--------- ME Analyzer v1.4.1 ---------
Firmware: Intel ME
Version: 9.0.30.1482
Release: Production
Type: Region, Extracted
FD: Locked
SKU: 5MB
VCN: 3
PV: Yes
Date: 10/10/2013
FITC Ver: 9.0.22.1467
Latest: No
The strange is that when I’m trying to enter Intel MEI BIOS (by pressing Ctrl-P) there is a error message…
How to update this MEI firmware? Do I have to use 5M or 1.5M ? Is this ok with those errors ?
Some of these errors are probably due to an unprovisioned 5MB ME firmware like the ipv4 and so on. Others might indicate a corrupted/misconfigured ME region. First you need to download the System Tools v9.0 package from the ME thread. We also need to check whether you can replace the ME region completely in case it is indeed corrupted.
1. Run FWUpdate tool with command fwupdlcl64 -save upd.bin and attach the resulting file here compressed.
2. Run Flash Programming Tool with the command fptw64 -d SPI.bin. If the operation completes succesfully then attach the resulting file here compressed. If it fails with error 26 then your flash descriptor is locked and thus you cannot replace the ME region with the one extracted from the larest BIOS/SPI image from your motherboard’s OEM. Only with a programmer in such case.
On some 5MB systems there is an option at rhe BIOS whichh can unlock rhe flash descriptor. The name might be HMRFPO, ME disable or similar. Do search it as a lot of 5MB systems come with an option in order to able to service the ME region.
C:\Users\Tadek\Downloads\Intel ME System Tools v9.0 r2\Flash Programming Tool\WINDOWS64>fptw64.exe -d SPI.bin
Intel (R) Flash Programming Tool. Version: 9.0.22.1467
Copyright (c) 2007 - 2013, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
Platform: Intel(R) B85 Express Chipset
Reading HSFSTS register… Flash Descriptor: Valid
— Flash Devices Found —
W25Q64BV ID:0xEF4017 Size: 8192KB (65536Kb)
Error 26: The host CPU does not have read access to the target flash area. To enable read access for this operation you must modify the descriptor settings to give host access to this region.
Here is a upd.bin file in 7z format → https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1nqV5H…iew?usp=sharing
Your flash descriptor is locked so it’s not possible to reflash the entire ME region. Just updating the version won’t really help in case of corruption or miss configuration elsewhere. I suggest you reflash the latest BIOS from ASRock and to reset MEBx to default settings. If the problem persists you need to contact ASRock for more help. This board has Small Business Advantage ME Firmware so they might help faster if they think it’s work related. If you just want to update the version and don’t care about MEBx or these errors then you can flash the latest 5MB v9.0 firmware from the first post.
Reflashed the same version BIOS from ASRock website but still the same. Will send note to the tech support of ASRock. Thank you.
Reflashing with FWUpdate wasn’t going to solve anything as I said above. FWUpdate only deals with the CODE section of ME firmware and not the DATA which includes the pre-configured and user adjustable settings. If the problem is indeed misconfiguration then it would be at DATA and not CODE. Only via Flash Programming Tool + unlocked flash descriptor would you be able to rewrite the DATA. If resetting settings doesn’t work then ask ASRock first and if they do share a solution, please share it with us to help other people who mind be in the same situation in the future.
Hello again,
After contact with ASRock tech support, they finally answered to me that the Intel B85 chipset does not support Active Management Technology, and for this ME function, the chipset must support this.
They are discussing to remove the Ctrl-P function from the BIOS.
Ok. So I have one thing sorted out but can I still try to update the newer version ?
The B85 chipset indeed doesn’t support AMT but it does support SBA (Small Business Advantage) which is part of the 5MB firmware and requires MEBx to be adjusted. So ASRock cannot remove the CTRL+P sortcut without breaking functionality. They even advertise Intel Small Business Advantage at their ASRock B85 Fatal1ty Killer web-page. You probably talked to someone who doesn’t know much and my guess is that the BIOS people over at ASRock will disregard the thought of removing MEBx by itself or it’s interrupt sortcut of CTRL+P.
The ME “Features Supported” settings that ASRock has set at Flash Image Tool seem to be correct for B85 so the source of these errors is either a problematic ME Region or misconfiguration of MEBx settings. After these errors appear when pressing CTRL+P, can you boot into the MEBx menu? If yes, you should see this (v9.0 instead of v8.0):
Select Intel Small Business Technology Configuration and two options should appear. The second is “Restore Factory Settings” > Full Unprovision. Select that and see if resetting SBA settings helps with these errors.
If not, I assume that the ME Region is problematic and a reflash is needed. If your flash descriptor is locked, you can use a cheap programmer on your removable/socketed SPI/BIOS chip.
ASRock tech support wrote this:
The “SBA supported” just mean the it can install and use the “SBA” software.
If you would like to configure the MEBx, please use Q87 platform.
And this is not something that we can change, bottom line is that Intel does not support this on the B85 chipset.
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Alright then. Honestly, if the SBA program works on your machine (and you actually use it of course) then you shouldn’t worry about the MEBx menu. ASRock does have a SBA User Guide at their Manuals section on your motherboard so consult that in case you want to use SBA. Your original question was about updating. If you want, you can update your drivers and firmware to the latest which is v11.0.0.1172 and v9.0.31.1487 5MB respectively. Instructions on how to do these can be found at the ME thread.
Ok I will try to update to those version of FW and drivers. Thought about MEBx menu cause there was (and still is) hint on POST Ctrl+P to enter MEBx setup menu which is useless as u can see on my video
. (Look at 1m:26 sec)