@gi1 : Welcome to the Win-RAID Forum and thanks for your detailed success report, which may help other users with a similar mainboard model, who want to get NVMe support.
Notes:
It may be irritating for the Forum visitors, that your mainboard is the “Deluxe” variant of the ASUS P9X79 series, whereas this thread topic title is about the “PRO” variant. That is why I recommend, that you start a new thread with a title like “ASUS P9X79 Deluxe BIOS modded for NVMe SSDs” and just copy and paste the content of your post into the new thread. If you even want to offer your modded BIOS for other users with a similar mainboard model, you can start the thread within >this< Sub-Forum.
Within your guide there is a little mistake, which should be corrected by you to avoid frustration by users, who will follow your advices:
The EFI BIOS module named “SAMSUNG_M2_DXE” supports only the AHCI protocol, but not the NVMe one. A user, who inserts only the EFI module named “SAMSUNG_M2_DXE”, will not be able to boot off the NVMe SSD.
Link works now. Another thing worth mentioning is that if you want to do a raw partition backup after you do a clean Win7 install and get everything working, you can read the NVMe partition using Akronis. I tried a number of other backup apps and none of them (such as the ones on a typical Bart PE restore disc/USB) can recognize the NVMe partition after a DOS boot. I used Rufus to create a USB bootable disk (formatted as GPT) with the Akronis image on it.
· updated OROM IRST RAID for SATA 12.7.0.1936 -> 13.1.0.2126 updated OROM IRSTe RAID for SATA 3.5.0.1005 -> 3.8.0.1029 updated EFI IRST RAID for SATA 12.7.0.1936 -> 13.1.0.2126
Thanks for offering. Did you notice that the intel nic card stop working with a cold restart? It only happens with a code restart (shutdown, and start). It’s more like a bug in the newest 4801 bios. Is it possible to mod the bios base on a previous version?
I downloaded and installed your bios on my P9X79 Pro. That enabled me to smoothly install a WD Black PC SN500 500GB Nvme SSD on a PCI 3.0 adapter and Windows 10 Pro. After installing my apps and updating everything, there came a time when I noticed a slow boot from computer off status and loss of the internet connection at start up. I rarely do a shut down, but usually use the sleep mode, which coming out of is fast with no problem.
Anyway, in short, the Intel Management Engine Interface is the problem. It shows the cannot start, and it won’t start, with the power issue. Is there a way to fix this? I deleted it and the only effect is booting from an off status, which takes up well over a minute to do and the LAN driver has to be dis and re-enabled to work. However, when putting the machine in sleep, coming out of sleep is no problem. Just wondering if you encounter this issue, if it can be fixed or should I just ignore it. Any advice is appreciated.
@ClarenceE - did you test these two things? First, update the ME region of the BIOS? Then, update to latest ME drivers, and see if issue persists? If you did not do both of those things, I would do that now, before any further troubleshooting.
Thank you for the fast and good advice. I did not do those two things. I did look around for updated ME (I assume that is the Intel Management Engine Interface) and tried to update what is on my machine. That totally did not work so I pretty much think its a bios issue, and your questions confirms that.
I also see there are numerous discussions on this super intense technical website about the ME. As it is apparent from what I read on this website here and there ASUS no longer provides updated drivers for this 9X79 Pro board so I am left with the enormous task of determining the right ME. The other problem for me is although thanks to the clear and precise instructions given on the website about how to modify the bios by inserting the right driver (ME in this case), I not know how to find the right ME driver and extract what is needed to insert in the Bios. I’ve been building my machines for over 20 years now, but thanks to this website only recently have I delved into modifying the bios. I followed the instructs found on this website for 2 different P9X79 Pro ones and they all work, but they all also result in the same ME issue failed LAN connect at startup from shut down (no LAN problem at all coming out of sleep).
I think the ME problem in bios causes the breakdown of the LAN connection on a boot from shut off completely, but am not confident that is the case.
Would be very kind of you to point me in the right direction to finding the appropriate Intel ME and that portion to insert in the bios.
Thank you for your instructs and thank you to everybody on this most interesting website.
How do I determine what is the latest ME (I assume that is Intel Management Engine Interface) that works on my P9X79 Pro? Once I find it, do I need to extract the portion to use to insert in the bios? Please expound on how to do that.
Thanks to the specific instruction and downloads I’ve found on this technically intense website I was able to modify the latest (goes back many years) 4801 (beta) ASUS has for downloading on its website. All of the mods I did involve on the modules to have the Nvme SSD captured. I suppose inserting the right ME module is the same procedure, but finding the right ME is my problem.
Please offer your guidance.
Edited:
I feel like a nut, being new to this website. after I wrote this post, I was taken to my previous response to you. Please excuse me for double posting.
