Hello, I have a laptop Asus, model A45A, which a while ago I had a problem with BIOS update, which resulted me to take it to a technical assistance, which reported having done a programming in the BIOS. From there to here I used the Laptop in dual boot with Windows and Manjaro Linux, but I noticed that its performance fell a lot and was missing some settings in the BIOS, and I just realized that it was the lack of the Intel me module when trying to do Hackintosh , where several times the graphics acceleration stopped working. I bought a BIOS programmer, and I’m waiting for her to get my hands on it. Until then, is there anything I can try to accomplish without a BIOS programmer? I tried to identify the version of Intel me using the Me Analyser in the BIOS file, however it finds nothing. I’m attaching the BIOS file, which originally has the naming “K45VMAS. 234”.
BIOS ASUS A45A.zip (3.7 MB)
BIOS ASUS .ROM A45A.zip (3.7 MB)
ASUS does not include all the SPI chip components (Flash Descriptor, GbE, ME, BIOS) at their laptop BIOS updates, only “BIOS” region. So that’s why MEA cannot find the ME firmware at the official BIOS update. You need to dump the whole SPI chip for us to try to fix its firmware. You can try to do that via Flash Programming Tool for ME v8 via “fptw -d spi.bin” command. If it completes successfully, compress and attach/upload the resulting “spi.bin” file here. On the other hand, if you get a CPU access error or similar then you have no read/write access to the ME firmware region of the SPI chip and so you’ll need to wait for your programmer to arrive. So, until the programmer arrives, you can try if you can dump/reflash via FPT.
Thank you very much for the reply!
In fact, I received error 26, where it is not possible to program in the given area. In case, when you are with the BIOS programmer in hand, how do I do the programming?
That depends on what you bought. You need to look at its documentation or online to learn how to use it.
I mean, which file should I use to make the flash in the BIOS? The BIOS file from Asus + Intel ME? Or just Intel ME? The version of Me I know is the 8, but which build should I use?
Just dump the SPI chip when your programmer arrives. Then compress and attach/upload it here.
Hello,
After a certain time, my EPROM programmer has arrived. In the first post, there is the dump requested in the formats. bin and .rom
Alright, your dump is proper. The extension does not matter, the files are identical. Now, you need to follow the Engine CleanUp Guide in order to repair your ME firmware region. At step 4 of the guide, feel free to use the latest ME 8 1.5MB firmware which is 8.1.70.1590_1.5MB_PRD_RGN as of now.
Fixed!
Now Windows is loading the Intel Management Interface. But, in the BIOS settings, there are elements that continue not presenting, like as Secure Boot. That is normal?
It’s up to the OEM to show or hide various BIOS options. As long as the ME firmware is proper, everything else is non-Engine related.
Well, the BIOS keeps showing enough bugs (one of them is the UEFI not being enabled). But either way, the Intel part is fully functional. Thank you very much for your help.
UPDATE: I managed to enable hidden BIOS options using Amibcp_v 4.53. Problems such as UEFI that did not initialize correctly, was also corrected using this tool. Now the BIOS is fully functional.