Advanced AWARD BIOS Modding Tools

[BalusC]

Well, I'm familair with CBROM, MODBIN and AWDBEDIT. But I'm almost sure that there are more AWARD BIOS modding tools and methods around. For example: changing the CPU Microcode table (add/remove some CPU's, change CPU names, etc), bypass the 32GB Harddisk limit, etc..

But I don't see any of those tools in the downloads section of the frontpage. I'm not sure if this is to prevent awareness people from BIOS modding or this is because such tools are "for internal use only". But I think it's the first.. So, hereby this topic: which other tools and special BIOS modding methods are around?

Yes, I'm especially interested in changing the CPU microcode table and bypass the 32GB limit. No, this is not to help myself with some BIOS problems. Let's say, it's just to extend my BIOS knowledge and just for 'fun' :)

[bmholland]

http://www.froggy.com.au/frogge/pepper/bmreport1.html

Ctmc.exe
Another DOS application. This tool can be downloaded from http://www.heise.de/ct.
The archive ctmc10.zip contains another couple of tools, namely splitawd.exe and lha255e.exe which together can extract all files from a BIOS ROM into a temporary directory. Talking about ctmc itself. It can display the microcode patches contained in a file or directory. It can also extract all entries from a file and store them in a directory. Finally, it claims to be able to flash microcode updates into the system BIOS, a function I have never tested and probably never will. I have not found a way to have it do the reverse, ie. assemble a CPUCODE.EXE file from a list of singular microcode patches.

bmholland

[Denniss]

There's a Bios modder somewhere in or around russia
His patcher is available but sometimes it doesn't work
www.rom.by

Use it on your own risk !!

[pzycho]

The microcode update is really simple... I tried it some times with my Shuttle SS51G...

1. "cbrom.exe bios.bin /cpucode extract"
Extract cpucode.bin to your harddrive.

2. "ctmc.exe cpucode.bin /store"
Extract the microcode files from cpucode.bin.

name of the microcode files: xxxxyyzz.bin
xxxx - CPU ID
yy - Plattform ID
zz - Microcode version

Copy all this files in an extra directory like "microcode".

3. Now repeat step 1. and 2. with a new BIOS with new microcodes.

4. Copy all microcodes in your "microcode" directory.
Then remove all files except the newest version from every microcode.

5. In your "microcode" directory type:
"copy /b *.bin cpucode.bin"

6. Check your new cpucode.bin with: "ctmc.exe cpucode.bin"
There should be a smiley next to the checksum.

7. "cbrom.exe bios.bin /cpucode release"
Remove the cpucode.bin from the BIOS.

8. "cbrom.exe bios.bin /cpucode CPUCODE.BIN"
Insert the new cpucode.bin in your BIOS.

9. "cbrom.exe bios.bin /d"
Check if cpucode.bin is back in place...

I'm not responsible if something goes wrong...

[NickS]

@pzycho: thanks for this step-by-step guide.
@soupy: Is this a good candidate for "collected wisdom"?

[soupy]

Sure, if it works.

[NickS]

Sure, if it works.

Well, don't look at me. I expect I do have an Intel processor somewhere - P90 if I remember correctly

[Rainbow]

No microcode updates on P5. The first CPU with upgradeable microcode is Pentium Pro.

[pzycho]

Don't know if it works this way for all Pentiums, but for the P4 and my board is was no problem.

[NickS]

No microcode updates on P5. The first CPU with upgradeable microcode is Pentium Pro.

I was just saying I'm unlikely to be testing it !