Acer Laptop with Phoenix BIOS: BIOS MOD Request

[roccospatu]

If it is still under warranty, return back the card & get ATI card instead. You can refer to this website for more information. In theory, any MXM II card should work out-of-the-box with your notebook. If it doesn't work, usually the card itself faulty. As far as I know, manufacturer doesn't implement whitelist or any checking mechanism in BIOS to only allow certain MXM card to work. So, BIOS mod is not the right path to get your card working. Good luck.

Thanks! I try to contact seller and ask for a change or a refund.
I hope to resolve soon.
If there are some news i'll write here.

[kizwan]

Have you got another hint for me to look for the VGA Bios files?

No I'm afraid. Can you open every modules (especially all .ROM file) with HEX editor? Look at the beginning of the content, if you can see word like "ATI", it is likely VBIOS file.

I'm right now working on another BIOS which is completely not compatible with PBE. I will need to blind-mod it & use Phoenix SLIC Mod tool to rebuild the modified BIOS image. There are a lot of hidden menu but scattered. There are limited space I can use, so, not many I can unlocked. Shame because it look like there are a couple of hidden overclock menu.

[kizwan]

Hi kizwan,

I am having trouble downloading your tutorial - Unlock Hidden Menu - from mediafire link . Could you post another link , please ?

EDIT: OK, I got the file - server must have been very busy.

Also, can you mod Aspire 8942G bios to unlock hidden menus, if any ?
Here is link for bios - http://rs807l36.rapidshare.com/files...1-_AS8942G.WPH

Thank you

In the mean time , I tried open my bios with PBE 2.2.0.1 - it says BCP not found.
I tried opening with PBE PRO 2.2.1.3 - it says PSI Aanlysis Fail.
I noticed that you could not open too another bios for some Aspire new model.
Phoenix Mod Tool says - bios new style.
Any progress on this new bioses ? Is there a new utility to open these new bioses?
And a stupid question - how do you get into Emulation screen in PBE ?

Thank you

Aspire 8942G BIOS is not compatible with PBE. The only solution is by blind-mod it & rebuild the modified BIOS image using Phoenix SLIC Mod tool. blind-mod means that I can't simulate the BIOS Setup Menu since it is not compatible with PBE.

This is modified BIOS image for Aspire 8942G. It is based on BIOS v3109. In this modified BIOS image, I have unlocked several sub-menu such as "CPU Control Sub-Menu".
Old BIOS image: Aspire 8942G BIOS_3109 Blind-MOD.rar (Unlocked BIOS menu not visible)
UPDATE R2: Aspire 8942G BIOS_3109 Blind-MOD R2.rar
UPDATE R3: Aspire 8942G BIOS_3109 Blind-MOD R3.rar (with overclocking menu)
###################################################################
UPDATE R4: Aspire 8942G 3109 Microcode MOD-TEST R4.rar
- OP request at post #1490.
- This modified BIOS image confirmed works by searcher? at post #1506.
- Use it at your own risk
- Updated CPU Microcode Update for CPUID 020652
- Added CPU Microcode Update for CPUID 020655
- Removed CPU Microcode Update for CPUID 020651
- Only proceed flashing BIOS with this modified BIOS image if your notebook can recover corrupted BIOS with CRISIS disk. I will not responsible for any problem.
###################################################################
There are several overclock menu I found in the BIOS, such as:-

- Bus Speed Override
- OverClocking Feature
- CPU VID Support
- Flex Vid Override

If you tried this modified BIOS image, please let me know whether you can see this overclock menu or not. If possible, take a picture of BIOS Setup Menu screen & post it here.

NOTES: There are a lot of sub-menus. Please be careful with it. If your computer doesn't boot after changing something in the sub-menu, you will need to disconnect the CMOS/RTC battery to reset CMOS back to default. To do so, you will need to open your notebook casing.

Please make sure your notebook can recover corrupted BIOS with CRISIS disk before flashing BIOS with this modified BIOS image. I will not responsible for any problem. Good luck.

[kizwan]

Thank you for your response kizwan,

i'll give it a shot.

I will make list with selectable options in the current 1.12 bios.

Hi Sayko, please refer to my previous post. The Aspire 8942G BIOS have similar issue like yours which is not compatible with PBE. I have to blind-mod it. Your BIOS is little bit difficult since the hidden menu is scattered. There are limited space we can use to unlocked hidden menu. So, you'll need to specify which do you want.

