About Intel Management Engine firmware

[Mechet]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Thanks for this thread. Very useful!

I have ASRock B85M Pro4 mobo and latest BIOS flashed. It's 1.60 version downloadable here: ASRock > B85M Pro4
The BIOS file can't be opened with Flash Image tool, but with this guide I was able to cut ME_region from BIOS and I've opened it. The version says: 9.0.2.1345 (Screenshot), so I have a couple of questions.

1. If I flashed that 1.60 BIOS version, do I have 9.0.2.1345 ME region working? I can't check it with other tools, since I have MEI device disabled in Device Manager.
2. Should I flash a newer version of ME? I have Pentium G3220, Windows 8.1 x64 (that's HTPC) and everything working just fine. I know there is a rule that says "if it ain't broke don't fix it", but my hands are itchy ;-) I don't use any remote management technologies right now
3. Does ME related to CPU/iGPU/SATA/LAN performance?
4. If I should update, is it possible to brick the mobo? Probability of power loss is minimal, I have an UPS

And again, thanks very much.

[virtualfred]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Hi,

I don't think it can be useful for your system with MEI disabled, also I don't know how to rescue a BIOS failure on Asrock boards... Yes if you do a mistake your mobo can be hang on bootloops, but if your mod is perfect I think risk is low.

About performance I'm not sure, or maybe indirectly ? ME FW stays mysterious and poorly documented... It's difficult to find release note about it on the web, one from HP for ME FW 8.1.40.1416 :
My hands are itchy too so I understand you, but GB mobo have Dual-Bios and that's why I play with ME FW... it may not be reasonable in your case

[Mechet]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Hi,

I don't think it can be useful for your system with MEI disabled, also I don't know how to rescue a BIOS failure on Asrock boards... Yes if you do a mistake your mobo can be hang on bootloops, but if your mod is perfect I think risk is low.

My hands are itchy too so I understand you, but GB mobo have Dual-Bios and that's why I play with ME FW... it may not be reasonable in your case

ASRock have released BIOS version 1.80 yesterday for my MoBo, I've also cut ME region from BIOS file and it says version: "9.0.30.1482". I guess it's pretty new, huh?
I will renew my BIOS and check ME version in Windows (I will enable MEI device in Windows).

And I also couldn't find any useful info about ME_region and computer performance. :(

[Pacman]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

@virtualfred

Thank you for alot of good info.

I don't know if this has been mentioned already, but to open Asus Cap file in FITC, you can use "fd44cpr" from FTK package.
"fd44cpr filename.rom filename.rom" have to enter filename twice,
then the Cap header is removed and works with FITC.
The Cap header can also easily be removed manually in a Hexeditor, tested with Asrock also.
It has worked with the Z87 BIOSes i've tried.

[virtualfred]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Thanks Pacman.

I also read that ME FW 9.1.0.1015 from Z97 works on your Z87 MAXIMUS VI GENE (did you run Memanuf ?)

[Pacman]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Yes.

I have been testing the 9.1 FW since yesterday, i have not seen any indication that there would be any problems.

All the 9.0 utils seem to work, except i couldn't actually flash it with Fwupdlcl.

[virtualfred]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Fine ! I suppose we need a new FWUpdLcl to flash ME FW 9.1***... I'm sure you'll release it to community in few days/month

I'm expecting a crazy beta tester to try my method to replace ME FW in BIOS file (as you i have already prepared a ME FW 9.1.0.1015 for Z87)... did you tried it ?

[Pacman]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

I used your way of replacing the prepared FW in the BIOS file with Hxd, worked great.
Flashing on Gigabyte might be easier, if i remember correctly my Z87X-OC reflashed ME region with Q-Flash, so a modded BIOS with 9.1 might work.
FPT might work also, my Maximus was locked.

EDIT: Of course Q-Flash updates ME region, my mind was wandering, have only had one Gigabyte board ever :) Asus USB BIOS Flashback does not update ME region, so bigger risk with Asus.

[virtualfred]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Interesting thanks !
Ok so i understand Asus BIOS flasher doesn't update ME region, so you must use external programmer or FPT (with other FTK tools to save original settings) ?

[Pacman]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

The problem with Asus boards are: USB BIOS Flashback only flashes the BIOS region, even if ME region is corrupt, (Atleast in my tests) and you have to use that for modded BIOS, and often have region lock,
so i found no other Quick way than external programmer, but i am testing some other things.


EDIT: Almost forgot, after re-programming my BIOS chip with the 9.1 FW modded BIOS, the ME region lock was removed, not sure exactly why.

[boe323]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Ive noticed on the new bios for g1assassin2... gbe region doesn't show, I have the 4820k, also the gbe region should now be showing as gigabyte added it, but seems there is no efi driver so looks like its doesn't work in all uefi mode. Cant even get the intel boot agent config (ctrl-S) at post while in all uefi mode. Am I missing something here, do I have it all completely wrong?.

[virtualfred]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

No Intel LAN chip on G1.assassin2, so no Gbe region, it's normal.

[boe323]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

this doesn't make sense to me.. if I take it out of uefi and boot in legacy... I get the pxe screen with intel boot agent, even have the boot options under boot sequence, but using uefi I don't get anything even though its enabled.

[Lil_Heidi]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

Virtualfred...by reading this thread I got some impression that X79S-UP5 is kind of pure c***! It's pretty much messed up piece of garbage that will never ever worked well?! Or, I have wrong impression?! Don't know...
Now, I reflashed F4 mod you posted earlier and still, machine works, but far from being happy humming bird! It's just loads up windows and nothing else! No matter what I try, the windows is only OS I can boot onto this machine...and yes, PartedMagic...this is only two I am able to load up.
My question would be if this mobo is worth the trouble, has potential or it would be better to abandon it and get over all that?
Does rev.1.0 and rev.1.1 on the BIOS level has any difference between each other?
Finally, does newer betas has any advantage or advancement over the F4?
Thank you very much Virtualfred, appreciate your hard work!

[virtualfred]

Re: About Intel Management Engine firmware

The problem with Asus boards are: USB BIOS Flashback only flashes the BIOS region, even if ME region is corrupt, (Atleast in my tests) and you have to use that for modded BIOS, and often have region lock,
so i found no other Quick way than external programmer, but i am testing some other things.

So even FTP can't overwrite ME region ?

EDIT: Almost forgot, after re-programming my BIOS chip with the 9.1 FW modded BIOS, the ME region lock was removed, not sure exactly why.

Surprizing ! No change when you built new ME FW with FITC to open ME access ?