ASUS F2A85-M PRO VGA BIOS binary extraction

[se7enge]

Dear Coreboot Team,

I am about to embark on a mission to install coreboot on an ASUS F2A85-M PRO (w/ AMD A10-6800k) desktop machine. Admittedly, I don't have much experience in this field and am not extremely technical; but I am willing to learn and put in the effort needed.

My main question to you at this time is regarding the extraction of the VGA BIOS binary, in order to make the integrated GPU function as intended, and how one goes about doing it. I have downloaded the available .CAP (BIOS image?) file from the official Asus support page (https://www.asus.com/supportonly/F2A85-M%20PRO/HelpDesk_BIOS/) and I can see that on your own documentation page for the ASUS F2A85-M (https://doc.coreboot.org/mainboard/asus/f2a85-m.html) you have recommended that one should use 'MMTool Aptio' in order to load the image and extract the VGA binary. However, I have struggled to find any official download or support page for this tool and it does not appear to be in my official distro repository or the AUR either. I am therefore seemingly unable to get a hold of it and follow your documentation.

Please could you advise on the best way to solve this problem so that I may successfully extract the needed binary and continue on to compile the coreboot ROM. Any support is much appreciated :)

Kind regards,
se7enge

[Paul Menzel]

Dear se7enge,

Am 05.06.21 um 19:52 schrieb se7enge via coreboot:
> I am about to embark on a mission to install coreboot on an ASUS
> F2A85-M PRO (w/ AMD A10-6800k) desktop machine. Admittedly, I don't
> have much experience in this field and am not extremely technical;
> but I am willing to learn and put in the effort needed.
>
> My main question to you at this time is regarding the extraction of
> the VGA BIOS binary, in order to make the integrated GPU function as
> intended, and how one goes about doing it. I have downloaded the
> available .CAP (BIOS image?) file from the official Asus support page
> (https://www.asus.com/supportonly/F2A85-M%20PRO/HelpDesk_BIOS/) and I
> can see that on your own documentation page for the ASUS F2A85-M
> (https://doc.coreboot.org/mainboard/asus/f2a85-m.html) you have
> recommended that one should use 'MMTool Aptio' in order to load the
> image and extract the VGA binary. However, I have struggled to find
> any official download or support page for this tool and it does not
> appear to be in my official distro repository or the AUR either. I am
> therefore seemingly unable to get a hold of it and follow your
> documentation.
>
> Please could you advise on the best way to solve this problem so that
> I may successfully extract the needed binary and continue on to
> compile the coreboot ROM. Any support is much appreciated :)

I extracted it directly from within GNU/Linux following the Wiki page 
*VGA support* [1].

Note, to get graphics before the Linux kernel initializes it (using the 
ROM), I have to run it in SeaBIOS. Letting coreboot run the VGA BIOS 
Option ROM is not working here.

I never tried if there is an UEFI GOP driver(?) which could be used with 
(?) TianoCore.

Kind regards,

Paul

PS: After you get it going, it’d be really great if you extended the 
documentation and maybe even moved the information from the Wiki to the 
documentation folder. You only need to know Markdown for that.

[1]: https://www.coreboot.org/VGA_support#Retrieval_via_Linux_kernel

[Raul Rangel]

You might also want to try https://github.com/al3xtjames/ghidra-firmware-utils
From what I remember it allows browsing the .bin.