@ClarenceE - it’s OK, I can help, don’t let it all stress you out too much… yet You are using BIOS from post #1 correct? I can update the ME in that for you, but we need to check some things first, so I can help you use the correct tools and methods etc to update everything.
Can you check on your main page of the BIOS, what version ME shows as. When I mention main page, I mean the main page after you hit F7 (I think) after your in the BIOS graphical summary, to get to the individual settings pages type BIOS interface
As for sleep, resuming all the time vs shutting down often, this can cause all kinds of issues the longer you sleep/wake and never shut down, some of which you describe (slow startup, slow shut down, LAN issues). You are talking about using the onboard LAN Ethernet connection, correct? Not a USB wireless dongle? Those are often more trouble with prolonged sleep/resume or loss of power
Anyway, don’t worry, I think we can fix all of this for you!
No, that means ME is corrupted which is what I expected. P9X79 uses ME 7.1 in old BIOS, and 8.1 in latest round of BIOS. LAN works fine??? but you just said it didn’t, which is it?
Which BIOS are you using, so I can start trying to help you fix the ME? Have you used USB Flashback before, and have a known working USB stick compatible with USB Flashback? If you have not, please find all your small cheap USB sticks
First to address the LAN. The only issue with LAN is when doing a boot from shut off state. That is after turning the machine off, I push the start button to boot. The time is extended compared to what it was using the latest ASUS provided Bios - 4801 beta. When Windows 10 is loaded, I must go into the Device Manager and Disable the LAN driver and then Re Enable it and it connects immediately. After that there is no problem with the LAN connection, even after machine sleeps and awakens. Boot up from machine off only is the problem there.
Now for the bios currently on my machine. I read through how to insert the Nvme mod and did that using the latest ASUS 4801 beta from that website. Because there was the above described problem with ME and LAN, I then downloaded the two already modified bioses from this website, for example the one at the start of this thread. Both of the already modified bioses I downloaded from this site were tried and all three: the two I got from this website and the modified one I did on my own perform exactly the same in that the ME and LAN problems are there.
As for the bios Flashback method, yes I use the USB Flashback method and it works smoothly. Important: I use the latest ASUS bios: 4801 beta. Right now the bios on my machine is the one offered at the beginning of this thread. mak387 is the gracious donor.
I have a bit of experience using the UEFITool. I read the instructions from this super website. I don’t recall seeing information about the ME, but at the time I inserted the NvmExpressDXe_ffs I was not concerned about anything else in the bios.
By the way I have a few of those small capacity USB drive, but what bios is on what stick is starting to be confusing to me. So, I will now catalog them as I use them.
I understood what you mentioned initially about the LAN< this is a problem but that may or may not be due to the corrupted Intel ME (Likely, but can also be caused by power loss/forced reboot/failed proper shutdown etc)
Which is the last BIOS you flashed, I will check and modify that one to get you started on attempting to fix the Intel ME. I see you mentioned, disregard that
ME can become corrupted from a incorrect flashing procedure, bad BIOS flash, messed up BIOS mod, and a number of many other things, so we don’t need to worry about or try to figure out why, only goal is to fix it now
Please erase all BIOS from your USB now, this way there is no confusion. Let me download the BIOS on page one and I will edit in new instructions for you to follow to try and get this sorted out without having to order a flash programmer ($2.50, but 3-5 week shipping time at that price)
Here is modified BIOS, based on BIOS in post one, with updated, clean settings transferred Intel ME 8.1.70.1590_1.5MB_PRD_RGN (For anyone considering using this BIOS later, ME Temp Disable has been set to enabled by default and forced visible to reset back to enabled post-reboot if necessary) https://www.sendspace.com/file/zped72
Please pay close attention, especially if you use end up having to use FPT First, make sure your USB is formatted to FAT32 (Redo with simple windows right click if you are not sure how it was initially formatted) then make sure you read manual to find which port your board uses for USB Flashback (Some this matters on, some it does not) Place the P9X79PRO.CAP file on root of USB. This BIOS should only be used via this manner, do not use .CAP file with FPT, this is what my warning was regarding.
Flash the BIOS using flashback, once it is done, reboot and flash it again using flashback. once that is done, shut down and remove all power from the board, unplug from wall or PSU and remove CMOS Battery, then press and hold the power on button or Clear CMOS button for 10-15 second, then let sit for 1+ minute without any power. Then put all power back, boot into BIOS and load optimal settings. Go to main page again and see if Intel ME still says N/A? If yes, follow below, after changing this setting back to enabled if it is not already >> Advanced >> ME Subsystem >> ME Temporarily Disable (Set enabled, this (Supposed to) allow FPT to flash ME) save and exit to windows.