[jduser7]

Is this your notebook? Look like it doesn't have Intel HD Graphics, only Nvidia GT 310M. If your notebook doesn't come with dual-GPU, there is no way you can enable the Intel HD Graphics. Please give me the link to your notebook BIOS.

Re - Samsung R580 i5 bios mod
Thanks for a quick response, appreciate your help.
The linked laptop has i3 processor, while my laptop has I5 430m cpu and GT310M GPU. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think all I5 processors have intel graphics built in. It is confusing though as this laptop is being offered with different processor and GPU options. But with 2 hour battery life on a 6-cell battery many owners must be looking for a way to extend that time with underclocking and/or graphics card switching
I've been looking for Samsung R580 bios on Samsung website but there is nothing on their support download site for this model (or even similar r580 sub-models).
I've browsed other driver sites, but not sure if any of them are reputable for me to provide a link. I did load BIOS and can see that it's Phoenix. Does anyone else on this forum have this laptop or perhaps a link to reputable download site?

Edit - or is there a tool for downloading the bios firmware off my system?

[kizwan]

Re - Samsung R580 i5 bios mod
Thanks for a quick response, appreciate your help.
The linked laptop has i3 processor, while my laptop has I5 430m cpu and GT310M GPU. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think all I5 processors have intel graphics built in. It is confusing though as this laptop is being offered with different processor and GPU options.

Yes, all i5 processor have Intel HD Graphics built-in it but it is up to the manufacturer whether to implement it or not. From the specification, it doesn't have Intel HD Graphics, just GT 310M GPU. Samsung doesn't implement it on your notebook (on hardware level). For dual-graphics to work, it require extra components on the motherboard to get it to work. Modding BIOS will not going to get the Intel HD Graphics to work. I have to admit that Intel & notebook manufacturers create a confusion on this matter. But in my opinion it shouldn't be confusing though. You can spot it in the computer specification whether it have dual-gpu or not.

I've browsed other driver sites, but not sure if any of them are reputable for me to provide a link. I did load BIOS and can see that it's Phoenix. Does anyone else on this forum have this laptop or perhaps a link to reputable download site?

Edit - or is there a tool for downloading the bios firmware off my system?

Usually, manufacturer put default drivers & BIOS in drivers CD. Have you look in there? Anyway, it doesn't matter since your request is not supported by your notebook.

[seaman]

Aspire 8942G BIOS is not compatible with PBE. The only solution is by blind-mod it & rebuild the modified BIOS image using Phoenix SLIC Mod tool. blind-mod means that I can't simulate the BIOS Setup Menu since it is not compatible with PBE.

This is modified BIOS image for Aspire 8942G. It is based on BIOS v3109. In this modified BIOS image, I have unlocked several sub-menu such as "CPU Control Sub-Menu".
Aspire 8942G BIOS_3109 Blind-MOD.rar
Comparison between original & modified BIOS. This show that only TEMPLAT00.ROM is changed. TEMPLAT00.ROM is BIOS Setup Menu.

There are several overclock menu I found in the BIOS, such as:-

If you tried this modified BIOS image, please let me know whether you can see this overclock menu or not. If possible, take a picture of BIOS Setup Menu screen & post it here.

Please make sure your notebook can recover corrupted BIOS with CRISIS disk before flashing BIOS with this modified BIOS image. I will not responsible for any problem. Good luck.

Thanks a lot for your work.
Let me build a CRISIS disk and test it - I didn't use one before.
Then I will surely test your modified bios and report back.

Regards

[Sayko]

Hi Sayko, please refer to my previous post. The Aspire 8942G BIOS have similar issue like yours which is not compatible with PBE. I have to blind-mod it. Your BIOS is little bit difficult since the hidden menu is scattered. There are limited space we can use to unlocked hidden menu. So, you'll need to specify which do you want.

Hi kizwan,

I'd like to have a menu for overclocking. That would be nice. And if even possible, enabling the i3 gpu.

Thanx in advance

[kizwan]

Hi kizwan,

I'd like to have a menu for overclocking. That would be nice. And if even possible, enabling the i3 gpu.

Thanx in advance

I already take a look. No overclocking menu found in BIOS. If your computer doesn't come with dual-gpu or switchable graphic cards, there is no way you can enable the i3 GPU. The necessary component to use i3 GPU is not implemented on your computer.

[Sayko]

Ok,

thank you very much. Do you have any idea which items are unhideable?

I already take a look. No overclocking menu found in BIOS. If your computer doesn't come with dual-gpu or switchable graphic cards, there is no way you can enable the i3 GPU. The necessary component to use i3 GPU is not implemented on your computer.