Clevo P751TM1 BIOS flashing help, Thunderbolt without display

[Gualdo]

Hello, new member hoping to get some help, thanks for reading. I am trying to flash a newer BIOS on my P751TM1-G to solve an issue with the display via Thunderbolt, but I have been unable to flash the files I have found with the instructions I have found after two days of research. I have been reading around before writing this post but at this point I feel like I have to ask directly. I have had to research to flash firmware on an older laptop and on my phone a couple of times in the past, I have done hardware repairs and modifications; this time I've been trying and I think the better course of action is to ask.

 

I have downloaded the BIOS 1.07.29 for P7xxTM1-G from https://my.hidrive.com/share/yze8mg-wf8#$/BIOS and EC Firmware/CLEVO/P_Series/P7xx_Series/P7xxTMx/P7xxTM1(G)

found at https://clevo-computer.com/en/drivers/

 

I have tried to follow the instructions from the Obsidian PC video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQIkkr2Zaro

but the files they copy into the USB pen are not the same as the ones I get from the link above. I actually got this machine from Obsidian but they seem to have left the Clevo reseller business.

 

When I disable UEFI boot and boot into the USB, "dir" to see the folder contents and try to run the file that looks like "meset" (since my files have no step1.bat) the result is "This program cannot be run in DOS mode."; it doesn't respond to "flash" or similar commands either, but I don't really know what I should be doing here.

 

I have found this other file for this model but it is in the form of a .ROM file and I don't know how to use it https://www.mediafire.com/file/fxnau0mq310462p/P7xxTM1_B0724.rom/file

I have also found another download link for .ROM files for a dsanke BIOS but again I don't know how to use them. Apologies for not linking everything, I have 70 tabs open now, I'm also trying to keep the question clear.

 

All this explained, I feel it is more prudent to ask for help here where someone who knows the process could point me in the right direction, how I can flash the 1.07.29 BIOS that I have, or which other BIOS I should use and how to use it. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

The reason I want to update the BIOS in my P751 is that my current one (1.05.10) appears to be lacking a setting to allow display over Thunderbolt (I cannot find DDI Control in my BIOS, which seems to be what I need to change, I have installed TB drivers and researched this process before deciding to update the BIOS because the DDI setting is nowhere in mine). This laptop has TB3 and I get USB and Ethernet signal through it but no Displayport signal (if I change Thunderbolt security in the BIOS from "Unique ID" to "Only DP++", I get no DP and no USB; no TB connection recognized). I am using a WD22TB4 dock which works correctly with my newer laptop, a Clevo L141PU, so the problem is with my P751. I have been using two external monitors connected through DP cables directly to the P751, but I want to use all the setup with the L141 too (all works fine now in the ultrabook with the one TB cable) and ideally plug only two cables TB+power into the P751 instead of the current five cables every time I move it (my problem now: on the P751, TB is recognized but only gives me USB and Ethernet, no display).

 

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read.

[runix18]

11 hours ago, Goyo said:

Hello, new member hoping to get some help, thanks for reading. I am trying to flash a newer BIOS on my P751TM1-G to solve an issue with the display via Thunderbolt, but I have been unable to flash the files I have found with the instructions I have found after two days of research. I have been reading around before writing this post but at this point I feel like I have to ask directly. I have had to research to flash firmware on an older laptop and on my phone a couple of times in the past, I have done hardware repairs and modifications; this time I've been trying and I think the better course of action is to ask.

 

I have downloaded the BIOS 1.07.29 for P7xxTM1-G from https://my.hidrive.com/share/yze8mg-wf8#$/BIOS and EC Firmware/CLEVO/P_Series/P7xx_Series/P7xxTMx/P7xxTM1(G)

found at https://clevo-computer.com/en/drivers/

 

I have tried to follow the instructions from the Obsidian PC video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQIkkr2Zaro

but the files they copy into the USB pen are not the same as the ones I get from the link above. I actually got this machine from Obsidian but they seem to have left the Clevo reseller business.

 

When I disable UEFI boot and boot into the USB, "dir" to see the folder contents and try to run the file that looks like "meset" (since my files have no step1.bat) the result is "This program cannot be run in DOS mode."; it doesn't respond to "flash" or similar commands either, but I don't really know what I should be doing here.

 

I have found this other file for this model but it is in the form of a .ROM file and I don't know how to use it https://www.mediafire.com/file/fxnau0mq310462p/P7xxTM1_B0724.rom/file

I have also found another download link for .ROM files for a dsanke BIOS but again I don't know how to use them. Apologies for not linking everything, I have 70 tabs open now, I'm also trying to keep the question clear.

