Samsung Laptops - Roll Back Bios Updates?

Mod note:
After 5+ years, @isosunrise's guide and this thread remain our go-to resource on how to locate, download, extract and flash samsung BIOS updates. This guide is being referred to in countless other threads. But there have been some changes since the guide was written, including a tool from @osfrolov in post #151 to search for BIOS versions. Please see post #350 (that was a link) for summarized guidance on the whole procedure and links to other useful posts in this thread.

I figured out a way to downgrade the BIOS in the Samsung Series 9, but it should work for any modern day Samsung laptop*. Keep in mind, I am no expert, so use at your own risk. These instructions easily worked for me without any complications.

*Confirmed to work on the SS9, SS7, and SS5. These instructions are dependent on whether your system uses Winflash or Afuwin to update the BIOS. If your extracted "__Samsung_Update" folder does not contain either BIOS update software nor a BIOS *.rom, try an older version.

I have a Samsung Series 9 2012 NP900X3B-A01US (Windows 7) and have been updating the BIOS through the months. The issue is as the updates are making the system "more" Windows 7/8 compatible and other fixes, it sometimes breaks things. Right now on version P08AAH, the system will not resume after hibernate/IRST upon opening the lid (resumes if power button; resumes from sleep opening the lid); which I find really annoying. I actually have a series of old BIOS update executables saved during each update, but when I try to run them to downgrade, it will say "Fail BIOS Date... The system BIOS is newer version than the update. The update will be terminated."

I wanted to roll back my BIOS from P08AAH to P07AAH. I can now downgrade the BIOS via WinFlash, but the Micom will remain at P08. I cannot find the roms for the Micom, so I am going to downgrade the BIOS to the older P06AAH instead (keeping the Micom for P08), then upgrade the whole system to P07AAH (both BIOS and Micom).

First, you need to download your BIOS update exe with rom from Samsung; you may have saved them during the updates. If not, some detective skills may be involved. Find the latest BIOS version you have and work backwards. You can see it in the BIOS (restart, press F2), or just download the latest version from Samsung's BIOS Update software. For example, anything ending in AAH (the Platform ID) is for my laptop NP900X3B-A01US. Link below contains the BIOS update exe file names for other Samsung laptops.

http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/BUWebServiceProc.asmx/BIOSItemList

*The link was reported to be down.
List from November 2012:
View attachment BIOSItemList(112912).zip
List from Jan 31, 2013 (cached on google):
View attachment BIOSItemList (Google Cache Jan 31 2013).zip

Once found, copy your file name ie. ITEM_20120509_504_WIN_P06AAH.exe and modify the url below to download. Download all the BIOS update exe you may need.

HTML:

http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20120509_504_WIN_P06AAH.exe

1. Run ITEM_20120509_504_WIN_P06AAH.exe, but don't click OK or Cancel to proceed with BIOS update; if you do, the contents extracted in the Samsung Update folder will be deleted (change exe for the BIOS relevant to your laptop).

2. Go to Temp (Users/*Name*/AppData/Local/Temp) folder and find the extracted folder "__Samsung_Update", make it read only, click cancel for the Bios update currently being ran, and then undo read only. Alternatively, you can just copy and paste the folder. BIOS rom, WinFlash (or Afuwin), as well as other files are extracted in that folder. If you try to run WinFlash, it will not go through, giving the error "Flash BIOS is not an upgrade (same or older version number)!" Other users have reported that their system uses Afuwin instead of Winflash.

3. In cmd prompt, run below: (change the *.rom to your rom found in the samsung update folder, and of course make sure you have cd to directory with both WinFlash or Afuwin and the rom).

If Winflash:

Code:

WinFlash.exe P06AAH.rom /v /cs /sd /sv /svs

If Afuwin: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...ops-roll-back-bios-updates-7.html#post9062049, thanks iain_m.

Code:

afuwinx64 P05AAB.rom /p /b /n /e /r /x

4. The system will update the Bios (not Micom) and reboot (your Micom may also be updated if you use Afuwin).

5. Run ITEM_20120614_555_WIN_P07AAH.exe to update both the BIOS and Micom (ie, next version up, your desired BIOS)

Now, I am back to P07AAH (both BIOS and Micom). It is a roundabout way but it works. If someone can find the Micom bin/rom file, then it will be a little quicker since there is an exe to update Micom in the folder, but I can't seem to find the rom. My lid open from hibernate is restored (which was actually a problem from the updated Micom and probably not the BIOS itself)!

---

Misc. useful info:

Find the latest BIOS name from your internet browser, change the platformID (ie, AAH) with your model.

HTML:

http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/BUWebServiceProc.asmx/GetContents?platformID=AAH&PartNumber=AAAA

 

Do you know where I can get older version of bios for the series 7, the 14" version?

