Remove NO EBAY !! from flashed HD 5770

[rangerx292]

Hi Guys,

I hope you can help me. I got given a Mac Pro 1,1 which was not working. It came with a 250gb hard disk and also had the ATI HD 2600 XT. So the issue was the hard disk dying after a couple of minutes of spin up. Replaced the hard disk with a SSD only for the graphics card to die. So I read a couple of posts on Netkas to flash a pc graphics card with the efi rom to make it mac compatible.

So armed with this information, I bought a second hand Powercolor HD 5770 from CeX for £25 (just noticed the price has gone up by £3). First flashed the 5770 without the port mapping and only had analog boot screen. Read a bit more on the Netkas forum, especially the post by Florian about port mapping and stitched the efi to my original rom and it works with boot screen on all the ports (mine has two dvi, one hdmi and one display port). Only issue I have now is, on the EFI Driver version it shows "No EBAY !!". Please see attached images.

I understand why this has been done because when the original graphics card (HD 2600 XT) died, I as everyone else headed of to ebay to look at the prices and found they were upwards of £80, which I did not want to spend. I have used different methods to check but am not an expert in figuring out where the driver version is being called for. If the information cannot be put here, please pm me for the solution and I will be externally great full to you.

 

[orph]

im happy the card works for you, if it works why change it?
you can always flash the original pc rom back on it if you have a real problem.

i assume some one has put in hard work getting the rom to work for osx and dose not want to encourage people to resell them, so out of respect for the work you can just leave it be.
it's not doing anything so i see no real problem

im happy you got your mac pro up and running

 

[rangerx292]

im happy the card works for you, if it works why change it?
you can always flash the original pc rom back on it if you have a real problem.

i assume some one has put in hard work getting the rom to work for osx and dose not want to encourage people to resell them, so out of respect for the work you can just leave it be.
it's not doing anything so i see no real problem

im happy you got your mac pro up and running

Hi Orph,

Thanks for replying. I do respect the fact that Netkas, Rominator, Florian and countless others have put in hard work in figuring this out. That is why I said, if the information cannot be made public, a private conversation on where to look or what program they use would be very great full.

This is also the reason why I have not posted my roms here so that someone can rip them and sell them on ebay. I dont know how to explain, but when you repair a thing, you fix one item at a time and make sure it works perfectly and then move on. I know its not an issue but still I feel its not complete.

 

[h9826790]

Hi Orph,

Thanks for replying. I do respect the fact that Netkas, Rominator, Florian and countless others have put in hard work in figuring this out. That is why I said, if the information cannot be made public, a private conversation on where to look or what program they use would be very great full.

This is also the reason why I have not posted my roms here so that someone can rip them and sell them on ebay. I dont know how to explain, but when you repair a thing, you fix one item at a time and make sure it works perfectly and then move on. I know its not an issue but still I feel its not complete.

It is working perfectly now, right? That NO EBAY is purely cosmetic, don't worry about it.

 

[jbarley]

D

Only issue I have now is, on the EFI Driver version it shows "No EBAY !!".

Don't feel bad, mine's even scarier, it shows "MacVidCards"

 

[rangerx292]

It is working perfectly now, right? That NO EBAY is purely cosmetic, don't worry about it.

Hi,

Yes its working perfectly fine. I will not give up, maybe someone will help.

I have a couple of upgrades planned for it like upgrading the cpu to a dual quad core X5355 which is the most cost effective. Also populating all the hard drive bays. I already have El Capitain running on it. Now just need to install Windows 10 and then its done.
[doublepost=1516690088][/doublepost]

D

Don't feel bad, mine's even scarier, it shows "MacVidCards"

Hi,

So that means you bought the card from MacVidCards. There is a user on Netkas and on here called Rominator who represents MacVidCards, maybe he is owns it, I dont know. There is a way to remove it, maybe I am not looking at the right place or I am missing something. I just need someone to say maybe have a look here or do this.

I think information should be shared freely, but in a way that someone else doesn't take credit of your work, which is what MacVidCards and Florian have done. They have put their signatures on the custom rom.

 

[Fl0r!an]

I put the string there for a reason, and it'll stay there. If it bothers you, flash the original EFI with VGA bootscreens or buy a genuine Mac Edition card.

 

[MIKX]

I put the string there for a reason, and it'll stay there. If it bothers you, flash the original EFI with VGA bootscreens or buy a genuine Mac Edition card.

Fl0r!an, I wholeheartedly agree.

The HD5770 is quite old ( but still useful for those who don't like big electriciy bills ) I can't imaginge having a crushing desire to have the actual rom version. As posted in another post above. . it is purely cosmetic.

