Intel ME Firmware Fails

[bandwith]

Hangs when attempting to install ME Firmware if ME Device Driver is not found.

results from manual attempt

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp\ME-9.5.61.3012\FW64>FWUpdLcl64.exe -f ../ME/ME9.5_5M_Production.bin -allowsv -y

Intel (R) Firmware Update Utility Version: 9.5.61.3012
Copyright (C) 2007 - 2017, Intel Corporation.  All rights reserved.

Error 8193: Intel (R) ME Interface : Cannot locate ME device driver

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp\ME-9.5.61.3012\FW64>xcopy "MEFWDetailFile.exe" "C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\" /y
C:MEFWDetailFile.exe
1 File(s) copied

Truncated output from BiosSledgehammer.ps1 -Verbose

Processing XML output (C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp\*_System_Summary.xml)...
Reading finished
Management Engine information:

  Firmware Version ..: 9.5.15.1730
  Feature Level .....: Consumer
  Provisioned .......: Not Provisioned

Current ME firmware version: 9.5.15.1730  (Numerical: 9.5.15.1730)
Desired ME firmware version: 9.5.61.3012  (Numerical: 9.5.61.3012)
  ME update required!
The ME update will take some time, please be patient.
VERBOSE: Invoke-UpdateProgram() started
Checking if system is on AC or DC (battery) power...
VERBOSE: Perform operation 'Enumerate CimInstances' with following parameters, ''namespaceName' = root\cimv2,'className' = Win32_Battery'.
VERBOSE: Operation 'Enumerate CimInstances' complete.
  Battery status is OK or system has no battery.
::: Preparing launch of update executable :::
Copy from [\\<server>\e$\DeploymentShare\Scripts\custom\BiosSledgehammer\Models\HP ZBook 14\ME-9.5.61.3012\]
       to [C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp\ME-9.5.61.3012\] ...
VERBOSE: Copy done
Trying to delete [*.log] in target folder
Starting:
  C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp\ME-9.5.61.3012\CallInst.exe
  /app Update.bat /hide
VERBOSE: StdOut and StdError redirection disabled

[texhex]

Could you please try to install the "Intel Management Engine Components Driver" from https://support.hp.com/za-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-zbook-14-mobile-workstation/5403903 and then try to rerun BIOS Sledgehammer?

I really hope this is not the same as with the 6570b where it seems HP did not test if the firmware file can actually be installed.

[bandwith]

Yes, after installing the "Intel Management Engine Components Driver" from http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp79001-79500/sp79059.html BIOS Sledgehammer is able to install the firmware update.

Is there a method to chain the installation as a prerequisite using BIOS Sledgehammer?

[texhex]

Good to hear, so at least it works for that model.

What do you mean with "chain the installation"? You can of course install the driver before, this shouldn't be a problem.

The silent install command should be in the CVA file for the SoftPaq. If you copy the download URL for the SPxxxx.EXE in question, just replace .EXE at the end with .CVA and you can view the file. In it, there is a setting "SilentInstall" which should give the command.

[bandwith]

By "chain the installation", how could we use BIOS Sledgehammer to manage the installation of that specific SoftPaq and not have the need to install manually in advance?

I haven't read the full script to determine if placing another .txt file with the appropriate download paths would work...

... more after I get back to the office next week.

[texhex]

Thanks, understood.

Supporting another TXT file that launches an EXE isn't that hard, this could be done in less than an hour.

BUT: Just creating a "ME-DriverInstall.txt" isn't something I want to do. The approach is to specialized for the ME updates IMHO. I could think of something like "DriverInstall-Pre1.txt" (install something before any firmware updates start) and "DriverInstall-Post1.txt" (after all updates were done).

The problem with any driver install is: How can we detect that the driver needs installation of if it's already installed? Check file version? Registry? Both of them?

[texhex]

@bandwith: Any updates?

[bandwith]

Revisiting this issue today. More information soon.

[texhex]

@bandwith I think I had an idea yesterday to solve this: The newer Intel SA * tools return the information called "Driver_Installed".

We could use that information to decide if a driver installation is necessary or not, so the detection part would be easy.

Is it possible that you could check with a ZBook 14 that, if the HP ME driver is not installed, the Intel SA tool repots "Driver_Install" = False?

[texhex]

@bandwith I want to release 4.0 BETA next week and it would be great if you give me an update until then. Thanks.

[texhex]

No updates, assuming this issue is abandoned and closing it.