On my phone and not going to try and look through the thread, but I’m pretty sure the links are in the first couple of pages to the threads with instructions on how to modify the BIOS files.
gorgarath,
Thanks for this!
I just successfully converted an Optiplex 7010 bios from ME lockout (6) to fully enabled, using your A29_AMT.bin file.
The only initial difficulty was in discovering that the Intel ME tools version (FPT.exe and fparts.txt) is CPU family specific. The Optiplex 7010 required FPT version 8. Other versions of the tool set return a "not compatible with this platform" error.
I was able to enable ME on an ME Lockout 6 Dell Optiplex 7010 USFF using the directions in Post #150 and using the A29_AMT.bin file provided in Post #134.
Thank you to gorgarath who had the skills and experience to understand and apply the technical information provided by Plutomaniac and Lost_N_Bios.
I downloaded a bootable image from the FreeDos site and added a folder named 7010 to the image with the fpt.exe, fparts.txt (found in the Flash Programming Tool - DOS folder of the Intel ME System Tools v8 r3 extracted folder), the A29_AMT.bin supplied by gorgarath, and O7010A29.exe (the A29 Bios update provided by Dell). However, I did not end up using the bios update file since I updated the bios from the Windows 10 environment before venturing off into FreeDos.
Upon restart when finished, Ctrl P didn’t seem to work, but pressing F12 did. The Management Engine tab now appeared in the bios settings. I had to enter the default password “admin” (without quotes), then create a new password. Everything was enabled as stated.
With great pride, I grabbed a sharpie, crossed out Lockout and 6 on the sticker, and wrote Enabled and 1. I also wrote down my new ME password there, just in case I forget.
Thanks again to everyone involved!
For some reason, the FreeDos method didn’t work for me on every Dell 7010 unit that I tried it on. I often got an error message indicating a write/access error.
Here is a Windows 10 x64 method that I think is easier. I have a hard drive from one of these Dell 7010s with Windows 10 Pro x64 installed on it that I connect to each unit to perform the following steps.
Steps:
1. Enable the Windows 10 administrator account. Select “Start” and type “CMD“. Right-click “Command Prompt” then choose “Run as administrator“. If prompted, enter a username and password that grants admin rights to the computer. Type: net user administrator /active:yes then press Enter. Restart the computer and click to login as Administrator.
2. Download and run O7010A29.exe (the A29 bios update supplied by Dell). Computer will reboot to perform the flashing process.
3. Download the Intel ME System Tools v8 r3 at the link provided by Lost_N_Bios in Post #126 (The link to the package is located about half-way down on the linked-to page).
4. Extract the folder, then go to the Flash Programming Tool folder and move/copy the Windows64 sub-folder to your preferred location. You may delete the rest of the Intel ME System Tools folder and its contents, unless you need it for other purposes.
5. Download the A29_AMT.bin file provided by Gorgarath in Post #134 and place it into the same Windows64 folder.
6. If you’ve not already done so, place a jumper on the Service Pin (it’s next to Password Pin that has a blue jumper on it).
7. Now, press shift while right-clicking on the Windows64 folder. Select Open Power Shell Window here.
8. Run the commands provided by Gorgarath in post #150 one at a time, but change FPT to .\FPTw64.exe as follows:
.\FPTw64.exe -rewrite -desc -f A29_AMT.bin
.\FPTw64.exe -rewrite -me -f A29_AMT.bin
.\FPTw64.exe -greset
9. Upon reboot - F12, Intel Management Engine MBEx should appear below the bios setup option
10. The default MBEx password is admin. It will then prompt you to enter and confirm a new MBEx password.
I am sure that a more experienced user could create a script file or enable FPTw64 as a trusted application in Power Shell to eliminate the need of typing .\ before each command. I have these commands typed into a text file in the same folder from which I just copy and paste into Power Shell. The processes seem to run faster in Windows 10 than they did in DOS. I almost doubted that is was working because each took less time.
You can always launch, or switch to, the command prompt instead of working inside of powershell. You then would not need to type .\ before every command.
(Sorry for not saying this before, I just came back to the site today after being gone for a while and discovered it was shutting down but was saved and moved. I then had to figure out which email address I used so I could get logged in again. I needed to find the steps on how to do this again for a new model of Dell that we just purchased and I know they’re in this thread somewhere. lol)