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    BIOS hack to enable Intel VT and/or AHCI on Inspiron

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Da-Vinci, Nov 20, 2009.

  1. Da-Vinci

    Da-Vinci Notebook Enthusiast

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    Back in the days when I got my 9400/E1705 I was always sad for not having the AHCI option available in the BIOS.
    This was asked for so many times:

    - "Notebooks BIOS should support AHCI"
    http://www.ideastorm.com/ideaView?id=0877000000009qIAAQ

    - "Enable AHCI in Dell Notebook BIOS"
    http://www.ideastorm.com/ideaView?id=0877000000008o8AAA

    - "Please give us BIOS support for SATA AHCI mode on Inspirons!"
    Please give us BIOS support for SATA AHCI mode on Inspirons!

    - "Give us real bios control"
    http://www.ideastorm.com/ideaView?id=087700000000BCEAA2

    - "Bios release"
    http://www.ideastorm.com/ideaView?id=087700000000Zg5AAE
    etc.

    In the Sony forum, they have found a way to activate these options even if they're not present in the BIOS:
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=189228
    ...
    The only item you'll need is a bootable DOS media. Click one of these links for instruction for creating a bootable floppy disk (with USB floppy drive) or usb stick.USB flash1 or USB flash2 or CDR (add modified table file to image before writing).
    Instructions:
    1.Download symcmos and copy it to your bootable DOS media. This utility is used to modify your Phoenix BIOS settings. Also, download a DOS text editor and copy it to the media if you feel comfortable editing a file in DOS.
    2.Go to the BIOS by pressing F2 during start-up, or when the VAIO logo appears, and reset the settings to factory default. Save and reboot.
    3.Go back to the BIOS and enable the boot from external devices option. Save and reboot.
    4.Press ESC when the VAIO logo appears to bring up the boot selection menu and select the bootable DOS media. At the prompt, type "symcmos -v2 -lDefault.txt", without quotes, and note that there's no space in between the flag and filename. This will create a literal symbol table from the NVRAM named Default.txt which contains all the current BIOS settings. Reboot by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del. If that doesn't work, hold the power button until the notebook turns off.
    5.Use the DOS text editor (or boot to another OS and use a text editor there) to edit the generated Default.txt file. Change the following lines and save the modified file to something else (e.g. modified.txt):

    For Napa SZs - R0112N0

    AHCI: (015C) [0000] ---> (015C) [0001]

    VT-x: (0354) [0000] ---> (0354) [0001]


    For Santa Rosa SZs - R0122S5

    AHCI: (0189) [0000] ---> (0189) [0001]

    VT-x: (02F1) [0000] ---> (02F1) [0001]

    This is Gary's master list that contains the code for other models with a Phoenix BIOS
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/show...&postcount=227

    6.Boot to DOS and type "symcmos -v2 -uNameOfModifiedFile", without quotes and reboot. This will write the modified settings to the NVRAM. You must add the u and then the name of your new file.

    7.Done.

    - Would something like this be possible on Inspirons, too?
    Is all the process of finding the right addresses just trial and error?
    What do you think?

    Thanks!
     
    Da-Vinci, Nov 20, 2009
    #1
  2. gaah

    gaah Notebook Deity

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    It might be possible, I think Dell BIOS hacking is more difficult because of better BIOS protection and problems bricking the notebook. I looked a lot and no one ever came through with a hack for Dell BIOS and AHCI on E1705. I don't care anymore anyway, Dell upgraded me to an XPS 1645 with AHCI. It's running well. :)

    Good luck.
     
    gaah, Nov 20, 2009
    #2
  3. Da-Vinci

    Da-Vinci Notebook Enthusiast

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    Shouldn't be the same as for the Sony?
    Modifying CMOS registry entries? Why do you think this would brick the notebook? It's not like flashing a new BIOS. A CMOS reset should get all settings back to defaults.
     
    Da-Vinci, Nov 23, 2009
    #3
  4. daviejam

    daviejam Newbie

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    Hey I have a Studio 1537 and have wanted to get vt-x enabled in the bios for some time. I know the proc can handle it, it's just this stupid Dell BIOS!

    What can be done?
     
    daviejam, Nov 23, 2009
    #4
  5. Simpler=Better

    Simpler=Better Notebook Consultant

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    Side note:
    Find a way to unlock nonstandard boot options in a Dell BIOS (expresscard, PCI SSD, etc.) and you will be a hero.
     
    Simpler=Better, Nov 23, 2009
    #5
  6. Da-Vinci

    Da-Vinci Notebook Enthusiast

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    Da-Vinci, Nov 25, 2009
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  7. hashish16

    hashish16 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Are there any updates on this front? I guess I will try to dump the bios to a TXT file according to the directions. I will post it hopefully a concerted effort will be made to find the right switch.
     
    hashish16, Mar 3, 2010
    #7
  8. millermagic

    millermagic Rockin the pinktop

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    Studio doesn't have VT enabled?
     
    millermagic, Mar 3, 2010
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  9. gabiz_ro

    gabiz_ro Notebook Enthusiast

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    On my Inspiron E1705 I switched controller to AHCI but bios doesn't refresh info about fixed disk or maybe don't support AHCI addressing because after switch I can't boot from hdd.
    There is a little problem too,after switch to AHCI no IDE so only available boot devices are usb ones.
    Anyway booting some linux distro from usb I can get disk detected and gain access to disk and controller is in AHCI mode according to dev id and modules loaded by linux.
     
    gabiz_ro, Mar 11, 2010
    #9