[REQUEST] ASUS TUF A15 FA506IV BIOS Unlock

[Sml6397]

Okay, I think this mod is it! I feel really good about this one.

Before I continue, I want to give a huge shout out to BDMaster. BDMaster is the one who clarified my understanding about the FormID List Lock mod for this image. If this mod works, thank BDMaster!

I was on the right path looking further into the Form ID lists and figuring out which ones are blocking lists and which ones are just lists of the FormIDs. This is primarily what I've been investigating and trying to figure out for most of the past two days.

Having done all the research and manual inspection of hex code I can, I was going to move onto disassembling the AMITSE module to figure this out - which would have taken a while given my relative lack of experience. Fortunately, BDMaster has figured this out for us - and if this mod works, I am going to use this prior knowledge of which Form ID lists are which to more quickly learn what is going on behind the scenes with the assembly code and then I will post what I learn to this thread.

Please let me know how this goes! If everything goes right, your BIOS Setup Utility should look crazy after this. Expect to see duplicate menus (by names, not by settings), possible unnamed menus, and a Chipset menu. We will fix this later on.

In addition to the FormID List Lock mod, I also applied some more access level edits to the AMITSESetupData module.

EDIT: I got an idea about the CBS Menu. Maybe I can just add the GUID of the chipset menu to the list of menus that appears in the AMITSE module. There is probably a lot more involved, but I will try this basic edit after we get the Chipset Menu working.


-- Reference info about the mod (will add more soon) --

There are 3 lists of the menus that appear or can be made to appear in the BIOS Setup Utility. One of these is just a list of all menus that can appear. This is the longest list. There is also a short form ID list and a long form ID list.

The short form ID list and long form ID list can be lists of menus that receive certain checks to see if they should appear. By removing menus we want to appear from whichever list(s) are blocking lists, we can remove the list lock that often hides menus in the newer Aptio V images. This often must be paired with the access level edit mod changing the desired menus' access levels from Default or Supervisor to User. This mod is described in Post #39.

[Sml6397]

BIG UPDATE: I found a hidden AMD PBS menu! It contains loads of settings. For reference, it resides in a module is named "AmdPbsSetupDxe".

I'll give you some examples: SSD Power Enable (there is a version of this for a large variety of devices such as Camera, USB, HDD, WLAN, and many more); Discrete GPU Hotplug Mode (never heard of this on a laptop?); Discrete GPU D3Cold HPD Support; Discrete GPU HPD Circuitry; Primary Video Adaptor (internal or external, and yes it is misspelled); Wake On Voice; Above 4GB MMIO Limit (can set from 32GB to 256TB); NFC Support; HDMI over USB; various PCIe settings; Wireless LAN Recovery (BIOS recovery over WiFi?); Charger mode (NVDC vs. BYPASS): VDDP Voltage (from +10mv to -100mv); more voltage settings; and more!

This menu will very likely need to be unlocked in the same manner as the AMD CBS Menu. So once we figure out one, we've got the other as well. I'll start working on these two menus if the mod in Post #51 works.

[Sml6397]

Hello KnoxMe,

I have completed another mod. This one is for the CBS Menu. This is a start, but it is possible a few more edits will need to be made for the menu to show. I just added the AMD CBS FormID to the Full FormID List in the AMITSE module.

Please try the mod in Post #51 first, however. I am fairly confident that that one will finally show the Chipset Menu, which should include some of the settings you initially requested, such as memory clock frequency/timing/power settings.

This new mod is based on that one, but could also break the setup utility, which is why I want to try the other one first. Let me know!

WARNING: The mod in this post is experimental! Do not flash it if you are not KnoxMe!

[Sml6397]

Any news on the SPI programmer's arrival or mod flash attempts?

[RomanF12012]

So,modify bios is correct?

[Sml6397]

So,modify bios is correct?

The BIOS mod from post #51 should have unlocked menus (not including CBS, PBS, etc.). Here it is: https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-R...#pid182764

Keep in mind that if you flash this mod, you will lose certain details in your BIOS like UUID, Serial Number, MAC Addresses, and more.

