@ jimenezman:
Thanks for the links.
The ROM file, which is within the package named AIBSYS-00228463-1040.EXE, is the BIOS for your Sony VAIO, whereas the BIN file, which is within the LENOVO package, is the ME6 Firmware. Both files have nothing to do with each other.
Yeah, they are different; but I am coming from the angle that my laptop needs an ME firmware since BIOS reports this to be 0.0.0.0. It is improbable that the ROM file has this ME Firmware embedded in it since before and after I updated the BIOS I am still getting the "ME Firmware Update Failed, Please try again!" message just as the laptop finishes POSTing before it shuts itself down.
@ jimenezman:
Before you are bricking your Sony VAIO by trying to flash an Intel ME Firmware you got from LENOVO into a BIOS, which obviously hasnât been correctly flashed, I recommend to contact the Sony Support.
Ahh, iâm sorry i did not see Before your laptop auto shutdown, yes, then the question is, even if you get the flasher going if it will stay on long enough for the flashing to complete?
This may not be so easy to fix, and probably external programmer or buying a new chip is the best solution.
EDIT: Also have you tried to flash main BIOS with afudos? could also be some corruption in main BIOS.
The parameters are in the âUpdTW64.batâ file, could make bootable DOS, a batch file and call it from âautoexec.batâ to speed the process up.
Otherwise for ME problem, probably FPT could work, though i donât have version 6.
Of course maybe best as Fernando says to Contact Sony.
It is a tightrope I know, but it follows your information that PC makers do not change the firmware they get from Intel, and the Management Engine Firmware, being an Intel product, is not going to be different, be it from Sony or Dell or Lenovo. Or what did you mean about Intel firmware being unchanged from vendor to vendor?
Yes, I am pretty sure, that you will be able to flash any Intel ME6 Firmware, which is suitable for your chipset - independent from the manufacturer of the mainboard, but the first step should be to a bootable system, that means a properly flashed BIOS.
Yes, I am pretty sure, that you will be able to flash any Intel ME6 Firmware, which is suitable for your chipset - independent from the manufacturer of the mainboard, but the first step should be to a bootable system, that means a properly flashed BIOS.
I have tried flashing the .BIN file I downloaded from Lenovoâs site using AFUDOS, I get an error about the size being different. If only I could get my hands on the 6.0.0.1179 .BIN file! Lemme keep trying to flash the R0300Y8 ROM. Who knows, I might succeed.
Thanks so much Fernando and Pacman!
I will update you guys should anything good (or bad) happen.!
@jimenezman
No, you should only flash your main BIOS with afudos, fwupdlcl when production ME bin file.
Be aware though that it is not at all impossible that you could easily end up with a brick, so donât try things at random.
I am not doing things at random. I used information from the AMI APTIO AFU User Guide to try flashing the ME firmware. Here is a quote:
"AFUDOS <ME File Name> /ME
Where ME File Name is used to specify path/filename of the ME file with extension. This command
line programs entire ME block with the specified ME file. "
No, i did not mean it as an accusation 
just a note.
Ok, i thought that was for flashing an ME region file not a production bin, i have not used afudos for it myself for ME, but i Think best would be to get the main BIOS flashed first then ME.
I have many times ended up with corrupt ME FW from to much experimenting, but only one time no POST, otherwise just "ME Version: N/A" in BIOS, so i Think maybe could be main BIOS corruption causing your shutdowns.
It is cool I took it not as a good, brotherly piece advice, not as an accusation. I have tried the various switches allowed by AFUDOS together with the main BIOS File (R0300Y8):
/B Program Boot Block
/P Program main bios image
/N Program NVRAM
I keep this error: Error: ROM file ROMID is not compatible with existing BIOS ROMID. A part of me wishes it would just die, lol, as it is as good as useless at present. Sony suck as their BIOSes have no recovery options. I read on a Sony Community forum that the BIOSes on their support pages HAVE to be run from within Windows, and that the bootable ones are not public.
Hmm, first it is a good thing to try and save current BIOS "afudos /obios.rom", "afudos /u" should display current ROMID, there are ways to force flash skipping ROMID, but needless to say, risky.
I have just opened the laptop up, only to find that the BIOS chip is something so, so tiny, a square chip that is less than 0.5 centimeters long and with 4 âlegsâ on each side. Soldering a spare chip will be such a pain. This though looks to be my only way out.!
Yes, laptops are a pain, almost Always smd chips.
But Another option is, if you know any good computer shop near you,
they can most likely re-program your BIOS chip without removing it âISPâ, wouldnât take more than a few minutes.
I know not of any good computer shop close to me. But I will get a new chip and try soldering it.
@SoniX
@Fernando
FWUpdlcl & MEInfo for EFI/DOS/Win 32/64bit Version 9.1.2.1000
Posted them here: http://www.station-drivers.com/index.phpâŚion-9.1.2.1000/
Thanks for the info.
The start post of this thread will be updated as soon as I am home again.
Hi Fernando!
So, (as usual, lol) Iâm confused.
Not certain which drivers/firmware/package is most suitable for my Sabertooth Z77 mobo (DeviceID 1E3A, Subsys 84CA1043 REV_04).
Thanks SO much for your help!
You can use any Intel MEI driver from v8.1.xx.xxxx up to v10.0.xx.xxxx.
If the Intel ME region of your system is ME8 1.5M (what I suspect), I recommend to flash the Intel MEI ME8 Consumer Firmware v8.1.52.1496.
I donât see anything referencing the region.