Hey all, and specially @Lost_N_BIOS:
I decided to start a new thread related to this two-Socket Xeon E5v2 Board.
I have let this topic aside for a year, but have recently come back to it, and I thought a separate thread would be best.
General questions regarding the Z9PE-B8 WS Board:

1.) How do I write/flash a modded Bios image here?
2.) How can I make use of Intel MEI fptw tool?
3.) [optinal]: Where is the first CPU's PCIe Root Port1 connected to?


1.)
I have sveral systems in use, based on Intel C602/X79 IvyBridge-E architecture.
With help from the forum I have managed to add recent microcode patches, bitfurcation unlocking and nvme boot options to my P9X79E-WS and P9X79-WS boards.
That is, I was provided with a bios image by @Lost_N_BIOS and was able to write it using the Asus Flshback-Button.
Recently I added a Samsung 970 Evo Plus and set up a new Win 10-System.
This system boots from the 970, even making use of Secure Boot and not requiring the CSM.
Thanks again for that help!!

But now I came back to the Z9 board.
@Lost_N_BIOS made a bios image for that too, but I could not get it written because it failed the security test and the board does not feature a "Flashback"-Button.
That brings me to:


2.)
We tried to make use of the Intel Management Engines tools. But even when I try to read from the firmware or bios region (fptw64 -d bios.bin) , I get an error message:

Error 26: The host CPU does not have read access to the target flash area. To enable read access for this operation you must modify the descriptor settings to give host access to this region.
 

Is my only option left to use hardware flash programmer?
Or are there any other options I could try?



3.)
This topic is not related to the flashing or modding issue. I did not want to start a new thread only for this.
Maybe some of you have a clue:

The Z9PE-D8 WS Board features two sockets for Xeon E5 oder E5v2 CPUs.
The board features seven PCIe slots, each ×16 mechanically.
Four of them are ×16 electrically and 3 are ×8.

Slots #1 to #4 (from CPU downwards) are related to CPU1 while Slots #5 to #7 are related to CPU2.
Slots #5 to #7 directly represent the CPUs PCIe Root Ports.
Slot #6 connects to Root Port1 (1a/1b), which is the CPU's ×8 Root Port.

According to MB manual, slot #1 features ×16 width which is reduced to ×8 when slot#2 is populated.
Same goes for slot #3 and #4.
So I think that slots #1 and #2 resemble shared resources of CPU1's ×16 Root Port 2, as well as slots #3 and #4 do for Root Port 3.

But where are the resources of Root Port #1?
There are still those 8 Lanes from CPU1's first Root Port left, and I cannot locate them anywhere in the MBs layout.
I found this block diagram:

Flashing an Nvme Mod Bios to the Z9PED8-WS finally worked using Afuwinx64 v3.05.04 and Fernandos Method:
[Guide] How to flash a modded AMI UEFI BIOS
Section: B. Methods for ASUS mainboards without USB Flashback support

I can't recall why previos multiple attempts were not successful. Maybe i had the wrong afuwin version or i had missed this method.

***EDIT EDIT EDIT***

As I was informed by @Lost_N_BIOS, the method I used to flash via Afuwin is not safe and should not be used:
I made use of the /GAN option, which I was told later is unsafe and can do damage to the bios chip.
No other combination of flash tool and options proved to work with the Z9PE-D8 WS.

So the only option left that I can recommend now is to write the BIOS file to the chip by using an external flash chip programmer.
Search on ebay or webshops for the term "CH341A programmer" or the like.
There are posts in the forum concerning the use of that sort of programmer.

An alternative would be to purchase a Winbond W25Q64FV Chip with a pre-flashed mod BIOS.
Usually, people who offer BIOS chips also offer the service to flash customer-provided files too.


/***EDIT EDIT EDIT***

Hi @paranoid_android , Good work on managing to set up your Samsung 970's with the Z9PE-D8-WS!

I am looking to do the same as I have the same hardware but I have realized I will not be able to pull it off on my own. Would you be willing to help repeat what you did for yourself (against compensation)?

For some reason, I cannot PM you. That is why I am writing you here.

Many thanks!

@amsterdam - You may be able to send PM's now, I think new users must have at least one post before they can post links or send PM's etc.

Added an Edit to post #2.
Sorry for being late.

@paranoid_android - It's not that AFU can damage the chip, it just can = brick often, or can also mess up future flashing with FPT or other tools (sometimes)
If AFU Flash /GAN works for you here, it's OK to use, but be sure you are editing your own dumped BIOS and not a stock one to flash in, otherwise you will loose all system specific info.

@lost_n_bios is there any chance to get help with this specific build? Tried to PM you but new user. I have d8 ws mobo trying to install 970 nvme using your process. Thanks!

@Lost_N_BIOS missed tag in previous post.