ME update tool stuck at 99%

[derril]

Hello guys so i have been trying to update the Intel ME Firmware for my motherboard Z390 ROG Maximus XI Extreme and it seems it got stuck at 99% for the past 30 minutes. Do i wait more or i just force a restart?

[Silent_Scone]

Hi @derril 

Do you still need help with this? Were you able to reboot and reattempt the update or did it complete?

[derril]

Hello i managed to reboot and nothing bad happened. I would like to reflash the ME firmware though something is not right on my motherboard. Honestly this and i would like to be able to fully reset the motherboard to the state i got it when it was new, i pretty much messed up. I turned the PC on and it was training memory but i thought it was bugged and i pressed the power button. Is there any way i can initiate the process of full memory training from scratch? I already tried to reflash BIOS and reset to default but it takes under 10-15 seconds to train my ram sticks and i know it should take much more than that...

[Silent_Scone]

Actually, training is far quicker on more recent FW depending on the density and configuration.

What behaviour is making you want to attempt a retrain? Resetting the BIOS to default and applying different memory parameters is enough to initiate this. Or you can use the Clear CMOS button located on the motherboard rear / IO panel.

[derril]

This PC never worked well, i always get stuttering in games. From day 1 it's been like this, what i do see is that if i turn off the TPM it's much better, not perfect but better. The problem is i play CS2 and faceit requires TPM enabled. I want to reflash the firmware because initial start of the PC was interrupted, i also get WMI Warnings in Event Viewer, the audio is always crackling (i already disabled fast startup from bios and windows). Latest audio driver is extremely bad and i need to manually go to registry and disable "Idle" which only works for version "V6.0.1.8960", i also tried for the latest driver ff ff ff ff but it doesn't work. On top of this what bugs me most is the fact that i had to remove the m2 sink cover in order to barely fit the Asus Rog STRIX 2070S OC GPU i have. I honestly just want to hard reset the motherboard and the CPU to it's initial state, after countless windows installs and different versions i decided that it's the best thing to do even if it's risky, it's not of any use for me like this. I'm not even overclocking anything, ram is default XMP just lowered VCCIO and VCCSA. I don't want anything special just for it to function properly. Oh and sometimes when i insert the headphones in the front jack of my case i can see/hear a small spark and screen turns off for a few seconds... yes i tried to change the case...

[bios_scam]

Bro, reading your message gave me a sense of déjà vu, though I have a laptop.

But even if you downgrade the BIOS without ME, you might still have issues with the first drivers and have to roll back one version. Win11 21H2 has the least amount of lag.

And the Asus drivers might not be the same as when you bought them; they might be updated to stripped-down versions.

[derril]

Well i don't know if i should use those actually i am looking for this audio driver 6.0.9601.1 I believe this would suit my needs just fine as it's the latest where 00 00 00 00 worked all the new ones use ff ff ff ff and for some reason don't work for me. Is there any way i can find older MoKiChU drivers? i really want that version with SS3.

[bios_scam]

Probably on some closed forums 😄 where registration is restricted to a certain race.

Now I'm trying to download old drivers from 2022_06_** to 2022_12_** on pirated sites; many links are already returning a 404 error. I didn't expect to be doing such nonsense in 2025, but I have no choice. First, they force me to install low-quality firmware, which ruins everything, then I roll back to the very first BIOS version, except for ME—the result of a forced archaeological dig for original drivers all over the internet. And I lost the 5.1 channel, leaving only 2.1 stereo (probably the intended effect of the unofficial firmware). Just experimenting with the date back.

I'm not sure exactly how it works on your PC, but for example, my Strix Laptop accepts the ISST drivers from my PC, but the laptop speakers (the 3.5 input) don't work. But the Arturia Minifuse 2 USB is very good. And the microphone works, which is strange. Experiment with the drivers, but downgrading the ME version would be ideal.
https://github.com/vuquangtrong/Dell-PFS-BIOS-Assembler

This is a problem with other brands too; for example, De**, for some reason the BIOS firmware blocks the H256 codec. We live in an age of disposable things.

[MrAgapiGC]

you can restart the worst will stay on last verison. you can use forum ones that works perfect 

I tell this cause it he pc did not restart turn off and on IS NOT APPLY you can check the version on bios on advance mode on the first menu. FWfirmare version.

just follow the instructions. do not use winrar. use 7zip or windows utility 

https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/downloads-for-motherboards/firmware-intel-me-h310-b360-h370-z390/td-p/...

NOTE: and with capital letters. 

make sure you have 

1. windows up to date. I can not speak with W10 since is out of support. 

2. bios up to date yea i know my wife use the same generation board.  last bios is 2004

3 Asus forums has the latest drivers for intel in the planet we all use it. 

https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/downloads-for-motherboards/drivers-intel-chipset-mei-sata-serial-io-gn...

the drivers are: 

1-  Intel Chipset Drivers :

Package : 10.1.20266.8668 WHQL [27/06/2025]

2- Intel MEI Drivers (Drivers Only) :

Drivers : 2540.8.7.0 WHQL [28/09/2025]

3- Intel Serial IO Drivers (Drivers Only) :

    Drivers - 3xx/4xx : 30.100.2132.2 WHQL [02/08/2021]

The audio part ask on the forums that one i do not know. 

Depending on the newtwork there is a website also for that 

https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/downloads-for-motherboards/drivers-intel-ethernet-wifi-bluetooth/td-p/...

Cheers