MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK Problems

General & Forum Off Topic
41

This is all hardware.

There are som chipset set settings which are made in the configuration program for the ME (FIT), but they’re not stored in ME, but Flash Descriptor. And Intel ME doesn’t care about 3rd party hardware…

You can flash the ME as often as you want, but as long as the chipset telles the ME that it is in servicing mode it doesn’t make any difference.

42

thanks, what else can I do ?

43

…just an afterthought, does having an Intel Engineering Sample CPU make any difference to the BIOS / ME flashing ?

44



…anyone ? does having an Intel Engineering Sample CPU make any difference to the BIOS / ME flashing ? Or am I totally wasting my time (and everyones here) trying to fix the un-fixable ? (i.e. Intel ME Version in Bios remains at "N/A" ?? no matter what bios or ME version i flash into it…)

I really would like to get this sorted as the missing ME is causing several issues , no on-board sound undetected, Via VL805 USB chip undetected, other USB issues…)

Also, the recommended ME 9 installer will not install for me either, i presume that’s just because ME is not being detected in Device Manager ?

installation error screenshot;


Installer Log;
2021:03:23 14:08:32:352: Checking .NET version…
2021:03:23 14:08:32:353: Expected version: v3.5
2021:03:23 14:08:32:353: Found registry key for the expected .NET version.
2021:03:23 14:08:32:353: .NET version check passed
2021:03:23 14:08:32:354: Looking for OS: 5.1 5.2 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 10.0
2021:03:23 14:08:32:354: OS check passed
2021:03:23 14:08:32:355: Checking .NET version…
2021:03:23 14:08:32:355: Expected version: v3.5
2021:03:23 14:08:32:355: Found registry key for the expected .NET version.
2021:03:23 14:08:32:356: .NET version check passed
2021:03:23 14:08:32:356: Resolving driver source
2021:03:23 14:08:32:357: Using embedded driver(s). Temp source is ‘C:\Users\Brian\AppData\Local\Temp\IIFFB5E.tmp’
2021:03:23 14:08:32:389: Using folder ‘C:\Users\Brian\AppData\Local\Temp\IIFFB5E.tmp’ as the driver source
2021:03:23 14:08:32:389: Scanning all active devices
2021:03:23 14:08:32:427: Scanning HECI_REL\win10\heci.inf (Name: HECI_REL_WIN10_HECI, Version: 11.7.0.1057)
2021:03:23 14:08:32:427: Section with the best match: Intel.NTamd64.10.0
2021:03:23 14:08:32:427: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C3A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:428: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9C3A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:428: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8D3A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:429: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9CBA (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:429: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8CBA (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:429: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9D3A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:430: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A13A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:430: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A2BA (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:430: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A1BA (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:431: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A23A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:431: MUP OS bits: 0x1FF000
2021:03:23 14:08:32:433: Scanning HECI_REL\win7\heci.inf (Name: HECI_REL_WIN7_HECI, Version: 11.7.0.1057)
2021:03:23 14:08:32:434: Section with the best match: Intel.NTamd64.6.1
2021:03:23 14:08:32:434: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C3A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:434: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9C3A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:435: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8D3A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:435: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9CBA (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:436: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8CBA (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:436: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9D3A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:436: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A13A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:437: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A2BA (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:437: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A1BA (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:437: Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A23A (Intel(R) Management Engine Interface )
2021:03:23 14:08:32:438: MUP OS bits: 0x1B6FFE
2021:03:23 14:08:32:439: E Win32 exception occurred!!
2021:03:23 14:08:32:440: Error code: 0x4E24 (20004)
2021:03:23 14:08:32:440: Error text: ‘’
2021:03:23 14:08:32:440: Extended error text: ‘Error in device matching’
2021:03:23 14:08:32:441: Debug info: ‘Setup.cpp (824)’
2021:03:23 14:08:32:441: Reading storyboard
2021:03:23 14:08:32:442: Page count: 7
2021:03:23 14:08:32:442: Added: Welcome
2021:03:23 14:08:32:443: Added: Modify
2021:03:23 14:08:32:443: Added: License
2021:03:23 14:08:32:443: Added: Destination
2021:03:23 14:08:32:444: Added: Progress
2021:03:23 14:08:32:444: Added: Finish
2021:03:23 14:08:32:445: Added: Error
2021:03:23 14:08:32:445: Reading string map
2021:03:23 14:08:32:445: No string map present
2021:03:23 14:08:32:491: Showing page: Error
2021:03:23 14:08:39:574: Link: Launching ‘C:\Users\Brian\Intel\Logs’