 

Some detective skills may be involved... find the latest bios version you have and work backwards (You can see it in the Bios, or just download the latest version from Samsung's Bios Update software)... For example, anything ending in AAH (the Platform ID) is for my laptop NP900X3B-A01US. List below contains the file names for other laptops/bios.

http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/BUWebServiceProc.asmx/BIOSItemList

Once found... copy your file name ie. ITEM_20121024_754_WIN_P08AAH.exe and modify the url below to download.

[xurl]http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20121024_754_WIN_P08AAH.exe[/url]

 

Firstly cheers for taking your time to help me out. I'm currently on the latest bios which is P03AAG. The link you provided doesn't provide a download link to download a previous version of the latest bios. The bios i want to download is P01AAG but all i can see is an xml file.

 

The xml file has the file name to download. Copy the file name and modify the link I listed earlier...

[xurl]http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20121024_754_WIN_P08AAH.exe[/url]

For AAG, your files are then...

http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20120306_419_WIN_P00AAG.exe
http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20120419_477_WIN_P01AAG.exe
http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20120809_616_WIN_P03AAG.exe

 

sorry, my brain was a bit slow when i replied. I am going to to give your instructions a go.

 

****UPDATE*** I just wanted to come say YOU ARE THE BEST. You saved me from having to send my laptop to samsung because of the high Idle CPU usage it (around 30%) now at 2%. Battery life is up and the fan noise is down. I am sticking to this bios forever. Also rep. Can i delete the bios and winflash i placed inside the temp folder?

 

Haha, glad it worked out. If there are new Bios updates, you can always give it a test, then go back if you don't like it now . Just save the files. You can delete everything in the Temp folder, including non-Samsung related stuff.

 

i am using samsung series 5 NP550P5C-S02IN. and currently on P06AAA bios. i want to downgrade it to P05AAA.
here is the links of both bios
ITEM_20120830_637_WIN_P05AAA.exe
ITEM_20121025_766_WIN_P06AAA.exe

i can't find winflash in __Samsung_Update folder..
sorry i am not too expert
pls upload video tutorial..

 

The Temp folder is actually hidden. You may need to unhide your folders... open Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View, and check "Show hidden files, folders, and drives." Then, you will see it. If you want to downgrade to P05, you should downgrade to P04 or lower first, then upgrade to P05.

You can also try this, bypassing the Temp folder, and little shorter for newbie's.
*Update, this will not work for SS5 since WinFlash is missing. May work for SS9/SS7.*

1. Run the ITEM_20120725_593_WIN_P04AAA.exe, but don't click ok or cancel.
2. Open cmd prompt:

cd AppData\Local\Temp\__Samsung_Update
WinFlash.exe P04AAA.rom /v /cs /sd /sv /svs

3. After bios is updated and system restarts, run ITEM_20120830_637_WIN_P05AAA.exe to completion.

 

no friend there is not any problem in finding TEMP folder..
but i can't find the file "winflash" in "samsung update" folder

 

If you run the ITEM...exe and click OK or Cancel, the winflash will disappear. Make sure you don't click the OK or Cancel when it asks you if you want to update your Bios (if there is a Security Warning for the publisher, click Run, then you get the Bios option). Is there anything inside the Samsung Update folder?

 

here is file list of all files in samsung update folder but winflash.exe is not there

 

So unlike SS9 and SS7 which uses WinFlash, it looks like the SS5 uses afuwin.exe to update the Bios. You should google afuwin and see the options for Windows and Dos, ie below.

http://www.ecs.com.tw/extra/flashutl/afuwin.pdf
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/10229-Flashing-Problem-with-Afuwin-Tool
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/8909-Make-A-bootable-USb-drive-For-Flashing-From-DOS

 

thanks friend ur really a life savier...
now i am again able to boot from usb...

warning for other NP550P5C-S02IN users pls don't use "Windows 8 latest K.J_120929 Activator"

 

Great. Did you update in the windows afuwin gui by instructions from the ECS pdf or did you go through dos?

 

Thank you, I just went through this procedure to see how it works on the series 7 NP700Z5C and was able to successfully downgrade BIOS (but not MICOM), from P04AAG to P01AAG, which then meant I could use the genuine file and proper procedure to 'upgrade' BIOS and MICOM to P03AAG.

The ability to do this is going to help a lot who have been locked out of the BIOS for one reason or another, (well Samsungs poor EFI BIOS coding really), and need to reflash to clear a corrupt BIOS.

So much appreciated.

