This article explain how to create a booteable USB stick to flash an EFI flasheable file under DOS enviroment.
- Insyde Flash Tool Download
- Insyde Flash Tool Software
- Insydeh20 Bios Update Tool
- Insyde H2offt Is It Harmful
Is my EFI InsydeH2O?
Step 1 - Preparing working tools. Download and install 7-Zip. Download 'HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder. Download 'DOS Files' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder. Download 'Flash It Tool' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder. Extract files downloaded in 2, 3 and 4.
Bug fix: Insyde tool screen is displayed instead of Fujitsu logo within BIOS update by Windows Update if HDD password authentication is enabled. Bug fix: Fujitsu logo resolution is not the same between POST and BGRT if the logo is displayed to the external display and CSM is enabled. Step 1 - Preparing working tools. Download and install 7-Zip. Download 'HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder. Download 'DOS Files' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder. Download 'Flash It Tool' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder. Extract files downloaded in 2, 3 and 4. This file is Insyde H2OFFT (Flash Firmware Tool) Intel firmware update tool (FWUpdLcl.exe) is dependent on each chipset generation, messagestringA05=”Insyde H2OFFT cannot run on battery power. Please plug in AC power and try again.” messagestringA06=”Please insert system battery.” Lenovo System Update: Update Drivers, BIOS. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options. On the Security tab, click the Trusted Sites icon. Click Sites and then add these website addresses one at a time to the list: You can only add one address at a time and you must click Add after each one.
The easiest way to figure that is looking on the 'BIOS POST Screen' for this image:
Step 0 - Preparing the work enviroment
- You must create a folder on your desktop to use it as workspace. I will use one named 'Toolbox'.
- Your current Windows user account must have administrator rights.
- You must have the Windows based executable file that contains the EFI flasheable file. If you don't have one, enter to Support Website page and get one for your computer. I will use one named 'EFIUPDATEPACKAGE.EXE'.
- Step 0 done.
Step 1 - Preparing working tools
- Download and install 7-Zip.
- Download 'HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder.
- Download 'DOS Files' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder.
- Download 'Flash It Tool' here. Save this file inside 'Toolbox' folder.
- Extract files downloaded in 2, 3 and 4. A folder will be created for each extracted ZIP file.
- Step 1 done.
Step 2 - Creating a booteable USB stick
- Connect your USB stick. Make a backup of it contents if necessary.
- Open 'HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool' folder and execute 'HPUSBFW.EXE' with administrator rights.
- Follow these easy steps as shown below:
- Search and select 'DOS Files' folder:
- Click on 'Accept' button and then click on 'Start' button to initiate the process.
- A warning window appears. Click on 'Yes' button and wait until the entire process is completed.
- Click on 'Accept' button to close the summary window and then click on 'Close' button to close the application.
- Step 2 done.
Step 3 - Copying the flashing tool
- Open 'Flash It Tool' folder.
- Select all files and copy them to the root directory of your USB stick.
- Step 3 done.
Step 4 - Extracting the Windows based EFI update package
- Copy 'EFIUPDATEPACKAGE.EXE' file to your 'Toolbox' folder.
- Secondary click (left click) on 'EFIUPDATEPACKAGE.EXE'.
- Select '7-Zip', then select 'Extract to 'EFIUPDATEPACKAGE'.
- A new folder named 'EFIUPDATEPACKAGE' will be created with files inside.
- Open 'EFIUPDATEPACKAGE' folder and open 'platform.ini' file. It's important to keep this file open.
- Step 4 done.
Step 5 - Finding the flasheable EFI file
- In 'platform.ini' file, search for the section called '[FDFile]'.
- Look for the 'FileName' attribute. This attribute sets the flasheable EFI file name.
- Look inside your 'EFIUPDATEPACKAGE' folder for that file, and rename it to 'FLASHME.ROM'.
- Copy 'FLASHME.ROM' file to the root directory of your USB stick.
- Step 5 done.
Step 6 - Setting the computer platform
- Look inside your USB stick and open the 'IDS.id' file with a plain text editor (notepad is enough).
- In 'platform.ini' file, search for the section called '[Platform_Check]'.
- Copy each 'PlatformName' attribute (only if it have a non-empty value) to 'IDS.id' file.
- Saves changes to IDS.id file.
- Step 6 done.
Step 7 - Finishing
- Close all files and folders opened.
- Remove securely your USB stick.
- Step 7 done.
