I have no "South Bridge Stepping", I only have PCH Stepping in the Main Menu and it says 5/C2. Is it what you’re looking for ?
Surprisingly it let me flash the MAXIMUS-VIII-RANGER-ASUS-1701_FIXME.CAP file you posted earlier from EZ Flash 3 while Sylar76’s originally modded bios was not allowed to flash. Also any official BIOS file can be flashed from EZ Flash 3.
I have that value and it’s 31/D1
Thank you both for reporting back. I was looking for 31/D0 which makes sense. It’s also reported at MEInfo.
Regarding EZ Flash, it worked because my FIXME image includes the original BIOS with only the ME updated on top of the correct settings. Did you test if the problem was fixed after flashing with EZ Flash through the UEFI. If not, you have two options.
1) Wait for a new ME 11.0 Consumer PCH-H firmware to appear and use BIOS FlashBack with the BIOS from ASUS with the updated ME + correct settings. Of course that requires that a) we find a new version, which might be tomorrow or in a month and b) BIOS FlashBack can actually reflash the ME region if it’s version is newer, something that we don’t know for sure.
2) Get a programmer as discussed above and quickly reflash the SPI chip.
Yeah I tested it and the problem remains.
1) Okay we’ll see when the next version is coming out.
2) I’m thinking about getting one of those. The programmer itself is very cheap but there don’t seem to be a lot of places to get the right kind of chip. I checked and my BIOS chip is:
winbond 25Q128FVIQ 1517 128MB 8-Pin DIP Package chip
This store seems to have it with a price tag of $7.50 + $5.30 shipping. I’m still searching if I can find the same chip a little cheaper elsewhere.
edit: I gave it enough thought and decided to go for it and purchased these: EZP2010 & BIOS chip
@plutomaniac and @Sylar76
You’ve both been very helpful trying to solve this problem and I thank you for that! I hope that with your help I’m able to flash the working BIOS back with the SPI programmer. 
Okay now I’m doing some preparations with this guide here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TaZqJPG75A
I tried to get my Ethernet MAC address with the guide (the part in the video starts around 3:00) but I can’t since it says “Disabled” in the “Physical Address” row and “Disconnected” in the “Transport Name” row. How can I get these values when my Ethernet adapter cannot be started? Maybe from Windows logs somewhere?
Use the AFUWINGUI provided in the link I attached, save your bios, then, if you have it, use FD44EDITOR, open the backupped bios file generated by AFUWINGUI and copy and paste
data, like MAC, UUID and Motherboard Serial Number to the official ASUS Bios you want to flash.
Let me know if you’re ok.
P.S.
If you wish attach your backup bios and I’ll insert the needed strings for you. Furthermore, you can use the same bios chip on your mobo and I can unlock all descriptors, so in the future
you can simply use FPT to reflash it with no issues at all.
AfuWin64.zip (1.44 MB)
@Sylar76
Okay I saved my current BIOS and there is a value in the “Primary card MAC” field. I hope it’s a correct one even though the command “getmac /v” in command prompt couldn’t read it.
I also discovered something in the saved BIOS backup. It says “Not present” in the “ME version” field. There was definitely something wrong with the ME Firmware flashing process.
No, that’s normal because the descriptor of the ME region is locked and so you can’t dump that region, but MAC Address as well as UUID and M/B Serial Number can be dumped and those are the only things you need.
Added the 1701 Ranger Mod version to the Google Drive folder.
is there already a solution for the Error 10?
I’ve flashed the bios to an ASUS Hero VIII and experience the same issue.
@superino , how did you fix it?
I’ve tried to uninstall the LAN Driver, Flash to the official 1701 BIOS but without any success.
Also as far as I know the Hero VIII does not have any backup bios? so no BIOS 1 and 2?
How can I downgrade the BIOS ME FW Version?
Superino fixed this issue copying from Bios2 to Bios1 as he has got the Extreme series which
comes with two bios eeprom.
In your case you can’t downgrade the BIOS ME FW via software. You have to use an external
SPI Eeprom programmer and I’m very sorry to say that.
I’ve replaced few days ago some Maximus VIII series 1701 modded bios with the fixed files,
which now work fine but for who flashed the previous ones he has to reflash with external
programmer.
My apologies for my own mistakes, I did not know my mods would caused such issues. 
The new BIOS Version, is it different from the one you provided me 2 days ago per PM?
Because that’s the one I used.
It worked on my Computer with W7 but on my dads machine with W10 (exact same Computer) it caused the Error 10
Thanks for your Reply.
If the bios is the same, it should work fine on both machines.
Did you try the USB Bios Flashback using a FAT32 USB pendrive,
putting the .CAP file on it ?
You certainly mean the renamed .CAP file (renamed according to the ASUS USB Flash-Back rules).
yes of course I used the Flashback on both Computers.
It worked without any issue on mine but my dad can’t use his network card now
We can’t get it back to life at all.
But strange if you say it should work on both, it apperently didn’t 
Do you know if an external network card would solve the issue?
Actually there is no price difference if you compare a new network card to a programmer (and do I also need a new chip?)?
You certainly mean the renamed .CAP file (renamed according to the ASUS USB Flash-Back rules).
Of course.
Yes, it will solve the issue but the external programmer is the best buy as if something goes wrong, you can always restore
the previous behavior.
Is that a fixed version you put back there? I might try it as soon as I get my SPI Programmer and test if it’s working as expected.
This is indeed a very strange issue since I thought before that it would appear only on the VIII Ranger mobo but now on VIII Hero too.
Anyway I bought the EZP2010 programmer since there are good instructions for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TaZqJPG75A
Of course there are cheaper alternatives available too. I also recommend getting another chip because if something goes wrong at least you have the original chip with only the Ethernet adapter inoperative.
Sadly I have to report that I have the Code 10 error as well. flashing your provided BIOS for the Ranger VIII.
But there seems to be new hope on the horizon
Intel Management Thread
There is a new Firmware for the Corporate Systems, maybe in the next days there will be one for the Consumer Systems which may correct the Code 10 Problem.
I don’t know if it is related to the Problem, but
original 1701 Bios has
OROM Intel Boot Agent CL 0.1.05
modded one has
OROM Intel Boot Agent CL 0.1.06
Maybe that could cause the Problem?
@ Orsox:
Do you have the same issue as gordmul? If yes then wait, we should find 11.0.12.1001 for Consumer PCH-H these days and I’d like to try whether BIOS FlashBack can update the ME if it’s newer. Do not flash it with FWUpdate once it’s out, wait for a full BIOS/SPI image which should be posted here. As for what’s causing the issue, check my previous replies (example) and everything is there.