Hi there, Im the owner of a SONY Vaio VGN-AR61E since 2009. -Core2Duo T5450 @1.67ghz -4gb RAM -GeForce 8400M GT All running fine using Windows 8.1 Pro and the newest (inf modded) beta driver 337.50. Id like to edit/modify the BIOS of it. Now it came to the day I found out about NiBiTor 6.06. Tools->Read Bios->Select Device ends up in "Cant Start Driver : 1275" So I tried nvflash 5.142 : nvflash --save 1.rom ends up in "Adapter GeForce 8400M GT (10DE,0426,104D,9016) H:NRM B:01,PCI,D:00,F:00" Identifying EEPROM... EEPROM ID (20,0000) : Unknown ERROR: Supported EEPROM not found So I tried the DOS version of nvflash, version 557 via bootdisk : nvflash --save 1.rom ends up in "Adapter GeForce 8400M GT (10DE,0426,104D,9016) H:NRM B:01,PCI,D:00,F:00" Reading adapter firmware image... Image Size : 0 bytes Version : Unavailable (Inavlid) ~CRC32 : 00000000 Subsystem Vendor ID : 671E Subsystem ID : DCCD Hierarchy ID : None Saving of image completed. But alas, the 1.rom file is 0 in size. GPU-Z says the following : (I cant post images yet) *ttp://oi59.tinypic.com/k54pz4.jpg I can find nearly all 8400(m) bios on the net, but not the one for my 8400M GT. Id really want to modify it as I already use Riva Tuner for slight overclocking while gaming : (no need to tell me that overclocking laptops is not a good idea) Core Clock from 450 to 550 Memory Clock 602 to 770 It never breaches the 70° and I have an additional cooling plate under the laptop. (again, no need to tell me that overclocking laptops is not a good idea) Also Id like to know, if the "Sony Vaio" logo on booting is inside the pheonix Bios EEPROM or if its from the nvidia EEPROM. Regards, Boost
Save your bios with Gpuz. The button next to the bios version. Then you'll have to see if Nibitor supports a 8400m bios.
I did not know gpuz is able to do that. Nice ! But : "BIOS reading not supported on this device." I guess my journey ends here then ?
To dump your V-BIOS you will likely need an older version of nvflash. The versions I would try (from DOS) are 5.31, 5.36, 5.38, 5.40, 5.50 and 5.57. I take it you are running Windows 8.1 Pro x64? Nibitor uses a 32-bit low level driver to read the BIOS, so it won't work on the 64-bit OS. Nibitor *may* be able to edit the V-BIOS however once you have dumped it. Good luck!
Saving a Bios with GPU-Z is a bit buggy. I had problems today flashing back to my Original Bios that was saved with GPU-Z, nvflash said the file wasn't support and i had to download a working one from TPU. I suggest using nvflash to save your Original Bios.
Ok, thanks, I will try all the old DOS versions of nvflash you suggested then. And yes, I use Win 8.1 x64. I also tried all versions of gpu z (back to the 1st version that called my bios unknown), none of them worked.
5.31-No NVIDIA display adapters found 5.36-No NVIDIA display adapters found 5.38-No NVIDIA display adapters found 5.40-Reading adapter firmware image... Image Size : 0 bytes Version : Unavailable (Inavlid) ~CRC32 : 00000000 Subsystem Vendor ID : 2512 instead of 671E Subsystem ID : 8C8Dinstead of DCCD Hierarchy ID : None Saving of image completed. 5.50-Reading adapter firmware image... Image Size : 0 bytes Version : Unavailable (Inavlid) ~CRC32 : 00000000 Subsystem Vendor ID : 2512 instead of 671E Subsystem ID : 8C8Dinstead of DCCD Hierarchy ID : None Saving of image completed. 5.57-Reading adapter firmware image... Image Size : 0 bytes Version : Unavailable (Inavlid) ~CRC32 : 00000000 Subsystem Vendor ID : 671E Subsystem ID : DCCD Hierarchy ID : None Saving of image completed. So maybe installing Windows XP/7/Vista x32 might be the solution to try again with NiBitOr...but until I got time for that, I can only hope someone esle has another idea.
