Author: parsec
Subject: ASRock X99-WS BIOS Upgrade to 3.x Fails
Posted: 14 Sep 2016 at 1:20pm
I think this is the first time we've had a post about issues with the various UEFI versions of the X99 WS board.
You have a lot of information in a few sentences, moving around between UEFI versions, OS versions, and OS drives, so not easy to sort it all out.
Since this thread seems to be aimed at the 3.x UEFI versions, which includes three versions, four if you included the Beta 3.20 version, I'll go with that, although mixing these versions is difficult to deal with.
There is an alternate fix for you in the last paragraph of this post, which may be your best bet. Most of the following describes why you are in your current situation, including a potential fix.
An important preface to all of this, your Xeon 1620 v3 processor is a Haswell-EP processor. All of the 3.xx UEFI versions are the Broadwell-E and Broadwell-EP compatibility UEFI versions.
While it is fine to use a Haswell-E or Haswell-EP processor with the Broadwell-E and Broadwell-EP compatible UEFIs, the Intel Management Engine (IME) software for use with the Broadwell-E and Broadwell-EP compatibility UEFIs, must be installed.
For Win 2012 R2 64 bit, that would be the Intel Management Engine driver ver:11.0.4.1186, available on your board's Win 2012 R2 64 bit download page:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/X99%20WS/?cat=Download&os=2K12b64
The same IME software installer will work with Windows 10, as it will install what is required for the target OS version.
While that may not be obvious or documented in your board's download pages, Intel does also does not document this very well, if at all.
While the Intel ARK processor information pages for Haswell-E and Broadwell-E processors include a link to a driver download page for these processors, that page does not include IME software.
The Intel ARK processor information pages for Xeon E5 v3 processors do not include a link to any driver or software downloads whatsoever. I imagine Intel assumes owners of these processors and compatible mother boards are all savvy enough to know an IME software update is required when a UEFI update for the compatible next generation processors are applied. I happen to know that from years of experience dealing with Intel IME software related situations and issues. Everyone is not that (un)lucky.
To make this situation even worse, the Broadwell-E/EP compatible UEFI versions were available before Intel released the corresponding Broadwell-E/EP IME software update, and before the Broadwell-E/EP processors were available at retail. About three months apart.
The marketing politics of mother boards, requiring them to be or among the first to have these UEFI updates available, although only half of what is necessary, forces all mother board manufactures to make them available before they should be. Otherwise as I witnessed in this forum, frantic owners of X99 boards are asking where the Broadwell-E/EP UEFI updates are. That also becomes, "... won't my board have a UEFI update to support Broadwell-E/EP processors?". Or worse, mutates into, "XYZ mother boards won't support Broadwell-E/EP, that a low information users posts in another forum.
Then we get to deal with all kinds of issues caused by the Broadwell-E/EP UEFI versions being applied to boards without the necessary IME software.
If you have not installed that version of the IME software on all your OS installations, you must do so. If you have an still have all the issues with the various UEFI versions, please let us know. I cannot guarantee the IME software will fix all your issues, but it is a good start.
Regarding the Instant Flash files on an SD card, formatted FAT16 on a Mac PC. If you click the "How to Update" link on the Instant Flash entry for each UEFI version, you'll find this:
Save the BIOS files on a device such as USB disk (FAT32 format), hard disk (FAT32 format) and floppy drive.
Using an SD card, formatted FAT16 on a Mac PC instead, is IMO scary. As you discovered, that media simply will not work, and was never suggested for use.
If you mean after a UEFI flash, which is also a UEFI clear, the board will POST and then shutoff and restart, or just restart, that happens on my ASRock X99 Extreme6/3.1 board with a Broadwell-E processor too. In general unusual behavior, but now normal for X99 system, as far as I know.
NVMe support is provided starting with UEFI version 1.70, and modified in 2.10. If you've never installed an OS on an NVMe SSD, you must configure the CSM option to allow that to work. The CoProcessor question I don't have an answer for.
