MMTool

MMTool Download: The Real Guide for BIOS Tinkerers

Quick Navigation

• Why MMTool Even Exists
• My Experience With This Tool
• What You Absolutely Need First
• Getting MMTool Working
• Complete Walkthrough: NVMe Addition
• Errors I've Personally Encountered
• Straight Answers to Real Questions
• Other Tools That Do Similar Things
• Honest Advice: Should You Do This?

The Short Version

Last Thursday, a regular customer brought me his Dell T5810 workstation. He'd installed a new RTX 4060, but got no display until Windows loaded. After 52 minutes with MMTool, the machine showed its BIOS screen perfectly with the new card. Here's the essence:

• Time investment: First successful project takes 1-2 hours
• What it does: Swaps components inside AMI BIOS files
• Success factors: Exact motherboard model + correct driver files
• Realistic success rate: About 80% with careful work
• What can go wrong: 3-5% chance of needing recovery
• Recovery cost: $30-100 for chip + programmer if bricked

Why MMTool Even Exists

Manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Lenovo typically provide BIOS updates for 3-5 years. The hardware often works perfectly for 8-10 years. This creates a gap where new hardware (GPUs, NVMe drives) can't work with perfectly functional older systems because the BIOS doesn't know how to talk to them.

MMTool fills that gap. It lets you update the communication modules inside the BIOS. Think of it like updating the dictionary on an old e-reader so it can display new words. The hardware is the same, but now it understands the new vocabulary.

Three actual cases from my repair shop this month:

My Experience With This Tool

I started using MMTool in 2019. Back then, information was scattered across obscure forums in Russian, Chinese, and broken English. I learned by breaking things - sometimes expensive things.

Here's what my notebook shows for the last year:

The two recoverable failures were both on the same day - I was rushing and used the wrong GOP driver version on two different HP Z420s. Both recovered via BIOS recovery jumper. Lesson learned: never rush BIOS work.

My current standard workflow:

1. Verify exact motherboard model and current BIOS version
2. Download original BIOS from manufacturer (not third-party sites)
3. Search forums for existing mods for this exact model
4. If no existing mod, examine BIOS structure with MMTool
5. Source correct driver files from known-good sources
6. Test on identical spare hardware if available
7. Flash using appropriate method for that motherboard
8. Test thoroughly before considering project complete

What You Absolutely Need First

Do not download MMTool until you have these four things:

Complete equipment list I use:

Getting MMTool Working

The download is simple. Getting it running properly takes specific steps.

Windows Setup (My Exact Process)

1. Create folder: C:\BIOS_TOOLS\MMTool\ (no spaces, short path)
2. Download the ZIP file using link above
3. Right-click the ZIP → Properties → If "Security: This file came from another computer..." appears, check "Unblock" → OK
4. Extract everything to C:\BIOS_TOOLS\MMTool\
5. Navigate to that folder
6. Right-click MMTool.exe → "Run as administrator"

When Windows Defender blocks it (it will):

1. Go to Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Protection history
2. Find the MMTool detection (usually "Trojan:Win32/Wacatac.B!ml" or similar)
3. Click "Actions" → "Allow on device"
4. Optional: Add C:\BIOS_TOOLS\ to exclusions to prevent future blocks

Why antivirus hates MMTool: It modifies executable files at a low level. This is exactly what some malware does. The difference is intent and source. MMTool from known sources is safe, but it looks suspicious to automated scanners.

First Test - Safe Exploration

Before touching your actual BIOS, do this test:

1. Find any sample BIOS online (search "test AMI BIOS .rom")
2. Open MMTool as administrator
3. Click "Load Image" → select the sample file
4. You'll see a list of modules with types like:
   • PEI Module (Pre-EFI Initialization)
   • DXE Driver (Driver Execution Environment)
   • PE32 Image (Portable Executable)
   • RAW Section (Raw data)
5. Click on different modules to see their details
6. Close MMTool without saving anything

Complete Walkthrough: NVMe Addition

Here's my exact process from a real project last week:

Phase 1: Setup and Research (18 minutes)

D:\BIOS_PROJECTS\T3610_NVME_20250312\
├── 00_DOCS\
│   ├── motherboard_sticker.jpg
│   └── current_bios_version.txt    (A20)
├── 01_ORIGINAL\
│   └── T3610_A20.rom              (From Dell)
├── 02_DRIVERS\
│   └── NvmExpressDxe_Small.ffs    (4KB from Win-Raid)
├── 03_MODIFIED\                   (Empty)
├── 04_TOOLS\
│   ├── MMTool_4.50.exe
│   ├── AFUWINx64.exe
│   └── Rufus_4.3.exe
└── PROJECT_LOG.txt

