Acer MXM BIOS Mods and discussion (was: x920G vs. 9600M GT)

[.NetRolller 3D]

1.0.0.4 needs XP compatibility mode when running on Windows 7, according to my limited testing.
Also, you should plug in your flash drive and probably format it to FAT (maybe FAT32?) BEFORE running Wincris. (For me, it works perfectly this way.)

Only Wincris v1.0.0.4 can be used for creating USB crisis disks - older Wincris versions and DOS Crisdisk only support floppies.

EDIT: I've prepared a crisis disk image for you. You can download it @ http://ifile.it/2d0cz8n/crisdisk.img.
Write it to an USB flash drive using dd, WinHex, or your favorite tool of choice.

[iJo09]

I think the link for "crisdisc.rar" you posted is the one you need Win 7 (XP mode) for. I read that 1.0.0.4 needs it on another internet page. However, the author of the "no floppies" page doesn't mention needing Win 7.
I have tried it though, and it reports there is no removable media attached to the computer.
Wincris in general reports that there is no floppy drive available. I have tried that many times, and days ago.
I tried lots of others that say they work with usb. This was one.
in case you kill your phoenix bios: bios recovery methods

I think today I'll have to buy an erternal floppy. I'm giving up in the next few minutes to make sure I get to a shop. I hope they have an external floppy drive and a disc in stock. Otherwise eBay. I'd rather buy a new drive from a reputable high street, because I had some bad luck with eBay recently.

Yes, you really need an external floppy drive! It's easier than the USB Flash Drive method... trust me!
I have recovered an Aspire 1650 a.k.a the bane of my existence from a bad BIOS flash using CRISIS Recovery disk, and it worked.
The most difficult part is where you have to find the keystroke! I spent a day for it !!

I think I'll be in your situation sooner. I will try that v2 BIOS on my 5920G with ATi HD4670 (that has problem like fan not spinning, system not recognizing graphic card temp, BSOD 0x00000124 etc....)
It's since I have installed this card that I have problems. A few months ago, with my 8600M GT (now dead with a bad VBIOS flash and a bad reflow of the BGA) no problems!

[u6b36ef]

EDIT: There is something I remember from the flash. (About 80% sure remember.)
1. The first SBIOS modded flash I'm sure made 16 operations.
2. The second flash that went wrong made 24, I seem to remember thinking.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I think this is what happened.
Is it possible you uploaded a 6/8920 BIOS to the 5920 link. I may have downloaded and flashed the wrong type, but I double checked which link I used.
Edit: (put in after iJo09's following post) I think the 8920 flash made 24 operations.

@ iJo09,
Thanks, I'll need to get a drive on eBay asap. I'll try NetRolller 3D's prepared download for USB now.
I would have replied to your first post but I left it for NetRolller. That's the person who wrote the modifications and knows what is there. However I doubt the new SBIOS's will change your system the way you want. The HD 4670 I thought was plug and play.
You are right about finding the keys to use. You try every option.
Also I am deeply worried about the constant removing and replacing the power DC, hoping the socket won't give out. (For everyday use I leave the jack in and switch off at the mains.)
For flashing, I've opted for switching off at the mains, then power button on to dischage anything in the adaptor. Switch off the mains. THEN start the flashing. Maybe that doesn't help though.

There are threads on Notebookreview for HD cards. You might glean your info if you read through. I'd attach the links but I can't access my favourites, that were on the 5920. (Basically by accident I've started a format on the 5920 HDD attached to this laptop, instead of prepping the USB flash.)

[iJo09]

EDIT: There is something I remember from the flash. (About 80% sure remember.)
1. The first SBIOS modded flash I'm sure made 16 operations.
2. The second flash that went wrong made 24, I seem to remember thinking.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I think this is what happened.

IMHO that happened because the second modded SBIOS have different code also in other blocks of the BIOS

OK guys I have flashed new and old modded BIOS on my 5920G with ATi HD4670 MXM 2.1 and none of the two works!
After the successful BIOS flash, system reboots but it does nothing, only fan and HDD goes on!
To recovery the BIOS I used this : CRISIS DISK - Phlash16_v1.7.0.18_DiffSize.rar

It only needs a floppy drive and a floppy disk!
Simply run Wincris.exe to format and create the bootable CRISIS disk, then overwrite bios.wph with your BIOS file!

