Thunderbolt NVM Firmware

[5urg3]

 

 

This HP Z2 Mini G9 system came with a thunderbolt module, and originally the module had nvm firmware version 31.0 in it

This version, for the most part, seemed to work okay.

However, recently I updated to the newer version, now says 39.3, and this version is terrible!  None of my thunderbolt 2 devices are recognized anymore.  I’ve got thousands of dollars worth of storage and gear that has just been rendered completely useless.  I contacted Intel, and Intel says that I should be able to ask HP for the older firmware, and I should be able to revert.  So, here I am, asking for it.  I don’t see it in the downloads section on the HP website.  There’s a thunderbolt driver there, but not a firmware.  I looked at the bios updates and I don’t see how it’s possible to extract the thunderbolt controller firmware.  Please help.  I also think that there should be a notice saying that if you update it will break compatibility…as far as I can tell there is no warning whatsoever.

[DGroves]

you were told to ask HP, this forum is made up of users like you who do not work for HP unless a forum Mod sees this post and replies there isn't much we users can do for you

if your system is still under warranty contact HP warranty support and also do the same for your thunderbolt gear thy may also be able to help you

please use the listed phone numbers posted on the main HP web page to contact HP support directly

https://www.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp/contact.html

[5urg3]

I have tried contacting HP support and they are useless

I have explained to them countless times that the thunderbolt controller firmware is NOT ON THEIR WEBSITE and all they do is send me links to the downloads section on their website for my particular computer

I am posting this here in hopes that someone who works at HP that can actually help me will see it

[5urg3]

After spending hours on this, I have realized that the thunderbolt controller firmware is integrated into the system firmware, and there's no way to extract it

The only mention of this is in the Ubuntu firmware upgrade utility for system firmware 2.2.2.0 -- it's not mentioned AT ALL on the HP website for the bios updates

It also appears as though there's no way to downgrade it manually, and they don't have older firmware versions posted anymore that contain the previous thunderbolt controller fw image

I managed to get my case escalated to a level 2 tech but I am not holding my breath at all that they will be able to provide any real help whatsoever -- is there an option where I can pay money to get better support from HP?  Their support thus far is among the worst I've ever experienced in my entire life.

[5urg3]

Over a week later and still HP support have not been helpful at all

All they do is follow pre-written troubleshooting scripts and loop you around in circles, and if your issue doesn’t fit exactly in their pre-written scripts, you’ll never get anything resolved 

I went ahead and ordered another thunderbolt module in the hopes that it will ship with the older firmware, as I am not confident that I will be able to speak to someone at HP that is actually capable of even understanding the issue let alone actually helping me out 

I also emailed Intel, and they refuse to help, they say it’s HP’s responsibility, which is just great 

[5urg3]

So finally this is resolved, but not by HP

After THREE WEEKS of downtime, THREE WEEKS of bleeping and complaint on Twitter -- I was escalated to a level3 tech...FINALLY I was put in touch with someone from the USA who works directly for HP and is actually competent...He was really pleasant to talk to and very knowledgable, but unfortunately he was prevented from helping me by the higher ups, they said they don't support rolling back the thunderbolt firmware, and refused to provide me with the older firmware or a custom packaged flashing utility.

SO -- all I could do was order a new FlexIO module, and thank jeebus -- it shipped with the older firmware

Using Ubuntu, I was able to dump the binary firmware nvram image, and save it to a file

With that, I was able to hex edit the System firmware BIN image, and replace the newer thunderbolt firmware with the older one that I dumped off of the newly arrived module, so now whenever a new System firmware comes out, I can just package it myself with the older thunderbolt firmware

Unreal that I had to break out a hex editor and do this myself, but I guess that's just the kind of company HP is! 

Needless to say I'm not going to be patronizing them ever again

IF ANYONE ELSE ever runs into this problem, post here and let me know, and I'll try to help out.  Packaging the older firmware is easy now that I actually have access to it.  

This would apply to any of HP's computers that use the Viserra Thunderbolt FlexIO module.

[postteam]

Hi 5urge3,

I think I am experiencing the same issue. If I could reach out to you it would be very appreciated!

[5urg3]

I wrote up a whole blog post about this problem

https://asusproart.medium.com/thunderbolt-on-pc-is-a-nightmare-of-intels-own-making-edd3141cc03f

Let me know if you have any questions cheers

[Terabit]

Don't know if I'll get a response but going to try. Anyway, I have encountered a similar issue in regards to Thunderbolt 4 and it has to do with the PD portion of it. What I mean by this is that the manufacturer says that the notebook does indeed support this feature however, I was never able to get it to work with the manufacturer being of no help and I am curious if updating said firmware would bring the feature back to my Notebook. Now mind you there is only one Thunderbolt port on my notebook and it is Thunderbolt 4 however, I do have two USB C display ports, but according to the Thunderbolt software it says I have NVM version 14, and judging but your story it seems that this update is long overdue or so I think. So, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and ask if there is a way to solve this issue?

[5urg3]

Sounds like a totally different problem.  The way power delivery is handled is by a separate chip, I believe.  Not directly by the thunderbolt chip.  It's just passed through the port.  So the thunderbolt nvm firmware version should have no bearing on USB power delivery.  This specific issue I was posting about here in this thread has to do with Thunderbolt 1&2 compatibility with Thunderbolt 4 hosts.  You might as well just update the firmware anyway if you don't have any older Thunderbolt 1&2 devices and / or don't care about compatibility and never plan on using any older thunderbolt devices.