diff --git a/chipsec/chipset.py b/chipsec/chipset.py
index d599c96a..a7cd900e 100644
--- a/chipsec/chipset.py
+++ b/chipsec/chipset.py
@@ -245,8 +245,8 @@ class Chipset:
         else:
             self.helper = helper
 
-        self.vid        = 0
-        self.did        = 0
+        self.vid        = 0xFFFF
+        self.did        = 0xFFFF
         self.code       = CHIPSET_CODE_UNKNOWN
         self.longname   = "Unrecognized Platform"
         self.id         = CHIPSET_ID_UNKNOWN
@@ -279,6 +279,16 @@ class Chipset:
     # Iitialization
     #
     ##################################################################################
+    def detect_platform( self ):
+        vid = 0xFFFF
+        did = 0xFFFF
+        try:
+            vid_did = self.pci.read_dword(0, 0, 0, 0)
+            vid = vid_did & 0xFFFF
+            did = (vid_did >> 16) & 0xFFFF
+        except:
+            if logger().DEBUG: logger().error("pci.read_dword couldn't read platform VID/DID")
+        return (vid, did)
 
     def init( self, platform_code, start_driver, driver_exists=False ):
 
@@ -287,9 +297,7 @@ class Chipset:
         logger().log( '[CHIPSEC] API mode: %s' % ('using OS native API (not using CHIPSEC kernel module)' if self.use_native_api() else 'using CHIPSEC kernel module API') )
 
         if platform_code is None:
-            vid_did  = self.pci.read_dword( 0, 0, 0, 0 )
-            self.vid = vid_did & 0xFFFF
-            self.did = (vid_did >> 16) & 0xFFFF
+            self.vid, self.did = self.detect_platform()
             if VID_INTEL != self.vid:
                 _unknown_platform = True
         else:
diff --git a/chipsec/helper/linux/helper.py b/chipsec/helper/linux/helper.py
index 139fdf0e..b3d6a14b 100644
--- a/chipsec/helper/linux/helper.py
+++ b/chipsec/helper/linux/helper.py
@@ -371,8 +371,6 @@ class LinuxHelper(Helper):
 
     def read_pci_reg( self, bus, device, function, offset, size = 4 ):
         _PCI_DOM = 0 #Change PCI domain, if there is more than one.
-        #if not self.driver_loaded:
-        #    return self.read_pci_reg_from_sys(bus, device, function, offset, size, domain=_PCI_DOM)
         d = struct.pack("5"+self._pack, ((_PCI_DOM << 16) | bus), ((device << 16) | function), offset, size, 0)
         try:
             ret = self.ioctl(IOCTL_RDPCI, d)
diff --git a/chipsec/helper/rwe/rwehelper.py b/chipsec/helper/rwe/rwehelper.py
index dc5adbb5..d3a126e4 100644
--- a/chipsec/helper/rwe/rwehelper.py
+++ b/chipsec/helper/rwe/rwehelper.py
@@ -668,9 +668,6 @@ class RweHelper(Helper):
         return
 
     def read_pci_reg( self, bus, device, function, address, size ):
-        #raise UnimplementedNativeAPIError( "read_pci_reg" )
-        if not self.driver_loaded:
-            return 0xFFFF
         value = 0xFFFFFFFF
         bdf = PCI_BDF( bus&0xFFFF, device&0xFFFF, function&0xFFFF, address&0xFFFF )
         cfg_addr = bdf.cfg_address()
@@ -679,7 +676,6 @@ class RweHelper(Helper):
         return value
 
     def write_pci_reg( self, bus, device, function, address, value, size ):
-        #raise UnimplementedNativeAPIError( "write_pci_reg" )
         bdf = PCI_BDF( bus&0xFFFF, device&0xFFFF, function&0xFFFF, address&0xFFFF )
         cfg_addr = bdf.cfg_address()
         self.write_io_port( 0xCF8, cfg_addr, 4 )
diff --git a/chipsec/helper/win/win32helper.py b/chipsec/helper/win/win32helper.py
index 294956fd..2bd9c47f 100644
--- a/chipsec/helper/win/win32helper.py
+++ b/chipsec/helper/win/win32helper.py
@@ -647,8 +647,6 @@ class Win32Helper(Helper):
         return
 
     def read_pci_reg( self, bus, device, function, address, size ):
-        if not self.driver_loaded:
-            return 0xFFFF
         value = 0xFFFFFFFF
         bdf = PCI_BDF( bus&0xFFFF, device&0xFFFF, function&0xFFFF, address&0xFFFF )
         out_length = size