[flashrom] Is there a sure-fire way to reset any BIOS flash image to its default, out-of-the-box state with no special equipment?

[Stefan Tauner]

On Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:47:58 -0800
linx255 at nym.hush.com wrote:

> Hi, I am seeking an answer to an apparently obscure question.  If I install coreboot on my BIOS (UEFI motherboard) and the computer fails to boot, can I reset the BIOS flash to its default image?  I've read about possibly changing jumper positions or removing the BIOS battery, but I can't seem to establish if these are sure-fire ways of restoring the original BIOS flash image.  I'd like to attempt to install coreboot on a motherboard that doesn't appear to be coreboot-supported, but only if I know I can completely undo this.  Is the default BIOS flash image preserved somewhere on a ROM chip or can it only be restored with special equipment?  I definitely do not want to end up with an unusable machine.  Thanks!

Hi,

simple answer: no.
The code in the flash chip does initialize the most basic functions of a
mainboard. Without it there is no way to recover.
Also, coreboot needs to be ported to unsupported boards, it is not
generic enough to just be written to any board and just work (this is
actually not coreboot's fault, but is a consequence of the hardware
design of x86 computers). If your flash chip is socketed, the easiest
and cheapest way is to get a spare chip and to use hot-swapping... but
usually getting an external programmer makes more sense.

-- 
Kind regards/Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Stefan Tauner