If you want a BIOS mod that will not erase these details, please use Serg008's BackupTool to get a BIOS dump for me to modify for you: https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-N...#pid182958

Upload the results.rar file here.

Do NOT use the BIOS mod from Post #54. That is for research purposes only and I cannot guarantee that it is safe. It might brick (break) your computer.

[nivekoso12]

Okay, I think this mod is it! I feel really good about this one.

Before I continue, I want to give a huge shout out to BDMaster. BDMaster is the one who clarified my understanding about the FormID List Lock mod for this image. If this mod works, thank BDMaster!

I was on the right path looking further into the Form ID lists and figuring out which ones are blocking lists and which ones are just lists of the FormIDs. This is primarily what I've been investigating and trying to figure out for most of the past two days.

Having done all the research and manual inspection of hex code I can, I was going to move onto disassembling the AMITSE module to figure this out - which would have taken a while given my relative lack of experience. Fortunately, BDMaster has figured this out for us - and if this mod works, I am going to use this prior knowledge of which Form ID lists are which to more quickly learn what is going on behind the scenes with the assembly code and then I will post what I learn to this thread.

Please let me know how this goes! If everything goes right, your BIOS Setup Utility should look crazy after this. Expect to see duplicate menus (by names, not by settings), possible unnamed menus, and a Chipset menu. We will fix this later on.

In addition to the FormID List Lock mod, I also applied some more access level edits to the AMITSESetupData module.

EDIT: I got an idea about the CBS Menu. Maybe I can just add the GUID of the chipset menu to the list of menus that appears in the AMITSE module. There is probably a lot more involved, but I will try this basic edit after we get the Chipset Menu working.


-- Reference info about the mod (will add more soon) --

There are 3 lists of the menus that appear or can be made to appear in the BIOS Setup Utility. One of these is just a list of all menus that can appear. This is the longest list. There is also a short form ID list and a long form ID list.

The short form ID list and long form ID list can be lists of menus that receive certain checks to see if they should appear. By removing menus we want to appear from whichever list(s) are blocking lists, we can remove the list lock that often hides menus in the newer Aptio V images. This often must be paired with the access level edit mod changing the desired menus' access levels from Default or Supervisor to User. This mod is described in Post #39.

[Sml6397]

Hello nivekoso12,

It appears you forgot to include your reply! Are you looking for a BIOS mod? I can comfortably supply one now for this particular laptop. I just need a BIOS backup. Let me know what you are looking for.

~Steven

[susch19]

Hello nivekoso12,

It appears you forgot to include your reply! Are you looking for a BIOS mod? I can comfortably supply one now for this particular laptop. I just need a BIOS backup. Let me know what you are looking for.

~Steven

Are you comfortable, that the modded bios does work or only comfortable, that it (with high probability) won't brick the device?
Because i didn't see any reply, that this bios now works as expected.
I'm considering to buy a C341A flasher, so the adventure of the unlocked bios can continue, they atleast seem to be quite cheap and having a backup solution is never a bad idea.
I've attached the dump made with the Serg008's BackupTool

Thanks for your hard work so far

[badabacchus]

Hi there,

Can someone please point out the location where the BIOS SOIC chip resides?
I spent >4 hours Googling before deciding to post to this forum. I have disassembled the device completely, apart from heat-pipes.

I see here you are all using various programming devices, as well as non-invasive techniques.
I specifically want to identify the hardware location, which I read that some of you have done (as opposed to USB flashing methods, noted by some in earlier posts).

(...shortened)
I'd recommend seeing if AFUWIN (...shortened) . I had to order the Pomona 5250 clip in order to flash my test machine.

With the modified image from Post #25, do the normal BIOS menus (Main, Advanced, Security, Boot, Save & Exit) show up or does nothing show up at all?

May be useful for indicating chip location, a photo of front:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/D0hcm12i4gM/...fault.webp

For the opposite side:
https://ibb.co/GW1M9vj   (blacked-out empty areas/capacitors for file-size)


Thanks for your time
As it is my first post, hopefully I am clearly spoken and appropriate to discussion.