On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 5:12 PM Paul Menzel  wrote:
> Dear se7enge,
>
> Am 05.06.21 um 19:52 schrieb se7enge via coreboot:
> > I am about to embark on a mission to install coreboot on an ASUS
> > F2A85-M PRO (w/ AMD A10-6800k) desktop machine. Admittedly, I don't
> > have much experience in this field and am not extremely technical;
> > but I am willing to learn and put in the effort needed.
> >
> > My main question to you at this time is regarding the extraction of
> > the VGA BIOS binary, in order to make the integrated GPU function as
> > intended, and how one goes about doing it. I have downloaded the
> > available .CAP (BIOS image?) file from the official Asus support page
> > (https://www.asus.com/supportonly/F2A85-M%20PRO/HelpDesk_BIOS/) and I
> > can see that on your own documentation page for the ASUS F2A85-M
> > (https://doc.coreboot.org/mainboard/asus/f2a85-m.html) you have
> > recommended that one should use 'MMTool Aptio' in order to load the
> > image and extract the VGA binary. However, I have struggled to find
> > any official download or support page for this tool and it does not
> > appear to be in my official distro repository or the AUR either. I am
> > therefore seemingly unable to get a hold of it and follow your
> > documentation.
> >
> > Please could you advise on the best way to solve this problem so that
> > I may successfully extract the needed binary and continue on to
> > compile the coreboot ROM. Any support is much appreciated :)
>
> I extracted it directly from within GNU/Linux following the Wiki page
> *VGA support* [1].
>
> Note, to get graphics before the Linux kernel initializes it (using the
> ROM), I have to run it in SeaBIOS. Letting coreboot run the VGA BIOS
> Option ROM is not working here.
>
> I never tried if there is an UEFI GOP driver(?) which could be used with
> (?) TianoCore.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Paul
>
> PS: After you get it going, it’d be really great if you extended the
> documentation and maybe even moved the information from the Wiki to the
> documentation folder. You only need to know Markdown for that.
>
> coreboot mailing list -- [e-mail]
> To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]

[se7enge]

Okay thanks guys, I was hoping for a way to extract the VGA binary from the bios image, on a separate machine as I don't have this new one up and running yet, but I will definitely try the method mentioned by Paul. Should be able to boot into a live Linux environment and extract the binary from there following the wiki.

I'll let you know if I run into any serious issues which I can't resolve; looks to be doable though.

Kind regards,
se7enge

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

On Monday, June 7th, 2021 at 3:38 PM, Raul Rangel  wrote:
> You might also want to try https://github.com/al3xtjames/ghidra-firmware-utils
>
> From what I remember it allows browsing the .bin.
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 5:12 PM Paul Menzel [e-mail] wrote:
> > Dear se7enge,
> >
> > Am 05.06.21 um 19:52 schrieb se7enge via coreboot:
> > > I am about to embark on a mission to install coreboot on an ASUS
> > >
> > > F2A85-M PRO (w/ AMD A10-6800k) desktop machine. Admittedly, I don't
> > >
> > > have much experience in this field and am not extremely technical;
> > >
> > > but I am willing to learn and put in the effort needed.
> > >
> > > My main question to you at this time is regarding the extraction of
> > >
> > > the VGA BIOS binary, in order to make the integrated GPU function as
> > >
> > > intended, and how one goes about doing it. I have downloaded the
> > >
> > > available .CAP (BIOS image?) file from the official Asus support page
> > >
> > > (https://www.asus.com/supportonly/F2A85-M PRO/HelpDesk_BIOS/) and I
> > >
> > > can see that on your own documentation page for the ASUS F2A85-M
> > >
> > > (https://doc.coreboot.org/mainboard/asus/f2a85-m.html) you have
> > >
> > > recommended that one should use 'MMTool Aptio' in order to load the
> > >
> > > image and extract the VGA binary. However, I have struggled to find
> > >
> > > any official download or support page for this tool and it does not
> > >
> > > appear to be in my official distro repository or the AUR either. I am
> > >
> > > therefore seemingly unable to get a hold of it and follow your
> > >
> > > documentation.
> > >
> > > Please could you advise on the best way to solve this problem so that
> > >
> > > I may successfully extract the needed binary and continue on to
> > >
> > > compile the coreboot ROM. Any support is much appreciated :)
> > >
> > > I extracted it directly from within GNU/Linux following the Wiki page
> > >
> > > VGA support 1.
> >
> > Note, to get graphics before the Linux kernel initializes it (using the
> >
> > ROM), I have to run it in SeaBIOS. Letting coreboot run the VGA BIOS
> >
> > Option ROM is not working here.
> >
> > I never tried if there is an UEFI GOP driver(?) which could be used with
> >
> > (?) TianoCore.
> >
> > Kind regards,
> >
> > Paul
> >
> > PS: After you get it going, it’d be really great if you extended the
> >
> > documentation and maybe even moved the information from the Wiki to the
> >
> > documentation folder. You only need to know Markdown for that.
> >
> > coreboot mailing list -- [e-mail]
> >
> > To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]