I would much rather prefer to go looking for the solution to the HD 5770 " 5.0 GT/s " mod locations

 

[rangerx292]

I put the string there for a reason, and it'll stay there. If it bothers you, flash the original EFI with VGA bootscreens or buy a genuine Mac Edition card.

Hi Florian,

First of all, thanks for the hard work you have done and for sharing it. Huge respect there. I do understand your point of view but all I am saying is just point me in the right direction. I am not like MIKX who cannot do a proper search and find the information on how to do the 2.5gt/s to 5.0gt/s mod which has already been shared a couple of times on this forum. I have done it myself and that works.

 

[pl1984]

First off I have absolutely zero knowledge regarding flashing, modification, or the development of firmware. However I do have a basic understanding of programming and that's where this "advice" is drawn from. It may be completely or partially in error so take it for what it's worth.

That out of the way in programming strings are typically null terminated. Thus my approach would be to search for the text "NO EBAY !!" and merely overwrite the "N" with a zero. Not the ASCII character for zero but that actual number zero.

 

[rangerx292]

First off I have absolutely zero knowledge regarding flashing, modification, or the development of firmware. However I do have a basic understanding of programming and that's where this "advice" is drawn from. It may be completely or partially in error so take it for what it's worth.

That out of the way in programming strings are typically null terminated. Thus my approach would be to search for the text "NO EBAY !!" and merely overwrite the "N" with a zero. Not the ASCII character for zero but that actual number zero.

Hi pl1984,

I have tried searching for the text NO EBAY !! on a hex editor and I dont think it is that simple. I think there is an offset somewhere so need a bit of help trying to figure out how to do it.

I am not one of those guys trying to copy someone else'e hard work and then monetize on it. I also understand I am new on here and people will have difficulty in trusting such information with me but I only need someone (hopefully Florian) to point me in the right direction.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Hi pl1984,

I have tried searching for the text NO EBAY !! on a hex editor and I dont think it is that simple. I think there is an offset somewhere so need a bit of help trying to figure out how to do it.

I am not one of those guys trying to copy someone else'e hard work and then monetize on it. I also understand I am new on here and people will have difficulty in trusting such information with me but I only need someone (hopefully Florian) to point me in the right direction.

Ask on PC forums like overclockers, tonymac, techpowerup, etc. They flash each other’s cards freely and keep all the details “open source”.

 

[pl1984]

Hi pl1984,

I have tried searching for the text NO EBAY !! on a hex editor and I dont think it is that simple. I think there is an offset somewhere so need a bit of help trying to figure out how to do it.

I am not one of those guys trying to copy someone else'e hard work and then monetize on it. I also understand I am new on here and people will have difficulty in trusting such information with me but I only need someone (hopefully Florian) to point me in the right direction.

It could be encoded or encrypted.

 

[Fl0r!an]

Ask on PC forums like overclockers, tonymac, techpowerup, etc. They flash each other’s cards freely and keep all the details “open source”.

Well, in fact I've "open sourced" all relevant information @ netkas.org, described all my findings and experiments so anyone who wants to contribute can do so. The only thing missing is a "clean" version of the HD 5770 EFI (which can't do anything better than the public one). I'm not selling any GPUs, so there's no need to keep anything private. I just don't want to hand out gifts to scumbags ripping off people on eBay by selling them overpriced ancient (and often badly flashed) GPUs.

Removing that "anti ebay string" is a rather trivial task, I didn't even bother encrypting/hiding anything (which wasn't necessary since most of those "eBay guys" can't do more than typing "atiflash" in a command prompt). All necessary information is available online, most even within my thread at netkas.org. Just not that explicitely.

 

[h9826790]

Hi pl1984,

I have tried searching for the text NO EBAY !! on a hex editor and I dont think it is that simple. I think there is an offset somewhere so need a bit of help trying to figure out how to do it.

I am not one of those guys trying to copy someone else'e hard work and then monetize on it. I also understand I am new on here and people will have difficulty in trusting such information with me but I only need someone (hopefully Florian) to point me in the right direction.

My understanding is that you won’t find it. (I am not 100% sure, but I think that’s call “compressed”, rather than “encoded” or “encrypted”)

It’s a bit more than simple Hex edit (the pre created Mac EFI ROM). TBH, all you need to know is already in Netkas forum. But if you can’t understand them, I suggest you better stop at here. If you only want “direction”, we already gave you the direction, and even some keywords.

 

[rangerx292]

Well, in fact I've "open sourced" all relevant information @ netkas.org, described all my findings and experiments so anyone who wants to contribute can do so. The only thing missing is a "clean" version of the HD 5770 EFI (which can't do anything better than the public one). I'm not selling any GPUs, so there's no need to keep anything private. I just don't want to hand out gifts to scumbags ripping off people on eBay by selling them overpriced ancient (and often badly flashed) GPUs.

