Hello and a Happy New Year to all. I came across this interesting forum, since I have an unsolved and longterm problem with my hibernation. As a last attempt I have performed the upgrade oft he IME firmware that is described in this thread. However, something must gone wrong while the update.

I started with: Windows 10, ASUS original BIOS 1701 and IME FW version 9.1.10.1005 H
1) I have updated the ASUS BIOS with the firmware file from SoniX in post # 73 - no problems have occurred and continued with the BIOS defaults
2) I used "Intel ME 9.1 Consumer 1.5 MB Firmware v9.1.37.1002" and "Intel ME System Tools v9.1 r7" to update the IME. FWUpdLcl reported a successful run. The problem began with the reboot.

Syntoms:
1. System wont boot, after switching on a black screen with error code 79 occurred
2. I was lucky to get the system up with multiple CMOS resets and a removed CMOS battery
3. Windows 10 started, but IME device disappeared, AI Suite did not start, because there is no IME device
4. BIOS reported FW Version: N/A

I copied BIOS2 to BIOS1 - because I thought it is my insurance. Since then, the system seems to operate normally. But MEManuf reports some errors. (see attached file).
I've tried every consideration from this thread / board, which gave me a hint to try. I extracted the ME region of the original firmware from ASUS to do an upgrade with the same firmware build. But, I could not believe:


Tried serveral times, but FWUpdLcl crashes ervery time.

I need help now and I am grateful for any assistance in order to solve the problem.
Thank you in advance,
Dominik

@Themot63

You've a corrupted bios on both chips. The copy BIOS function is buggy and I had a similar issues few months ago and I fixed everything reprogramming the bios chips
with an eeprom USB programmer (like the EZP2010) and the ME FW appeared again in bios info and no more qcode 79 or similar errors.

Where are you from ?

@Sylar76
I am from Germany.

@plutomaniac
Can't get a dump from fptw64 -D SPI.BIN.


Thank you for any help.
Dominik

EDIT: I also followed the recommendation of Sylar76 and have read through this thread (Help Wrong version update of Intel ME need to update back the good one (2)). I do not have any experience to perform a flash programming with a SPI programmer. I'm not sure that I get it to work. Hope we find an easier way to recover the ME. I found at bios-chip24.com a BIOS-chip for the Rampage V Extreme. That could be the last option.

Hi,

if I am right, the pinmod is not so easy to do. The EMI protection covers the audio chip and is soldered to the mainboard. Before I damage something on the mainboard, I ordered two new pre-programmed bios chips and to be sure for the future the hardware programmer mentioned by Sylar76, too. This is much cheaper compared to a new Rampage V.

I will not give up to try it with a newer ME firmware. To learn from my mistake, what have I done wrong? Your support has helped me. Thank you.

Dominik

You're right. There is something suspicious. "FWUpdLcl64.exe -SAVE test.bin" freezes and do nothing. After 15 minutes I cancelled the operation with Ctrl-C. My next try will be with a DOS bootable USB-Stick. I did not touch the 2nd BIOS, but MEManuf reports me the same error. It is like Sylar76 mentioned in post #3.

I currently boot with the second and unchanged BIOS. But the problem with MEManuf is the same. Also under DOS and since the beginning with BIOS default settings. This suggests a guess that even before my attempt something has not been correct. The computer behaves with BIOS2 now as usual, including my hibernation problem, which I really want to eliminate. The hardware programmer and the new chips come tomorrow hopefully. Then I will go ahead.

Dominik

I am glad to tell you that everything is fine. Rampage V runs with SoniX Mod and the ME version 9.1.37.1002 H. I have programmed both chips with an external programmer. The hibernation problem is also solved. Thank you for your great help.
Greeting from germany
Dominik