11-17-2022 01:24 PM
11-17-2022 01:27 PM - edited 09-20-2023 02:51 AM
I haven't been able to create a new thread for some reason, so I asked Brucey to do it for me. What a nice man :). So without further ado, here is the first post...
I've seen a lot of threads about Intel ME and BIOS updates, so in the spirit of trying to be helpful, I'm going to summarise what I've learnt from the web, other threads and user's experience, including MoKiChU, who also does a great job with driver thread updates. Before worrying about updating Intel ME (which only applies to Intel processors) and your BIOS, it's a good idea to check that all of your other motherboard and Windows drivers are up to date. Once that's done and your PC is running as it should, then there are 3 components associated with Intel ME and the BIOS to be aware of:
1) Intel ME Firmware. This is flashed to your motherboard and is independent of the OS. It remains in place unless updated.
2) Intel ME interface (MEI) drivers for Windows. These will need to be installed every time you do a fresh install of Windows.
3) The BIOS itself.
INTEL ME INTRODUCTION
Intel don't say much about ME, so the following is a summary of what I believe to be true from various sources. When the CPU starts, it loads the ME code into the chipset and it can operate independently of Windows. The CPU itself also has ME dedicated silicon and in addition, the BIOS and OS (if running) also communicate with ME.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
ME can communicate with just about all system components, even before the OS has started, using code within the CPU, chipset and BIOS. One of the ideas behind ME is that it can be used to support a feature called Active Management Technology (AMT). This can be used to control computers remotely, even when in a sleep state. It would be unusual for this to be enabled on a domestic PC as it's really a feature for corporate machines. It's claimed that Intel ME has full access to your system hardware, including your system memory, the contents of your display, keyboard input, and even the network. Some argue that this is a privacy risk, but unless AMT is enabled, it seems to be generally accepted that this is unlikely.
SO WHY UPDATE INTEL ME AND THE BIOS?
ME is also used to prevent certain requests from being executed and eliminate known exploits. It appears to be a completely independent mini-OS, based on MINIX that is totally invisible to the end-user. The most important thing it does for most of us is provide security and protection.
It's worth mentioning that every BIOS requires the correct ME firmware to operate correctly. For example, for the Z690 Hero, BIOS 2103 is associated with ME firmware v16.1.25.1885 (or later). The next BIOS due out for the Hero is 2204 and when it's released, that will require firmware v16.1.25.2020 (or later). Your support page should always provide correctly matched versions of the current firmware, Windows drivers and BIOS.
HOW TO UPDATE INTEL ME
You should always update Intel's Windows drivers (MEI drivers) and ME firmware BEFORE updating the BIOS. Otherwise, you might get problems such as not being able to read from your M.2_1 NVME drive. If that happens, you might not be able to boot back into Windows if your OS is located there. If this has happened to you, it can be fixed by moving your NVME drive to another slot, rebooting and then doing the drivers and firmware updates. Inconvenient to say the least. So here is my recommended way to do the updates:
First...
1) UPDATE ME Interface (MEI) WINDOWS DRIVERS
These are located on the DRIVERS & TOOLS tab under CHIPSET. They will named as, for example:
Intel ME V2229.3.2.0 for Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 64-bit
or
Intel Management Engine Interface V2145.1.42.0 (SW 2201.16.0.2645) For Windows 10/11 64-bit
Just select the most recent release.
2) UPDATE INTEL ME FIRMWARE
The firmware will be located on your motherboard's BIOS & FIRMWARE tab under the INTEL ME section. Download the latest MEUpdateTool and once the folder is extracted, run MEUpdate.exe. Let that work it's magic and then reboot. DO NOT update ME firmware in Windows unless your machine is stable. It's a very good idea to turn off XMP as well before doing this for maximum stability. A crash during the update could brick the motherboard.
Then...
3) UPDATE THE BIOS
Before updating the BIOS it's a good idea to backup all of your files, passwords, website favourites, game saves etc etc. Regardless of updating the BIOS, you should be doing this regularly anyway!
Next, check the other threads to see if the new BIOS is causing any problems. There is always a (small) risk that a new BIOS could cause memory speed support or overclocking/voltage/temperature issues, although it is unlikely that a BIOS update will prevent booting. Note that some of the more recent BIOS versions won't allow you to flashback to older versions, that's why I suggest you always do a little research before going ahead. It's also worth saying that unless a new ME/BIOS combination addresses a security concern or offers support for new CPUs that you want to upgrade to (for example 13th Gen on a Z690 board), then it's OK to stay on an older BIOS. Personally, I do like to keep the BIOS up to date, but of course the choice is yours.
If you want to proceed, download and place the BIOS file on the root of a USB stick formatted as MBR/FAT32. You can flash the BIOS using either a) the EZFlash tool within your current UEFI/BIOS, or b) rename the BIOS file using the supplied tool and then use the Flashback USB port if your motherboard has one. Personally, I find the EZFlash method more convenient because I don't need to reach around to the back of my machine.
