Z97I-Plus and H97I-Plus Mobo Bios Request

[keung71182]

I have a Asus Z97I-PLUS and H9I-Plus(I think they use the same bios) that I am having issues trying to hack them.  I am specifically looking to enable the PCI Express configurations to enable hot plug capability for NVMe.  When I save the file using AMIBCP, it says its saving it as an unsigned file and then I can't update the bios using the modded file.  When I try to update via bios, it says it is not the same size bios as original but I compare the two and they show the same size.  Can anyone help or produce one for me?

Not sure what the next step is but any help would be appreciated

Thanks for your time!

Bios V2704

[Lost_N_BIOS]

First, they do not use same BIOS. Second, be VERY careful when you see any BIOS Size error, do not flash or you can brick the board in a hurry if it allows a flash by you somehow forcing that to happen.

Z97I-Plus, easiest way to flash this one with mod BIOS is via USB Flashback. Smaller cheaper USB better (128MB-2GB), put mod BIOS on root of USB (FAT32 formatted) and BIOS must have SB Flashback name >> Z97IPLUS.CAP
If you have a rom or bin file now, you cannot simply rename this to .cap, you must put BIOS back into capsule via hex editor, then rename. If you are not sure how all that is done, upload your mod BIOS for this board and I will make the file for you.

Here's how USB Flashback works
https://event.asus.com/2012/mb/USB_BIOS_...ack_GUIDE/
https://www.asus.com/us/support/FAQ/1013998/
https://rog.asus.com/technology/republic...flashback/

H97I-Plus, this does not have USB Flashback, best method I suggest for this board is to dump BIOS region via FPT, unlock BIOS lock via grub using setup_var, then flashback mod BIOS region via FPT. Since I've mentioned FPT and we're talking Asus in general, NEVER Flash stock .CAP BIOS in any way with FPT. BIOS region can be removed from stock BIOS and flashed via FPT, but that is not suggested either, you will loose serial, UUID etc. Only dump BIOS region with FPT and then flash that back after you've modified it. SO, in other words, throw away any BIOS you have modified for this model now, so you're not tempted to use it with FPT.

Here's how to do all the above mentioned

Get BIOS region via FPT and flash via FPT - Check BIOS main page and see if ME FW version is shown, if not then download HWINFO64 and on the large window on left side, expand motherboard and find ME area, inside that get the ME Firmware version.
Once you have that, go to this thread and in the section "C" download the matching ME System Tools Package (ie if ME FW version = 10.x get V10 package, if 9.0-9.1 get V9.1 package, if 9.5 or above get V9.5 package etc)
https://www.win-raid.com/t596f39-Intel-Management-Engine-Drivers-Firmware-amp-System-Tools.html

Once downloaded, inside you will find Flash Programming Tool folder, and inside that a Windows or Win/Win32 folder. Select that Win folder, hold shift and press right click, choose open command window here (Not power shell).
At the command prompt type the following command and send me the created file to modify >> FPTw.exe -bios -d biosreg.bin

Right after you do that, try to write back the BIOS Region dump and see if you get any error, if you do show me image of the command entered and the error give >> FPTw.exe -bios -f biosreg.bin

If you are stuck on Win10 and cannot easily get command prompt, and method I mentioned above does not work for you, here is some links that should help
Or, copy all contents from the Flash Programming Tool \ DOS folder to the root of a USB Bootable disk and do the dump from DOS (FPT.exe -bios -d biosreg.bin)
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-add-command-prompt-power-user-menu-windows-10-creators-update
https://www.windowscentral.com/add-open-command-window-here-back-context-menu-windows-10
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/open-windows-10-command-prompt-administrator-privileges

How to unlock BIOS Lock so you can flash mod BIOS, you can start at step 6, I've done rest for you below
https://www.win-raid.com/t3908f16-GUIDE-Grub-Setup-Var-Guide-Fix-Intel-FPT-Error-BIOS-Lock-Bit-Set-HSFS-W-Asus-or-Other-Mod-BIOS.html

BIOS Lock variable to unlock at grub >>0x8D
Rename your .efi file to >> Shellx64.efi

So at grub prompt you'll type the following >> setup_var 0x8D 0x0
Then reboot to windows and then flash in your newly modified biosreg.bin file

[keung71182]

Wow!  Thanks a lot for the detailed response Lost_N_BIOS.  It is much appreciated.  Let's hope that I can follow this guide       Unfortunately the flashback option for the Z97I-Plus board won't work, but I will try to figure out the other way you listed and get back to you.  This is my first time doing this so it will take some time.
thanks again for your help!

