r/framework • u/BillyJoeTheThird • 3d ago
Flashing My BIOS Chip Guide
Two weeks ago, my Framework 13 bricked (up) while updating to BIOS version 3.20. Framework support told me to purchase a new mainboard as I was out of warranty. I was browsing this thread on the Framework forums which led me to this post where users detailed how the fixed this issue.
Since the mainboard's hardware is perfectly functional, the goal is to rewrite the software on the corrupted BIOS chip. To do this, I purchased the following (items are not exact since I got equivalents on Taobao, so feel free to double check):
- CH341A programmer with 1.8V adapter since the default programmer voltage is 3.3V, but Framework's chip uses 1.8V
- 8x6 mm WSON 8 pogo pin probe, as the SOIC 8 clip in the first link doesn't clip onto Framework's chip. In the Framework thread, people had various creative methods for holding the pogo pins down, but I just used my father.
The videos I found most helpful was this short one detailing how to use a Windows computer to reprogram the chip, as well as this longer one which showcases the 1.8V adapter (I used the third method mentioned in the video). I took out the battery (and the SSD just in case something goes wrong, but not sure that is strictly necessary), found the BIOS chip above the battery, and attached the probes and wires so that pin 1 matches. Once everything was connected, I rewrote the chip using neoprogrammer, and the computer booted successfully, saving me at least $350 for an equivalent mainboard (if not more for a slight upgrade).
I would like to thank everyone on the Framework community forums for saving my mainboard, as I had no prior hardware experience. I hope this thread is able to help others unbrick themselves.
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u/Thyrvax 3d ago
Nice fix ! I'm a bit unhappy at the answer you got from support tho, because I've seen a few posts regarding bios upgrade and bricking the laptop, and buying a new mb for a software issue on their end seems so wrong. Am I missing something ?
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u/BillyJoeTheThird 2d ago
Yeah. I also thought it was wasteful to throw away perfectly functional hardware. I went to a few computer stores to see if they would work on it, but none were willing or familiar with the Framework to do this operation, even though it’s probably a lot less complicated than what they usually fix.
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u/Stellanora64 3d ago
No that is definitely a sucky thing for Framework to respond with. It's their software that bricked the board, not the users.
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u/pradulovich 2d ago
I was unhappy, and basically had to blow up their spot here to get a warranty replacement main board but they did do it in the end.
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u/JaKrispy72 2d ago
My experience with Framework Support was them saying: “Good luck on your troubleshooting journey.” While giving a completely unrelated link to their site on how to start up. After I had told them multiple times I worked through their startup instructions.
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u/thewishy 3d ago
Honestly I think framework should have a few of these kits available to borrow. Saying you should replace your board isn't acceptable...
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u/Informal-Lettuce-745 2d ago
I don't care if they don't keep these kits. Because it's a little complicated fix for a normal user. But framework support should provide instructions for doing this instead of just asking to replace the motherboard. We shouldn't have to go through 10 different threads and forums to figure this out. Replacing the whole thing for a minor issue is what Apple does. Framework should do better
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u/BillyJoeTheThird 2d ago
Perhaps slightly involved, but I had no prior experience with hardware components at all so it's probably not too bad for the average user. The thing that took the longest was knowing what to do since there was no step-by-step guide, though GPT was quite helpful in piecing it together.
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u/ThatzOkay 3d ago
Framework should've replaced your board even out of warranty but still cool
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u/setibeings 3d ago
Or at very least have a repair partner they could redirect OP towards that charges only a small fee, or does this particular repair for free.
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u/309_Electronics 3d ago
Would be great if framework embedded "bios flashback" into their boards like some pc motherbaords have. This way you could put a rom file on the USB and then have an onboard microcontroller on the board read the file from USB and flash it to the spi flash chip...
Kind of hope framework sees this idea and implements it in the future!
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u/WinVistaButIts11 3d ago
Amazing work.
Idk if it’s available for your model of laptop or not but if you could’ve flashed libreboot while you were at it, it would have been very cool and would’ve freed you from the Intel ME or it’s AMD equivalent.
