[REQUEST] Sony Vaio VGN-C1Z AHCI

[alfredolanda]

I am just digging into the subject and found this on strings section of BIOS

'Compatible:', 0Dh, 'SATA Drive = Primary', 0Dh, 'on SATA Controller, in', 0Dh, 'Legacy Mode. PATA', 0Dh, 'Drive = Secondary on', 0Dh, 'SATA Controller, in', 0Dh, 'Legacy Mode.', 0Dh, 0Dh, 'Enhanced:', 0Dh, 'SATA Drive = Primary', 0Dh, 'on SATA Controller, in', 0Dh, 'Native Mode. PATA', 0Dh, 'Drive = Primary on PATA', 0Dh, 'Controller, in Legacy', 0Dh, 'Mode.'

So I assume AHCI can be possible. Could you help me bringing up the hidden menu of AHCI?
It is better/easier to activate it by NVRAM? How?

The bios is this one:
http://download.sony-europe.com/PUB/Down...016-UN.exe

I want to optimize my SSD a bit. Thanks!

[Sml6397]

Hello alfredolanda,

The register to enable AHCI in your BIOS is 00FC . Change the setting value from [0000] to [0001] to enable AHCI. Be sure to install the AHCI drivers for your OS BEFORE you enable this setting.

If you want to enable VT-x as well, the register is 030C . When setting this value ([0000] to [ooo1] to enable), you must completely SHUT DOWN your notebook with the power button after setting it, do not just restart or the setting will revert.

~Steven

I am just digging into the subject and found this on strings section of BIOS

'Compatible:', 0Dh, 'SATA Drive = Primary', 0Dh, 'on SATA Controller, in', 0Dh, 'Legacy Mode. PATA', 0Dh, 'Drive = Secondary on', 0Dh, 'SATA Controller, in', 0Dh, 'Legacy Mode.', 0Dh, 0Dh, 'Enhanced:', 0Dh, 'SATA Drive = Primary', 0Dh, 'on SATA Controller, in', 0Dh, 'Native Mode. PATA', 0Dh, 'Drive = Primary on PATA', 0Dh, 'Controller, in Legacy', 0Dh, 'Mode.'

So I assume AHCI can be possible. Could you help me bringing up the hidden menu of AHCI?
It is better/easier to activate it by NVRAM? How?

The bios is this one:
http://download.sony-europe.com/PUB/Down...016-UN.exe

I want to optimize my SSD a bit. Thanks!

[alfredolanda]

Thank you so much for your response Steven. Can you point me out a tuto on how to modify that? Should I use Phoenix editor or a hex editor? or modify which temp file? I am a bit lost.

Thanks a lot!

[alfredolanda]

enabled 00FC to [0001] with syncmos, but appears to not be working

[Sml6397]

Hello alfredolanda,

I used a hex editor (HxD) to modify the TEMPLAT0.ROM and STRINGS0.ROM files. To find the NVRAM registers' functions, you would also use the TEMPLAT0.ROM and STRINGS0.ROM files. In new-style Phoenix BIOS's, the only file that you modify to change menus in the BIOS is the TEMPLAT0.ROM (unless there is a function hiding an option).

I will write a tutorial in understandable English on how to do this as well as reference to other tutorials that have helped me learn about BIOS modding and register hunting. I have a lot of tests in school this week (including an AP World History exam), so my time is somewhat limited from what I normally have. I will have more time after tomorrow.


As for the register not working...

1 Which OS are you using?


2 Is there an error message or does the symcmos write to the NVRAM with the setting not actually changing in the laptop?

If you tell me your OS, I can tell you how to test if AHCI is working for sure.


3 Which commands are you entering into symcmos to read and write the NVRAM and are you doing this in a bootable DOS OS instead of Windows?

The command for reading/writing the NVRAM are as follows (without the quotes & pay attention to the spaces as well as the lack of spaces):
•Read: "symcmos -v2 -LDefault.txt"
•Write: "symcmos -v2 -UModified.txt" where "Modified.txt" is the name of the modified nvram token table file


4 Could you upload a CURRENT copy (make a new dump) of your NVRAM token table dump using symcmos?

This will allow me to see if the setting reverted or if the modification was made incorrectly (file not saved after changing 0 to 1, or other error).

Thank you so much for your response Steven. Can you point me out a tuto on how to modify that? Should I use Phoenix editor or a hex editor? or modify which temp file? I am a bit lost.

Thanks a lot!

[alfredolanda]

Thank you for your responses. It is fixed and working right now!!!

In an epic act of noobism I was modifying the .txt file of syncmos with an hex editor and changing the position of the character at the offsets I was told. Then I accidentally opened it with notepad and all started to make sense.

I am using Windows 8.1

The only tool that worked for me doing bootable usb disks is RUFUS. HP disk and others did not work.

Vaio customized WinPhlash 1.4 only works in Windows 32 bit, I was unable to use the phlash16 over DOS nor the newer x64 versions with this Sony Vaio BIOS, it always said signature not known or corrupted BIOS. The workarround is to use a WinPE of Windows XP disk. I used Bart's PE builder with a iso of Windows XP with the original Vaio WinPhlash embedded in .exe

Also, the VAIO modded winphlash do not flash if versions are the same, so if you have a modded one and want to reverse to original or things like that you have to downgrade (it allows you to downgrade) and update again. Advanced UI menu is not available in this modded version.

Thank you for your efforts and hope my feedback to be useful for somebody.

[Sml6397]

I am glad it worked and you are welcome.

Thank you for your responses. It is fixed and working right now!!!

In an epic act of noobism I was modifying the .txt file of syncmos with an hex editor and changing the position of the character at the offsets I was told. Then I accidentally opened it with notepad and all started to make sense.