Hi again Boost, Instead of installing a 32-bit OS (that may not even allow you to dump the V-BIOS), I would first try booting from a 32-bit Windows PE/Bart PE CD (see PM), then try running Nibitor from a USB stick. If your 8600m GT is the 128 MB version, it likely shares some system RAM using Nvidia's "Turbocache". If this is the case - then the G86M core could be connected directly to the motherboard using BGA (Ball Grid Array) - this would mean that the firmware is stored inside the Sony VAIO BIOS. In this case you may be able to extract it from the BIOS with Andy's Phoenix Tool over at MDL (I noticed you posted over there also).
The BartPE CD + USB Stick using NiBiTor is indeed a nice work around. Thanks. I do have the 8400M GT but already read it might be a downgraded version of the 8600M GT having 16 instead of 32 pipelines and other slight differences...that I forgot. Yes, it has 128MB RAM and 895MB RAM with TurboCache. dxdiag says ca. 2159MB RAM, but thats maybe because I got 4GB of system RAM. (?) I totally missed Andy's Phoenix Tool on MDL and wasted my time googling for "Phoenix Bios Editor Pro" last night. I will give it a try. Will be back later.
Im preparing a BartPE CD, but in the meantime I found out about "RW-Everything"... On BIOS it says : Type 0x00 (0) Length 0x18 (24) Handle 0x0000 (0) BIOS Vendor String1 - "Phoenix Technologies LTD" BIOS Vension String2 - "R2080J8" Start Address Segment 0xE6F4 Release Date String3 - "12/26/2007" ROM Size 0x0F (1024KB) BIOS Characteristics 0x000000004809DB80 On Options ROM it says : Option ROM Header: 0x000C0000 55 AA 66 EB 4B 37 34 30 30 E9 4C 19 77 CC 56 49 U.f.K7400.L.w.VI 44 45 4F 20 0D 00 00 00 D4 00 69 19 DEO ......i. Signature 0xAA55 Length 0x66 (52224 bytes) Initialization entry 0x34374BEB Reserved 0x30 0x30 0xE9 0x4C 0x19 0x77 0xCC 0x56 0x49 0x44 Reserved 0x45 0x4F 0x20 0x0D 0x00 0x00 0x00 PCI Data Offset 0x00D4 Expansion Header Offset 0x1969 PCI Data Structure: 0x000C00D4 50 43 49 52 DE 10 26 04 00 00 18 00 00 00 00 03 PCIR..&......... 66 00 01 00 00 80 00 00 f....... Signature PCIR Vendor ID 0x10DE - nVidia Corporation Device ID 0x0426 Product Data 0x0000 Structure Length 0x0018 Structure Revision 0x00 Class Code 0x00 0x00 0x03 Image Length 0x0066 Revision Level 0x0001 Code Type 0x00 Indicator 0x80 Reserved 0x0000 Does this mean the VGA Bios has an extra EEPROM/ROM ? Im not familar with RW-Everything yet, but it feels like a powerfull tool/viewer already. p.s. Andy's tool only seems to be able to edit already extracted/downloaded BIOS files.
To dump your BIOS you can try Universal BIOS Backup Toolkit. I downloaded a copy of a BIOS for the SONY Vaio VGN-AR61E and opened it with Phoenix BIOS Editor Pro v2.2.1.3. When I look at the Option ROM's I can see; Option ROM OPROM00.ROM - INTEL RAID, 63.5K OPROM01.ROM - NVIDIA VGA, 56K OPROM02.ROM - NVIDIA VGA, 56K OPROM03.ROM - NVIDIA VGA, 59.5K OPROM04.ROM - GALILEO Other, 36.5K Splash Screen LOGO00.BIN (SCN1_00.BMP) = VAIO Boot Logo, 115 KB LOGO01.BIN (SCN1_00.BMP) = VAIO Boot Logo, 115 KB You might want to dump your BIOS with the Universal BIOS Backup Toolkit to see if you can confirm that it has the 3 Nvidia Option ROMs that I am seeing here.
