Intel ME completely offline

Never bothered with step 15, I couldn’t get it to work, but I did do a reset.
Installed the Intel me software okay from dell. Then reset again.
Now running the bios 1.6.1 update from windows and the laptop shut down and is doing update now.
Here’s hoping.

 

Firmware flash did the ME part so looking good.

 

Then we already know you're good if it actually shut down. Congrats

 

Update all good.
Device manager - no conflicts
Just managed to shut down my laptop for the first time in a year!!!

Thanks so much @Mofoist the whole process is way less daunting that it appeared. For something that Quick to do i find it stunning that Dell doesn’t do a return to base bios flash free of charge if anyone rings them with this issue stating bios 1.4.4

If it’s that easily fixed, why upset so many out of warranty customers.

Thanks again for all of your help and i hope this thread helps many others as it’s quite detailed now...
Lol

 

Haha you're welcome man. I remember the knot I had in my stomach erasing the chip while flying blind so I'm happy to help. And you're right they could very easily help us but choose not to.

Go get some sleep!

 

Also checked the SA00086 intel check.
All is good, patches and the ME software is there and known.

 

Sleeps overacted!

I didn’t have any butterflies as this laptop was already dead to me, but it’s just come back to life....

 

So which one was it? 8MB or 16MB chip? What was written on chip 64B or 128B?
Didn't the cleanup guide recommend taking the faulty BIOS bin or rom file or even new BIOS part file and merging with Clean Intel ME section w/o any DATA section?

Boot guard and other security crap must be enabled.
Its good to see it worked. You can direct fellow members to this thread to fix their ME issues. Even Intel NUC, desktop boards are affected by ME bug.
Use CON LP latest MEI FW. Sorry I thought you were using 17 r3. 13 r2 uses LP MEFW.

 

I am going to type up a step by step for the Alienware as the D2 instructions does have a lot of fluff we don’t need to use.
I would say we only need to use about 7 of the 15 steps really.
I have just woken up - had about 3 hours sleep so my heads not quite there at the moment.
Knowing the CON type is easy when you check your ripped Bios and it’s the 128 chip so the 16mb/128 setting on the 25 programmer.

When I do write the step by step, it’s at your own risk obviously and @Mofoist will get a hell of a lot of the praise.

 

Okay here we go.

This is a guide to finally resolve the butchered Bios 1.4.4 that Dell Released to the public for the Alienware Laptops
I have an I7 R2 but I have heard its affected many different Laptops in the R2 and R3 range - Maybe more.
In short the Bios Update, corrupted the Intel ME part of the Bios and no matter what Official Bios you downgrade to the laptop cannot recover the Intel ME part of the Laptop - This means the main thing you will notice on your laptop is the Laptop will no longer shut down (the LED lights will stay on and only a hard press on the power will turn off the Laptop). This issue is also found when waking from sleep.


TAKE NOTE - IF YOU TRY TO DO THIS AND BREAK YOUR LAPTOP THEN ITS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
I CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL WORK FOR EVERYONE BUT ITS YOUR CALL IF YOU WANT TO TRY IT.

That all said, I have done this and its fine - Much thanks to @Mofoist, who really worked this out and he was the first to fix the issue so MUCH, MUCH KUDOS to him - He repaired what Dell cannot and their solution is a new motherboard at nearly a grand cost to you.


Okay the Guide - here we go (I did mine when on the BIOS 1.3.12 as I had rolled back to the best working BIOS from Dell)

you will need these downloads -
https://www.sendspace.com/file/gtcmvd - CH341A_Tools.zip (install the driver first on the 'doctor PC' = the PC you will use to run the CH341A usb programmer on) and use the 1.31 software.

https://mega.nz/#!CENzmQIC!elS6967PC17_PRrk4-0cCNYcK1ajfXQ6paCIPRU61fc - Intel CSME System Tools v11 r18 .rar

https://github.com/platomav/MEAnalyzer/releases/download/v1.76.2-r149/ME_Analyzer_v1.76.2_r149.rar - The ME analyser
https://www.win-raid.com/t832f39-Intel-Engine-Firmware-Repositories.html#msg14585 - The Intel ME Repository you will need to find your Intel ME from this to patch in later.

You will also need these actual tools - buy good quality ones - cheap = more risk or not working at all - Amazon sell decent ones in uk and USA for about £10/$10 each.

