Bios Modification

[almanso]

I have a Lenovo laptop IdeaPad Y500 with 2 Nvidia 750m graphic cards. I'm using it now as a desktop connected through ethernet to a large tv screen.

I want to remove the wireless card and connect a pci card in its place to further add an external Nvidia GTI 1050 if possibe.

But doing some research I discovered that Lenovo laptop has a whitelist that will not allow the use the wireless slot for a pci connection. And that I need to flash my current Bios v2.03 to a modified version that will remove the whitelistng .
I sent an email to Lenovo 3 weeks ago asking about whether my laptop out of warranty is still can not be altered.

I got a reply yesterday that I should not do this Bios alteration by myself, but go to Lenovo Centre.

I need an advice before I go to the Lenovo Centre.

Any thoughts?

[GreytMan]

I don't understand the question. It is your machine, you can do anything you want to it.

If it is already out of warranty, then you don't need to worry about that either.

So what is the question? Is Lenovo offering to remove the Whitelist for you?

Do you already have the modified firmware?

[JSixpack]

6 hours ago, almanso said:

I sent an email to Lenovo 3 weeks ago asking about whether my laptop out of warranty is still can not be altered.

 

Well, is out of warranty or not?

 

Flashing the BIOS yourself will not void the warranty. IF the flash goes bad (they rarely do nowadays) and then if you need the Lenovo Centre's help, then they may use your flashing as an excuse not to fix it for free. But probably not.

 

Anyway, when you open the case and switch out the wireless card, you've violated the warranty anyway--if it's still under warranty. So, a moot point really, unless you pay Lenovo to install the card, if they will.

 

Be aware that it's not guaranteed that removing the whitelist will actually enable your pci card in that slot. Sometimes they (cough) lie to you. But maybe you've learned of someone who's successfully done it? You might check in the Lenovo forums (sorry, it upsets people if I dare post a link). Avoid using a hacked BIOS to get around that issue, if it's an issue, BTW.

 

Another possible issue is whether the bandwidth offered by that wireless slot is sufficient for a graphics card. I assumed you've researched this and know that it is.

[smedly]

I was going to do the same thing on my Alienware Lappy but when I looked into it I found a much easier and cheaper solution was to build a medium range desktop and use that instead, the M class GPU was going to cost me about 600GBP and I built a reasonable desktop for less, I use a wireless mouse and keyboard and the desktop was plugged into my TV via HDMI and it all worked the best, just another option you might want to consider

[almanso]

GreytMan: The question is has anybody modified a laptop bios and is the practice safe to perform without pricking the unit?

Yes the laptop is 2 months out of warranty and I can do what I want with it. I'm just asking the Tec experts can a laptop be fitted with an external GPU or not?

 There are so many conflicting opinions out there.

 

JSixpack:

You are right there is no guarantee that the modified bios will accept the pci insertion. This is why I'm asking: Has anybody done or heard of some one doing this successfully?

 

smedly:

 

The cost of what I'm intending to do is around 18K Baht, 14K for a decent GPU, 1400 for the PCI unit and 2600 for a power supply for the card.

Building a new Desktop will render the laptop useless, wasting an Intel i7 processor, 1Tb of HDD and 12Gb of ram

[smedly]

6 minutes ago, almanso said:

 

 

smedly:

 

The cost of what I'm intending to do is around 18K Baht, 14K for a decent GPU, 1400 for the PCI unit and 2600 for a power supply for the card.

Building a new Desktop will render the laptop useless, wasting an Intel i7 processor, 1Tb of HDD and 12Gb of ram

I am simply suggesting a fixed solution as in a desktop, I still have my lappy connected to another TV in a different room and in use for travelling if I need it, you can build a decent Desktop for under 20k baht, my lappy and desktop are connected via a LAN for easy file transfers and sync for media and other docs etc using synctoy - it serves me as a backup providing duplication of all my files both ways, I decided not to update my laptop GPU because of cost and most of my computer use is now static so no real need for a laptop

 

I have since upgraded my desktop to a GTX 1070 and i5 7600k which I probably didn't need lol

 

when you try to add a white listed device to your bus it still needs to be allowed by the laptop bios for it to work, Dell do this as well making hardware updates very difficult because of the product Id not listed for that laptop model

 

hope it works out 

[GreytMan]

20 hours ago, almanso said:

GreytMan: The question is has anybody modified a laptop bios and is the practice safe to perform without pricking the unit?