Haha, seems like we posted at the same time. Thanks for file description. ^^ http://i62.tinypic.com/1zv9zee.jpg In short : The Universal BIOS Backup Toolkit was able to extract it :'D Now I stare at 53 files in the DUMP Folder of Andy's Phoenix Tool. :nerd:
May I ask where you actually found that BIOS ? :O And are these BMP files also wbmp files, like in other BIOS files ?
Hi, I found the BIOS here. The BMP files look to be just regular bitmaps - I extracted them with Phoenix BIOS editor to get their file size. [Edit] I have opened each of the 3 Nvidia OPROM's in Nibitor and they can all be read, clocks, voltages, memory timings etc. All 3 OPROM's have different checksums and appear to have differences in each.
You found the bios on the internet. :O Hmm, Andy's tool dumped the files...but they file header of the LOGO files starts with SCN0 (Mario Kart )...will install the official Phoenix Tool now. All can be read ? Ok slowly slowly please ^^
Sounds good - I updated my post above a bit too late, see Nibitor info. [Edit] Also - if you can get Nibitor to dump your V-BIOS (using the 32-bit Bart PE CD), you may be able to tell which OROM Windows uses. I am guessing that OROM 1 may be the boot ROM (when your Laptop is powered on) and OROM 2 may be the Windows ROM (the one you want to edit). OROM 3 has a different SKU, and may be for a model with different output(s).
Hmmm, NiBiTor 6.06 opens the VAIO ROM, but the date has strange ANSI characters in it...and lists it as 8600M GT, as there is no 8400M GT to select from. I dont see Voltages. If I open the the OPROM03.ROM NiBiTor says : "The curren BIOS device id is unknown to NiBiTor" I can select 8 Series and it will add it as device id 0426 (Unsupported). I can then edit the voltages and integrity is turned green. The other OPROM0 files cant be editet with NiBiTor. Opening the original VAIO BIOS loads everything but integrity turns red. :/ Opening the original VAIO BIOS in "Phoenix BIOS Editor Pro" results in some error messages before it gets loaded : An unsupported module class "J" was found in the file _J00 - Do you want to continue ? An unsupported module class "Q" was found in the file _Q00 - Do you want to continue ? An unsupported module class "H" was found in the file _H00 - Do you want to continue ? An unsupported module class "K" was found in the file _K00 - Do you want to continue ? Then everything seems to be enlisted correctly. Hmmm...
Ok, so you have clarified some things further. I saw this image you posted on TPU; In the BIOS I downloaded, OPROM 1 is the one for your 8400m GT, as it is version 60.86.3b.00.27 and Device ID 0426 (note that it matches the image above). I must have been tired last night and did not notice that OPROM 2 and 3 are for the 8600m GT. I edited the 8400m GT BIOS 3D clocks in Nibitor and saved the BIOS, integrity stayed green: Core - 450 to 550 Shader - 900 to 1100 Memory - 602 to 770 If you look at this database for device ID, you can see all the 8400m variants; Code: 0x0426 Geforce 8400M GT 0x0427 Geforce 8400M GS 0x0428 GeForce 8400M G It looks like Nibitor is missing yours from the drop down list, 0x0426 Geforce 8400M GT (which is why it says unsupported). I am fairly confident the mod should still work - do you need to increase the voltage to run at the higher clocks? [Edit] It looks like 1.32 V is the max and is already set for 3D anyway. I modded the OROM with Nibitor and imported it back into the BIOS with Phoenix BIOS Editor, I then opened it with Andy's Tool just to be sure it was still readable. If you do decide to flash a modified BIOS make sure you have an original BIOS stored on at least 2 floppy disks so you can do an emergency flash if the modded BIOS bricks the laptop. Read this, so you understand the procedure and can decide if you still think it's worth the risk.
