Operating System
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Windows 10
Computer Specs (PSU, GPU, CPU, RAM, Motherboard)
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Motherboard: ASUS ROG MAXIMUS IX HERO
CPU: i7 7700K
BIOS: Version 1203 (Latest)
RAM: 32GB Corsair DDR4
GPU: MSI GTX 1080
PSU: Corsair 600W
SSD: Samsung 960 EVO 512GB
Description of problem
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Over the last few days my computer's stability has become almost unusable (I believe after a Windows update occurred). I frequently get BSODs with varying error messages such as CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION and others. Interestingly, I also get an array of error messages regarding the Intel Management Engine whenever I POST (booting proceeds as normal after this). The error messages have changed over the last few days as the BSODs have become more frequent, and the current message it displays every time I boot is:
"Error sending end of post message to ME: HECI disabled, proceeding with boot"
Cause/Steps to recreate the issue
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Normal use of PC (browsing, etc) randomly causes BSOD. Intensive tasks such as gaming don't seem to increase BSOD frequency. Anywhere from 10 minutes to 12 hours.
What I've tried so far to resolve the issue
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1) Updating my BIOS to the latest, 1203
2) Antivirus / antimalware checks with Windows Defender, MalwareBytes and HijackThis. All come back clean.
3) sfc /scannow
At the moment I'm trying to update the Intel Management Engine to its latest versio (which I meant to do when the vulnerabilities were announced a month or two ago but completely forgot). This is where I'm running into problems.
ASUS' website says the latest BIOS revision should bring my Management Engine's firmware to the latest version, however when I look in the BIOS, my ME Version is: 11.7.0.1229, which is a version from early 2017. I believe I should be aiming to be on version 11.8.50.3425 here? (According to:
https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?97319-A-new-update-for-the-ME-Drivers-and-a-bios-ME-DRIVER... ).
ASUS have a bunch of tools and stuff for updating the Management Engine on their website (
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/ROG-MAXIMUS-IX-HERO/HelpDesk_Download/) and none of them seem to work as expected. The "MEUpdateTool" dated 2017/11/22 (3.71MB) simply tells me "Please check MEI Driver is installed."
So, I download the "Intel ME V11.7.0.1045" tool (dated 2017/12/26 on ASUS' website) which opens up an Intel application called "Intel Management Engine Components" which tells me "This platform is not supported."
After some more research, I was told to try running "FWUpdLcl64.exe -FWVER" to get the current firmware version. This returns:
"Error 8193: Fail to load MEI device driver (PCI access for Windows)
Above error is often caused by one of below reasons:
Administrator privilege needed for running the tool
ME is in an error state causing MEI driver fail
MEI driver is not installed
Error 8757: Display FW Version failed."
I also saw on various forums that people were able to see the Intel Management Engine within Device Manager. I do not have it listed there at all. It is also not listed as an 'Unsupported Device' as if it was missing drivers or anything - Device Manager shows no warnings for any device; the Management Engine simply isn't there.
I've also tried all of the above while booted into Safe Mode to no avail.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm sort of at a loss at this point.
Many thanks in advance.