Generic Internal Flashing Instructions
Contents
This mainly applies to the x86 machines. Chromebook users should refer to the Chromebook page.
Please check your mainboard’s page for special notes first.
Internal flashing means that you boot Linux or BSD on the target machine, and
run flashprog there, flashing the machine directly.
If you can’t flash internally, you must flash externally with SPI.
Internal flashing is often unavailable with the factory firmware, but it is usually possible when Libreboot is running (barring special circumstances).
Inserting vendor files
Always remember to insert vendor files when using release tarballs.
Flash chip size
Use this to find out:
flashprog -p internal
In the output will be information pertaining to your boot flash.
Howto: read/write/erase the boot flash
How to read the current chip contents:
sudo flashprog -p internal:laptop=force_I_want_a_brick,boardmismatch=force -r dump.bin
You should still make several dumps, even if you’re flashing internally, to
ensure that you get the same checksums. Check each dump using sha1sum
How to erase and rewrite the chip contents:
sudo flashprog -p internal:laptop=force_I_want_a_brick,boardmismatch=force -w libreboot.rom
NOTE: force_I_want_a_brick is not scary. Do not be scared! This merely disables
the safety checks in flashprog. Flashrom and coreboot change a lot, over the years,
and sometimes it’s necessary to use this option. If you’re scared, then just
follow the above instructions, but remove that option. So, just use -p internal.
If that doesn’t work, next try -p internal:boardmismatch=force. If that doesn’t
work, try -p internal:boardmismatch=force,laptop=force_I_want_a_brick. So long
as you ensure you’re using the correct ROM for your machine, it will be safe
to run flashprog. These extra options just disable the safetyl checks in flashprog.
There is nothing to worry about.
If successful, it will either say VERIFIED or it will say that the chip
contents are identical to the requested image.
NOTE: there are exceptions where the above is not possible. Read about them in the sections below: