Intel Management Engine discussion

I have been researching my issue, and the general consensus from multiple threads is that Intel Management Engine Interface is the culprit. Most people are saying that it should be downgraded to version 9.5.24.1790. My Intel Management Engine Interface is currently on version 11.0.0.1166. Can you tell me what version your IMEI is on? To look, go to Device Manager, click on System Devices, right click on Intel Management Engine Interface, and select properties. It will then show you a list of things about IMEI with the driver version being among them. If your IMEI driver is on v9 instead of v11, the fix may just be as simple as switching to that driver. Thanks in advance.

 

Or, upgrade a bit more, I have 11.0.0.1172

Spoiler

That version, and .1180 mentioned here, for Windows 10 shutdown fixes:

Intel Management Engine issues fixed?
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3qkx9b/intel_management_engine_issues_fixed/

guru3d forums:
New Intel IMEI driver only v11.0.0.1181
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=406226

 

Is there anywhere else I can go to get newer Intel Management Engine drivers? That one download on the forum link you sent looks pretty sketchy.

 

Many versions MEI here http://www.station-drivers.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=353&func=select&id=106&lang=en

 

I have been using Station-Drivers site for years, and no problems. I searched for other sites for .1172 and .1180 / .1181, and nothing comes up for me, but I see others mention getting them from Dell, you could try poking around there, and HP, Lenovo, etc.

If you like you can downgrade to the versions hosted on the MSI site. For Windows 10 on pre-Skylake they have .1146 and for Skylake .1166

You could also try the iobit Driver Booster to find newest drivers, that's likely where I got the 11.0.0.1172 version as my Downloads active and backup folders don't have it.

 

This is probably a stupid question, but how exactly do I update these drivers? I ran the EXE which just extracted a folder to my downloads. I went into the folder and am not exactly sure how to install the drivers. Any idea how to install these?

 

Hang on, problem when upgrading to the .1181 package... checking for alternative.

 

The station drivers package did update the IMEI driver to .1181, but it gave an error - which might be due to needing to reboot after uninstalling the old version and installing the new one - it couldn't start the new one until a reboot cleared out the old one.

I am also looking for the matching Intel Management Engine Components package - check your Program and Features control panel to see which version you have, let me know.

To install a driver only update, without the .exe installer, you use the Device Manager, right click on the Intel Management Engine device, select Properties, select Driver - Update driver, then Update from local files, check the box that says search subfolders, find the unzipped folder on your drive, go into the top level directory of it, and update.

Spoiler

It's probably easier to use the iobit Driver Booster

 

I can't find a newer version of the Intel Management Engine Components package, only newer drivers.

You can update to this package for the components, .1166, and then update the driver with the .1181 package:

https://us.msi.com/Notebook/support/GT80S-TITAN-SLI-6th-Gen-GTX-980-SLI.html#down-driver&Win10 64

Type Intel Management Engine Title ME Intel(R) Skylake Series
OS Win10 64 Release Date 2015-10-09
Version 11.0.0.1166 File Size 62.97 MB
http://download.msi.com/nb_drivers/...92.zipME_ME_SW_MSI_11.0.0.1166_0x157ced92.zip

If you find a newer version of the components, please let us know by posting links.

 

Thanks

I know this is a stupid question, but I just want to be sure. It says that the download is for Skylake CPUs, but my CPU is broadwell. It will probably work, but I just wanna make sure.

 

By the way, my Intel Management Engine Components version is 11.0.0.1167.

 

Yeah, it's a mystery to me to, as that is what I have always gone by, 9.x.x.x for Haswell, 10.x.x.x for Broadwell, and 11.x.x.x for Skylake, but it might just be coincidental timing for major version updates with OS/Hardware releases.

Like the INF Chipset drivers, they seem to be backwards compatible. I don't get an error from installation, and when rebooted the device looks good and is running.

You would think the latest for 10.x.x.x would probably work fine for Broadwell, but for the Broadwell GT80 download area, the 10.0.30.1054 version is for Windows 8.1, and they have version 11.0.0.1146 for Windows 10, both for Broadwell.

https://us.msi.com/Notebook/support/GT80-Titan-GTX-980M.html#down-driver&Win8.1 64

Type Intel Management Engine Title ME Intel (R) 10 Series
OS Win8.1 64 Release Date 2015-05-26
Version 10.0.30.1054 File Size 71.34 MB

https://us.msi.com/Notebook/support/GT80-Titan-GTX-980M.html#down-driver&Win10 64

Type Intel Management Engine Title Intel ME
OS Win10 64 Release Date 2015-07-27
Version 11.0.0.1146 File Size 60.7 MB

Kinda confusing, but it looks like the 11.0.0.1166 "for Skylake" is the version specifically for Windows 10 at the Skylake introduction, make sense? It should also be backwards compatible for previous Haswell/Broadwell.

The latest 11.0.0.1181 driver installed on my Broadwell 5950HQ GT80 SLI-263 ok, and after rebooting shows up as working in Device Manager:

Spoiler

Anyway, sorry it's not more clear, but that's the best explanation I have right now

 

Thanks for the explanation. Anyway, I ran the EXE for the management engine components and the only options are to uninstall or repair. The package must already be installed I guess.

 

What is the version number that shows up for IMEC in Programs and Features? Is it the same or newer than the installer?

 

Found your earlier response

 

It's the same, so I guess I've had them installed the whole time.

 

By the way, I tried installing the .1181 driver via the method you suggested, and it didn't work. It said that it was already installed, so I'm not exactly sure what to do. There is another method that I tried which somewhat works. What I did was on the menu where I browsed for the x64 folder in the mei driver folder, instead of clicking on next after selecting the folder, I just went to "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer" and selected Intel Management Engine Interface. After that, I clicked next, and it said it installed. The odd thing is that the driver version didn't change even after a reboot.

