bios chip flashing...which file?

[vince59]

it is a general question about bios chip flashing. Let us assume that I want to flash a chip to replace a broken/unreadable chip.
Not having a dump to flash, what file should I flash into the chip?
As an example, I realized with my HP elitebook with BIOS W25Q128 that the bin file downloaded from the vendor/producer site is 8 MB while the dump or file to flash is 16MB.
So my question is...how do I understand which file to flash into a bios chip?
Thank you for you help.

[vince59]

Re: bios chip flashing...which file?

...no hints?

[khaahk]

Re: bios chip flashing...which file?

HP does not generally provide you with a bin file. They provide installation program. One model might have multiple variations of mainboards - some may be with different size bios. Without further details hard to answer.
Although HP latest bios updates let you generate a bin file - but after flashing these with programmer you have to update dmi information to provide serial nr. and other information.

[vince59]

Re: bios chip flashing...which file?

HP does not generally provide you with a bin file. They provide installation program. One model might have multiple variations of mainboards - some may be with different size bios. Without further details hard to answer.
Although HP latest bios updates let you generate a bin file - but after flashing these with programmer you have to update dmi information to provide serial nr. and other information.

Thanks for your useful answer. I am just trying to understand how it works.
So assuming I have lost my chip and do not have the dump...what is the procedure to build the bios file to flash?
You can keep the example to the HP for better undertstanding. I know they provide the exe file to install, but if we take it out the burned chip and mount a new one will the exe file work?...I do not think so.

[khaahk]

Re: bios chip flashing...which file?

The most common way is to find bios dump from forums, if it is Intel based - then clean the management engine region and retransfer serial and windows license info if needed and then flash. Most producers do not provide full dump with bios update exe files, there is only bios region, ME and other information is missing - during the bios flash from exe these regions are not changed.

[vince59]

Re: bios chip flashing...which file?

The most common way is to find bios dump from forums, if it is Intel based - then clean the management engine region and retransfer serial and windows license info if needed and then flash. Most producers do not provide full dump with bios update exe files, there is only bios region, ME and other information is missing - during the bios flash from exe these regions are not changed.

Thank you very much for your clear explanation that made me understand the whole process. I see the full bios dump inlcudes specific information that, off course, are not included in the bios release update.
I guess if specific information, model related, are missing or mismatching the pc will not work