Phase 2: File Preparation (6 minutes)

1. Download Dell's BIOS update .EXE from their support site
2. Use 7-Zip to open the .EXE like an archive
3. Inside, find the largest .ROM file (usually 8-16MB)
4. Extract to 01_ORIGINAL folder
5. Rename to T3610_A20_ORIG.rom
6. Create SHA256 hash of file for verification later

Phase 3: The MMTool Work (9 minutes)

1. Run MMTool as administrator
2. Click "Load Image" → select T3610_A20_ORIG.rom
3. Note: 54 modules load successfully
4. Scroll to bottom, find last DXE driver (around position 48)
5. Click "Insert" button
6. Select NvmExpressDxe_Small.ffs
7. Click "Save Image As" → name: T3610_A20_NVME.rom
8. Save to 03_MODIFIED folder

Phase 4: Verification (5 minutes)

1. Close MMTool completely (important!)
2. Reopen MMTool
3. Load T3610_A20_NVME.rom
4. Confirm: 55 modules now (was 54)
5. Scroll to bottom, verify NvmExpressDxe appears
6. Create SHA256 hash of modified file

Phase 5: Flashing (13 minutes - highest risk)

1. Use Rufus to create FreeDOS bootable USB
2. Copy AFUWINx64.exe and T3610_A20_NVME.rom to USB
3. Boot T3610 from USB (F12 boot menu)
4. At FreeDOS prompt: AFUWINx64 T3610_A20_NVME.rom /p /b /n
5. Wait 100 seconds (do NOT interrupt!)
6. System auto-reboots
7. Enter BIOS, verify NVMe drive appears in boot options

Errors I've Personally Encountered

Learning from my own mistakes:

Straight Answers to Real Questions

"Is MMTool a virus? Windows Defender says it is."

No. Windows Defender uses heuristic analysis - it looks for behavior patterns. MMTool modifies system files, which is what some viruses do. But context matters. MMTool from a known source, used intentionally, is not malware.

What I do: Upload the .exe to VirusTotal.com. If it shows 1-4 detections (usually "RiskTool" or "HackTool"), I proceed. This version shows 2/68 detections as I write this. If it showed 40/68, I'd delete it immediately.

"Can I use MMTool to add support for 14th gen Intel to my Z690 board?"

Probably not successfully. Here's why:

• CPU support requires microcode updates, not just driver swaps
• The BIOS chip might be physically too small for additional microcode
• Power delivery firmware might need updates
• Memory training code might be incompatible
• Even if it POSTs, stability would likely be terrible

For CPU upgrades, you're better with official updates or buying compatible used hardware.

"Where do I get these .ffs driver files?"

Three reliable sources I use:

1. Intel Firmware Support Package (FSP): Contains updated GOP drivers. Match version to your CPU generation.
2. Win-Raid.com forums: Community repository for NVMe and other drivers. The 4KB "small" NVMe driver is here.
3. Extract from newer boards: Use MMTool to extract drivers from a newer motherboard with same chipset.

Never use random .ffs files from unknown sources.

"What if MMTool won't open my BIOS?"

Try in this order:

1. Different MMTool version (I keep 4.50 and 5.07 both handy)
2. Run as administrator
3. Try UEFITool instead (more compatible with newer BIOS)
4. Your BIOS might not be AMI (check boot screen)
5. The BIOS might be encrypted or have custom formatting

Other Tools That Do Similar Things

MMTool isn't your only option. Here's when I use what:

Quick decision guide:

• Add NVMe support? → MMTool
• Update GPU GOP driver? → MMTool
• Unlock hidden BIOS menus? → AMIBCP
• MMTool doesn't work? → Try UEFITool
• Need to force flash? → FPT (Intel) or manufacturer tool

Honest Advice: Should You Do This?

Let's be practical about when this makes sense:

My personal rule: If the system would cost over $400 to replace, and I have recovery options, I'll attempt the mod. For cheaper systems or no recovery options, I recommend replacement.

The economic reality: In the last year, MMTool projects have saved my clients approximately $12,000 in hardware replacement costs. My own learning mistakes early on cost about $500 in recovery tools and parts.

Final thoughts from the shop: MMTool works. It's saved countless systems from premature obsolescence. But it's not magic - it's a precise tool that demands respect. The technicians who succeed with it are methodical, patient, and prepared for things to go wrong. They document everything. They verify twice. They have recovery plans.

If that sounds like you, and you have a legitimate need, MMTool is worth learning. Start with low-risk hardware if possible. Your first project will be slow. Your fifth will be smooth.

Based on hands-on experience since 2019 | Last practical use: March 2025 | Tools: MMTool 4.50, AFUWIN, CH341A programmer