 

Does this fix the problem of high cpu usage at idle? This has been driving me crazy, ever since I updated to the P03 Bios, my cpu usage runs between 20-30% at idle with NOTHING open. I really have to roll back this Bios on my NP700Z5C...I'm almost ready to send this thing back...

 

I just checked and idle CPU is 1 or 2 percent if that helps, but I didn't have a problem with it being high before. Its easy enough to try and see if it fixes it for you...

 

Are you sure there is nothing running? Make sure you press the button "Show processes from all users".

John

 

Positive. My "System Idle Process" takes up 20-30% of my CPU usage when I have nothing running whatsoever. This happened right after I updated to the P03 Bios, before my CPU Idled between 1-3% usage.

 

The "System idle Process" is what tells the CPU it can sleep. I'm currently running on battery and that process is using 98% of the CPU time.

John

 

I had the same high idle cpu usage, it was caused by the faulty bios. I'm using the 14" version of the chronos. I got back an hour worth of battery life and the heat output reduced as well. I say roll the bios back.

 

I would LOVE to roll back the bios, but I can't find the stock bios anywhere to do it...and bonehead bios program doesn't even give you the option.

 

Follow the instruction on the first page. You have to amend the link to the version of old bios you want.

 

Yeah, I did that, but can't get it working... :-/

 

First page has instructions on how to obtain the bios, it works. Halfway down there are even direct links to the bios for NP700Z5C.

 

Yeah, I got the bios downloaded the other night, but kept getting errors and the bios program would crash. Finally got it to work tonight and rolled my bios back to PA001 bios. CPU is back to idling at 1-2% once again. I have no idea why they would release such ty bios updates...

 

Glad you got it rolled back. For most of us 003 is a good BIOS, and you may find if you updated to it again your CPU idle would still be at 1-2%. BIOS updating can be as much an art as a science.

The good thing here is that the OP has given us way to downgrade and fix these odd BIOS problems ourselves now that Samsung would have had us send our devices back for repair previously.

 

isosunrise, thanks a lot for posting this guide!!

I had just updated to the latest bios on my np900x3c when i decided to install Windows 8 and then Ubuntu 12.10 using UEFI.
Windows 8 installed correctly but Ubuntu probably corrupted the UEFI and now I couldn't adjust the brightess using the Fn keys anymore. Furthermore when I closed the lid the laptop was not going into sleep mode anymore!
I had to install the previous bios, then reinstall the new bios + micom and then reset the bios to the default values in order for the laptop to work as it should!

Again, thank you very much!!!

 

First i would like to say thanks so much for this guide!

I got my bios downgraded how i wanted but when i run the bios update now, it just gets stuck on extracting. I can go to %temp% and see the files are all extracted. I'm not sure what it is doing but it is using a lot of cpu and nothing happens. I really would like to downgrade micom so it matches but like you said, i can't find the bin for it.

 

So you have already downgraded your bios? Try deleting the samsung folder in temp after the downgrade before you try update the normal way (just in case you left it as read only, and your new files aren't being replaced). If you haven't downgraded yet, you need to downgrade to a bios version lower than the one you want, then upgrade the bios/micom to your desired one.

 

Hi isosunrise, I was unable to flash my bios and wondered if you have other suggestions.

What I did:
Followed your instructions exactly.
Downloaded 2 old bios versions for the np700z5c-s01ub (17.3" 2.4ghz model...updated version from the np700z5c-s01us)
Attempted to update to the first version of the bios with the winflash cmd line parameters.
Winflash runs and it appears that it will work, it passes all steps up to the reprogramming step, then once the progress bar moves slightly it pops a dialog "flash fail!".

I've tried copying the folder to the root of c:\, as well as running it from the appdata/temp directory, both result in the same error.

If I try to use a newer version of the bios in the same way, winflash errors before it gets to the reprogramming step and says it can't find the smm service.

Any thoughts/suggestions are appreciated. I was poking around in my bios and I see "secure boot" as enabled, I wonder if that is preventing the bios from being reprogrammed. I doubt it...but I may attempt to shut that off and try again.

 

jlrosine, try to set your bios to default and make sure you are plugged into an outlet, see if that helps. You can also try to run it through the Winflash GUI instead of command prompt, to see what the reasons are for the fail. Follow this.

windows: Downgrading ASUS Notebook BIOS

 

Crazy update! As i mentioned previously, i got the bios downgraded but the micom was still at the latest version. I confirmed both of these things in the bios after the flash. So anyway, I gave up downgrading micom and went on to install the easy settings app. This is where things got weird. As soon as i ran the easy settings app my laptop hard froze. Nothing worked, not even the power button. I ended up resetting it with the tiny hole on the bottom of the laptop. It started booting up and just froze on the bios screen. I was like freaked out, then depressed. I fooled with it turning it off and on and nothing. Finally, I just let it sit for about 5 minutes and it started booting up! I rejoiced, then rebooted and went into the bios. Here is the crazy part, now the micom version matched the bios now! I'm extremely confused how this happened but i thought i'd throw it out there in case someone else wanted to try resetting with the pin hole to see if it happened to them also.