Removing that "anti ebay string" is a rather trivial task, I didn't even bother encrypting/hiding anything (which wasn't necessary since most of those "eBay guys" can't do more than typing "atiflash" in a command prompt). All necessary information is available online, most even within my thread at netkas.org. Just not that explicitely.

Hi Florian,

Like I said in my previous port, I cannot prove that I am not one of those guys who will take this information and then use it to make money. I can only give you my word. This is why I suggested that a pm would be a better way to communicate. Again I totally respect the amount of time you guys took to figure out the port mapping on the cards.

I will re-visit the thread and look again for anything that I might have missed. Thanks again.
[doublepost=1516720562][/doublepost]

My understanding is that you won’t find it. (I am not 100% sure, but I think that’s call “compressed”, rather than “encoded” or “encrypted”)

It’s a bit more than simple Hex edit (the pre created Mac EFI ROM). TBH, all you need to know is already in Netkas forum. But if you can’t understand them, I suggest you better stop at here. If you only want “direction”, we already gave you the direction, and even some keywords.

I was clever enough to stitch florian's efi to my rom. I agree, I am not an expert. But that doesnt mean I cannot do it or do not understand it. I did get my first clue when Florian said ebay string. I will keep on searching and maybe I will find it, its only a matter of time.

If you knew what it was, why didn't you make a reference on one of your posts earlier ?

 

[laptech]

If he manages to get the efi driver revision number, does these mean we will start seeing pc flashed HD 5770's as 'Genuine' apple product with apple price tag to match on ebay?

 

[h9826790]

Hi Florian,

Like I said in my previous port, I cannot prove that I am not one of those guys who will take this information and then use it to make money. I can only give you my word. This is why I suggested that a pm would be a better way to communicate. Again I totally respect the amount of time you guys took to figure out the port mapping on the cards.

I will re-visit the thread and look again for anything that I might have missed. Thanks again.
[doublepost=1516720562][/doublepost]
I was clever enough to stitch florian's efi to my rom. I agree, I am not an expert. But that doesnt mean I cannot do it or do not understand it. I did get my first clue when Florian said ebay string. I will keep on searching and maybe I will find it, its only a matter of time.

If you knew what it was, why didn't you make a reference on one of your posts earlier ?

Because I realised there are lots of scammer out there. Few years ago, I made an EFI ROM for another "new" member here. And few days later, that member disappear, and the same card appear on eBay. I actually got a PM to "congratulate" me helping a scammer. Thanks for that PM, I learnt the lesson, otherwise, I may never know that, and never grow up.

Since then, I also put in the string "NOT FOR SELL" (or may be even "VIRUS") in that position. The people who ask for help directly will know that's purely cosmetic and why the string is there. If they want to remove it, they can feel free to do it by themselves. However, I personally won't do that for anyone anymore, because it won't benefit anyone, but may create more victim (buy the badly flashed card).

If you know how to stitch the ROM, then you know there are only 2 files can contain the STRING you want. And Fl0R!an really wrote down everything in Netkas forum. I totally agree that nothing can stop you to learn. And I appreciate that you willing to spend your time and make the card perfect for yourself. No one can stop you to do that.

If this is functional related, I am sure more people willing to help to "fix" it. Just like because 10.13.2 may cause sleeping issue on the "non Apple" RX 580, I just made another post about how to "fix" the ROM. I did that, because it may help other members here. I don't even own that card myself. I am using the 1080Ti right now. I was working over the internet with another members to do that. His card is the single ROM PUSLE 580. If he did anything wrong, he may brick the card.

Why he willing to contribute his card for testing? Why we wiling to spend time on doing that? Because it can be functional related (e.g. Fix the 10.13.2 sleep issue). So publish the "fix" may help the community.

However, in your case. We already told you that won't help anything but just possible make more victim. Therefore, peoples are more reluctant to provide any "Fix". Do you understand? If yes, then please do your own study, remove that string, and enjoy your card. You can do it, it's not hard at all. As we told you, Fl0r!an already written down everything you need to know (or even how to do it).

 

[jbarley]

Hi,

So that means you bought the card from MacVidCards.

Actually I purchased the card from a seller called wittjack on eBay,
but my post was really meant to be humorus.

 

[rangerx292]

Because I realised there are lots of scammer out there. Few years ago, I made an EFI ROM for another "new" member here. And few days later, that member disappear, and the same card appear on eBay. I actually got a PM to "congratulate" me helping a scammer. Thanks for that PM, I learnt the lesson, otherwise, I may never know that, and never grow up.

