Intel (Converged Security) Management Engine: Drivers, Firmware and Tools (2-15)

[Ferrous]

@forceadmin
Have you tried to set 0x2D4 to 0x1 only, then reboot and dump again? (Do not perform -greset).
If still getting that CPU access error, try running the attached MESET utility from CLEVO, which may override the FD after auto reboot, then dump. (meset.exe is for DOS, meset.efi is for EFI Shell, and Wmeset.exe is for Windows)

meset.rar (761 KB)

[forceadmin]

@ Ferrous:

I set 0x2D4 back to 0x1, rebooted, ran “fptw64 -d spi.bin”, and received the same CPU error.

I then ran meset.exe from a DOS boot prompt and received error, This version of Meset.EXE is not compatible with the version of Windows you’re running. Check your computer’s system information and then contact the software publisher. I am running Windows 10 Pro x64.

[Ferrous]

You mistaked command prompt for DOS. Try Wmeset.exe or meset.efi instead

[forceadmin]

@ Ferrous:

Excuse my ignorance. I ran both meset.exe and wmeset.exe from UEFI Win 10 DVD > Repair > Command Prompt. Both gave me the same error.

I am not familiar enough with EFI shell to know how to run meset.efi.

[Ferrous]

Run it with the first EFI Shell that plutomaniac gave you

[forceadmin]

@ Ferrous:

Thank you. I ran meset.efi from the EFI shell that Plutomaniac first sent. The message returned is ME Updated sequence, It will be auto-shutdown ,then power on.

However, it has done nothing since. I am unable to run any further commands. It has just been sitting there at that message for the last 10 minutes.

Edit: After waiting approximately 30 minutes with no activity, I pressed the power button and rebooted. I then ran "fptw64 -d spi.bin" and received the same CPU error.

[Ferrous]

You have out of software solutions. Have to purchase a hardware programmer.

[forceadmin]

@ Ferrous: @ Plutomaniac:

I appreciate all of your attempts to help me. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to spend any more time on this issue. I’m very disappointed that a $3,000 laptop that is only 3 years old is in such condition.

Will it hurt anything to leave 0x2D4 at value 0x1? The laptop boots much quicker, runs much faster, & behaves as it should from a power management standpoint (sleep, dock/undock, etc.). Otherwise, it reboots every time it comes out of sleep (including when it docks & undocks). That is a very annoying and time-consuming activity.

[vmanuelgm]

There is a new version 11.7.0.1028, but cant download it from Station Drivers…

[plutomaniac]

@ forceadmin:

Indeed you are out of software solutions. The only steps remaining relate to hardware. Either sort 2 pins at the audio chip, nothing to buy but laptop must be opened, or do soldering/desoldering (need to buy a cheap programmer and also requires well…soldering). Personally I consider the last one extreme, especially at a laptop which makes thing harder. The 2-pin sorting is more doable without any expense or soldering. But if you don’t want any of that and you think the system behaves properly without a healthy ME firmware, then I suppose you can leave it at 0x1. It really depends on the OEM and laptop, the dependence to ME that is. Clearly your corrupted one is causing more trouble when enabled. The choice is yours.

@ vmanuelgm:

Thx for letting me know. We’ll wait for a fixed link then.

[forceadmin]

@ Plutomaniac:

Thanks. I don’t have a problem opening the laptop as I have done it before. However, I don’t know how to “sort 2 pins at the audio chip”. Is there an instruction somewhere? My understanding is that doing this unlocks read/write access to the ME region at the BIOS/SPI chip. I would also need to know what software command(s) to run at the next boot. If the probability is high that this would resolve the issue, I would probably try it.

[plutomaniac]

Intel MEI Driver v11.7.0.1028 MEI-Only Installer

Thanks to Fdrsoft/SD for the new drivers.

@ forceadmin:

The pinmod unlocks the FD for read/write access until the next restart. Which 2 pins you need to short depends on your Audio chip. For Realtek it is usually pin 1 (3.3V) with pin 5 (HDA_SDO) but I recommend you detect what audio chip you have and check its datasheet which should have a pinout diagram. Once you know the pins and where they’re located, you need to short them, start the laptop and stop shorting once the system boots. If everything went ok, you should be able to dump the full SPI image via FPT.

[hoeman]

@harmoonia

Hi!

I got a problem with my Laptop. I am suspecting that there is a problem with ME, because its having power loss exactly after 10min of power up. No help updating bios. Still same problem.
Anyway, i tried to follow the guide updating ME firmware but i ran into problem. MeManuf is giving me a following error:

Error 9331: SMBus hardware is not ready

Error 9296: MEManuf Test Failed

Where exaclty i can find out more information about those error codes and more importantly can i ignore those errors and continue with firmware update?

@Fernando Hi, Fernando, I face the same issue as harmoonia right now. I’m on a P8Z77-V Pro motherboard and wish to update my ME firmware to the recommended Intel ME Firmware v8.1.65.1586 (1.5MB) you provided here, but while following the steps, MEMANUF gives me the same errors (9331 and then 9296). I’m too fearful to proceed now. What do I do?

@plutomaniac Hi, Plutomaniac, it appears I addressed the wrong guru. Sorry Fernando for the mistake. Could you help me with this please, Plutomaniac?

EDIT:

Ok, crisis averted. I updated the driver to the recommended v11.0 drivers and ran the memanuf utility again. Passed. Proceeded to flash the ME firmware too. All good. Thank you!

[Fernando]

@hoeman

@Fernando Hi, Fernando, I face the same issue as harmoonia right now. I’m on a P8Z77-V Pro motherboard and wish to update my ME firmware to the recommended Intel ME Firmware v8.1.65.1586 (1.5MB) you provided here, but while following the steps, MEMANUF gives me the same errors (9331 and then 9296).

Where have I offered that Intel ME Firmware? It is plutomaniac, who has written the start post of this thread and keeps it up-to-date.

I’m too fearful to proceed now. What do I do?

Ask plutomaniac. He is our Intel ME Guru.

[plutomaniac]

@ hoeman:

Do you also get shutdowns after a certain period of time or are you just trying to update without any prior issues? Do you get the same error while running MEManuf with EOL parameter (MEManuf -eol)? Have your tried running Flash Programming Tool with command “fptw -greset” to see if that changes anything at MEInfo, MEManuf or MEManuf -eol commands? Do you see a “cpu access error” or similar when trying to run “fptw -d spi.bin” command? Also, in advance, there is no need to tag me at my own threads as I monitor them regardless.

[Wootever]

Found this ME package: (link removed).
Not sure about relevance since it’s a bit outdated, but might be worth sharing.

[THEBOSS]

I have found an updated version than this post (surprisingly) on my laptop O.o

If there is any kind of guide to extract this drive and to help you guys getting this updated drive… let me know

[plutomaniac]

@ THEBOSS:

What laptop is that exactly? Did you update the drivers manually from somewhere? I don’t see it at the MS Update Catalog so it’s probably not from them. Go to “C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository” and copy the folders which start with “heci.inf”, one of them must hold the newer version.

[Pacman]

Intel MEI Drivers & Software v11.7.0.1028 for Consumer systems

Updated OP

[plutomaniac]

Intel ME 11.0 Corporate PCH-H Firmware v11.0.27.3000

Intel ME 11.0 Corporate PCH-LP Firmware v11.0.27.3000

Intel ME 8 1.5MB Firmware v8.1.70.1590

Intel ME System Tools v11.0 r9