During the BIOS update process, you PC will restart a few times and the entire process will take some time. Do not panic and DO NOT turn off the power. Just wait. Then you will get a screen with various messages asking you to press F1 to enter the BIOS which will be reset to defaults. As a minimum, set XMP and any other specific settings you need.
I hope this little guide is helpful to some people and if I've have made any errors, please correct them.
Advice updated Sep 2023
11-18-2022 07:53 AM
12-28-2022 11:30 PM
JohnAb wrote:
I haven't been able to create a new thread for some reason, so I asked Brucey to do it for me. What a nice man :). So without further ado, here is the first post...
I've seen a lot of threads about Intel ME and BIOS updates, so in the spirit of trying to be helpful, I'm going to summarise what I've learnt from the web, other threads and user's experience, including MoKiChU, who also does a great job with driver thread updates. Before worrying about updating Intel ME and your BIOS, it's a good idea to check that all of your other motherboard and Windows drivers are up to date. Once that's done and your PC is running as it should, then there are 3 components associated with Intel ME and the BIOS to be aware of:
1) Intel ME Firmware. This is flashed to your motherboard and is independent of the OS. It remains in place unless updated.
2) Intel ME interface drivers for Windows. These will need to be installed every time you do a fresh install of Windows.
3) The BIOS itself.
INTEL ME INTRODUCTION
Intel don't say much about ME, so the following is a summary of what I believe to be true from various sources. When the CPU starts, it loads the ME code into the chipset and it can operate independently of Windows. The CPU itself also has ME dedicated silicon and in addition, the BIOS and OS (if running) also communicate with ME.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
ME can communicate with just about all system components, even before the OS has started, using code within the CPU, chipset and BIOS. One of the ideas behind ME is that it can be used to support a feature called Active Management Technology (AMT). This can be used to control computers remotely, even when in a sleep state. It would be unusual for this to be enabled on a domestic PC as it's really a feature for corporate machines. It's claimed that Intel ME has full access to your system hardware, including your system memory, the contents of your display, keyboard input, and even the network. Some argue that this is a privacy risk, but unless AMT is enabled, it seems to be generally accepted that this is unlikely.
SO WHY UPDATE INTEL ME AND THE BIOS?
ME is also used to prevent certain requests from being executed and eliminate known exploits. It appears to be a completely independent mini-OS, based on MINIX that is totally invisible to the end-user. The most important thing it does for most of us is provide security and protection.
It's worth mentioning that every BIOS requires the correct ME firmware to operate correctly. For example, for the Z690 Hero, BIOS 2103 is associated with ME firmware v16.1.25.1885 (or later). The next BIOS due out for the Hero is 2204 and when it's released, that will require firmware v16.1.25.2020 (or later). Your support page should always provide correctly matched versions of the current firmware, Windows drivers and BIOS.
HOW TO UPDATE INTEL ME
You should always update Intel's Windows drivers and ME firmware BEFORE updating the BIOS. Otherwise, you might get problems such as not being able to read from your M.2_1 NVME drive. If that happens, you might not be able to boot back into Windows if your OS is located there. If this has happened to you, it can be fixed by moving your NVME drive to another slot, rebooting and then doing the drivers and firmware updates. Inconvenient to say the least. So here is my recommended way to do the updates:
First...
1) UPDATE ME WINDOWS DRIVERS
These are located on the DRIVERS & TOOLS tab under CHIPSET. They will named as, for example:
Intel ME V2229.3.2.0 for Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 64-bit
or
Intel Management Engine Interface V2145.1.42.0 (SW 2201.16.0.2645) For Windows 10/11 64-bit
Just select the most recent release.
2) UPDATE INTEL ME FIRMWARE
The firmware will be located on your motherboard's BIOS & FIRMWARE tab under the INTEL ME section. Download the latest MEUpdateTool and once the folder is extracted, run MEUpdate.exe. Let that work it's magic and then reboot.
Then...
3) UPDATE THE BIOS
Before updating the BIOS it's a good idea to backup all of your files, passwords, website favourites, game saves etc etc. Regardless of updating the BIOS, you should be doing this regularly anyway!
Next, check the other threads to see if the new BIOS is causing any problems. There is always a (small) risk that a new BIOS could cause memory speed support or overclocking/voltage/temperature issues, although it is unlikely that a BIOS update will prevent booting. Note that some of the more recent BIOS versions won't allow you to flashback to older versions, that's why I suggest you always do a little research before going ahead. It's also worth saying that unless a new ME/BIOS combination addresses a security concern or offers support for new CPUs that you want to upgrade to (for example 13th Gen on a Z690 board), then it's OK to stay on an older BIOS. Personally, I do like to keep the BIOS up to date, but of course the choice is yours.
If you want to proceed, download and flash the BIOS using either a) the EZFlash tool within your current UEFI/BIOS, or b) rename the BIOS file using the supplied tool and then use the Flashback USB port if your motherboard has one. It's best to use a USB stick formatted as MBR/Fat32 for Flashback. Both methods are equivalent, although I find the EZFlash method more convenient.
I hope this little guide is helpful to some people and if I've have made any errors, please correct them.