Appendix A - Flash It Tool parameters established
/U /S /G /V /ALL /PMCAF:IDS.id
Appendix B - Flash It Tool parameters
| Parameter | Information |
| /U | Show confirm message |
| /N | Do not reboot after flash |
| /S | Shutdown after flash |
| /G | Save current BIOS to file |
| /AC | Do not check AC plug in |
| /AB | Check battery life percent |
| /MC | Skip all platform model check |
| /PQ | Query ROM protection MAP in current ROM |
| /I:String | Update logo (need Himem.sys) |
| /O:String | Output file (Must use with /I) |
| /LG:String | Logo GUID; update small logo required (must use with /I) |
| /B | Flash PEI volume |
| /ALL | Flash all |
| /E: Offset(Hex), Size(Hex), Address(Hex) | Update fix size from file offset to physical address |
| /FM | Flash CPU Microcode |
| /FV | Flash Variable |
| /FD | Flash DXE |
| /FE | Flash EC |
| /FL | Flash logo |
| /FP | Flash password |
| /FN | Flash OEM NVS |
| /FT:value | Flash OEM special type |
| /LF | Load Fd file by another floopy disk |
| /C | Clear CMOS |
| /PS | Flash SPI flash part |
| /PN | Flash non-SPI flash part |
| /V | Verify file integrity |
| /RV | Read variable |
| /WV:String | Write variable to new string |
| /WU:String | Write variable (UNICODE) |
| /1 | Save current BIOS to file (1Mbits from memory) |
| /2 | Save current BIOS to file (2Mbits from memory) |
| /4 | Save current BIOS to file (4Mbits from memory) |
| /8 | Save current BIOS to file (8Mbits from memory) |
| /DI | Disable ID display |
| /RB:Filename | Read variable (to a binary file) |
| /WB:Filename | Write variable (from a binary file) |
| /UU:String | Compare UUID with current BIOS |
| /SE:String | Compare serial number with current BIOS |
| /GU:String | Compare GUID with current BIOS |
| /PMCA:ModelName | Used to check Platform model name |
| /PMCAF:FileName | Used to check Platform model name inside FileName |
READ THIS FIRST
THIS IS AN INCOMPLETE DRAFT.
I CANNOT RECOMMEND TO FOLLOW THIS APPROACH UNLESS YOU CAN SAFELY BRICK YOUR DEVICE
NO ONE BUT YOU CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BRICKED DEVICES AS A RESULT OF FOLLOWING THIS APPROACH.
This said, if you can safely brick your device, feel free to contact me directly to discuss more details.
Insyde Software is one of the companies producing mainboard firmware development frameworks, which are licensed by mainboard hardware manufacturers to produce firmware for a given mainboard model.
The following mainboard and laptop vendors are known to (not necessarily exclusively) use Insyde mainboard (UEFI) firmware:
- Acer
- HP
- Lenovo
- Toshiba
- Udoo
To verify that a mainboard uses an Insyde firmware, run:
Unfortunately, to date, most companies selling hardware with Insyde firmware, only provide a firmware upgrade path for the 'InsydeH2O UEFI BIOS' for the Windows platform. I.e. neither MS-DOS nor UEFI nor Linux upgrade methods are supported by them.
As a result, alternative firmware upgrade approaches, such as those discussed here, will void warranty.
Insyde Flash Tool Download
- The hardware model (and hardware revision, if any) specific firmware upgrade files, as provided by your mainboard / laptop vendor, in their support area, for your hardware model. These consist of two files:
platform.ini
A file with (usually) a .FD file extension, containing the actual firmware wrapped in an MS-DOS executable
A copy of the isfl_drv.c / isfl.hLinux module source code
A copy of H2OFFT-Lx64, the Insyde Software Linux amd64 platform flash utility, which was released at the same time or later than the firmware file
A copy of the configuration files platform.ini, message.ini, command.ini, usually provided with the flash utility.
Insyde Flash Tool Software
The latter two are not available as a free download from Insyde Software. but included in mainboard firmware upgrades from Linux friendly hardware vendors. At the time of writing, a recent copy is available in the UDOO UEFI BIOS + and Update Utility.
This paragraph is yet to be written.
Insydeh20 Bios Update Tool
BIOSUpdate
https://fwupd.org/ - fwupd, LVFS, a new vendor firmware upgrade method for Linux
Insyde H2offt Is It Harmful
CategoryHardware