45

So, i still haven’t gotten this Bios, “ME Version N/A” problem sorted.

I can flash away to bios without any problem, with any bios file (including ME). I have a complete bios file (7882v381) saved that was cleaned using “fit” and now contains ME v9.1.40.1000 (updated from 9.1.37.1002)… although it is missing its correct UUID, MAC and serial number… (presently all zero’s). I would like to put the correct info back into the Bios , how do i do it ? what’s best tool or is there a guide ?

I have also noticed quite a few members on this forum who have had the exact same issue having “ME Version N/A” and very few getting it resolved. So what’s happening here with our motherboards ?? this is a very strange phenomenon…!

To fix it the only things I haven’t tried yet are ;

1. flashback method - not even sure my board supports it ? (but i will look into this further).
2. using a programmer - i do have the CH341A programmer, but my boards bios chips appear to be soldered and also possibly located under the x99 chipset cover?? (see image below).
I cant get this off as its held in place by 3 screws (which are on the sides of the cover!) , and I can only get to one of these with a screwdriver, the other two are too close to the SATA sockets, and wont allow a ‘conventional’ screwdriver to reach the screws ?? I would need some kind of 90degree screwdriver to remove it…!

What i did discover though when locating info about this motherboard, is that it has an 11-pin header that allows access to flashing the Bios. Since the CH341A doesn’t have a generic 11-pin adapter (has to be modded to work apparently), i have made the leap and purchased a FlashcatUSB Pro programmer, which does come with an “MSI 9 and 11-pin header adapter” (most MSI boards have only a 9-pin header).

This i believe, are my last available options in sorting this out.

I would be grateful meantime, if someone could steer me in the direction of how to finalise the Bios file i have so that it includes my original UUID, MAC and Serial. Which I have saved in a text file).

Thanks for your patience MODS, I am a 53 year old trying to keep up with all the younger generation, for whom this is all a simple process…and appreciate you help so far.

many thanks

11-PIN Header for connecting to programmer;

46

There’s no difference in flashing a complete bios by fpt or with a programmer and you did that already in #41 with a stock bios
Intel ME - NA ( missing ) I7-5930k x99 Msi godlike gaming carbon (3)

There’s no need to put in MAC address, serial before trying. It can be done after you get the error solved (which you won’t this way since it’s not firmware related).

47

…thanks, so no amount of flashing is going to work , and is a new motherboard only solution then ?

48

Well, you tried already a cleaned ME and a comlete stock firmware which (normally) will include a sound ME firmware. You might as well try your cleaned and updated ME firmware, but there’s no real chance that this will give you other results. But maybe it’s worth doing it just for the peace of mind?

49

I stripped my Pc down to the last nut and bolt, motherboard removed, everything removed from the board including the x99 chipset cooler-cover etc etc.

i did notice a bit of a scratch on the die of the chip (caused by the cooler-cover! Wasn’t cast very well at the Chinese-MSI factory!. I scraped that until nice and smooth, repasted with good paste, but I dont think this has any link ?
Also repasted the CPU.
Couldn’t find anything on the board that looked fried or bent…
Took a pile of photos (that David Bailey would’ve been proud of…) to examine in zoomed mode, just to be sure no tracks got cut along the way… (see spoiler)
Stuck it all back together and still “ME Version is N/A”…bah!!!
I will have another last go at flashing the ME region again first, then my modded full bios, then finally, the earliest generic MSI Bios. After that, its online shopping for a new board…

will post back final results…thanks

As it stands, I don’t have ;
Intel ME (N/A and undetected) , On-board Sound (undetected) , 1 intel USB 2.0 port + 4 x USB 3.0 on Rear IO panel (Via chip VL805 - but oddly, they do still have power ?) and either 1 or sometimes 2 “USB Device Failed Enumeration” errors will appear when windows boots and i start using usb sticks… but one is there always showing!