[Rao G]

You can extract the VBIOS.rom after booting to OS, incase it is linux

echo 1 > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/rom cat
/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/rom > vbios.dump echo 0 >
/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/rom

the .rom file can be opened with Intel BMP tool

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 8:11 PM se7enge via coreboot 
wrote:
> Okay thanks guys, I was hoping for a way to extract the VGA binary from
> the bios image, on a separate machine as I don't have this new one up and
> running yet, but I will definitely try the method mentioned by Paul. Should
> be able to boot into a live Linux environment and extract the binary from
> there following the wiki.
>
> I'll let you know if I run into any serious issues which I can't resolve;
> looks to be doable though.
>
> Kind regards,
> se7enge
>
> ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
>
> On Monday, June 7th, 2021 at 3:38 PM, Raul Rangel 
> wrote:
> > You might also want to try
>
> https://github.com/al3xtjames/ghidra-firmware-utils
> > From what I remember it allows browsing the .bin.
> >
> > On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 5:12 PM Paul Menzel [e-mail] wrote:
> > > Dear se7enge,
> > >
> > > Am 05.06.21 um 19:52 schrieb se7enge via coreboot:
> > > > I am about to embark on a mission to install coreboot on an ASUS
> > > >
> > > > F2A85-M PRO (w/ AMD A10-6800k) desktop machine. Admittedly, I don't
> > > >
> > > > have much experience in this field and am not extremely technical;
> > > >
> > > > but I am willing to learn and put in the effort needed.
> > > >
> > > > My main question to you at this time is regarding the extraction of
> > > >
> > > > the VGA BIOS binary, in order to make the integrated GPU function as
> > > >
> > > > intended, and how one goes about doing it. I have downloaded the
> > > >
> > > > available .CAP (BIOS image?) file from the official Asus support page
> > > >
> > > > (https://www.asus.com/supportonly/F2A85-M PRO/HelpDesk_BIOS/) and I
> > > >
> > > > can see that on your own documentation page for the ASUS F2A85-M
> > > >
> > > > (https://doc.coreboot.org/mainboard/asus/f2a85-m.html) you have
> > > >
> > > > recommended that one should use 'MMTool Aptio' in order to load the
> > > >
> > > > image and extract the VGA binary. However, I have struggled to find
> > > >
> > > > any official download or support page for this tool and it does not
> > > >
> > > > appear to be in my official distro repository or the AUR either. I am
> > > >
> > > > therefore seemingly unable to get a hold of it and follow your
> > > >
> > > > documentation.
> > > >
> > > > Please could you advise on the best way to solve this problem so that
> > > >
> > > > I may successfully extract the needed binary and continue on to
> > > >
> > > > compile the coreboot ROM. Any support is much appreciated :)
> > > >
> > > > I extracted it directly from within GNU/Linux following the Wiki page
> > > >
> > > > VGA support 1.
> > >
> > > Note, to get graphics before the Linux kernel initializes it (using the
> > >
> > > ROM), I have to run it in SeaBIOS. Letting coreboot run the VGA BIOS
> > >
> > > Option ROM is not working here.
> > >
> > > I never tried if there is an UEFI GOP driver(?) which could be used
>
> with
> > > (?) TianoCore.
> > >
> > > Kind regards,
> > >
> > > Paul
> > >
> > > PS: After you get it going, it’d be really great if you extended the
> > >
> > > documentation and maybe even moved the information from the Wiki to the
> > >
> > > documentation folder. You only need to know Markdown for that.
> > >
> > > coreboot mailing list -- [e-mail]
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]
>
> coreboot mailing list -- [e-mail]
> To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]