Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #15

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The "Intel ME: N/A" message is nothing to worry about. It just means, that the UBU tool was not able to read the Intel ME version.
You can check it yourself by running the Intel MEInfo Tool for ME8 systems.

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Zitat von plutomaniac im Beitrag #17

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To my knowledge UBU does not show the ME version or anything ME-related for that matter. The BIOS should display the ME version properly, otherwise maybe something is not quite right.
What is your exact MSI model?
Edit: Found it, BIG BANG-XPOWER II

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Zitat von plutomaniac im Beitrag #19

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First things first, the ME should be reported at the BIOS. It's important to have it working because it takes care of multiple things like power management, fan control, overclocking, safety, intel rapid start etc. Also, keep in mind that you can only use v2.x MSI BIOS now. All v1.x versions had ME7 firmware and you cannot downgrade from ME8 to ME7. Usually a ME major version is series-exclusive but 6-series was updated from ME7 to ME8 for IVB support.

X79 is a 6-series. The good thing is that up until 6-series the ME could get corrupted and if the BIOS detected that it could boot and have a working system without it. Mind you, a working system with some limitations due to corrupted ME. However, since your system now has ME8 (7-series firmware) in order to support IVB cpu's I'm not sure if a corrupted ME would work. Basically I am not sure if the ME's ability to be corrupted is firmware (ME7) or platform specific (6-series).

Anyway, I checked your latest BIOS and it has ME v8.1.50.1456. However, MSI is packing the BIOS inside an idiotic .exe which not only requires to be put at the root of a usb drive but also checks if your motherboard is MSI. I did extract the 8MB image by cutting from 5AA5F00F and down but since I am not sure this will work 100%, can you attach me the latest MSI BIOS image (8MB)? Also attach me your UBU-modded latest BIOS image.

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Zitat von plutomaniac im Beitrag #22

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Alright, I can confirm what I suspected. UBU does not interfere with the ME, both images from stock and modded BIOS are identical.

I suggest you apply the stock BIOS and check if you are having any issues installing Windows or viewing the ME at BIOS menu.

Since the ME is not the problem, I then suggest you check what action while modding is causing your issue.

Also keep in mind that while updating the Microcode with UBU you can either choose SB or IVB. Not both. So if you are using a SB cpu choose the SB otherwise the IVB microcodes. It's a free space related issue according to UBU's developer, SoniX.

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(didn't want to mess up the threads, by continously re-editing my post over and over)

Anyways, here is what I am going to do this evening when I get back (which will be a bit later, because I have to give my condolences to a friend of mine also first);

Step #1
I am going to flash my BIOS back with the original (and latest) .exe from MSI through that USB stick with embedded Win 7 on it. That way I am certain it will show the ME Version in the BIOS again.

Step #2
After that and one or two reboots later, I will flash the BIOS with a UBU modded BIOS-file from within the BIOS GUI, by using M-Flash. And see what happens then.

I've been thinking hard about this and I know "Step #1" works for sure, because I already did that. It will flash correctly + it will show ME Version 8.1.50.x.x.x or something again in the BIOS.
Now, as I mentioned before, I had some bad experiences with 'M-Flash' previously, but coming to think of it, maybe it was displaying ME Version: N/A back then and therefor it messed things up (famous on/off/on/off-sequence reboot).

If that doesn't work for whatever reason, somehow got a positive feeling about it though, I will revert back to "Step #1" and stick by it.

Ofcourse this doesn't mean Windows 8.1 will install correctly, but I think the problems I am experiencing with Intel ME version not showing up correctly might have something to do with it.
I do have a backup plan, if Windows 8.1 keeps failing to install (first after "Step #2" and then after "Step #1"), however I rather not use it. This will mean back to my (single) 840 PRO SSD and Windows 7 x64.

Also, if I don't forget, I will take a few pictures of everything. Might help someone else in the future, *if* I can fix it this way. The least I can do, since I am also being helped here. :)

Thanks Fernando, after the many things you have told me, I now know how I am going to install the RAID 0.
Sorry for the confusion earlier the other day, but I understand it all now quite a bit better. :-)

It will be ofcourse be through UEFI mode (Win 8.1 USB stick is GPT for UEFI based, thanks to your recommendation about Rufus).

Now I will still have 2 ways to set up the RAID 0 in UEFI;

1. Through the MSI BIOS (= UEFI)
2. Through EFI shell (= also UEFI)

Never used the 2nd one before, but I am gonna try that.

The reason for this, is that I can only get the BIOS option to configure a RAID array to show, by selecting Windows 8/8.1 Boot from there. But when I do this, I get an error about the GOP driver from my videocard or something. However after a reboot and pressing F1 the RAID configuring options are there. So that's why I am going to try it first through the EFI Shell, if that doesn't work, I can always still do the above. Won't matter much I think.

@plutomaniac

Yeah, I figured that out after your post earlier today, before that, I was under the (stupid) impression it were seperate files. But, that was my fault (= lack of knowledge).

Exactly what you said; that's how I am going to flash. Though with a sidenote; it's not possible take out the 'spitted' BIOS file from the .exe as you mentioned. Though, no worries, the bootable USB stick with Win 7 embedded on it works great in conjuction with MSI's Windows flasher (though I would not advice anyone else to use it, for various reasons... It's Windows after all).

After that has been flashed and I have confirmed ME Version showing up again; I will use the BIOS Flasher from the GUI (M-Flash) with the UBU modded BIOS file. If all goes well, this will solve my Windows 8.1 installation problems, because I seriously think all the problems so far were mainly caused by Intel ME. Don't know what else it could anymore either. So * crossing fingers *

Oh and I already checked the ME-related thread. And already got the latest version for my motherboard from it (to install it in Windows 8.1 if all goes well).

On the MSI website the latest downloadable version is: 9.5.15.1730 [8.1]
And in you ME-list it's version: 9.5.24.1790 [8.1]

Since yours is newer I will be using that one. Should work without issues I think. :)

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #29

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Zitat von HHawk im Beitrag #28

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Oh and I already checked the ME-related thread. And already got the latest version for my motherboard from it (to install it in Windows 8.1 if all goes well).
On the MSI website the latest downloadable version is: 9.5.15.1730 [8.1]
And in you ME-list it's version: 9.5.24.1790 [8.1]

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You are now speaking about the Intel ME Driver, whereas plutomaniac was talking about the Intel ME Firmware.

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Zitat

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Version 8.1.52.1496
•(Fix) Fixed and issue where provisioning with PKI failed when the DNS infrastructure was implemented with an FQDN that ended with a trailing dot.
•(Fix) Specified the machine types of ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Machine types: 34xx).

Version 8.1.51.1471
•[Important] Added support for Microsoft Windows 8.1.

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Uhmz... How important is this? Especially the part about Windows 8.1.

//edit #2

Well guess I will update the firmware as well while I am at it.
Thanks for pointing out guys. :)