So what's the deal with modifying / unlocking BIOS / UEFI these days?

I tried searching around for some bios unlocks and modification threads but almost all of them are quite old and locked at this point.

Is there anything to gain from achieving this on most modern BGA notebooks these days? Or are there other locks and limitations put in place by manufacturers that would render a cracked bios moot?

Curious what the process would be and how realistic it would be especially now with the whole UEFI bs thrown in the mix.

One of my systems is in my signature.

 

Called Liabilities...

 

Most of the bga cpus are locked, hence even an unlocked bios even cant do any tweaks to yous cpu!!!

 

Again, this post is not constructive and the triple exclamation points are unnecessary on everything you post.

BGA CPUs being locked is common knowledge among this crowd.

Unlocked BIOS aren't just for tweaking CPUs, there are other reasons than OCing a CPU that one might be interested in doing so, such as altering fan speeds, fan control properties, power throttling limits, current throttling limits, turbo time allowances, etc.

I am interested in learning more about some of the lesser known sub systems and how to work with all of it in general. I have been learning about it over at MyDigitalLife forums where there is a lot more documentation on the matter.

 

Yes on my i7 7700HQ and my BIOS Insyde 3.0 version I would like to unlock advanced section so I can increase fan RPM so the CPU stays a bit cooler. I know it can go faster because when I flash a BIOS update the fans are much faster and louder compared to running strenuous applications and games. It's so annoying...

 

Yes, unfortunately, it has become popular with OEMs/ODMs to actively interfere with this by forcing firmware signing and write protections. They misrepresent this feces as making systems more secure, which is just BS to conceal their control-freak mentality. Otherwise, all of the menu options that are not dangerous would be exposed and fully functional. They don't want anyone to have the ability to configure systems according to personal preference, and they're not bashful about overstepping boundaries and taking liberties that are not theirs to take in order to block it.

Yes, 199%. And, don't forget switching to legacy BIOS whenever you feel like it, disabling Secure Boot feces, disabling ACPI, sleep, hibernation, the ability to selectively disable SATA ports when necessary (multi-boot OS installations), disabling Link State Power Management, disabling TPM, Software Guard Extensions, etc., etc., etc., etc. The reasons to have an unlocked BIOS eclipses overclocking and apply universally to all systems whether or not their CPU is overclockable. Not having all of the options exposed deprives consumers of the autonomy and freedom to manage their personal property in whatever manner they deem expedient, and it is fundamentally dishonest and immoral to make the configuration options inaccessible. You can still access all of this stuff on a quality desktop motherboard, and it is absolutely inexcusable for notebook manufacturers to not provide exactly the same access and functionality in notebook firmware.

It's actually more like customer manipulation, Nazi-like control and being Micro$loth butt-kissers. For some reason they view it as being OK to arbitrarily screw the customers that buy notebooks. As long as consumers remain ignorant enough to keep throwing money at firmware-crippled trashbooks, they will continue molesting the public and pretending it's OK.

 

Is there no way we can request a unlocked BIOS version compatible with our laptops on another website that does BIOS modding? My laptop is overheating because I cant enforce Performance fans on my laptop as they dont go full tilt :**

 

Just curious what make / model of laptop you are referring to @GreatD ?

 

HP Omen 17 w200na

 

Modifying what is accessible in the firmware isn't the problem. Applying it is the problem. All laptops now require signed firmware and modified firmware will not have a valid signature. If you can get someone unhide the menus for you using a BIOS dump, you will need to sledgehammer the thing using a hardware programmer to circumvent the control-freak protections they have in place to block flashing it.

 

Thanks for the explanation. Damm it sounds technical and not easily overcome....

 

Yes, but couldn't a seasoned modder modify a signed BIOS file in a hex editor or something if they know what they are looking for and what they want to change? I've seen people claiming successful mods of tightly locked systems but it is not easy by any means.

 

Yup, they could. But, you would not be able to flash it normally. Modding breaks the signature, so you would have to put it on the chip with a hardware programmer. Doing that is not a big deal, but is scares the crap out of some people and it costs money to buy the extra stuff to do it. Depending on the original firmware setup, it can corrupt or brick the Intel ME. Some of the ODMs, like MSI, lock down (write protect) the ME region as well. The Nazi OEMs/ODMs are getting pretty efficient in their practice of behaving like scumbag dictators.

 

I'm very happy with my Dell 7577, I think they got it perfect for once. It is plenty of power and control for me as well as excellent thermal properties, I was just asking since it had been a while since I last looked into modding BIOSes. My old ~2012 ish HP laptop had ZERO options and controls in the BIOS which still bothers me. At least with my Dell I can disable turbo boost, C states, hyper threading, and change a whole lot of other stuff if I want to. It's not everything I would like, but as a turnkey solution meant for the masses, I can deal with that.