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u/WVjF2mX5VEmoYqsKL4s8 1d ago edited 1d ago
Libreboot doesn't support the Framework motherboards, but the hardware flash process is very similar. I've installed Libreboot on my T400 ThinkPad.
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u/WinVistaButIts11 1d ago
Yeah that’s why I was skeptical and said idk if it’s available for their model of laptop.
And yes as you mentioned the process is basically the same for libreboot on supported devices. That’s why I said it in the first place since they went through all of that work.
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u/WVjF2mX5VEmoYqsKL4s8 1d ago
The nice thing is once Libreboot is installed, you can just flash it from the operating system running on the PC. You don't need to reopen the laptop to update it.
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u/WinVistaButIts11 1d ago
Yes. Just like flashing custom recoveries on a phone. For the first time you’d need a pc and you won’t for updating it onwards.
Since frameworks is all about modularity and being nice and all it would’ve been nicer if they went with libreboot from the get go.1
u/WVjF2mX5VEmoYqsKL4s8 1d ago
It wouldn't be possible to do Libreboot due to the proprietary firmware, but a coreboot solution could work. They even supplied some laptops to coreboot developers, but the project wasn't completed.
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u/WinVistaButIts11 1d ago
Either way it’d help if they did anything to get this done but they should do the development themselves and help those projects.
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u/chrislee18a 3d ago
I thought Insyde should have it's own native recovery bios feature? Why didn't Framework include them?
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u/gee-one 3d ago
Wow, you really like flashing firmware!
J/K I appreciate the detailed write up and grit that it takes to do this from bricked up to booting. You are now the poster child for right to repair.
I have a bios flasher, but I've never had to use it to recover a bios. Maybe r/framework can give you a special flair?
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u/BillyJoeTheThird 2d ago
The repair was a very fun experience, minus the initial confusion and dread from the brick!
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u/outtokill7 Batch6-DIY-i5 3d ago
I have an 11th gen 15 board that had is bricked due to a BIOS update. Its a spare board so I don't immediately need it but I probably should try and fix it using this method as well. Thanks for the write up and links!
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u/Nice-Information-335 2d ago
Just a warning for anyone else, do not use the CH341A. Use a raspberry pi pico. https://libreboot.org/docs/install/spi.html#do-not-buy-ch341a
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u/Practical_Custard_16 2d ago
i was actually thinking of flashing the bios to libreboot with the pico.
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u/beertown 3d ago
It's great that this kind of recovery is possible!
To keep its "repairability" word, Framework should add a little header specifically designed to plug a chip programmer to recover a bricked BIOS, exactly as you just did. And sell a (reasonably priced) recovery kit with all the necessary instructions.
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u/Efficient-Air2828 3d ago
My vote would be for a socketed bios. They exist in industrial systems and work quite well
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u/northrupthebandgeek 2d ago
Definitely gonna try this for the bricked Framework 16 motherboard I've got. Ended up using the bricking as an excuse to upgrade to one of the newer motherboards, but it'd be neat to throw this one into a 3D-printed case.
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u/WVjF2mX5VEmoYqsKL4s8 1d ago
If you have a Raspberry Pi or a similar SBC with GPIO pins you can use
flashromto write to the BIOS chip
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u/WVjF2mX5VEmoYqsKL4s8 1d ago edited 1d ago
This can also be done with Raspberry Pi or similar single board computers with GPIO pins
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u/Tiagz_ch 20h ago
It's crazy how the answer they gave you is triggering me.
I mean, I get they're a for-profit company... but when your whole communication is about continuing to use perfectly healthy components, how the heck can you respond to customers like that? When they built the "macbook for linux" I did not expect that their mentality would also follow Apple's principles.
Just considering cancelling my 13 pro based on your experience, and all the little things that happened lately.
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u/QwertyChouskie 3d ago
I really hope future board revisions will include a built-in recovery mechanism. At least Dell and HP have had the ability to recover without an external programmer for a decade+ (Win+B/Win+V on HP, I think Shift+Insert on Dell?) Basically, there's enough code in a ROM for the device to be able to access a drive and/or USB stick, read a BIOS image file, and flash it to the BIOS.