 

Haha, don't know how your micom matches now, it is crazy. Supposedly, the "MICOM controls an Embedded System, ie it controls the keyboard," so maybe that is why some of your buttons weren't working for a bit and frooze when easy setting was looking for them? Not sure, but how micom updated is a mystery. Hope things are stable now.

 

An update to my winflash failing.

I enabled logging in the winflash ini and the most I can get out of it is that it can't erase a block....so it looks like something is write protected. I also noticed that the first bios is a .rom file, the second and third are .cap files and winflash won't run with those at all from cmd....it states the smm service is not running.

Fun stuff....

 

By the way, I flashed my bios without using the command line. I actually just opened winflash (yes, it was all korean), picked the rom file, guessed which button said flash (guess i guessed right), and it worked. I was actually getting an error (also in korean) running the command line.

 

Where did you get a Korean winflash? All versions of winflash packaged in mine are English. Also, if I just run the winflash.exe not from cmd it will fail and tell me the bios is older than the current.

Not sure how you are really getting around it...or where your winflash came from.

 

If you run WinFlash.exe /nodate , you may be able to use the GUI to downgrade w/out the older error.

http://www.ahowto.net/windows/downgrading-asus-notebook-bios

 

It came packaged with the korean version.

 

The /nodate switch didn't work on my packaged korean version. It said it was an invalid command. It wasn't even necessary apparently though because it worked without it.

Edit:

When i ran winflash, it looked exactly like this except in korean. http://wiki.airdump.cz/w/images/Winflash.jpg

 

Another Update!

I found a post explaining explaining why i think my bios updates are getting stuck on extracting! Check it out...

I am running UEFI. I'm going to give it a shot without it.

Update!

I can confirm, using UEFI was indeed my bios update issue! Bios update installed fine as soon as i reinstalled windows 7 using MBR. I am now running old bios! Horray!

 

I can confirm it WAS NOT my issue. Tried win7 on non uefi and it still won't flash...friggin mess.

 

I'm going to best buy to check the display model and bios version today, and check to see if it has the cpu issues. If it doesn't have issues on current bios, I may have to swap mine with another one from BB. This is insane to have to jump through these hoops. I'll post back to see if other models in store have the same issue.

 

I reinstalled today both with UEFI on and off, and it makes zero difference. The second my laptop loads anything other then the P01AAG bios, my CPU usage skyrockets from 1-2% up to 20-30%. Only problem is, when I'm running the P01AAG bios, it doesn't wake from sleep when I open the cover. I think this is the most frustrating computer I've ever dealt with. I've tried P01AAG, P02AAG, P03AAG and P04AAG bios. I get 20-30% idle CPU usage out of all of them except the P01...I'd expect more from Samsung then this crap...

 

I've posted my findings here > http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...ems-samsung-series-7-17-3-np700z7c-s01ub.html

If you have high cpu and a second hard drive installed, that's likely the culprit. Remove the second drive and your cpu will back down to 0-1% idle.

 

Hi,

New here and trying to roll back my Bios version but have some problems. I have the 700Z3A-S03SE 14" and are currently on bios versin 15FD. Did manage to go back to the 14FD (Not Micon) folowing isosunrise guide, thanks! But when trying any of the older versions, no files show upp in the _Samsung_Update folder. Only way to make the files show up is to click OK ore Cancel, which I dont want to do in order to make the roll back work. The files from http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/BUWebServiceProc.asmx/BIOSItemList seams to be of two different kinds for my laptop. 15FD and 14FD that shows up in the :Samsung_Update folder, and all older versions that will not. Any one encounter the same problems and have any ide what to do?

 

Hi nisse.l,
I had the same issue when applying my FD bios updates. The way i got around it is kind of funny. Since UEFI was turned on on my system, after click "OK" the bios updates always just failed at extracting (read my posts above). I was able to use my external mouse (which doesn't get locked by the way) to grab the files of the update i wanted while the bios update was stuck on extracting. I then just force closed the bios update exe and restarted to get my touchpad and keyboard back. Later, after i found out UEFI was the reason my updates were failing, I just use the files i had already extracted before to update the bios.

All of that said, why not just try clicking "OK" and grabbing the files? It shouldn't hurt anything.

 

Have tried to grab the files but they disappear to fast from the folder, only visible for like 1 sec. Have manage to get some of them but not all. UEFI seams to do no difference either.