Yes the laptop is 2 months out of warranty and I can do what I want with it. I'm just asking the Tec experts can a laptop be fitted with an external GPU or not?

 There are so many conflicting opinions out there.

 

JSixpack:

You are right there is no guarantee that the modified bios will accept the pci insertion. This is why I'm asking: Has anybody done or heard of some one doing this successfully?

 

smedly:

 

The cost of what I'm intending to do is around 18K Baht, 14K for a decent GPU, 1400 for the PCI unit and 2600 for a power supply for the card.

Building a new Desktop will render the laptop useless, wasting an Intel i7 processor, 1Tb of HDD and 12Gb of ram

 

 

Yes, I work with BIOS and UEFI and have already modded the BIOS of which you speak. Since I don't have the machine, it would be on you to test it. No one is going to guarantee that you won't brick your machine, but there is no reason why it should. Just don't flash within Windows.

As for your application, again, not tested. I just removed whitelist and modified the VBIOS for you.

No guarantees. Actually, I'm on holiday, so don't really want to spend too much time on it. 

[almanso]

GreytMan: Then you are my man.

Can you please help on how to remove the whitelist?

And when you say don't flash within windows, what do you mean?

 

My current Bios is version 2.03. I was told I need to upgrade to version 2.04 before modification. Is that accurate?

My priority is to remove the whitelist. Then I will be really free to experiment.

 

 

Thanks to you all GreytMan, JSixpack and smedly for trying to help

[smedly]

Please report back and let us know how you get on - interesting stuff

 

and Greyman seems to be D'man for this - great to see him offering to help 

[GreytMan]

9 hours ago, almanso said:

GreytMan: Then you are my man.

Can you please help on how to remove the whitelist?

And when you say don't flash within windows, what do you mean?

 

My current Bios is version 2.03. I was told I need to upgrade to version 2.04 before modification. Is that accurate?

My priority is to remove the whitelist. Then I will be really free to experiment.

 

 

Thanks to you all GreytMan, JSixpack and smedly for trying to help

 

Yes, you need to update to 2.04 before modification. You should have everything you need in your Inbox for this particular case.

If anything is missing, let me know. But as I'm on holiday, my travel machine is rather limiting. So hopefully you can get on with what you have.

 

[almanso]

Great Man

thank you

I'll try my best

[GreytMan]

How are you getting along?

Have you made a back-up of your BIOS yet?

 

If you are struggling, let me know. .

[almanso]

Hi GreytMan,

The Web page link you sent me TechInferno will consume time without letting you download anything.

So I'm aware of the site but they required 5 postings first, changed later to a probation period before they allow you to download.

And even if they allowed me downloads, I don't know what to get to change version 2.03 to v 2.04 and how to get from there to a modified Bios.

 

As to the backup of my BIOS, I have no idea how to do that.

Please note I don't want to burden you with this problem during your holiday.

 

 

[GreytMan]

Not a problem, as it's not that time consuming. 

 

Actually it is not imperative to upgrade to 2.04. One can modify 2.03.

But 2.04 is available on the Lenovo support website(albeit for the original Windows 8 64 bit)

So you might wish to have the latest version on your machine. That is up to you.

 

Once you have decided on the BIOS version, make a back up of it using this back-up tool

You'll need to download, save and un-zip to reveal the application within and then run the application as Administrator on the Lenovo.

 

Upload the results.rar file to me here or via PM.

[GreytMan]

If you wanted to see what TechInferno had to offer; it is here

 

So you can download it and ask any question you have there.

 

Otherwise, I can take a look at what I can do once I have your results and when convenient.

[almanso]

GreytMan

Thanks for the help

I managed to backup the Bios and I'm sending it with this.

Hope it can help.

 

my sticking point I think is how to generate the backup bin file.

After opening the windows power command as Admin:

I don't know where to input this command:

-d BackupBiosY500.bin -bios

I keep getting the error FPT.exe is not recognized as an internal or external command operable program or batch file. 

LENOVO-6BCN43WW(V2.03).rom

[GreytMan]

2 hours ago, almanso said:

GreytMan

Thanks for the help

I managed to backup the Bios and I'm sending it with this.

Hope it can help.

 

my sticking point I think is how to generate the backup bin file.