01-03-2023 06:26 AM
02-17-2023 02:03 PM
JohnAb wrote:
I haven't been able to create a new thread for some reason, so I asked Brucey to do it for me. What a nice man :). So without further ado, here is the first post...
I've seen a lot of threads about Intel ME and BIOS updates, so in the spirit of trying to be helpful, I'm going to summarise what I've learnt from the web, other threads and user's experience, including MoKiChU, who also does a great job with driver thread updates. Before worrying about updating Intel ME (which only applies to Intel processors) and your BIOS, it's a good idea to check that all of your other motherboard and Windows drivers are up to date. Once that's done and your PC is running as it should, then there are 3 components associated with Intel ME and the BIOS to be aware of:
1) Intel ME Firmware. This is flashed to your motherboard and is independent of the OS. It remains in place unless updated.
2) Intel ME interface drivers for Windows. These will need to be installed every time you do a fresh install of Windows.
3) The BIOS itself.
INTEL ME INTRODUCTION
Intel don't say much about ME, so the following is a summary of what I believe to be true from various sources. When the CPU starts, it loads the ME code into the chipset and it can operate independently of Windows. The CPU itself also has ME dedicated silicon and in addition, the BIOS and OS (if running) also communicate with ME.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
ME can communicate with just about all system components, even before the OS has started, using code within the CPU, chipset and BIOS. One of the ideas behind ME is that it can be used to support a feature called Active Management Technology (AMT). This can be used to control computers remotely, even when in a sleep state. It would be unusual for this to be enabled on a domestic PC as it's really a feature for corporate machines. It's claimed that Intel ME has full access to your system hardware, including your system memory, the contents of your display, keyboard input, and even the network. Some argue that this is a privacy risk, but unless AMT is enabled, it seems to be generally accepted that this is unlikely.
SO WHY UPDATE INTEL ME AND THE BIOS?
ME is also used to prevent certain requests from being executed and eliminate known exploits. It appears to be a completely independent mini-OS, based on MINIX that is totally invisible to the end-user. The most important thing it does for most of us is provide security and protection.
It's worth mentioning that every BIOS requires the correct ME firmware to operate correctly. For example, for the Z690 Hero, BIOS 2103 is associated with ME firmware v16.1.25.1885 (or later). The next BIOS due out for the Hero is 2204 and when it's released, that will require firmware v16.1.25.2020 (or later). Your support page should always provide correctly matched versions of the current firmware, Windows drivers and BIOS.
HOW TO UPDATE INTEL ME
You should always update Intel's Windows drivers and ME firmware BEFORE updating the BIOS. Otherwise, you might get problems such as not being able to read from your M.2_1 NVME drive. If that happens, you might not be able to boot back into Windows if your OS is located there. If this has happened to you, it can be fixed by moving your NVME drive to another slot, rebooting and then doing the drivers and firmware updates. Inconvenient to say the least. So here is my recommended way to do the updates:
First...
1) UPDATE ME WINDOWS DRIVERS
These are located on the DRIVERS & TOOLS tab under CHIPSET. They will named as, for example:
Intel ME V2229.3.2.0 for Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 64-bit
or
Intel Management Engine Interface V2145.1.42.0 (SW 2201.16.0.2645) For Windows 10/11 64-bit
Just select the most recent release.
2) UPDATE INTEL ME FIRMWARE
The firmware will be located on your motherboard's BIOS & FIRMWARE tab under the INTEL ME section. Download the latest MEUpdateTool and once the folder is extracted, run MEUpdate.exe. Let that work it's magic and then reboot.
Then...
3) UPDATE THE BIOS
Before updating the BIOS it's a good idea to backup all of your files, passwords, website favourites, game saves etc etc. Regardless of updating the BIOS, you should be doing this regularly anyway!
Next, check the other threads to see if the new BIOS is causing any problems. There is always a (small) risk that a new BIOS could cause memory speed support or overclocking/voltage/temperature issues, although it is unlikely that a BIOS update will prevent booting. Note that some of the more recent BIOS versions won't allow you to flashback to older versions, that's why I suggest you always do a little research before going ahead. It's also worth saying that unless a new ME/BIOS combination addresses a security concern or offers support for new CPUs that you want to upgrade to (for example 13th Gen on a Z690 board), then it's OK to stay on an older BIOS. Personally, I do like to keep the BIOS up to date, but of course the choice is yours.
If you want to proceed, download and place the BIOS file on the root of a USB stick formatted as MBR/Fat32. You can flash the BIOS using either a) the EZFlash tool within your current UEFI/BIOS, or b) rename the BIOS file using the supplied tool and then use the Flashback USB port if your motherboard has one. Personally, I find the EZFlash method more convenient because I don't need to reach around to the back of my machine.
During the BIOS update process, you PC will restart a few times and the entire process will take some time. Do not panic and DO NOT turn off the power. Just wait. Then you will get a screen with various messages asking you to press F1 to enter the BIOS which will be reset to defaults. As a minimum, set XMP and any other specific settings you need.
I hope this little guide is helpful to some people and if I've have made any errors, please correct them.
11-19-2022 12:34 PM
11-19-2022 02:26 PM
11-19-2022 02:39 PM