USB Programmer CH341A Series Burner Chip 24 EEPROM BIOS Writer 25 SPI Flash AE1185
and
SOP8 Flash Chip IC Test Clips Socket Adpter Programmer BIOS

The full info is from this website look under section D2 but you don't need to do every step so the following steps is what I did.
https://www.win-raid.com/t1658f39-G...-CS-TXE-Regions-with-Data-Initialization.html

-------------------------------------------

Watch a youtube video on how to strip your laptop - Just search for your laptop others are available.
I searched for "Alienware 13 R2 teardown" -
You don't need to take off the heat sink in most cases - I didn't.
Top tip - Use ziplock bags and a sharpie pen to mark where you took the screws and bag them up.

Once you have the motherboard out - look for the BIOS Chip - It will be marked something like 25Q128FVSO 1535
That was my Chip - from that we can see its the 25Q (25 SPI Flash) / 128 (16mByte/128MBit) / FVSO 1535 - I am not sure but I think it says its a bios chip and version. My chip was just below the Cpu area near the memory DDR sockets and using a torch or camera read the chip info first - PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE DOT ON THE CORNER OF THE CHIP as you will need this knowledge later.

You are now ready to go to work -

1. Clip on the SOP8 clip matching the red wire to the corner where the little dot is on the BIOS chip - ensure its on right using a torch for good lighting and get a good look.
2. Connect the other end of the SOP8 clip wire to the CH341A USB programmer (into the 25 set up holes as you match from your chip info) and lock down the holder for the USB programmer.
3. Install the driver for the CH341A on the Doctor PC and then plug in the USB Programmer - If all is good you will see a red led on the USB programmer, you may see a yellow 'run' led but if you don't there's no need to worry yet.
4. Open the CH341A software (version 1.31) - and click on the 25 SPI FLASH option and choose the 16MByte/128MBit (info from your bios chip) and click detect button - your chip should show up and yellow led should flicker.
5. If your chip is detected then you are ready to read the BIOS on the Alienware Motherboard. Click on Read and wait, it will take a little bit. Once read you can click on Verify if you wish to be sure - the yellow LED will flash when doing any operation to show its working.
6. Now you are happy its read the BIOS then you are ready to save it. Click on safe and name it to what you want as a BIN file - I named mine AW13R2.bin and it will safe to the same folder as the USB Programmer.
7. As a safety net - close the USB Programmer software - unplug the CH341A USB Programmer and plug back in. Open the software again and copy steps 4, 5 and 6 again but this time save the BIOS as BACKUPAW13R2.bin.
You now have two different copies which should be the same and copy both of these files to a spare usb drive and keep as MASTER spares. If anything goes wrong from here, you can always flash either of these Bin files and be where you started.

We are now ready to start the cleaning process - Go get a cup of tea/coffee or have a Ciggy Break.

8. Open the ME Analyzer folder and drop a copy of the AW13R2.bin (BIOS) into the ME Analyzer file it will open the dumped SPI/BIOS image and you will see what major/minor version you need as well as SKU. Press enter to see your info.
I saw my Bios was the CSE ME / Version 11.8.50.3426 / SKU Consumer LP / File System State should show Initialized
9. Using the above info look in the Firmware Repository folder and find your Intel ME file - it should match your ME Analyzer info - I chose 11.8.50.3426_CON_LP_C0_NPDM_PRD_RGN.bin (CSE ME match/ Version match/SKU match) and make a copy to your Doctor PC's desktop so you can find it soon. Rename this bin file as ME Region.bin as it will save time later.
10. From the System Tools folder, go to Flash Image Tool > WIN subfolder and run fit.exe. Drag & drop the dumped SPI/BIOS image you want to clean. Go to "Build > Build Settings", select "No" at the option to "Generate Intermediate Files", leave all other settings intact and click Close.
11. Go to "File > Save As" and save the configuration xml file, in this case it's named "config.xml". You may get a Secure boot pop up box, just click on OKAY, I did and it worked fine. Afterwards, close the FIT window.
12. At the FIT folder there should now be a folder named after the inputted file, in this case it's named "AW13R2". Enter "Decomp" subfolder. There should be a number of files there (BIOS Region, Flash Descriptor, OEM Region etc) including a "ME Region.bin" file. Take the previous "ME Region.bin" file you saved at step 9 on the desktop and copy it where the current "ME Region.bin" file is, effectively replacing it.
13. Run FIT again. From "File > Open" select the saved config.xml file from step 11 and open it.
14. Click the "Build Image" icon (or "Build > Build Image") and it should complete successfully.
15. At the FIT folder you should now see a file named "outimage.bin" which is the dumped CSME image with an Engine region which has a Configured DATA section without any unneeded "Initialization" information stored.
16. Drag the outimage.bin into the ME Analyzer.exe again and press enter - check the info. It should now show the same as before and some details have changed - Main one is File System State is now configured so it should be good to go.
17. Copy the outimage.bin to the CH341A folder where the programmer software and Original Read Bios is.
18. Plug in the USB CH341A Programmer into the Doctor PC again and open the 1.31 CH341A Programmer software again (I did mine in admin mode / right click program when opening). Click the 25 SPI Flash and choose the 16/128 again and click detect - should show the chip.

