The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Alienware 18 unlocking

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by jmhdj, Jun 5, 2015.

  1. jmhdj

    jmhdj Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    132
    Messages:
    420
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hello. Recently I got my hands on alienware 18 with two 970m and 4940mx. And was very saddened to find out how system that has so great potential is crippled beyond imagination. So I asking here for help in managing to unlock this nice machine.
    I have already hooked programmer to vbios chip for testing and so far have tested msi and dell 970m vbios and result is same as with clevo vbios. Only real uefi post's.
    I am ready to use programmer on bios to if some clever guys here (no need to name them as we all know who are they :) )have idea to try and test.
     
    jmhdj, Jun 5, 2015
    #1
  2. Ashtrix

    Ashtrix ψυχή υπεροχή

    Reputations:
    2,376
    Messages:
    2,081
    Likes Received:
    3,283
    Trophy Points:
    281
    I guess you should talk to Prema / Svl7 / Johnksss from techinferno, vBIOS / BIOS modders.. IF you are seriously into modding the vBIOS. But AFAIK the InsydeH20 locked BIOS and unlocked versions won't help maxwell without Full UEFI (some GOP signature requirement crap is there...)

    It would be groundbreaking if the vBIOS modified for working without UEFI, If that happens then all Alienwares (M18x R2 , AW18 M17x R4 / AW17R1 120Hz & 60Hz) will be breathe newlife GG WP :cool: !!
     
    Ashtrix, Jun 5, 2015
    #2
  3. jmhdj

    jmhdj Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    132
    Messages:
    420
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Ohh I thought thoose guys are hanging here around (looking for exit :hi:)
    Seriously guys I am ready for any idea no matter how crazy it might be.
     
    jmhdj, Jun 5, 2015
    #3
  4. TBoneSan

    TBoneSan Laptop Fiend

    Reputations:
    4,460
    Messages:
    5,558
    Likes Received:
    5,798
    Trophy Points:
    681
    They are here too. Alot of the hardcore work gets done amongst the TI crowd.
     
    TBoneSan, Jun 9, 2015
    #4
    Ashtrix likes this.
  5. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    I'm sure you already know this, but this is an imperative rule when touching anything ROM/FLASH related. Make several backups of the original ROM before you start messing around and keep them in a safe place.
     
    Raidriar, Jun 9, 2015
    #5
  6. Bhupla

    Bhupla Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi

    I have decompiled the Alienware 18 viking A10 bios to show Hex offsets for the hidden menu options and more.

    My hex skills are not great but someone on here can take a look and hopefully create a modded bios.

    Mr Fox can you help? I can send you the EFI dump.

    B
     
    Bhupla, Jul 3, 2015
    #6
  7. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

    Reputations:
    37,250
    Messages:
    39,344
    Likes Received:
    70,712
    Trophy Points:
    931
    I don't have that skill. Unlocking the firmware is not a problem. In fact, @svl7 already has. The problem is we cannot flash it due to Secure Flash. I've already tried and so has he. He removed his BIOS chip, manually programmed it with an unlocked BIOS and soldered a socket on the motherboard so he can remove and flash the chip whenever he wants to. That's the only way I know of to get the BIOS unlocked.
     
    Mr. Fox, Jul 4, 2015
    #7
    skindoe likes this.
  8. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    The BIOS itself was never the problem as Fox said, it was just a matter of signing it with a Dell signature to get it to flash properly. We cannot figure out the proper signing key so.....there is no way to flash it outside of using a hardware flasher and desoldering/resoldering the BIOS chip.
     
    Raidriar, Jul 5, 2015
    #8
  9. skindoe

    skindoe Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Is there any write-ups on using the hardware flasher and swapping out the bios chips? It doesn't sound like it would be a huge job. I've replaced plenty of surface mount chips on multilayer PCB's at work, so I'm confident it can be done without damaging the PCB (as long as it is not a ball grid array chip - that ****'s out of my league).

    Also, does anyone have information as to the chip part # and/or location on the motherboard?

    Would it be easier to buy a cheap motherboard that uses the same bios chip to flash using normal bios flashing software, then transplant said chip to the Alienware 18?
     
    skindoe, Jul 10, 2015
    #9
  10. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

    Reputations:
    1,708
    Messages:
    5,820
    Likes Received:
    4,311
    Trophy Points:
    431
    You would need to ask svl7 about this, and maybe a donation his way too.
     
    Raidriar, Jul 11, 2015
    #10