 

All this explained, I feel it is more prudent to ask for help here where someone who knows the process could point me in the right direction, how I can flash the 1.07.29 BIOS that I have, or which other BIOS I should use and how to use it. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

The reason I want to update the BIOS in my P751 is that my current one (1.05.10) appears to be lacking a setting to allow display over Thunderbolt (I cannot find DDI Control in my BIOS, which seems to be what I need to change, I have installed TB drivers and researched this process before deciding to update the BIOS because the DDI setting is nowhere in mine). This laptop has TB3 and I get USB and Ethernet signal through it but no Displayport signal (if I change Thunderbolt security in the BIOS from "Unique ID" to "Only DP++", I get no DP and no USB; no TB connection recognized). I am using a WD22TB4 dock which works correctly with my newer laptop, a Clevo L141PU, so the problem is with my P751. I have been using two external monitors connected through DP cables directly to the P751, but I want to use all the setup with the L141 too (all works fine now in the ultrabook with the one TB cable) and ideally plug only two cables TB+power into the P751 instead of the current five cables every time I move it (my problem now: on the P751, TB is recognized but only gives me USB and Ethernet, no display).

 

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read.

Since you are trying to flash an original bios you can flash with afuwin from windows: https://www5.zippyshare.com/v/fextIuC4/file.html

 

[Gualdo]

 

On 9/22/2022 at 12:52 PM, runix18 said:

Since you are trying to flash an original bios you can flash with afuwin from windows: https://www5.zippyshare.com/v/fextIuC4/file.html

 

Thank you! I was able to update the BIOS with Afuwin. The 1.07.29 BIOS does have the DDI Control setting, unfortunately this still didn't enable the video signal over thunderbolt like I thought it would, so I have to keep researching.

Have a great weekend.

 

***

I had found this thread by someone describing the same problem of a P751 with no video over TB, unfortunately they never reported on the result. https://egpu.io/forums/thunderbolt-enclosures/clevo-p751-with-hp-g2-dock-video-output-missing/

Many other settings from my previous 1.05.1 bios are missing in 1.07.29 but I am trying to solve the video over TB issue first.

 

In case someone else with the same question about flashing the bios finds this post, I detail the steps I followed with Afuwin below to make things easier:

***

The files containing the BIOS ROM I downloaded from https://my.hidrive.com/share/yze8mg-wf8#$/BIOS and EC Firmware/CLEVO/P_Series/P7xx_Series/P7xxTMx/P7xxTM1(G)

already included Afuwin, although they did not include the user manual which is present in the link @runix18 shared, where one can find more detailed explanations about all the commands. Reading that manual and this short guide https://botflakes.de/asrockwiki/docs/guides/afuWin/

I open Command Prompt as administrator, cd to the folder which contains afuwin and the bios.rom that I want to flash,

then first run

afuwinx64.exe [name to backup current bios] /o

then compare this backup OLDBIOS.ROM with the new BIOS.ROM that I had downloaded to see that both are meant for my motherboard model

afuwinx64.exe oldbios.rom /u
afuwinx64.exe bios.rom /u

then use the commands shown in the guide and manual linked above to flash: /p /b /n to program main bios, program boot block, program nvram.

I get an Error: ROM file ROMID is not compatible with existing BIOS ROMID ,

so I add the /x command in the beginning to "not check ROM ID" and now the flashing works, press E when asked to select the option at the end, restart the machine and let it do its thing, press Enter on the two CMOS messages, everything ok. When checking the ROMID of the three different ROM files that I had found for the P7xxTM1 in my searches it turned out all of them were the same 1.07.29 BIOS.

So to flash,

afuwinx64.exe BIOS.ROM /X /P /B /N

and then option E, then restart the machine, you have the new BIOS.

 

 

[Gualdo]

Is it possible that the old VBIOS may not be allowing my GPU to detect the external monitors connected by Thunderbolt, and that a newer VBIOS might solve that?

[harkaz]

Change Thunderbolt security level to DP++ and try again.

Also, consider updating Thunderbolt firmware to the latest version (request the latest TBT firmware version for your device from your reseller).

[Gualdo]

20 minutes ago, harkaz said:

Change Thunderbolt security level to DP++ and try again.

Also, consider updating Thunderbolt firmware to the latest version (request the latest TBT firmware version for your device from your reseller).

Hello, I just tried with the new bios, TB security to DP++ makes the computer not recognize the TB connection: no USB and no Ethernet (with Unique ID I get those, just no video).

The thunderbolt driver that I got originally from the reseller is the same as the latest one in Clevo Taiwan website for the P7xxTM1G, version 17.4.78.500; the result is the same with this driver and older versions.

https://www.clevo.com.tw/clevo_down.asp?lang=en

 

I will look more into the VBIOS tomorrow. Where I got the BIOS there are also VBIOS for GTX1070 although marked as P7xxDM2G, with no P7xxTM1G version.

https://clevo-computer.com/en/drivers/

[harkaz]

10 minutes ago, Goyo said:

Hello, I just tried with the new bios, TB security to DP++ makes the computer not recognize the TB connection: no USB and no Ethernet (with Unique ID I get those, just no video).

