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Update BIOS Settings with AMISCE (AMI Setup Control Environment)

AMISCE (AMI Setup Control Environment) is a command-line tool used to export and import BIOS NVRAM variables from Linux or Windows.
You can extract variables, change settings, and then apply them back to a BIOS with the same official release and features.

Supported SECO platforms​

AMISCE is supported on:

  • Apollo Lake: from BIOS 1.08

Preparation​

  1. Download the latest AMISCE toolset from here: seco_tools_AMISCE_1.00.00.7z.
  2. Install an official SECO BIOS release on the target board.
  3. Enter BIOS setup and configure settings as desired (for example: LVDS configuration, passwords).
  4. Save and boot into the operating system.

Prerequisites​

On Linux you will need:

  • Run the commands in a terminal as root (or use sudo).
  • Ensure a compiler suite is installed so the driver can be built: gcc, make, libelf-dev (e.g. sudo apt install gcc make libelf-dev on Debian/Ubuntu).

On Windows you will need:

  • Open a terminal as Administrator.

Export mode (dump current settings)​

Export the BIOS variables (example in Linux):

./SCE /o /c /l list.txt /n nvram.txt /h Hii.db

Parameters:

  • /o Generate an NVRAM script file from variables found in the listing file
  • /l Variable listing file
  • /n NVRAM dump file
  • /h HII dump file (use with /n when generating the NVRAM script)
  • /c (optional) Create a listing file for variables found in NVRAM (see details below)
About the /c option
  • With /c, variable names are written to the listing file and all variables are output to the NVRAM dump script.
  • Without /c, the listing file is used as a filter and only variables present in the listing file are output.
  • If the listing file is missing in filter mode, the tool returns an error.

Import mode (apply modified settings)​

To apply variables to another system:

  1. Boot an OS on a different module that has:
    • the same official BIOS version
    • the same features
  2. Run the import command:
./SCE /i /l list.txt /n nvram.txt /f

Parameters:

  • /i Import modified variable data found in the listing file to NVRAM
  • /l Variable listing file
  • /n NVRAM dump file
  • /f Remove the CRC warning error
  1. Reboot and verify the change.
Version/feature matching

Importing variables into a BIOS with a different version or feature set can lead to unexpected behavior. Always keep BIOS version and features aligned between source and target.

Troubleshooting​

“Permission denied” / tool cannot access NVRAM​

  • On Linux, run as root or use sudo.

Driver build fails on Linux​

  • Install gcc, make, and libelf-dev (and ensure your environment can build kernel modules).

Import does not apply after reboot​

  • Verify the target module has the same BIOS version and feature set as the system used to export settings.