[keung71182]

Okay i was able to get the bios dump(attached).  Now on the "write back" part of the instructions, are you saying to do a -bios -f -biosreg.bin?  I am not sure how to write back the bios.  Thanks again for your help!

[Lost_N_BIOS]

Flashback option does work for the Z97I-Plus board, I checked to be sure and it's listed in the specs for that model. You do have to find a compatible USB stick though, not all will work. If you aren't sure if your mod BIOS file is the issue, or USB compatibility, rename the stock BIOS and flash it with flashback as test method, then you can find working USB and be able to tell if your mod BIOS or the USB is the issue.

However, the main issue may be how your saving it as unsigned with AMIBCP. Send me that file, I will fix it for you, then it will work with flashback.

Yes, as a test, write back the biosreg.bin you just created (only to the board it came from) >> FPTw.exe -bios -f -biosreg.bin
This usually will fail, I need to see the error you get so I can tell you how to get around it, if it's not the error 368 I already linked you info to get around above.

If you can't get flashback working for you on the Z97I-Plus, it can be done with FPT too, but I'll have to get you it's variable you'll need to unlock in grub because they wont be the same ones I gave you above for the other model.

[keung71182]

Hey Lost_N_BIOS, thanks for the quick reply.  There is a Dram_LED/MemOk button on the board but not a flashback button on the back.  I'm guessing that is the flashback button?  Attached is the modified bios that contains the changes to PCI Express to enable hot plug capability and allows me to modify the PCI Express settings.  Let me know what you think.  My main goal is to enable hot plug capability on the PCIe port so if you see that I made a change incorrectly, please by all means change it.  Thanks again for the help!  Unfortunately, this site won't allow me to upload a cap file so I changed the extension to .bin.  You will just need to change it back to .cap.  Thanks again for the help

[Lost_N_BIOS]

I'm not sure, you'll have to look in your manual how it works for that system without a button. I checked, the manual says press the reset button for 3 seconds, when using USB BIOS flashback. So that is how you invoke it on this system.

You're BIOS was inside unsigned capsule and had incorrect extension. Here is fixed and flashback ready BIOS from your above edit, do not rename, put in root of USB. I did not edit anything, but I do see you missed port 4, and left all set to "Disabled" If you make changes, you'll need to do it properly or upload again for me to fix.
http://www.filedropper.com/z97iplus

To do this properly, open the .cap file in UEFITool, select AMI Aptio Capsule and extract body. That file is what you now edit. Then once you are done, open the stock or file I uploaded above in hex editor, go to 800h location, then open your edited body in another tab of hex editor, select all, go back to the stock or BIOS .cap I provided, past your body you select all of, then save as USB Flashback name Z97IPLUS.CAP. To confirm your edit is OK, open stock BIOS and your final mod BIOS side by side in UEFITool, both should say AMI Aptio Capsule signed at the top/middle and at the bottom it should give warning that signature may become invalid if you modify it.

[keung71182]

Hey Lost_N_BIOS, I hope you had a great weekend.  So I tried the steps provided and unfortunately it did not work for me.  
I formatted the drive FAT32 using rufus 
Added your .cap file in the root
powered down the mobo
held the reset button for 3 seconds

At this point there was no led flashing or anything.  when I did press the reset button for 3 seconds, the light on my usb dongle lit up so I know I was at least doing that part correctly lol.  I also tried to update the ez update in the bios and it said that it wasn't a proper bios.  In addition to trying those two ways, I tried updating it via the AI Suite and I received a get blocks error.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[keung71182]

Just to add, I just used the usb flashback option to load the latest bios revision so I know that is working as well
Let me know what you think.  Thanks!

[Lost_N_BIOS]

Don't use rufus, format with windows right click format to FAT32 quick format put file in root of USB (Not in folder). Put USB Stick in USB under LAN port if there is one, usually this is flashback port. EZ Flash will not accept mod BIOS, so no need to waste time there..

First, try flashing stock.cap BIOS via USB Flashback, once you get that working then you know mod BIOS.cap will work.
Or, you mean you did this in your last comment? If yes, then maybe your edit is bad, and I fixed a bad BIOS mod to begin with?
Here is new file, I made from stock BIOS, made same edits you did in AMIBCP only
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...1136454899