Images of board, USB area and bits that do and dont work;

50

I was going to mess around with trying to put my original OEM info, MAC, serial number back into my modded MSIv381 with ME 9.1.40.1000 (even though ME still isnt working and its just bugging me that the OEM info etc isnt there…lol), when i noticed that when my MSI381 was opened in UEFItool, it shows 2 x entries for EfiFirmwareFileSystem2Guid ? whereas, the very first backup dumped file i made , has only one entry ?

should there be two ?? , or just one ?

Also, before i balls up my bios, can someone advise best way to add my info back into the bios ? i.e. is it just in one location, or in many locations within the Bios file ?

thanks

screenshot of both bios showing EfiFirmwareFileSystem2Guid’s;
[[ screenshot ]]

51

Seems that besides ME missing u can have HW issues on this motherboard.
Whats the issue here on the pcb…

pcb.png

52

yeah, I had a good look at that under a magnifying glass but i think it was just some shoddy paintwork and not a burn ?, it looks worse in the photo than it did under the magnifying glass.

I did have my phone torch on as well which makes it look a little worse than it is…

That chip is on the back of the board just under the CPU , and behind the TOP PCIe slot (graphic card is in that slot) - see pics

Not 100% sure though on the condition, or what that chip even does…?

I think all my troubles started when either I was removing the Wifi module , or when My Intel PCIe Lan card died (back to using onboard LAN which still works).

With several things now not working (as listed earlier) I just dont know for sure when it all went wrong… im not even sure what slot the faulty LAN card was in at the time it went faulty, but I know it wasnt in the top slot…
I could have damaged something when I wiggled-out the Wifi Killer module , but i dont see anything damaged in that area (see earlier post with images).

better image of that chip you pointed out (back of board) What does this chip do ? ;


where that chip is (approx) when viewing from the front side…

53

Dunno whats is reference/function, u should try to get schema/boardview of motherboard and test it.
I just pointed as it looks corroded, still i point an HW issue on ur motherboard, besides all other issues u have with it.

54

yep, i believe you are correct.

within the last few days, another USB port stopped working (but has power only), one of the top two USB 2.0 ports (one nearest the board).

It was working fine one minute, then just seemed to stop working… think this board is about to explode lol

Maybe that chip is the VIA VL805 that also stopped working ?? (4 x USB 3.0 dont work)

55

Some bios have one NVRAM volume stock and anotherone is created when in use. These are dynamic areas, they’re being changed constantly.

Sorry, but this is all hardware related as you wrote

Can you read the marking of this chip?

56

Luckily, i was able to take the side-case cover off and that chip was uncovered.
With it being so close to PCIe slot 1, i just assumed it was linked to it perhaps ? But i think its a Memory controller chip ?

i.e. info from Google search…
Two Powervation PV3203 controllers manage memory system power operations. The memory’s physical power delivery system seems to consist of four (plus one supplementary) MOSFETs marked ‘NTMFS4C05N’ and a further two marked ‘NTMFS4C08N’ per DIMM bank (two sets in total). This is in addition to two 470 microFarad and two 330 microFarad capacitors, as well as two R22 and one ‘tR47’ choke(s) per DIMM bank.


here is the chip ;

57

could someone please point me in the right direction in editing my Bios with DMI / OEM information prior to flashing it ?

unsure as what best utility to use is…

thanks

58

anyone…?

59

…got DMI info sorted using DMIEDITx64.EXE (a very handy little tool)