Intel MEI errors then, disappeared completely (VII Hero)

[mcgintydm1984]

Good Day,

I recently purchased an Maximus VII Hero and everything was fine about 2 days into the build, until I started receiving errors during boot up from the AI Suite. The Suite was working fine for a while, Then DIP5 would not load anymore and received multiple error messages telling that I had to install the Intel MEI drivers (which I had previously done). I tried to reinstall the MEI drivers from the CD - No success. Told me that my system was not compatible Tried to Download the latest MEI drivers from Asus Website - Would not install. Told me that it was not compatible.

I no longer have Intel Management Interface in the Device Manager - It is gone completely. I tried to Format and Reinstall windows, still no MEI and cannot install it. I updated the Bios from 904 to 1002 and still no luck. Its as if Intel MEI has stopped working on my motherboard completely.

Here is a screenshot of my BIOS - where it states Intel ME version is "N/A"



Is this normal? Or did something break on my motherboard and ME disappear completely?

Specs of System:
4790k No Overclock
32GB RAM 2133 @ SPD for now - Tried removing sticks etc
MSI Radeon R9 290X
Samsung SSD 840 Pro
Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit

[Praz]

Hello

The ME firmware is corrupt. A fix will be limited to the following:

RMA the motherboard
Purchase a preprogrammed BIOS chip
Reflash the existing chip using a programmer.

[mcgintydm1984]

Anyway to tell how this happened?? And is Reflashing the existing chip using a programmer different from downloading a new BIOS file and reflahsing it with the EZ FLASH?

[Praz]

Hello

Neither EZ-Flash nor USB BIOS Flashback will flash the ME section of the UEFI.

[mcgintydm1984]

Ok. Thanks for the help. Is there any way to know how this happened? I would like to be sure something like this does not happen in the future.

[Praz]

Hello

From a distance it would not be possible to even guess at the cause. Sorry.