HOW TO ADD NVMe M.2 SSD SUPPORT TO OLD MOTHERBOARDS WITH AWARD-Phoenix LEGACY SUPPORT?

[raVenXDA]

Thank You İsmailTPC_Hastanesi for your had work so far I would never had got my NVMe drive working on my old motherboard. So I wanted to also share my process in how it modded my BIOS:

I have stared this new thread from the original discussion from 2022-X58/1366 PIN Motherboards NVME M.2 SSD BIOS MOD Collection | TechPowerUp Forums that outlines my own experience of modding my bios

DISCLAMER: Yes it is easy but you still have to be carful to get it right I will not take any responsibility for bricking your motherboard.

This prosses it a little unique for the X58 Gigabyte Award Bios > Origin Source <

Motherbord: Gigabite EX58 Extreme rev1
NVMe Controller: Glotrends PA-22110
M2 Drive: Kingston Renegade NVMe 1tb

:

To Modify your motherboard BIOS so that it can see your NVMe drive in the boot menu, follow these structured steps:
-- please note that this worked for me but it might differ for your motherboard --

1. Verify Vendor/Device ID and Option ROM Configuration​

Confirm the Vendor ID (XXXX) and Device ID (XXXX) using Windows Device Manager or HWInfo​

-- in my case because i did not have an OS installed I found it from the post screen --​

​

​

-- Vendor ID (2646) and Device ID (5013) Device Class Mass Storage Cntrlr --​

Step 2: Prepare Tools​

1. Download CBROM198:
   Get CBROM_198.EXE (trusted source).
2. Download NvmeOpRom.zip (trusted source)
3. (optional fix for last image indicator) Download HxD (trusted source)
   Run the install for HxDSetup.exe
4. Folder Setup:
   Create C:\BIOS_Mod and place:
5. CBROM_198.EXE
6. OpRomCfg.exe
7. Original BIOS (EX58EX.13S) or I used the modded bios from here 2022/Gigabyte GA-EX58-EXTREME NVMe SSD BIOS MOD:

Step 2: Inspect BIOS with CBROM198​

Run:​

.\CBROM_198.EXE EX58EX.13S /D

Check the PCI ROM Module section:​

-- You can see that there are many PCI ROM[x] entries, I picked that last one:​

26. PCI ROM[O] --- 8086_F1A5.BIN to extract and edit with my own Vender Device ID --​

Step 3: Extract Existing PCI Module​

1. Extract the existing PCI ROM:
   
   
   

   .\CBROM_198.EXE EX58EX.13S /PCI extract

   
   this will give you a list of the roms and now choice the last one O
   
   PCI ROM - - - A : ICHAAHCI.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - B : ICHARAID.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - C : jmb59.bin
   PCI ROM - - - D : rtegrom.lom
   PCI ROM - - - E: 10EC_5763.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - F : 1C5C_174A.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - G : 15B7_5009.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - H : 144D_A804.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - I : 144D_A808.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - J : 144D_A809.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - K : 144D_A822.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - L : 1987_5012.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - M : 1987_5019.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - N : C0A9_5412.BIN
   PCI ROM - - - O : 8086_F1A5.BIN
   Enter a choice: O
2. Rename the extracted file 8086_F1A5.BIN to (in my case) 2646_5013.ROM but you use your Vendor and Device id

Step 4: Configure Extracted ROM with OpRomCf.exe ​

1. Use OpRomCfg.exe to modify the VendorID (2646) and DeviceID (5013):

2. .\OpRomCfg.exe 2646_5013.BIN 2646 5013

3. Option ROM configured successfully. if you get this message your good to goto Step 5
4. Error: Option ROM last image indicator must be set. I had this error so we now need to open the 2646_5013.BIN in HxD and modify the critical flag in its header:
   Solution: Fix the Option ROM Header
   
   1. Open the ROM in a Hex Editor:
      • Use HxD or any hex editor.
      • Open 2646_5013.BIN.
   2. Locate the Last Image Indicator:
      • Go to offset(h) 31
      • 
        The byte at this offset should be 80 (indicating the last image).
   3. Modify the Byte:
      • If the byte is not 80 (mine was 00), change it to 80.
      • Save the file.
      • and now re run the Step 4, you should get a successful message.

Step 5: Replace/Insert the PCI Module​

1. Remove the existing PCI module: (I'm not 100% sure this step is necessary but it dose make space for your new one)
   

   ./CBROM_198.EXE EX58EX.13S /PCI release

   Choice the the last one again: PCI ROM - - - [O] : 8086_F1A5.BIN
2. Insert new modified NVMe ROM:
   

   ./CBROM_198.EXE EX58EX.13S /PCI 2646_5013.BIN

3. Verify with:
   

   ./CBROM_198.EXE EX58EX.13S /D

4. 
   -- You should now see your modified ROM in position 31,
   the position shouldn't matter (I don't think, or at least not to enable the NVMe) --

Step 6: Flash the BIOS​

1. Save the modified BIOS as EX58EX_MOD.13S.
2. Boot to BIOS (DEL) then hit Q-Flash (F8).
3. Backup your old BIOS. Save it to the USB (just in case)
4. Load your new MOD BIOS and exit.
5. Turn off you PC and unplug for 1min and/or clear CMOS
6. Boot to BIOS (DEL) again and Check the Boot Menu for NVMe detection.

You should now see your NVMe drive and now your ready to install Windows 11 or whatever you want.
Windows 11 boot media will need to be made in Legacy Mode and you need to preform a clean install by deleting any partitions and recreating them in the installer.

Hope this helps and you know what they say ::::::::

Give someone a fish and they will eat for a day....
Teach them to fish and they decimate the fish population forever.

Happy fishing people


PS: If you do find any information in this post to be incorrect or could be set-out better please let know.
PSS: If this works and you manage to mod you bios successfully then please also post your setup and results as this will help future users