely though

 

I have flashed this advanced menu bios, and I found I lost bluetooth feature. Even I downgrade to official R2085H4 bios, the bluetooth still cannot work.

Is there anybody know how to figure it out?

 

I can only tell you I've flashed this too and my blutooth works fine. I've lost my BD-ROM however, but it's unlikely that's due to this firmware. I think it just happens that the S model is crappier than it looked on paper...

 

You've probably already tried this but when i first got my SB i did a clean install updated the firmware and lost my bluetooth or so it seemed. It turned out that the "Vaio Smart Network" application got messed up somehow or maybe i didn't reinstall it after the clean install since it seemed unecessary to me at the time. In any case, i reinstalled it and was able to wake the adapter back up from it, which for some reason i wasn't able to do from the windows control panel.

Take a look at the "Vaio smart network" app if you haven't doen so already. In any case i wish you luck in figuring it out.

 

Maybe our laptops are different model, mine is VPCSA390X. using Intel 6230 wifi/bluetooth adapter.

 

Thanks,
How to do a clean update to official firmware? I checked VSN, no bluetooth option there. Even I cannot find bluetooth catalog in windows device manager.

 

Our laptops are exactly the same model then. Mine's a CTO, so maybe some custom setting differs, but there wasn't much to customize in mine, other than hard drive and memory. Anyway, rest assured this firmware doesn't ruin "per se" the blutooth.

 

Hi I have installed the hacked Bios from “camiloml” and I am wondering if there is a way to revert back to the original Sony bios? Because I need to send my vaio in to Sony due finger print reader problems. My laptop was running R2085H4 and how would I flash it back?

 

you can download it from SONY's website.

 

I have tried that and it just gives me the message that my version is current. any idea?

 

Try to edit "platform.ini" to force a flash or to get a user interface ...

 

You can use Universal Extractor to extract the bios update file.
Then run updTW.bat file in the extracted folder.

 

Thanks mate that worked perfectly and so easy!

Thank you again

 

Hi I just got my VPCSA4c5e, and i've installed an SSD (Crucial 512Gb M4), but when i go to use the tool InsydeFlash.exe is brings up a pop up error "IHISI not support current bios. My current bios R2085H4. Has anyone else had this issue or know how to fix this?

 

How did you get in touch with Sony ? Did they really say they are planning on re-enabling it ?

It seems its quite difficult to talk to somebody from Sony who really knows something about hardware otherwise you will always have to talk to non-technical people who won't even understand the question.

I sent them an e-mail about this SATA 3 issue and got this response.

"I understand your concern regarding the speed of the SATA III hard drive supported by computer. According to the information available from the product manual, the computer is shipped with SATA II interface that supports up to a maximum of 3Gb/s data. This is the normal operation of the computer. I cannot assure the normal functionality of the SATA III hard drive with the computer. "

 

Guys did you get a chance to work on SATA 3 issue yet ?

Thanks in advance.

 

I flashed my SE to the older BIOS firmware to bench my Corsair Performance Pro SSD at full SATA III speeds. (had to flash the newer hacked BIOS first, then I downgraded to the old one to accomplish this)





I reverted back to the newest official BIOS because the old BIOS has stability issues (BSOD's, internal battery recognition, etc) but I can definitely confirm the SE model does have full SATA III capabilities. If a Sony rep told you otherwise they're lying or just don't know what they're talking about.

 

@safemode - Thanks.

Has anyone on this forum been able to talk to someone from Sony and get a real update on SATA 3 issue ?

 

I sent an e-mail to Sony asking them if they have a plan to release an update to the BIOS to enable SATA 3 support. This is their response:

"I understand the concern regarding SATA III Hard Drive supported by the computer. Unfortunately, the BIOS Update Utility you are seeking is not currently available through Sony support. Should our VAIO SE team decide to provide any update in the future, it will be added to your model specific update site.

Sony eSupport - VPCSB1AGX - Support

TIP: Sony designs and fully tests our products during the design phase of development. Typically we would only provide such updates if we determine that the original driver did not meet our expectations, or required to address an unforeseen issue.

NOTE: Some settings in the BIOS appear as default values which cannot be altered.

Thank you for understanding."

 

I sent an email to Sony asking them about SATA III and also received a generic response from one of their customer care reps. I was told to call (888) 476-6972 or (239) 768-7669 for international owners so they could help me troubleshoot the issue (lol) so I never bothered.

My suggestion is that everyone who owns this notebook line (SA/SE/SB/SC) and wants full SATA III speeds plus advanced options in the BIOS should write/call into Sony and demand these options be restored because it can be done. The hardware supports it, end of.

 

I talked to them about a laptop replacement. My SB was going to be replaced under warranty for an SA4 and I told them that it wasn't equivalent or better because of the SATA III issue. They got in contact with someone who gave me that information.

 

Laptop not work... I think i disable hd3000... What to do? How reset all?

 

Please upload bios screenshots. I will try on internal card and off peg without display.
I think i have 25 seconds before off.

 

I did this before, and so did a few other people. There is no easy way to reset. You have to ask Sony to replace your motherboard or reflash the BIOS chip like kreugsch did.

 

This way is possible?
Who can help me with it?
Via skype messages and screenshots. I dont now menu structure.

 

you must have touched the options mentioned in the first post that will brick your laptop. There is no way to unbrick. You must send your laptop back to sony and hope for the best.

 

Your bios under admin password! Now laptop is working, but i cant use it'

Please write password))

If you now his contacts - ask for me!
I cant send PM, why?

Thanks..

 

Hey today i got my Sony SA it has the R2086H4 bios, is there a hack allready available or unter constuction?

 

This version is not available to the pulic from the Sony website yet. Will be released a hacked version here once it comes out.

 

My SA also came with the 2086 version - can you do something with the BIOS dump that I created before I flashed your hacked 2085?

 

Sorry for that!

I've reuploaded the original dump (password-free) here:
R2085H4_Original-VPCSA_BIOS-DUMP.zip

Also, seeing that many people have difficulties reverting to the official BIOS once they've flashed the hacked version, here's the tool to flash back the original R2085, regardless of what version you currently have:
R2085H4_Original-VPCSA_BIOS-FLASH.zip

Now, if you really unbricked your laptop after selecting the PEG option without resorting to complex hardware, go ahead and explain us how you did it

 

What was password?
Please write password here

I can't reflash your new BIOS and change settings in your previos BIOS.
Because Ive paid money in service and don't want pay more time.

 

Sorry mate, that's personal and I won't give. Forums are informal and there's always some degree of risk on whatever you pick from here. You can rest assured that the new upload is password-free though...

 

How exactly did you enable graphics after disabling?

 

I reflash to my original dump. Laptop is working, but power off after 30 minutes!! In windows and without. every 30!

Why?

 

ME version = "Unknown" - what is it?

 

ME means Intel Management Engine.