Now its time for another break - Cuppa, Ciggy, Chocolate, whatever is your pleasure as its the nervous part next!.

Time to Barry Allen this Bios - Flash time this Mother 'Board'

19. If the chip is detected then you are ready. Click on Wipe - YES you are wiping the BIOS off that motherboard so ensure you have your Original BIOS safe as you cannot get it back.
20. Click on Blank - This verifies that the BIOS is now completely wiped and its blank.
21. Click on open and choose the outimage.bin (your cleaned fixed BIOS)
22. Now you see the new cleaned, fixed bios in the USB software - Click on WRITE and wait...……
23. Once complete then click on Verify and wait.
24. Close the USB software, remove USB Programmer and remove the clip on motherboard.
25. Rebuild Laptop time - Use the Video and thank me now for those zip lock bags idea!

All being well you have a repaired Laptop. Start it up and it will take a little while to start, BIOS beeps means something is not connected properly so you may need to strip the laptop again and recheck your connections. You don't need to remove the CMOS battery so you should not have any BIOS Beeps from battery being off.

26. Press F2 at BIOS screen and check the BIOS set up loads up. Alter any settings you want to alter but I just left mine and exited.
27. Load up Windows and Install the INTEL ME drivers from the Dell Support website. This is the Driver which would not load before - It will load up now hopefully.
28. Restart Windows
29. Right click device manager and check you have no conflicts - If you do you will fix these with a BIOS Update to 1.6.1. Download the 1.6.1 BIOS from Dell support and run it in Windows - Hopefully if your BIOS Clean and Fix is good the Laptop WILL shut down and run the BIOS 1.6.1 update.
30. BIOS 1.6.1 Update complete and your LAPTOP IS NOW FIXED!
Device manager should show no issues and you can enjoy shutting down your Alienware Laptop once again.


I hope I have covered everything here - I did this yesterday so its all still fresh in my mind so I thought I would share for those affected. Sorry its a long post but its worth it.

FULL RESPECT to @Mofoist who was the person who first fixed his and assisted me with this fix.
This is the guide that I have shared but I do stress - ITS YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILTY IF YOU TRY THIS AND IF YOU BREAK YOUR LAPTOP ITS ONLY YOUR OWN FAULT. YOU KNOW THE RISKS!!!!

All being well though, you have a fully updated and working Alienware Laptop once more!

ENJOY!!!

 

I have just posted a link from Dell’s Official forums to this guide to hopefully help others.
This is what I wrote - I have had posts removed recently for mentioning that Dell maybe have had an internal memo to all Dell staff to not talk to any customers about the BIOS 1.4.4 issues and the lack of support after nearly a year...

So I posted this, wonder how long it will stay...

As it blatantly clear that Dell do not respond to any request for help with the Intel ME issue caused by the unfinished and unchecked BIOS 1.4.4 release which Dell issued out to the public and then pulled when they knew it broke peoples Laptops, I thought I would try and fix it myself.

If your laptop (R2 and R3) doesn’t shut down - the led lights stay on and laptop has to be hard shut down via a power button press and hold. This will cause damage to the PC and it’s caused by the Intel ME being broken/unknown.


i am out of warranty and UK Dell customer services said I could return to base for £40 and they would assess the problem but it will most likely need a new motherboard and I would have to pay, EVEN though the fault in the bios was caused by Dell!

Uk customer service denied that BIOS 1.4.4 was ever released as it’s not on the Dell Support website, so you as a customer out of Warranty are left high and dry...

