Intel Issues Updates to Protect Systems from Security Exploits

I think I’ll take my chances with the BIOS my pc was shipped with (Asus pro gamer 170 motherboard or something like that). I wouldn’t even know exactly the model to go for, since the machine functions, boots etc I won’t risk it. Hopefully as mentioned windows update will do its job. Like Jimbo, there’s little of interest in my machine!

legacy7955 said:

In a way I wish AMD was still independent of Intel, I'd love to see some real competition in the processor market.

Just curious what that is supposed to mean.

I got the Win 10 update yesterday, however I found a "ME" (Management Engine) update on my ASUS motherboard downloads listed under a BIOS update. I went around in circles as it would not install. Checked for a BIOS update, via the update utility in my ASUS BIOS and it did a BIOS update but it didn't affect the ME version (I was at 11.6,10,1196). I found a post on the Dell forum an Intel Management Engine Interface Driver utility had to be run first. I did that and then installed the ASUS ME update and my ME Version was updated to 11.8.50.3399. I ran the Intel ME Discovery tool and it shows my system "is not vulnerable it has already been patched".

I don't know if this relates to the Intel CPU issue but it is an issue for many.

fireberd said:

I got the Win 10 update yesterday, however I found a "ME" (Management Engine) update on my ASUS motherboard downloads listed under a BIOS update. I went around in circles as it would not install. Checked for a BIOS update, via the update utility in my ASUS BIOS and it did a BIOS update but it didn't affect the ME version (I was at 11.6,10,1196). I found a post on the Dell forum an Intel Management Engine Interface Driver utility had to be run first. I did that and then installed the ASUS ME update and my ME Version was updated to 11.8.50.3399. I ran the Intel ME Discovery tool and it shows my system "is not vulnerable it has already been patched".

I don't know if this relates to the Intel CPU issue but it is an issue for many.

I'm still sorting things out and found yesterday the same ME update and a new BIOS update with microcode in it for this Asus Z-170 Pro. Here is an article from Asus on this subject.

wordsworth said:

I'm still sorting things out and found yesterday the same ME update and a new BIOS update with microcode in it for this Asus Z-170 Pro. Here is an article from Asus on this subject.

My ASUS Z170 board is a ROG Maximus VIII. But the listed ASUS ME update would not install until I installed the Intel Management Engine Interface Driver Utility. The BIOS update from 3101 to 3404 did nothing for the ME version. It was all very confusing until I found the post on the Dell Forum

"figured it out. there are two updates required for all this Intel chip issue, Intel_ME_Firmware_Updater32_Cons_H_11.8.50.3425 & Intel-Management-Engine-Interface-Driver_7CDG2_WIN_11.7.0.1054_A02.
they are both listed here: http://www.dell.com/.../dell-client-...ntel-sa-00086-
You have to install the firmware one first, which updates your BIOS. then the Management Engine one. should work fine then. the ones listed are for my alienware 17R, yours might be a different name but the basics are the same, update the BIOS first, then the IMEI Driver."

I understood the sequence of BIOS, driver, then the Asus utility, but I cannot find a utility driver for my system. I have updated the BIOS to 3504 but am still looking for this utility driver update before installing the Asus ME update. It appears to be the usual thing where Asus refers to Intel, and Intel to Asus. Call me still confused.

legacy7955 said:

Could it be that those intel patches are included in the Cumulative Updates being pushed out by MS?

So many unanswered questions and doubt here.

I wonder how many AMD chips are affected, it seems like less of them might be. In a way I wish AMD was still independent of Intel, I'd love to see some real competition in the processor market.

My AMD chip has been trashed by it. Only just switched to Windows 10 and absolutely sick of it. The december update trashed my graphics card and having finally bought an "emergency" replacement they trash my processor chip the very same day with the forced January update) so now the whole thing is ready for the tip/dump/rubbish. (whatever anyones local terms might be) I pity everyone in less fortunate parts of the world in the same situation. It's not just AMD either according to the reports in the computer press. No notifications, no communications, no end of life warnings, just forced updates that break your computer. Four solid days and long nights trying to get my computer working again only to find out that Microsoft broke it - TWICE !!. Appalling!