Copy P9X79PRO.ROM BIOS into Flash Programming Tool >> Windows folder back out of that folder and select the windows folder with mouse, hold shift and press right click, choose open command window here. Following command to flash ME region only FPTw.exe -me -f P9X79PRO.ROM
Once that completes successfully, run this command FPTw.exe -greset
If there is error right after you enter command, in red or yellow asking about size and to proceed or not, stop immediately and do not proceed, show me this error and command entered in same image. If there is no initial error but fails due to other error than mentioned above stop and show me image of the command entered and error all on same image.
All right, I have all you provided, but please tell me what is FTP. All my flashes of bios have used the .CAP suffix, even the flashes done from within the bios. What is FTP?
Intel Flash Programming Tool (FPT) Please read and follow my directions carefully, nothing before applies now, especially if USB Flashback does not fix the Intel ME. We are fixing things so it’s not going to be simple usually, forget about anything you’ve done or think is correct way based on previous usage
Almost forgot to explain .CAP BIOS, so you would know. .CAP BIOS is simply a .ROM BIOS put inside a security capsule (encapsulated), for “Safety and Security” We remove the .rom from the capsule to flash with other tools, this is 2KB header of .CAP BIOS file, after 2KB is .ROM BIOS.
In the end, you may have to purchase a hardware flash programmer (CH341A - $2.50 on ebay) + IC Extractor $1 on ebay, cheap to get these but 3-5 weeks or more in shipping. They can be ordered usually from local source like Amazon or any place that sells lots of computer stuff, or pay more for faster shipping from China. https://www.ebay.com/itm/201596100116 https://www.ebay.com/itm/123167465408
Hello Lost: I implemented your instructions regarding flashing twice, removing power, bat removal, clear CMOS, restart and load settings in bios, etc. The ME reading persists at N/A.
Your above posts introduces a new approach. What about the FPT and the ME System Tools V8 that I downloaded? Are we abandoning that? By the way, the ME update in bios never changes from Enabled, just for info.
Edit / Update: After entering the command FPTw.exe -me -f P9X79PRO.ROM this is what PowerShell comes back to me with: Suggestion [3,General]: The command FPTw.exe was not found, but does exist in the current location. Windows PowerShell does not load commands from the current location by default. If you trust this command, instead type: “.\FPTw.exe”. See “get-help about_Command_Precedence” for more details. PS G:\Intel ME Tool\Intel ME System Tools v8 r3\Flash Programming Tool\Windows>
Can you help with the command? There are two windows folders in the Flash Programming Tool >> 1. Windows and 2. Windows64. I use Windows 64 bit, so should I put the .ROM bios in the Windows64 Folder and work with that? Next: I believe working in PowerShell is the same as Command. I am not sure if the way PowerShell is being opened that the Command version is there. Anyway, I run into problem with the command: FPTw.exe -me -f P9X79PRO.ROM
Another Edit to Add: Would replacing the bios chip expedite the solution? I have a spare bios chip, don’t know if it’s programmed or not. I would prefer to proceed using the ME insert method that is set up and ready to go, but am hung up on the right command and which windows folder to use.
@ClarenceE - I expected it might still be N/A, that is why I followed up with FPT instructions, FPT is your last hope before either pinmod shorting your board, or having a hardware flash programmer. This is last hope, due to ME is corrupt right now, so you can’t use the normal ME FW Update tool, leaving FPT or BIOS flashing itself must be used. Here is how to Pinmod the board, so you can dump entire BIOS with FPT and I can then unlock your FD, then you will have no restrictions and can easily and immediately update ME via FPT - See section “E1” [Guide] Unlock Intel Flash Descriptor Read/Write Access Permissions for SPI Servicing
ME Temporarily Disable setting is the one I was concerned with in BIOS, that setting only can sometimes reset to disabled, but possibly not due to how I modified the BIOS. ME Update is not of concern.
Powershell cannot be used for what I mentioned with FPT. As I said, please pay attention and follow my instructions exactly, FPT can brick your board in an instant. I explained exactly how to use it, and how to open command prompt at the files location in order to do so. Please read all I said again and follow closely and exact, so you don’t end up breaking the board and then being forced to wait on a flash programmer to arrive to recover the board.
Windows folder? It’s the one contained within Intel ME System Tools >> Flash Programming Tool >> Windows << That is one you select, hold shift + Right click, open command window here, then proceed as I mentioned.
As for your other BIOS chip, a hot-swap-flash could be done, but it’s more risky and I would say leave alone for now until we’ve exhausted all other method attempts. I say that due to without unlocked FD, per pinmod above, you still may not be able to get ME flashed into the new chip either.
Before you run the FPTw stuff to flash the ME region of the BIOS, please run this command and send me the file produced FPTw.exe -desc -d FD.bin
You are using BIOS from post 
which is what I expected. P9X79 uses ME 7.1 in old BIOS, and 8.1 in latest round of BIOS. LAN works fine??? but you just said it didn’t, which is it?
but that may or may not be due to the corrupted Intel ME (Likely, but can also be caused by power loss/forced reboot/failed proper shutdown etc)