The keystroke for 5920G is Fn+Esc

I suggest you to remove the battery and plug in only AC Power
Then you can press Fn+Esc and the Power Button!
After that, you have to wait the reboot. Don't touch anything! Only press the dx touchpad button and/or the Enter key if after ~6-7 minutes the machine don't reboot itself!

@u6b36ef : BTW all my BIOS flashes were started from block 8 to block 24

I want only upgrade the MXM Structure to v2.1 without seeing that black screen/freeze again...can anyone help me?

[.NetRolller 3D]

@iJo09: If you are having problems with the OLD version of the 5920 BIOS too, then you are probably using a broken flasher tool.

Have you tried using the crisis disk for flashing the modded VBIOS? (Because we know the crisis disk flashes correctly.) You can also use my new (second) crisis disk image for this, later in this post.

@both of you: I've made a new version of the USB image with the 1.7.0.18 Phlash16; you can get it @ request download ticket | ifile.it. This contains the first MXM-fixed BIOS for the 5920G, the one that was confirmed to work by u6b36ef. It can be written to a floppy or a USB flash drive; recovery procedure is the same for both drive types.

[u6b36ef]

@ iJo09,
This is good news for me. I have to get a floppy drive and a disc. Thankyou so much for the correct method, with the invaluable keys to press!

I had found that Fn+Esc was the only combination that initiates any response from 5920. The power light and the power button led (circle) flash. (It makes the USB drive lights work too.)

I just can not get the potentially working 1.0.0.4 (USB friendly) WINCRIS to see the usb drive to flash to. It allways says "there is no removable device in the system. Please plug one in and try again."

@ .NetRolller 3D,
I tried downloading WinHex from various places. All crashed while installing. I had to use task manager to close down their unresponding. I can't figure out what dd is. The crisis 'image' I could not understand what I was to do with it really. Only really because I had nothing to 'write the image to disc with'. As such, I don't know the method for writing this type of files to a drive. Therefor where you said use whichever tool is my choice - I was lost. *I'm going to try the image inject function.*

Never mind. I can keep pursuing this route until a floppy arrives. (Not ordered one yet.) It would be more satisfying to get the USB method to work. (Beating the need to buy a new drive.) This feels like I am one step away from a succesful repair. It's better than bungling from one failed attempt to another, after using one method after another.

[iJo09]

@.NetRoller 3D : Tomorrow i'll try to flash the two modded BIOS with Crisis Disk!
Now it's 11.05pm in Italy...it's time to go to bed!

[.NetRolller 3D]

@u6b36ef:I found the right tool for you: https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer/+download

Use this to write the image to an USB drive.

[u6b36ef]

I thought I figured out how to do if from inside WinImage.
Select the USB drive from the Disc menu.
'Image' menu, 'Extract', Browse to the removable drive, tick 'extract with pathname', OK. These are some instructions I folllowed but there was no flash.

I keep hitting the same problem with all the image writing software. When I go looking for an image to write, I get lost. The 'crisdisc' download has three files inside, all which make up the image I guess. Getting at them with the writing software is giving me a headache.
Plus the writing software is asking for only one file image. Neither can any of the image writers see the 'crisdisc' file I downloaded. They all can only see folders.

EDIT: I have managed to get the Win32 Disc Imager to see the downloaded file. Trying a flash now. Will add info to this post if it works.
RE-EDIT: No luck, no flash. Can you explain something though. In the download of the image, the bios.wph is 0.626MB, whereas the original BIOS file was 1.078MB.
2nd RE-EDIT: The WinCris that you had in a link for download is showing up as V1.6.9.5 in PHLASH16.EXE. CRISISDISK.BAT is looking for an A drive. Goodness knows how you managed to make an image from it, but that's why it can't see the USB drive here.
That's a pic of my 9600M GT you have in your profile at the side.

[.NetRolller 3D]

[off]It is the MSI GX620 card. Rev. A1, 512M GDDR3.[/off]

EDIT: I used the "Compress BIOS image" option to make bios.wph smaller, fitting a floppy disk.