First, I’d like to apologize if this isn’t the right section to post this, if it is, please move it or let me know and I’ll move it.
I need to solve a mystery that’s been plaguing me since last night (so, a LONG time)
Last week, I got some PC parts for my daughter that ended up being insanely cheap (around ~$50 spent getting good deals); Core i5-3330, 8GB (2x4GB) Kingston DDR3-1600, WD Blue 500GB, EVGA GTX 650 SC, and this motherboard.
The motherboard is brand new so I assume nothing is wrong or damaged.
One of the things I noticed is that the BIOS even when it says UEFI: 2.3, PI 1.2, it’s not a graphical interface, it’s the old blue and gray 90s looking BIOS. That’s fine, I don’t care about that. I’m still trying to install Windows in GPT mode but I can’t manage to do it. It’s probably some weird BIOS setting I haven’t messed with yet.
Now the mystery: it already came with the latest BIOS so all I had to do was update it in UBU to get it how I like it. Flashed the BIOS, everything went smooth. Installed Windows 8.1 64-bit in MBR mode, with AHCI enabled, everything fine and dandy. First thing I do is try to update the Intel ME Firmware so I go into Device Manager to get the driver installed and there wasn’t any driver missing, I usually have to install it myself (I use version 11.0.5.1189) and when I tried to upgrade the Firmware, it didn’t let me.
I checked with ME Analyzer the BIOS file and indeed, it has an ME Firmware included. Here’s the screenshot
Here’s the screenshot of the updated BIOS in UBU (already flashed and confirmed with HWInfo that Microcode is now 1F)
Here’s the screenshot of the updated Microcode in UBU
…and here’s the ME Firmware that I wanted to flash (currently in my H67 board in my own PC)
My questions are:
1) Why isn’t Intel Management Engine Interface appearing in Device Manager? 2) Is this normal? What could’ve happened? 3) Is it possible to replace the outdated version of the ME Firmware in the modded BIOS with the latest one so I can flash it again?
I know she won’t notice a single difference, but my OCD isn’t letting me sleep.
Both of these methods can easily be undone by flashing the original BIOS image, but usually requires the use of an external SPI flash programmer, because the flash descriptor and the ME regions are usually write protected.
@Ethaniel : Thank you for the fast response, problem is that the Intel ME is already disabled. Yet is present in the BIOS file, so I guess it’s being flashed. With any of the BIOS files (there are 4 in the website) I can’t seem to enable Intel ME within Windows
@Punkster_Sanders : Unfortunately the relevant BIOS chip regions usually cannot be modified by BIOS flashing tools and can only be modified using ME that is currently not available.
In most cases you need an external SPI flash programmer even for reading the ME region in your BIOS chip.
Sure, just give me a couple of hours until I re-install Windows and I’ll take the screenshot. It goes along the lines of “Intel ME isn’t installed” but I’ll let you know in a while. Thank you!
EDIT:
Additionally I just got a notification about an Intel System Driver in Windows Update. I’ll let you guys know when I investigate the mystery further down the line.
Windows update shows “Intel - System - 4/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - 14.28.47.630” which is for the Intel Extreme Utility Device Driver, I have no idea why that update appeared and it’s the first time I’ve seen it.
I downloaded the motherboard BIOS manual and I see nothing related to AMT / ME in it.
Question is; why would the BIOS come with a ME FW in it but it isn’t enabled within the OS? There’s no driver missing in device manager and it usually is recognized by windows update and gives you a notification.
@Punkster_Sanders : Windows 8.1 has a built-in driver for Intel ME, so if there is no Intel(R) Management Engine Interface entry under System devices in Device Manager, the most likely cause is that Intel ME is disabled.
Although the factory BIOS firmware comes with Intel ME enabled, the previous owner might have modified the BIOS firmware so that ME is disabled.
Note that the only known way of disabling ME is by BIOS firmware modification, there are no known methods for disabling it from the BIOS setup or from within the OS.
The previous owner might have disabled it because of privacy or security concerns, or because it was required for using an unsupported CPU.
Note that disabling ME reduces the attack surface of the system and I am unaware of any negative effects of disabling ME, other than the enterprise technologies by ME - that have little value for personal use - are not going to be available.
Some reports say that disabling ME results in the loss of advanced automatic performance management technologies, but unfortunately I have no information on the specifics or the impact of these technologies.
Motherboard was purchased from a retailer brand new, I’m the first person touching it. None of the 4 BIOSes in the manufacturer’s website seems to enable it. But I guess you’re right, as long the system isn’t unstable, I’m good!
