CF-31 POST error: ME is in a recovery state

I have a few CF-31 MK2's here that - during POST - display the error "ME is in a recovery state".

If ignored, they will boot right into windows, and operate normally - the only exception being that in device manager there is a COM PORT 4 error:

INTERACTIVE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY - SOL (COM 4) - "A device which does not exist was specified"

Here is the interesting part - when the RTC battery (or the main battery) is installed and connected the BIOS page shows the ME FIRMWARE to be 7.1.10.1065, which I believe to be the correct version.

HOWEVER, if both the RTC battery and the main battery are removed and the unit is rebooted into the BIOS the ME FIRMWARE version changes to 0.0.0.0.0.

Furthermore, if the unit is rebooted WITH THE RTC AND MAIN BATTERY REMOVED, it will POST normally with no errors and will boot into windows and will show a clean device manager with no errors.

The thing is that COM 4 completely disappears - leading me to believe that in this state the ME engine is not loading at all - which would be fine with me because I have no use for it anyway.

The problem is that when either the RTC or main battery is reinstalled the firmware version goes back to 7.1.10.1065, the ME error comes back during POST and the COM 4 SOL error returns to Device Manager.

These PC's are for resale and that simply will not do.

My question is: Is there any way to reflash or otherwise update the Intel ME firmware on a Mk2 CF-31?

Has anyone else ran across this problem? So far I have reset the BIOS to default both manually and by removing the battery, reset the AMT settings in the BIOS under AMT configuration with no luck. I am sure it is a firmware issue and that a firmware update or reflash would solve the issue

Sorry for the long winded post Any help would be appreciated.

 

What is the full model number of the 31 in question ? Shawn is the one you want to talk to on this. He has had a few of them.

 

I never messed with the ME firmware.
Is it updated/included in a standard bios flash?
I don't think Panasonic released a bios update for a mk2. I will look again.
Do you have a mk2 with a good bios?
If you do, back it up with afuwingui and flash that onto the problem machine.

 

Looks like Panasonic will release updates for all machines with ME firmware in June/July

http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/itn/info/osinfo20170512.html


https://security-center.intel.com/advisory.aspx?intelid=INTEL-SA-00075&languageid=en-fr

 

Thanks Shawn, this is what I was looking for

 

ME firmware can be updated even if the manufacturer is not providing updates. I already did a few updates following the info in the link below and everything is fine.

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

Please read first and understand what you need to do. Breaking the ME is not good. If ME is not up and running the machine will power off in 30 minutes.

Also this one I think is better to try. I tested it on a CF-19 MK7 and it works. BIOS reports ME FW as N/A and there are no issues.

https://github.com/corna/me_cleaner

 

But do we need consumer or corporate?
Currently I am working with a CF19 mk6

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I found this. It may help. trying it in a moment.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19009
Wrong platform error

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Download the Intel ME System Tools package from forum thread and backup the old image first. If the image is 1.5MB is consumer one. If the image is ~4MB is corporate. Depends on the BIOS/vendor.. I used the corporate image on a 19MK7 so I would say MK6 is the same.

 

Thank you - sorry for the delay in answering.

The model number is a CF-31JBGHX1M

Will the tool that Tomcatsniper posted work on the MK2 31?

 

Just read the info here:

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

If you had a CF-31JBGHX1M, with the error "ME is in a recovery state", showing ME version 7.1.10.1065 with the RTC battery plugged in, and version 0.0.0.0.0 with the RTC battery unplugged, which option would you choose from the above link to update the ME engine?

Also it was suggested that I use afuwingui to backup a good bios and then flash it onto my bad machine.

is afuwingui capable of doing both? or is there another good program that will do the reflashinig part?

Using 3rd party utilities to repair the bios is kinda new to me so thank you in advance for having patience with my questions.

 

Well, I decided to reflash the bios first, just so I know how to do it.

I used the afuwingui.exe to back up the bios on a good, identical unit and that went well. Then I flashed the bios file I saved onto the bad unit and I know that it worked because now I have twin CF-31's lol.

Both units now show the same model and serial numbers in the bios.

So at least I learned how to do that much.

But alas, it didnt fix the broken ME engine.

So, I guess i will move on to the ME upgrade in this thread.

Wish me luck!