@Fernando
I tried AFUWIN which gave me security error. Also tried ASUS AI SUITE which seemed to load the bios, but turned out it didn't work either.

I'm left with no options since I don't have the USB flashback support and booting the bios from usb-stick doesn't work.

Tried to downgrade my bios, but it didn't help. Thanks for this guide anyways I think I'm just gonna upgrade my mobo to this decade!

@100PIER @Fernando
Thank you. You may be right, both of you.
But I'm pretty certain that flash was successful. My mbo for whatever reason reads ntfs formatted stick and drives natively on bios level, and not Fat32. That is strange. I bought it second hand, maybe it was modded before, don't know. But can't know for certain. Anyway, as sonn as I got it, i flashed the latest official bios to it, so I don't think that any previous mods matter if there were any.
I tried to flash it wit FAT32 and it simply didn't work.
Here is excerpt from mbo's manual regarding usb flashback procedure:

Zitat von ASUS

---

'2. Plug the USB flash drive into the bottom port of LAN1_USB3_12 connector in back I/O.
3. Press the USB BIOS Flashback button for 3 seconds, and the light will begin to flash (on the third second).
4.The Flashback function is enabled once the light starts to flash.
5. The flashing rate of the light signal accelerates along with the updating speed.
BIOS update is complete once the light signal goes out.
If the light flashes for five seconds and turns into a stable lighting, this means that the USB BIOS Flashback is not operating properly.
This may be caused by:1. Improper installation of the portable disk. 2. Error in file name or incompatibility in file format.
If this is the case, please restart the system to turn off the light.

---

So these are the exact symptoms (light flashes for five seconds and turns into a stable lighting) I had with Fat32 formatted stick.
When I formatted stick with NTFS, and retried flashback I had this:

Zitat von ASUS

---

The Flashback function is enabled once the light starts to flash.The flashing rate of the light signal accelerates along with the updating speed.
BIOS update is complete once the light signal goes out.

---

Light flashed for longer time, like the flash was in progress, and afterwards it went out. After that my bios settings were defaulted, the first thing I noticed was that Boot logo was on (I always turn it off) and all other settings were defaulted.

So, thank you very much for your help and explanations, but untill I get NVME ssd and try to install and boot from it, we won't know for certain. But it sure looked to me like the flash was in progress and like it finished successfully with NTFS formatted stick.
I'm only writing this to help, if anyone else has the same issue with stick format it may help them. The first thing I would check in that case would be EZ Flash utility from BIOS, if it can access and see FAT32 formated drives and sticks, and also for NTFS drives.
I can't explain why that is (I have suspicions), but every time I go into EZ Flash tool, it can read only from NTFS drives.
It's not hard to try and replicate, it's the same every time with my mbo.
I don't know why my mbo is different in this regard, but I suspect it is not the only one model that does this and is setup like that.
So for anyone that has problems with usb flashback, it's worth to try with ntfs format. First check in EZ Flash tool what format of stick is accessible and readable, and if one doesn't work try the other one.
Also bear in mind that the bios has to be named specifically for your model of mbo, for usb flashback to work, it's an important step.

Regarding the size of the stick, all 3 othat i tried were 8 GB, maybe that was the problem, I don't have smaller ones than that. If I manage to get my hands on smaller usb stick I will try with it again and post results here.
Anyway, thank you for the enormous work and help you are doing with this. It's appreciated


EDIT by Fernando: Unneeded fully quoted post and superfluous image removed (to save space), quoted ASUS manual text formatted

@Maat236
Here are the screenshoots done for BIOS 2104 P8Z77-V Deluxe as example.
You should do similar checks on your side for your motherboard.
I do not recommend EZ Flash method, the Flashback method for updating BIOS should work for sure 100%. For your small USB key (8GB should work, but 4GB does work) you should use (free) Minitool Partitionning tool to Delete all partitions, then MBR initialize, then Create the single partition Formatted FAT32, then copy your properly labelled .CAP file, then do a FlashBack operation. On my side Flashback did take few minutes (3-4 mn, I don't remember, but never few seconds..)