Since then, I also put in the string "NOT FOR SELL" (or may be even "VIRUS") in that position. The people who ask for help directly will know that's purely cosmetic and why the string is there. If they want to remove it, they can feel free to do it by themselves. However, I personally won't do that for anyone anymore, because it won't benefit anyone, but may create more victim (buy the badly flashed card).

If you know how to stitch the ROM, then you know there are only 2 files can contain the STRING you want. And Fl0R!an really wrote down everything in Netkas forum. I totally agree that nothing can stop you to learn. And I appreciate that you willing to spend your time and make the card perfect for yourself. No one can stop you to do that.

If this is functional related, I am sure more people willing to help to "fix" it. Just like because 10.13.2 may cause sleeping issue on the "non Apple" RX 580, I just made another post about how to "fix" the ROM. I did that, because it may help other members here. I don't even own that card myself. I am using the 1080Ti right now. I was working over the internet with another members to do that. His card is the single ROM PUSLE 580. If he did anything wrong, he may brick the card.

Why he willing to contribute his card for testing? Why we wiling to spend time on doing that? Because it can be functional related (e.g. Fix the 10.13.2 sleep issue). So publish the "fix" may help the community.

However, in your case. We already told you that won't help anything but just possible make more victim. Therefore, peoples are more reluctant to provide any "Fix". Do you understand? If yes, then please do your own study, remove that string, and enjoy your card. You can do it, it's not hard at all. As we told you, Fl0r!an already written down everything you need to know (or even how to do it).

Again, like I said, I cannot provide proof of who I am or what I do, except for my word. And I do respect that people have spent a lot of time and resources in finding out what is where and how.

I am going through the post again to see what I have missed. I am taking down notes as well to make sure I am thorough. My only interest it to make my system as correct as possible. This is a project for me and not my main system but a very interesting one.
[doublepost=1516726393][/doublepost]

Actually I purchased the card from a seller called wittjack on eBay,
but my post was really meant to be humorus.

Your post was informative, as it told me that there are people out there who know how to change the string. It's just very exhausting as I am not a software person but a hardware guy, actually an electronics engineer.

My reasoning was if someone knew how to do it and shared the information, then I could go and get for example a hex editor and look for the string and remove it. I am one bit closer now but it is really exhausting going through 23 pages of Florian's post and trying to replicate what he did with the rom and what programs he used.

 

[vworks]

Hi, why remove this NO EBAY??
If not for sale.
If it is for sale I see no shame in it, but you should find a way to remove it yourself.
It is been told several times that it is in there on purpose.
Why keep asking?

 

[rangerx292]

Hi, why remove this NO EBAY??
If not for sale.
If it is for sale I see no shame in it, but you should find a way to remove it yourself.
It is been told several times that it is in there on purpose.
Why keep asking?

Thanks for sharing your view on this. I have explained why I need this and my card is definitely not for sale.

 

[vworks]

No I dont see an answer really.
Let me ask you a question - if the flash procedure came with a warning - efi version is replaced with NO EBAY, would you still have downloaded the rom and flashed the card?
Thanx

 

[rangerx292]

No I dont see an answer really.
Let me ask you a question - if the flash procedure came with a warning - efi version is replaced with NO EBAY, would you still have downloaded the rom and flashed the card?
Thanx

I still don't see the point of your questions. If you don't want to help that is fine. If you want to help then tell me.

In regards to your question, this is like saying the only option was to buy apple certified cards only, then no I would not have accepted the mac pro. But because there is a way to do it, I got the mac pro and the hd 5770. I still would have flashed it because it would have been possible for me to fix it.

And now I know where to look for the answer, its just not clear. I know the field is static but I do not want my name or No Ebay or anything on it. I want it to say what it should say originally, which I think is 01.00.436.

 

[vworks]

No, I do not say that you should only buy genuine cards.
I just noticed that you insisted on the subject.
.
Besides, this NO EBAY only appears on the system info, that is why I do not understand your answer.
Mine is clear enough I think - the rom you downloaded comes with some downsides, it is obvious. One of these downsides is that the person who made it do not want these cards on ebay. This is clear enough I think.
Now if you want the real EFi, you should dig yourself and if nobody here wants to help, this is because of the reason Florian gave.
I can understand someone who wants to sell these cards, it involves a lot of things to put a sale on ebay, it is not just that easy.
But I do not understand someone who keeps asking once the help has been denied. I find this rude and inappropriate.
And nobody here has been rude to you.
.
Well, I said more than enough.
I wish you luck on replacing the efi version.