The thunderbolt driver that I got originally from the reseller is the same as the latest one in Clevo Taiwan website for the P7xxTM1G, version 17.4.78.500; the result is the same with this driver and older versions.

https://www.clevo.com.tw/clevo_down.asp?lang=en

 

I will look more into the VBIOS tomorrow. Where I got the BIOS there are also VBIOS for GTX1070 although marked as P7xxDM2G, with no P7xxTM1G version.

https://clevo-computer.com/en/drivers/

I am not talking about the drivers, but the TBT firmware. Thunderbolt has its own Intel closed source firmware on an SPI flash. A tool to update this can be seperately requested from your reseller.

 

Also, the EC firmware is not current, 1.07.16

[Gualdo]

6 minutes ago, harkaz said:

I am not talking about the drivers, but the TBT firmware. Thunderbolt has its own Intel closed source firmware on an SPI flash. A tool to update this can be seperately requested from your reseller.

 

Also, the EC firmware is not current, 1.07.16

Thanks. So TBT firmware for the thunderbolt hardware in my laptop, not the drivers listed as TBT with the other Clevo drivers, correct?

The reseller I bought this laptop from left the business unfortunately.

[harkaz]

7 minutes ago, Goyo said:

Thanks. So TBT firmware for the thunderbolt hardware in my laptop, not the drivers listed as TBT with the other Clevo drivers, correct?

The reseller I bought this laptop from left the business unfortunately.

I have a TBT firmware for my own P775TM1. I have attached the files below.

P750TM_TBT_FW_C1rev40_TI11204_ECN_0103.7z

[Gualdo]

16 minutes ago, harkaz said:

I have a TBT firmware for my own P775TM1. I have attached the files below.

P750TM_TBT_FW_C1rev40_TI11204_ECN_0103.7z 434.21 kB · 0 downloads

Awesome, thank you so much! This was the solution. Working great now with video and usb. I seem to have lost the Ethernet but I can look into that in the morning. Thanks a lot @harkaz

[harkaz]

You're welcome. Also, don't forget to update the EC firmware to its latest version, so that everything is running as intended.

(Make sure the proper EC for your model has been chosen)

[Gualdo]

Thanks again to all who helped. Thunderbolt is working in my laptop.

***

To close the topic with the EC update in case it can save someone time in the future, I detail the EC flashing too.

The BIOS files are too large to attach in a post. I leave the EC files here for convenience.

P7xxTM1(G)-EC1-R1.07.16.zip

Alternatively in the BIOS for Clevo section in this address

https://clevo-computer.com/en/drivers/

in the same place where I downloaded the 1.07.29 BIOS there is also the 1.07.16 EC for the P7xxTM1G.

The EC is flashed from a USB stick that I format as FreeDos using Rufus; after formatting the USB it will contain the three items in the screenshot below "locale, autorun.ico, autorun.inf"; then I extract the contents of the 7z file with the EC that I downloaded earlier, and copy them to the USB.

This guide below said to set the BIOS to default values before flashing, so I do (reboot, hold F2, find the corresponding options). There are more steps there that I did not need.

https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Infos/Help-Support/Instructions/Updating-EFI-BIOS-EC.tuxedo

In order to be able to boot from the FreeDOS USB I have to disable UEFI booting in my BIOS, save the change and restart, then hold F7 to open the boot selection menu, choose the USB.

In the command prompt I can dir to see the contents again. I run ecflash.bat and the EC will be updated.

Open BIOS setup again pressing F2 after the restart, enable UEFI boot, change DDI Control to TBT, all good.

Thunderbolt is now working fine with display and USB, Ethernet works again too after running the network troubleshooter. Only tried it in Windows so far.

 

[jaybee83]

thats what id call superb forum cooperation. good job there guys, makes me happy to see such threads 🙂 like a well oiled machine 😁

[Azurezink]

On 9/24/2022 at 3:10 AM, harkaz said:

I have a TBT firmware for my own P775TM1. I have attached the files below.

P750TM_TBT_FW_C1rev40_TI11204_ECN_0103.7z 434.21 kB · 11 downloads

😀 Thanks。I have been searching for this。❤️

Is this the latest version? Where can I download the latest version?

 

[harkaz]

On 10/8/2023 at 11:32 AM, Azurezink said:

😀 Thanks。I have been searching for this。❤️

Is this the latest version? Where can I download the latest version?

 

I suppose so, I got it in 2020. The Thunderbolt firmware for P775TM1 must be signed with a special key for Clevo OEM by Intel. So firmwares for other OEMs or even Clevo laptops should not work.

[MadRocker]

On 9/23/2022 at 10:10 PM, harkaz said:

I have a TBT firmware for my own P775TM1. I have attached the files below.

P750TM_TBT_FW_C1rev40_TI11204_ECN_0103.7z 434.21 kB · 12 downloads

Thank you for this advice, but no one seems to mention How you update this TBT firmware and here do you et this mysterious TBT DP++ , in the bios in software  ??