[REPORT] GA-X79-UD5 Dual BIOS Recovery with LINUX

[bru3]

How to flash the BIOS without a working USB port. (Damaged / Minimal EFI-BIOS)

A few days ago I decided to upgrade my system to Clover boot loader.
As the X79 has some problems with BIOS upgrades and EFI Boot I wanted to flash the Beta Bios X79UD5.14e using Q-Flash.
As described in the post http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/ga-x79-ud5-update-f13w-bios-settings.116089/#post-862603 only F13p is compatible with Chameleon. (For some reason it is not possible to boot with F13w)

Q-Flash --> Upgrade to 14e --> Q-Flash outdated message --> reboot
--> no BIOS, no screen
--> Dual BIOS recovery from Main BIOS --> reboot
--> creepy minimal EFI Screen (see image)

Problem:
- Q-Flash not working
- All USB ports are not working. USB 3.0 Ports have power but didn't work neighter.
- OSX Main and Backup Systems not booting
- Windows 7 Bluescreen
- Only SATA CD/DVD Drive is working
- Only PS/2 Keyboard is working

Failed attempts:
- Every Bootable USB-Drive wont boot as USB is not working
- Bart PE Boot CD --> Bluescreen
- Ubuntu Live CD 9.10 --> Boots but no possibility to flash BIOS / no internet
- Recovery CDs --> working but no possibility to flash
- Install Ubuntu to HDD to install flashrom --> Ubuntu wont boot / no internet (installing network driver would be a solution)
- Install XP to HDD --> Bluescreen

My Solution:
- Download GRML (grml32-full_2014.11.iso)
- Burn bootable CD
- Boot from CD
- start Debian console
- mount USB drive (at this point USB is working as Debian has loaded its USB driver)
- navigate to USB folder which contains the BIOS rom
- list all flash chips of the motherboard: flashrom -p internal
- erease BIOS: flashrom -p internal -c MX25L6406E/MX25L6436E -E
- write BIOS: flashrom -p internal -c MX25L6406E/MX25L6436E -w X79UD5.13p
- cross fingers and hope that it has worked + reboot

Next step:
if the Main BIOS is working:
- copy Main to Backup BIOS
- Use a PS/2 Keyboard
- During Boot time press Alt and F10 (some tutorials also mentioned Alt+F12)

I wrote this small guide as I did not find any similar description on the internet. It took me two nights to get my System back from being a big paperweight.

Keep in mind: You can brake your System completely or damage it worse than it was using flashrom. You have to know what you are doing!

Use this guide at your own risk. In no way will Bru3 be held responsible for any injuries or problems that may occur due to the use of this guide.

Cheers Bru3

 

[bru3]

I've noticed that my Ethernet MAC Address was set to 88:88:88:87:88 during the flash procedure with flashrom.

Solution:
Dos USB boot stick with Eeupdate.exe on it.
Boot and type:
eeupdate /nic=1 /mac=123456789ABC
Where 123456789ABC represents the new MAC Address.

Cheers Bru3

 

[CassieWTFordham]

I have the exact situation as bru3 mentioned here, except that i don't have a cd drive, and I don't have Windows. What can i do to re-flash my BIOS?

EDIT: I found a solution: I used another computer to make a nomadBSD liveHDD and put in internally in my computer. Then I just followed Bru's directions.