Intel Management Engine Interface Tool: Please check MEI Driver is installed.

[Super_Gnome]

I have a Rampage VI Extreme Omega motherboard.  A few months ago my computer was running awfully slowly and I did not know why.  Then later I learned that there was a BIOS update.  I installed that no problem.  However, my computer did not seem to be running quite right after that, so I thought maybe another BIOS was in the works and instead switched over to using another computer.

Now a couple of months later I started this rig up again, only to see there was no new BIOS for it, only BIOS 3801 which I had installed a couple months ago.  But I also noticed there was an MEI update so I downloaded it, but then had a problem with it:  Getting the message:  Please check MEI Driver is installed.

I then found a driver that seemed to be needing installation and installed it from MokiChu:  https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/downloads-for-motherboards/firmware-intel-me-x299/td-p/853149

After doing this I tried again to install with the MEI update tool, but continue to get that message:  Please check MEI Driver is installed.

At this point I am stumped about what to do.  I realize that I may have mistakenly installed the BIOS first, but do not know what to do now.  

Please help.

[Dragonfly79887]

Yes, I think you should try resetting windows again. Because sometimes BIOS updates will lead to win errors. Please calm down and try again because actually installing a new copy of Windows is quite fast.

[Super_Gnome]

True, it doesnt take that long to reinstall Windows.  I have done it so many times now, I know that well, ha ha.  It takes about half a day if you include all the other stuff needing to be reinstalled along with it.  I dunno if I will bother just now.  But thank you kindly for your thinking.  I imagine you are probably right.

[Cherry_PL_]

Or maybe try in Windows safe mode.

[restsugavan]

Slowing system cause from many factors. One thing you may forgot to update was motherboard framework software.

The framework oftenly update by ASUS ARMOURY CRATE software.

Please checking your motherboard framework and its component via lastest ASUS ARMOURY CRATE.

For reference.

Item Version
---- -------
Armoury Crate UWP App 5.7.9.0
ROG Live Service 2.3.6.0
Aura Service (Lighting Service) 3.07.33
Armoury Crate lite service 5.7.9
Aura Wallpaper Service 1.5.3.0
Aura SDK 3.04.39
ASUS AIOFan HAL 1.2.14.0
ASUS AURA Extension Card HAL 1.1.0.20
ASUS AURA Motherboard HAL 1.3.9.6
ASUS Aac_GmAcc HAL 1.0.12.0
ASUS Ambient HAL 2.0.0.0
KingstonDram 1.1.28
AURA DRAM Component 1.1.24
ENE RGB HAL 1.1.48.6
ENE_EHD_M2_HAL 1.0.10.3
PHISON HAL 1.0.9.0
Patriot Viper DRAM RGB 1.0.9.7
Patriot Viper M2 SSD RGB 1.1.0.3
Universal Holtek RGB DRAM 1.0.0.6
WD_BLACK AN1500 1.0.14.0

After updating motherboard frame work already. It'll be fine to competting against new rigs even Meteor Lake platform.

7 years old Skylake X killing Core Ultra Meteor Lake easily.

 Skylake X against new Lion Cove and Skymont Microarchitect on Meteor Lake.

[Super_Gnome]

Armory Crate?  That software repeatedly messed up my system and registry, and was totally useless.  I dont install that at all for fear it will do the same. 

Hence, is it possible to update that software without Armory Crate?

Second, would that software help with installing METool?

Third, if I did install it, could I then reinstall Windows and not Armory Crate and if so would that software you mention stay intact?

[restsugavan]

1. Latest version of Armoury Crate may chage your experience. It will bring your mobo extremely fast.

2. No Intel Me Firmware and Me driver didn't update by Asus Amoury Crate.

It will need Intel ME update tools to do updating ME Firmware and updating ME driver following process.

3. Motherboard framework update coming with Armoury Crate. If you didn't install Armoury Crate so It didn't updating your motherboard framework.

[Super_Gnome]

I have reinstalled Windows to no avail.  I guess I will try to clear the CMOS and hope that does something good. 

I also contacted Asus a few times, and got the usual run around with no solution about installing METool, only information about where to get servicing and obviously the person on the other end cannot read, and does not understand my question was about software and not about servicing--even though I repeated the issue over and over.

I contacted Microsoft also to no avail, only getting the reply that it is an Asus issue.

I have also tried re-installing the driver and then the BIOS a few times and then tried the METool, and again, get that error.

So in total I have installed Windows three times, the BIOS three times, the driver five times, and have tried to get the tool to work a hundred times, wasting a grand total of maybe 20 hours on this stupid software.  I am really really frustrated by this.  And because of potential security problems I cant even use this computer.

Man.

Yaay.  Back to the closet to collect dust for another few months, maybe a year this time.  Funny I bought this motherboard after I had similar and frequent problems with my first Asus build and the Asus associated software, and had it also in the closet for a couple years until a new version of Windows fixed everything.  This truly is my last Asus build.  Garbage support from Asus, and garbage software from it most of the time.

[restsugavan]

After reading from beginning slowly. 

1. The latest BIOS of your motherboard containing ME Firmware update. So you didn't require to update ME Firmware by ME tools again.

2. The slow that you feeling may cause from latest Intel microcode to mitigation " Gather Instructions " that vulnerable due " Downfall " attacked.

The latest microcode slow down Skylake X / Skylake X Refresh and Cascade Lake X all skus when running AVX2 and AVX512 instructions.

So there are performances impacting when used these new microcode. Intel engineer working around to bring back performance soon. Don't worry.

3. The latest ME Firmware and ME driver didn't impact on your rigs performance. It was only protecting against Denial Of Service attack via USB device. ME Firmware and Driver doing protecting PCH x299 itself not CPU.

[Super_Gnome]

You wrote:  The latest BIOS of your motherboard containing ME Firmware update. So you didn't require to update ME Firmware by ME tools again.

Are you sure?  It says this right on the BIOS description:

“Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool from ASUS support site."

Hence, it sounds to me like they are separate, and that the update is not included in the BIOS.  Also, I think if you tried to update it and it was already installed, then you would get a message that it is already installed versus an error warning.

Anyhow, thank you kindly for trying to help.  I am to the point of exhaustion about this and about ready to throw the motherboard in the trash.

Regardless, I have contacted Asus again, and it looks like they are going to help.  I also pointed out to them that there is no up to date chipset driver on the support page, and the contact person was very surprised by that.  I mean it says right in the description:  "We suggest you update ME Driver to the latest Version 11.12.94.2479 simultaneously."  But where exactly do you get this driver?  Asus does not supply it, so what, you just pull it out of a hat?

Typical Asus.  Very poor product support.  That said, they have vowed to help me.  I honestly think it will just be the typical run around you get from Asus, but hope I am wrong.

[Cherry_PL_]

If You can't fix this problem yourself, nor Asus or Microsoft can help You... then maybe carry your PC to an independent computer service in your city and try there?