Question

BIOS Programming

Asked by: syed71

How to compile micro assembly language for BIOS and what assembly compiler do I need?

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Asked On
2005-02-27 at 02:00:37ID21330642
Tags

bios

,

programming

Topic

Assembly Programming Language

Participating Experts
3
Points
125
Comments
17

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Answers

 

by: dimitryPosted on 2005-02-27 at 11:59:23ID: 13415551

Still trying, a ? ;) It is good.
Can you please be more specific...?
Usually BIOS (that I don't believe anybody will give you in source) has makefiles for specific compiler.

 

by: syed71Posted on 2005-02-27 at 18:20:16ID: 13416901

Hi Dimitry,

We meet again. I have already replaced all the boards and CPUs. My company gave up and moved on with e Intel. But, I don’t give up so easily. Anyway, under the influence of my company I have managed to convince my mobo manufactured to release the bios source code to us. Anyway, we had to sign few legal documents (NDA and other docs) to obtain the bios source code. Source code I have received is in micro assembly. I have compiled it using assembler and assembler produced EXE file. But, bios except only BIN file. Now, I don’t know which direction to move….

Googled around for last few days and got nothing about bios compiling.


Need your help.

 

by: dimitryPosted on 2005-02-27 at 18:24:37ID: 13416909

There are 4 (maybe more) compilers that can be used for BIOS compilation.
VC (with MASM), BC (with TASM), Watcom and Nasm...
But again, your specific BIOS vendor has BIOS sources for specific compiler. To ask him is the proper way to do this.
Who is BIOS Vendor ?

 

by: syed71Posted on 2005-02-27 at 18:31:28ID: 13416933

phoenix bios.

I have tried compiling with MASM and it compiled without any error. Compiled program is an exe. But, I need bin file.

 

by: dimitryPosted on 2005-02-27 at 18:45:33ID: 13416964

BIOS Source tree usually has a lot of files, mostly in C and you need C-compiler as well.
Do you mean they gave you small piece to add to BIOS ? It is one file ?

 

by: syed71Posted on 2005-02-27 at 18:54:02ID: 13416981

Yap, number of files. Entire bios source code. It has been confirmed that the codes are in micro assembly not C/C++.

 

by: dimitryPosted on 2005-02-27 at 19:03:00ID: 13417004

There is some kind of utility to convert EXE to raw binary file.
It is not always possible, but look for exe2bin.exe utility.

 

by: vilaPosted on 2005-02-27 at 19:18:23ID: 13417045

Download the bios editor from phoenix website. You can try https://forms.phoenix.com/channels/en/forms/ld/eval/default.asp to download the demo copy.

 

by: dimitryPosted on 2005-02-27 at 19:27:23ID: 13417073

 

by: syed71Posted on 2005-02-27 at 19:34:48ID: 13417100

Thanks guys, I will try both e file and will post the outcomes here later...

 

by: aib_42Posted on 2005-02-27 at 19:56:27ID: 13417195

There probably is a compiler flag to compile the source into the specified format and/or not link it.

How about /AT?

(With NASM, it would be -Fbin)

 

by: syed71Posted on 2005-02-27 at 20:04:02ID: 13417229

hello aib_42, I will try your method too... will update ya soon.

 

by: syed71Posted on 2005-02-28 at 08:07:49ID: 13420677

I've tried bios editor, bios editor is for OEM PC Builder. So, it has no use to me.
I've tried exe2bin and produced bin format isn't compatible with bios.
tried MASM and NASM. None helped either.

Any other ideas guys?

 

by: dimitryPosted on 2005-02-28 at 08:53:31ID: 13421232

Can you show please the Makefile you have with your BIOS package ?

 

by: syed71Posted on 2005-03-02 at 07:58:19ID: 13440449

hey guys, sorry for the late reply. Had to settle some family matters.

Anyway, back now and restarting the bios project.

dimitry, I don't have any make file. I'm just using command line...

I using following command

C:\MASM611\BIN>ML.EXE C:\MASM611\BS\p.asm

error and output as follows...

Microsoft (R) Macro Assembler Version 6.11
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1981-1993.  All rights reserved.

C:\MASM611\BIN\p.asm(630): error A2006: undefined symbol : COMPILE_FOR_E0
C:\MASM611\BIN\p.asm(3910): error A2006: undefined symbol : COMPILE_FOR_E0
C:\MASM611\BIN\p.asm(3977): error A2085: instruction or register not accepted in current CPU mode
C:\MASM611\BIN\p.asm(3978): error A2085: instruction or register not accepted in current CPU mode
C:\MASM611\BIN\p.asm(3979): error A2085: instruction or register not accepted in current CPU mode
.
.
.
K8_CPUID(2): Macro Called From C:\MASM611\BIN\p.asm(4288): Main Line Code
.
.


 

by: dimitryPosted on 2005-03-02 at 13:45:29ID: 13444476

Then you need to talk to somebody you got your BIOS code from...
Also ml.exe has a lot of different flags like /AT for tiny model (that later can be converted to BIN by EXE2BIN utility).
However, you need to check how BIOS developers compile it (I mean EXACTLY) because BIOS is sensetive issue - once you will program it and it is wrong - your computer will
be literally dead...

 

by: syed71Posted on 2005-03-02 at 18:38:25ID: 13446268

Thanks dimitry. Finally manage to make it work with aib_42's and your solution.

Steps as follows....

ML /AT phoenix.asm /link /TINY
EXE2BIN UTIL to convert it.
Finally used universal programmer to upload it to the chip.
Booting the Mobo.....
BOOM... just kidding..
It worked.....
now booting time system displays...

AMD Athlon 64 3400+

But, when we check cpuid using UTIL, it shows AMD Athlon 64 and the vendor is INTEL
..... my application is working fine...
.
.
.

Thank you guys

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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