saki2fifty

Well, after doing a little research, this is what I did to get my laptop flashed with the custom firmware. I'm sure this is discussed somewhere on this forum, but this is what I did. Because I do not have the ability to download on these forums yet, these are the steps I did to get my newly install motherboard working: (after purchasing, there was no video, only a continuous 1 beep. My original MB died, did have an unlocked A05, but has been so long since flashing it that I did not remember where the tools were found.): Revive a dead new MB that was just purchased: > Referencing the below link, blind-flashed the DOA motherboard with A05, and now i'm able to use my new motherboard. https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/1525-m17x-r4-bricked-bios-fix/ (Discrete graphics adapter not detected) > Flashed to A12 using the typical Dell flashing utility found on the Dell support page. (Discrete graphics adapter still not detected) Find the correct FPT tool used for flashing: > Installed HWINFO64 --> Expand Motherboard --> Select Intel ME --> found the current Intel ME Version, of which is v.8.0. Intel System Me Tools found the Tools version that corresponds to the ME Version found in the step above, and downloaded. In this instance, I downloaded the Intel ME System Tools v8 r3 - (2017-11-19) version, extracted, and located the FPT tool found in ./Flash Programming tool/DOS. Flashing the Unlocked BIOS: I was able to download the unlocked BIOS/PRR tools from Techinferno. Downloaded the BIOS and tools file mentioned above, extracted, copied the correct FPT flashing tool in the second step above to my bootable USB drive Once I had my bootable USB drive ready, I followed the instructions on this Forum thread to a tee, and it worked as expected. BIOS now shows my Radeon in the Discrete Graphics section, and i'm good to. (I would had posted pics, but can't)

Ok, well please disregard my previous post. It was posted a bit prematurely. Can my current BIOS be unlocked? https://www.sendspace.com/file/yjv9ec Also, any idea where I can find the proper FPT tool to do this? I do have all the other utilities, along with a bootable usb, etc., just missing the FPT tool. Thanks!

Ok, so i'm trying to flash my bios (M17xR4) with the second method, but cannot do to a few things. There are links and docs on HOW to properly flash, links to the bios file, but no link to the FPT tool.. or at least one that works. The one I found elsewhere say that its not he proper platform. It's really disheartening for those of us who like to read, research and not really into posting and are limited to the 5 post rule. I've visited Techinferno for years to find answers, read up on how others do things, or even just general info... everything is there, there is nothing you cant find, just haven't been a really big poster. But now that I actually need a file, cant do it because I have to be a poster of 5 quality posts. So... off to work on that. My laptop's mother board was replaced, is in pieces and before I put it all back together properly, simply wanted to flash my bios. (new motherboard that was sent to me had no video, single beeps, flashed to A05, now works, flashed to a12, discrete video no longer detected, but not putting it back together until I know its fully working) In essence, i'm looking for the FPT tool for my M17xR4.

Hello there, I am new to the forums and after perusing the different threads and search feature to see if my question has already been answered, I now come to ask to the community to not only test their knowledge, but to also figure out where this thing is! So... I have an Alienware m17x R4 laptop (Intel i7, Radeon 7970m), and am looking for the physical location of the EEPROM chip on the system board. I know on some Dell system boards there are single EEPROMS, others have dual EEPROMS. I am completely familiar with replacing those chips and just simply need to find the location on this specific laptop. Now, I know the question is going to come up (and derail from the actual OP question I had) as to why I want to know where the chip is.... well, I just simply want to further my knowledge in the field of hacking my laptop. Thanks for any replies...