GOOD NEWS though

Last night, I managed to Fix my Laptop thanks to help from someone else on another forum who has done the same fix. I have today wrote a full guide with web links to repair your BIOS but you need to be fully aware that you are taking full Responsibility if you try this and kill your laptop. I very much doubt that any problems will occur and you do need to be able to tear down your laptop, but it can be fixed.


The main risk is you are using a USB Programmer to read, insert the Intel ME again and then wiping your BIOS and writing back on a new Fixed BIOS firmware.

This can only be done via a USB Programmer as the normal Official Recovery will not touch the Intel ME anymore.


So if you are feeling brave head over to

notebookreview forums and read page 11 of this thread, where my guide is listed.

Many Thanks to Mofoist there who helped me loads with the repair as he did it first.


http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/intel-me-completely-offline.825561/page-11


My Laptop now is running 1.6.1 BIOS and it’s starting up fast and more importantly the Intel ME is fixed and the Laptop now Shuts Down properly for the first time in nearly a year.


Thanks Dell for your lack of guidance in this matter...

 

Even linking this thread from the Dell support forum gets flagged as spam. @Basherwalls @ThomasAAT @Vasudev

 

Great! Never post at Dell. The thing is, Google SEO already made this thread as top hit, so don't worry your thread will be visited by a lot of people in the future regardless of any laptop OEMs.

 

Not surprised at all with Dells response.
This whole affair has pushed me away from the Alienware brand completely.
My laptop has now been fully tested and it’s consistently working so I have sold it to offset some of the money I paid for my 17” HP Omen which I am completely happy with.
I will continue to support this thread and give help to anyone who needs it, should they need it along with @Mofoist, but for me Alienware is no more.

I said I used the money to offset my HP Omen but that was a bit of a lie as I just built a new desktop with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Graphics Founders Edition inside so selling the laptop funded that build.

 

That's nice you were able to get good price. You know dell quoted me 300$ for trade-in for 15 r3 when my PC was 3-4 months old. ~3000$->$300.

 

I accepted £550 delivered for a Alienware 13 R2 boxed in good condition and fully working.
It wasn’t a bad price for the buyer or the seller and it’s still a very good portable gaming machine for the money.
I built a custom (From a like new but used HP Omen 880 case) - an I5 6500, 20gb DDR4, 500GB nvme m2 ssd with a ROG motherboard and a Nvidia RTX 2060 6gb for about £600 so it’s just over a straight swap.
I get 30FPS in 4k and 60fps in 1080p without any issue what so ever on Ultra in most games now.

If I couldn’t sort the Bios then the sale value of the Alienware would have been servely hit.

 

@Basherwalls

Thanks for your guide!

I will buy a usb programmer and try it!

https://www.amazon.fr/MYAMIA-Eeprom...hip+24+EEPROM+BIOS+Writer+25+SPI+Flash+AE1185

Do you think this one will be suitable?

Thanks!

 

Yes as long as it’s a 25 programmer then you are good.
Good luck, although if you follow the guide it’s actually fairly straightforward

 

That set is all you need and its quite cheap too. Here, I paid that same amount just for SPI flasher.

 

Thanks to both of you, i will order it and let you know the fallowing.

 

the link for Intel CSME System Tools v11 r18 .rar is dead! anyone know where I can find it? need to do this to my 15 R2.

Thanks

 

@dsmclark
https://www.win-raid.com/t596f39-Intel-Management-Engine-Drivers-Firmware-amp-System-Tools.html

Section C2

 

Anyone of the two people who were trying this - have you sorted it out yet?
All good?

 

I can't belive it, after 1 year of failure my computer is finaly fixed! ME is back and 1.6.1 is working fine!
THANKS YOU SO MUCH Mofoist and Basherwalls for your help!!!

Basherwalls, your instructions are clear as a crystal and very helpfull!

Thanks again!

 

Top Job.
Still stuns me that a huge company like Dell cannot just accept returns on these laptops and fix them.
It takes about 30/45 minutes if you know what you are doing, including all the tear down and rebuild.

Really pleased it’s all working great though and my instructions were helpful. I did write them when they were fresh in my head, just pleased I never missed anything off.

My Alienware has been sold once I got it working - I had already bought an HP Omen Laptop I7 7700hq with GTX 1060 6gb desktop gpu.