 

Hey, no sweat, it's funny how we can chase our own tails sometimes, finding we are already right where we are supposed to be

But, just to verify, what version number is showing in the Programs and Features line for the Intel Management Engine Components ??

The reason I ask, is that I have a lower version showing installed, even though I went through the trouble of unpacking the Setup.exe for .1166, and running the ME_App_x64.msi Components installer individually.

The version for Intel Management Engine Components Interface in my Programs and Features line says 10.0.39.1003

My IMEI version is now back down to 10.0.30.1054... for me that may be the sweet spot the installer chose for Windows 8.1, for your Windows 10 install you are getting .1167 and .1166.

Still working on it, so what versions are you showing for Programs and Features for IMEC, and for IMEI in Device Manager?

Spoiler

 

After unpacking there will be an x64 x32 folders, pick the top level above the x64 as it has the .inf file the updater needs. Don't go into the x64 folder and select that, as it will fail.

The find from a list are the installed drivers, so you can roll back and forth to older / newer installed versions. For example on my system I also still have .1172 and .1181 drivers installed and available to select:

Spoiler

 

IMEC is shown as version 11.0.0.1167 in Programs and Features while IMEI is shown as version 11.0.0.1166.

 

And, after a therapeutic reboot - can you now shutdown ok?

 

I see the heci.inf file you are talking about when just viewing the folder in my downloads, but when go to the browse tab when updating the driver in device manager, only the x64 and x86 folders show up. I tried rebooting but that didn't work as I haven't gotten the driver to update yet. Any idea on how to get the heci.inf file selectable in the browse tab instead of just the two folders inside of the driver folder?

 

For that update method you don't select the file, you pick the base folder to start searching. So go into the top level folder - the 7-zip unpacked folder name, after having selected Search subdirs, and the updater will see/find the .inf file(s) it needs.

 

Okay, ill give that a try.

 

You were mixing up the search in a folder/subfolder update method with the Pick From a List then Use Have a Disk option, which does need you to select the specific .inf file

 

So I updated and shut down the computer. Instead of shutting down, it put me in the BIOS recovery screen. I have no idea what to do. Please help.

 

Should I reboot into safe mode and roll back drivers?

 

...

 

Go to far right tab in BIOS, select Set Defaults, then go into BIOS settings and reenable what you need, like Charger+ / Intel VM stuff, etc, don't change boot settings. Then F10 Save and Restart.

 

The only thing on the far right side of the bios in the recovery tab is "ROM Image is not loaded" and "ROM Image update denied" Any other ideas? I really don't want to have to RMA this thing again.

 

I didn't say the recovery tab...

Please post a photo of what you are seeing.

 

Here's a picture:

Image by SizeDrip posted Mar 9, 2016 at 9:09 PM

 

I have sent you several PM's / Conversation Posts, please read your Inbox - above and to the right on this page, "Lets discuss here instead of the main thread..."

 

For those of you on the edge of your seats

Spoiler

@SizeDrip 's laptop restart came up in the BIOS instead of going into Windows - so I suggested he power off and power on again, and see if he goes into Windows or back into the BIOS.

He is back in Windows.

So if that ever happens to any of you, don't panic, power off and power on again, and you should go into Windows ok.

Definitely don't futz around with boot options in the BIOS

For me, I was having problems re-installing IMEI / IMEC software / drivers after uninstalling the IMEI device and IMEC package. I found out what that problem was.

Intel Extreme Tuning Utility was interfering with installation.

After uninstalling Intel Extreme Tuning Utility, rebooting, I had to do one more thing to allow the IMEI/IMEC installer to complete.

Remove the residual files / folder from the previous install in Programs (x86)/Intel/Intel Management Components. The new installer couldn't deal with the uninstall correctly.

Then I was able to install the latest IMEI/IMEC software.

I now have Windows 8.1 with IMEC 11.0.0.1177 + IMEI driver 11.0.0.1176 installed from:

ME_Consumer_Win7_8.1_10_64_ 11.0.0.1202
https://downloadmirror.intel.com/25395/eng/ME_Consumer_Win7_8.1_10_64_11.0.0.1202.zip

From:

Intel® ME 11: Management Engine Driver
Version: 11.0.0.1202 (Latest) Date: 1/29/2016
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do...-Management-Engine-Driver-1-5M-for-NUC6i-x-SY

 

Creating this as a separate complementary thread to the owner's thread. Feel free to search for advice for the Intel Management Engine. This is one of the key discussions that has been asked in the GT80 owner's thread and current or future users might find it helpful.

 

OK, I read the whole thread in detail, I did multiple searches in the past, can somebody please finally tell me what exactly IMEI does and why do i ever need it on my home computer? I know about remote start/BIOS update and other networking stuff, but I don't even have home network set up. My system would hang up on shutdown for few seconds, with message that something is still running in the background. I disabled IMEI in device manager and all is good. The only difference I can see now is that after undervolting CPU using XTU, I got message that watchdog is no longer working and if I input some bad parameters the system will not reset to safe settings automatically, I'll have to do it manually, which could be tricky if system won't boot. So XTU uses it as safeguard, did I miss anything else? because I can still overclock and all. I'm just trying to figure if I really need it. Driver version 11.0.1146 in Apache with Haswell and Win7, probably driver came either from MSI or with XTU.
BTW Intel has probably biggest mess I've ever seen when it comes to driver versions and release dates, I actually saw driver release date from July 2016, just few weeks ago (they already testing time travel, yeeess)