After opening the windows power command as Admin:

I don't know where to input this command:

-d BackupBiosY500.bin -bios

I keep getting the error FPT.exe is not recognized as an internal or external command operable program or batch file. 

LENOVO-6BCN43WW(V2.03).rom

Did you use the tool to which I linked?

 

Either you follow the Inferno instructions or you follow mine.

[almanso]

GreytMan

1 hour ago, GreytMan said:

Either you follow the Inferno instructions or you follow mine

The link I got from you could not pass the Norton Security. After unzipping I was forced to shutdown the laptop to remove the program.

 

As to the files from TechInferno, I didn't know till you sent them to me.

They are similar to the ones I got from this link:

 

I worked for days on trying to follow the instructions on: 

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/2246-lenovo-y400-y500-unlocked-bios-wlan-whitelist-mod/

 

 

 

I failed in executing this bit:

 

open cmd as Admin and run :
FPTW64.exe -d biosbackup.bin -bios 

this will make a backup of the bios in the same folder

 

If I can create the backup of the bios in the same folder as FPTW64.exe I will be able to modify the bios.

 

This is my sticking block.

 

 

[GreytMan]

5 hours ago, almanso said:

GreytMan

The link I got from you could not pass the Norton Security. After unzipping I was forced to shutdown the laptop to remove the program.

 

As to the files from TechInferno, I didn't know till you sent them to me.

They are similar to the ones I got from this link:

 

I worked for days on trying to follow the instructions on: 

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/2246-lenovo-y400-y500-unlocked-bios-wlan-whitelist-mod/

 

 

 

I failed in executing this bit:

 

open cmd as Admin and run :
FPTW64.exe -d biosbackup.bin -bios 

this will make a backup of the bios in the same folder

 

If I can create the backup of the bios in the same folder as FPTW64.exe I will be able to modify the bios.

 

This is my sticking block.

 

 

 

 

As I have written, if you wish to follow TechInferno, get support from their forum.

If you want support from me, follow my instruction. One or the other.

Disable Norton if necessary and then check the file on https://www.virustotal.com/#/home/upload if you are nervous.

But don't mix and match.

Either follow my instruction or follow TechInferno's guide with their support.

 

[GreytMan]

As an aside, it appears that the TechInferno site has Coin Hive script embedded, so you may get a Trojan warning about that. Perhaps Trojan:HTML/Brocoiner!rfn

[GreytMan]

One of the reasons why i have stated one or the other, is that the TechInferno mod is for version 2.04. So unless you update to 2.04 you are wasting your time.

To create the back-up you can run the app from a bootable USB drive in DOS. But you should update to 2.04 anyway.

 

I just gave you the option to stick with 2.03 if you didn't want to update to 2.04. But you have ended up mixing up the two guides.

Which is why I have stated one or the other.

 

I didn't check the TechInferno guide. I just saw that it was successful and that you could check for others experiences there. So I didn't know of the problem of obtaining the necessary files.

 

But it's not a problem, I have a guide for you that covers all that you need.

Hopefully this is more straightforward.

 

 

[GreytMan]

For those tracking this thread and being unable to understand it....

 

Two choices has been given. To follow an existing guide to install BIOS version 2.04 official(from the 2.03 that they are on currently), make a back-up of it, modify the back-up and then to overwrite the official version with the modified version....

 

or

 

If they for some reason want to keep BIOS version 2.03, that they would need to produce a report for me in so that I could modify their existing BIOS version, for which there is no existing modification.

 

 

 

So a link to an existing guide and and also an offer of a personalised modification.

Not just a matter of Flashing a BIOS.

 

 

The initial issues appear to be the difficulty involved in receiving the software needed to produce the report for the personalised modification, because of Norton software and on the other hand difficulty in understanding and bypassing the issues with the existing guide for modifying version 2.04.

 

 

So the OP attempted to mix and match.

They produced a back up of version 2.03 for me to modify using the wrong method, found in the existing guide for 2.04. Instead of producing a Results file from the software that I supplied via PM, as Norton blocked that software.

 

So I clarified to the OP that they had to choose one method or the other, in order to proceed.

 

In the meantime I put together another option for the OP, bringing all of the elements together.

 

If anyone reading has an idea of how to remove the white-list without modifying the firmware or wishes to put together an alternative guide for the OP, here is their opportunity to post it.

 

But Trolls will not be tolerated on this thread.

 

[metisdead]

Troll posts of a stalking nature have been removed.