[SOLVED] I need help updating BIOS on GNU/Linux

V

vanfanel

New member
Hello there,

I have seen there is a new BIOS version for the Z100-0DB available here:

NEO Z100-0dB: Beta version of BIOS - AD0J0181

We updated a beta version of BIOS. Changelog: 1. Fixed Wake Up from S5 (power off) with USB device. 2. Fixed grub2 command "fwsetup" to boot to EFI Setup. 3. Windows shift restart to EFI Setup probably boot to EFI Setup. Download Link [MINIX Forum Server]...
theminixforum.com

However, that only includes a Windows executable to do the update, and this computer is advertised as fully compatible with GNU/Linux.

So, what's the BIOS update process in GNU/Linux? It's important as some of the fixes included in latest version are needed.

I have already tried fwupd, but there are no fw updates for this computer on the database.
Also, the aforementioned update seems to use Intel's FPT, which I can't find for GNU/Linux.

Note I have a very good impression of this computer, but not having BIOS update means on GNU/Linux would be a major red flag for me in the future with regards to the brand, so please try to address this. Thanks!
 
I found FPT for GNU/Linux available here:

github.com

Remove_IntelME_FPT/Intel_ME_System_Tools at master · mostav02/Remove_IntelME_FPT

A guide for disabling Intel Management Engine using FPT on PCH SPI - mostav02/Remove_IntelME_FPT
github.com github.com

However, trying to flash the new firmware yields an error:

root@debian:~/fw/Intel CSME System Tools v12 r22 [FPT_LINUX_SUPPORTED]/Flash Programming Tool/LINUX64# ./FPT -F ~/fw/AD0J0181.bin
Intel (R) Flash Programming Tool Version: 12.0.49.1536
Copyright (C) 2005 - 2019, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.


Error 39: PCH is not supported.

Error 620: Unknown hardware platform

Maybe an specific FPT version is needed?
 
Also, it seems a more recent version of FPT is available here: https://dl.qiedd.com/bios/tools/
Latest version available in that page (14.5-r2) is available as an EFI executable only...

I have seen an option in the BIOS menu called Launch EFI Shall from filesystem device, but that won't do anything.
Looking at /boot/efi/EFI/debian/, I have noticed there's no Shell.efi there.
Shell.efi is available here: https://github.com/tianocore/edk2-archive/blob/master/ShellBinPkg/UefiShell/X64/Shell.efi
Copied it over to /boot/efi/EFI/debian/Shell.efi, but the Launch EFI Shall from filesystem device option still doesn't do anything.
Also tried as /boot/efi/Shell.efi, but the Launch EFI Shall from filesystem device option still doesn't do anything.

So, back to my first post: How can I update the FW on GNU/Linux, please?
 
Last edited:
I am ALMOST there, in fact: I have been able to run a 2022 version of FPT from the EFI shell.

Sadly, the most recent version of FPT for UEFI I could find online does not support the Z100-0Db.
If only stupid Intel would provide recent FPT executable for GNU/Linux or UEFI...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Go here for further instruction:

[GUIDE] Updating BIOS UEFI using GNU/Linux (NO Windows needed)

Hello there, First of all, thanks to the excellent support that the Minix support team gave via E-Mail using support@minix.com.hk Contact them if you need technical help. They seem to be very competent and usually answer on the same day. Many thanks to them! Now, if you use Minix Z100-0DB with...
theminixforum.com

[GUIDE] Updating the computer firmware/BIOS UEFI (NO Windows needed)

Hello there, First of all, thanks to the excellent support that the Minix support team gave via E-Mail using support@minix.com.hk Contact them if you need technical help. They seem to be very competent and usually answer on the same day. Many thanks to them! This is how to update the computer...
theminixforum.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top