Grains BIOS Repair
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)
UEFI Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, developed by Intel. UEFI Frightens me. I've been watching the development of Pc's here right from the start. What I'm seeing here is some of the larger OEMS are rallying around this new interface like its the best thing since sliced bread without offering any real BIOS recovery support for these new products.
Retail AMD Mainboard's seem unaffected without any similar implementation which would be expected as UEFI is an Intel Concept.
Mainstream Makers retail Mainboards boards with Intel chipsets seem to have complete BIOS Files available for download.
However ECS, HP, Intel and possibly a few other makers do not offer the complete download for some of their new Intel chipset Laptops and Mainboard's ?. This was certainly the case at time of writing, but hopefully we will see some change soon and the complete files may become available.
UEFI and Linux
I for one love Linux, Ubunto free surfing for the Masses. This article highlights some rather revealing facts about the new UEFI interface.
It would be a sorry day if Software development became the exclusive right of large OEM's such as intel, Microsoft and large OEM Makers.
Intel Chipset Management
EEPROM the component used to store the BIOS.ROM files have got larger and are being used to store Intel chipset specific management software for mainboard's with the new chipset's. It would appear that the same EEPROM is being used for management Software and BIOS ROM File. Their interdependency is still being determined here, as far as we know even if the bios is relocated at the correct address within the EEPROM, it will not function without the management software, this is still to be determined but I suspect this to be the case.
The management software is normally located at the start of the eeprom. The BIOS ROM file would then would reside at the end of the EEPROM which would be the correct location in most instances.
UEFI and BIOS Support
UEFI Unified Extensible Firmware Interface and how it affects our service here. UEFI at present is only affecting certain makers new Intel chipset's. The only issue we have at present is the new Intel chipset management software and its availability, some makers BIOS Files are complete with this feature, and others are not.
AMD mainboard Makers are not, or do not seem to be implementing anything like UEFI as yet, although I'm sure they will be working on something to combat the latest Intel marketing strategies.
UEFI-Affect on OEM BIOS Files
From my observations and research, i can say that at present AMD Mainboard's seem to be unaffected and do not contain this new UEFI implementation.
We are able to supply BIOS Chips for a lot of Retail Boards that have this implementation.
Larger OEMS such as Acer HP, Compaq and probably others too, are NOT SUPPLING COMPLETE ROM files for all their new Intel Based machines that have this new Implementation. Complete FIles are simply not available from the various affected makers web sites.
However A few makers respond favourably when approached for the complete files so complete files are available. However file availability will depend on any given makers willingness to supply you with the needed complete ROM file or files.
Why all Mainboard makers are not supplying complete BIOS FIles is is beyond me. It does show a certain lack of concern for their customers and the service industry. Maybe they just want a bigger WEE scrap Mountain.
Lack of BIOS Support Obviously TIES you to the maker for BIOS support options unless they are willing to supply the complete files for BIOS Recovery/restore. Obviously these files should be available anyhow and further more they should be complete.
I'm seeing instances where bios files downloaded from these large OEM Companies do not contain all the code needed to restore any given machine.
In reality the files size can be very misleading as they often only contain a fraction of the code needed to restore the eeprom fitted to any striken PC or Laptop.
I must be frank here, I would NOT consider buying a Laptop, PC, Mainboard or any other machine with this new UEFI implementation unless they are fully supported with all the needed files available for download.
There is a lot of controversy about this new Product ?. The question is do we really need all this added complication ?.
The present state of play with the availability of regular Intel BIOS ROM Files is bad enough. If all the large OEMS implement this new UEIF bios for new Intel chipsets, and then in their wisdom refuse to supply complete binary rom files, then they are making quite a statement.
One would then be bound to expensive repair bills from the maker, which is probably one of the undisclosed darker aspects of this new interface. I'm sure there will be many more.
Large OEM's
In my opinion a few of the larger OEM PC makers DO NOT OFFER good support for their Machines, and never have. Read More here. Luckily the worst issues only affect a handfull of Large OEM Laptop and PC Makers.