Yes @s1me - I checked your BIOS and BIOS Lock is disabled by default, so you can easily flash mod BIOS with Intel FPT

Check BIOS main page and see if ME FW version is shown, if not then download HWINFO64 and on the large window on left side, expand motherboard and find ME area, inside that get the ME Firmware version.
Once you have that, go to this thread and in the section "C" download the matching ME System Tools Package (ie if ME FW version = 10.x get V10 package, if 9.0-9.1 get V9.1 package, if 9.5 or above get V9.5 package etc)
BIOS 2501 has ME 8.1, so yours is probably similar now, unless you are on much older BIOS
Intel Management Engine: Drivers, Firmware & System Tools

Once downloaded, inside you will find Flash Programming Tool folder, and inside that a Windows or Win/Win32 folder. Select that Win folder, hold shift and press right click, choose open command window here (Not power shell).
At the command prompt type the following command to create BIOS region dump to modify again >> FPTw.exe -bios -d biosreg.bin

Once you have that biosreg.bin file, redo all your modifications on it. Then reflash via FPT >> FPTw.exe -bios -f modbiosreg.bin

DO NOT do this with your current stock modified BIOS file, you will loose your serial, UUID and LAN MAC address. And you can brick your board if using this with encapsulated BIOS (.CAP)
So once again, do not use this with stock BIOS, for any reason, only use with the BIOS you dumped from the first command to dump BIOS. Modify that, then reflash that file only.

@100PIER
Thank you for your effort and suggestions. That's exactly what I did the first time, I used MiniTool Partition Free, and MBR intialize and the rest of procedure you described. I sometimes use DiskPart for format and partitioning but it sometimes doesn't work as expected. I partition and reformat various usb sticks very often in my job (it/tech support & service) and MiniTool Partition Wizard is a great free app that never fails. I completely understand that EZ Flash method is not recommended due to its inability to update modded bios cause it fails security verification. I only used it out of curiosity and for troubleshooting.

When usb stick was formatted to FAT32 the flashback attempt lasted for a few seconds and it failed with led light staying on, exactly like described in manual for unsuccessful flashback.
When usb stick was formatted to NTFS, the flashback continued, led light was flashing for a couple of minutes, i didn't measure the time but to me it looked like 2-3 minutes, and then the led light turned off. Again, exactly like described in manual for successful flashback.

I haven't seen FAT32 as prerequisit in user manual, for flashback, but I suspect it's needed for most of the motherboards. In my line of work I've flashed countless motherboard to latest bios, and from usb it's almost always needed for it to be FAT32.
So EZ Flash seeing all my ntfs drives and folders on them, but not FAT32 made me think mbo reads ntfs on bios level and not Fat32, that's why I tried with NTFS format, and it sure looks to me like the flashback was successful then.

Nevertheless, if I manage to get my hands on a smaller usb stick than 8GB, out of curiosity I will try the procedure again with FAT32.
It was never my intention to argue with any of you guys. I'm really grateful for the work and help you provide here, and the effort you put into it. I only wanted to help, because someone else may fail flashback operation too if his or her mbo also needs ntfs format for it. It doesn't take long to try it, and I really think it's worth a try if all other steps are correct and fat32 flashback fails.

@Lost_N_BIOS

Hello and thanks for the great effort you guys are insane!

I followed your instructions and found out my ME version is Intel ME Version: 8.0, Build 1441, Hot Fix 4 with the latest bios update for my motherboard (2501). So I downloaded FPT Tool 8.1 and when I tried to flash modified bios file it gave me this error: "Error 280: Failed to disable write protection for the BIOS space!"

I also tried AFU before and it gave me same kind of error. Maybe I'll just order SPI flasher and give it a go.

s1me you did the right way with the replace of files through Al Suite?. Because I faced a similar problem as you describe. It is necessary to strictly follow the rules and at the right time to replace files. And then there will be success.

https://mega.nz/#!M1R0DQDb!lc2yHAlfMlCAR...g9MyyvDfFMlNoZU
@Fernando are you shure thats all ok? i already flash but the bios dont recognize the m.2 ssd, uefi only, secure boot off, fastboot off, csm/legacy off, i start with windows 10 pen drive made in rufus uefi mod and nothing, what can i do?
i'am using pcie adapter
i dont know if the flash are right because i flash from bios menu and in the middle of the installation the pc rebooted, i dont know if this bios have flash back button
and i dont see any "PATA" or "PATA SS"

EDIT by Fernando: Unneeded quoted post and blank lines removed (to save space)

or need to flash with this procedure?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIdj0i7AxCI

my board is a MSI Z87 Mpower, I just finish flash this way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIdj0i7AxCI and still dont work i dont know what ot do more, so i think i flash correctly

@Fernando Is the problem in SSD? I'm using an m.2 that is not nvme i think Transcend M.2 SSD 820S

"EDIT" tomorrow i will test with a real nvme 970 evo, thanks for the help

i am using the Transcend M.2 SSD 820s, but if this is a normal SSD but M.2 the board should recognize it or not?
tomorrow i will test with a 970 evo