The money was put toward my new custom build desktop - I5 8400, RTX 2060 6gb, 40gb DDR4 and 12tb hdds space (500gb nvme os drive). Really happy with my new build. It’s updated a bit since the last time I listed the spec. Lol

 

@Mofoist @Basherwalls Hi, just want to say thanks for your efforts as this thread is helping other people. I don't have this issues at all but I am wondering/hoping if by any chance you have time to edit the first post and put the clear instructions there so that if anyone new who is looking for a solution they can easily see it right away instead of reading the whole thread. I don't know if I am asking much tho. Thanks again for helping out and sharing info. ^_^

 

@0lok Done. I'm about to tear down again and repaste as my thermals have gone to hell in the last week. I guess for stock paste, nearly 3 years was a pretty good run

 

edited:
misread. deleted.

 

@Mofoist @Basherwalls … I have putting up with my X51R3 not shutting down properly for the last year. Thank you guys for the step by step guide.
Finally resolved this.

 

If it can help someone, here is a picture of my bios chip on my I7/ gtx 970M R2 laptop:

 

Yes, that should be your bios chip.

 

Thanks to you more people are actually trying to save older AW and re-using it like new.

 

Where's my 10% lol

 

What?

 

Hi. Im new to this. Thanks for the instructions, it was straightforward. I followed all the steps given, now when i tried to install the Intel me driver, there was an error saying that it was not supported. That does mean i wasnt able to flash the bios?

 

@Rol Does your computer actually shut down/sleep and wake up correctly now?

 

Its still the same. I cant also see the Intel ME on system devices. Im gonna do it again. I have a alienware 15 r2.

 

@Rol Yeah you did something wrong. It's almost as if you reflashed the old backup file and not the cleaned file if I had to guess.

You'll know right away that you fixed it because it will shut down correctly

 

Maybe flashed the secondary BIOS chip? I think I saw 2 SPI BIOS chips!

 

I don't recall seeing 2 but to be clear the chip is directly next to the SSD ports @Rol

 

i saw 4 bios chips on the motherboard but I flashed the bios chip next to the ssd ports,

 

Well, I guess 1 more try is in order?

 

Im gonna try until i get it right. lol

hopefully it will work. wish me luck

 

so im at STEP 16

16. Drag the outimage.bin into the ME Analyzer.exe again and press enter - check the info. It should now show the same as before and some details have changed - Main one is File System State is now CONFIGURED so it should be good to go.

but in the outimage.bin, in the file sytem state, instead of CONFIGURED as the step 16 says, mine is still INITIALIZED. im confused now...

 

Post a screenshot.

 

thats the outimage i have created and the original one

 

@Mofoist Shouldn't ME Analyzer say Not initialised DATA partition? From the screenie I think both ME.bin file look identical to me.

 

Its still not shutting down on my second try and I also cant find Intel ME on system devices.

 

The bios chip is the one usually nearest the cpu on the motherboard on these Alienware laptops.
In short, if the die chip says Nvidia, that’s the gpu...
The Bios chip near the CPU will have Winbond 25Q128FVSQ written on it or something similar.
The 25Q means it’s the 25Q type bios chip - the 128 is the size of the chip, so choose that 128/16 in the programmer.

If you follow the instructions, it says to read the bios chip, save a copy and then use the software to read the bios image before you start any work - this can confirm that you are flashing the right bios.

No wiping of bios chips should be done until you have created your new image and all your work has been checked.
You should also save a copy of the bios image when you read it - so you have an original to put on if it goes wrong.

Follow the instructions step by step and you should be good, but ensure you read the bios chip near the cpu on these boards.

A few chips look the same, but things like the GPU also have a bios so don’t go touching them as there’s no need.

I am sorry I missed a few comments as I didn’t get email updates that someone posted.

 

Can you post a photo of which chip you are trying to do?
Maybe so I can see what is near it.

If its still showing initialized - Did you copy over the file in step 12?

12. At the FIT folder there should now be a folder named after the inputted file, in this case it's named "AW13R2". Enter "Decomp" subfolder. There should be a number of files there (BIOS Region, Flash Descriptor, OEM Region etc) including a "ME Region.bin" file. Take the previous "ME Region.bin" file you saved at step 9 on the desktop and copy it where the current "ME Region.bin" file is, effectively replacing it.