Normally, once you apply the UEFI update for a new processor generation, which updates the CPU microcode, among other things, you cannot go back to earlier UEFI versions, since the CPU microcode is not updated in every UEFI update. So once you installed 3.10, you are stuck with its CPU microcode. BUT, your board has the Dual UEFI capability, with which you should be able to over write the entire UEFI image in the main UEFI chip. I suggest you read the manual about using the backup UEFI procedure, and perform it carefully. Don't forget to switch back to the Main UEFI chip.
Subject: ASRock X99-WS BIOS Upgrade to 3.x Fails
Posted: 14 Sep 2016 at 1:20pm
 CMG wrote:In orderto prepare for installing an Intel PCIe SSD, I have attempted to update theBIOS on my ASRock X99-WS, with many problems. All 3.xversions hang Windows. 2.10 does not retain the HDD boot priority and my Intel NVMeSSD is not recognised by the Intel drivers when I attempt to install it under2.10. Further, I have had numerous hangs and crashes during the BIOS flashprocedure. I will create separate threads for the different issues. Below aredetails regarding the problems with the 3.x BIOS. I would greatly appreciate it if Support can help get an uptodate and stable BIOS for this motherboard ASAP! Here iswhat I tried:
Here are full details of my system:
Thanks in advance CMG |
This is repeatable every time. I also tried another installation of Server2016TP4 and even the Windows 2012R2 install disk from a UEFI USB stick. Bothof these also fail in the same way.
- will registeras a separate item.I think this is the first time we've had a post about issues with the various UEFI versions of the X99 WS board.
You have a lot of information in a few sentences, moving around between UEFI versions, OS versions, and OS drives, so not easy to sort it all out.
Since this thread seems to be aimed at the 3.x UEFI versions, which includes three versions, four if you included the Beta 3.20 version, I'll go with that, although mixing these versions is difficult to deal with.
There is an alternate fix for you in the last paragraph of this post, which may be your best bet. Most of the following describes why you are in your current situation, including a potential fix.
An important preface to all of this, your Xeon 1620 v3 processor is a Haswell-EP processor. All of the 3.xx UEFI versions are the Broadwell-E and Broadwell-EP compatibility UEFI versions.
While it is fine to use a Haswell-E or Haswell-EP processor with the Broadwell-E and Broadwell-EP compatible UEFIs, the Intel Management Engine (IME) software for use with the Broadwell-E and Broadwell-EP compatibility UEFIs, must be installed.
For Win 2012 R2 64 bit, that would be the Intel Management Engine driver ver:11.0.4.1186, available on your board's Win 2012 R2 64 bit download page:
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/X99%20WS/?cat=Download&os=2K12b64
The same IME software installer will work with Windows 10, as it will install what is required for the target OS version.
While that may not be obvious or documented in your board's download pages, Intel does also does not document this very well, if at all.
While the Intel ARK processor information pages for Haswell-E and Broadwell-E processors include a link to a driver download page for these processors, that page does not include IME software.
The Intel ARK processor information pages for Xeon E5 v3 processors do not include a link to any driver or software downloads whatsoever. I imagine Intel assumes owners of these processors and compatible mother boards are all savvy enough to know an IME software update is required when a UEFI update for the compatible next generation processors are applied. I happen to know that from years of experience dealing with Intel IME software related situations and issues. Everyone is not that (un)lucky.
To make this situation even worse, the Broadwell-E/EP compatible UEFI versions were available before Intel released the corresponding Broadwell-E/EP IME software update, and before the Broadwell-E/EP processors were available at retail. About three months apart.
The marketing politics of mother boards, requiring them to be or among the first to have these UEFI updates available, although only half of what is necessary, forces all mother board manufactures to make them available before they should be. Otherwise as I witnessed in this forum, frantic owners of X99 boards are asking where the Broadwell-E/EP UEFI updates are. That also becomes, "... won't my board have a UEFI update to support Broadwell-E/EP processors?". Or worse, mutates into, "XYZ mother boards won't support Broadwell-E/EP, that a low information users posts in another forum.
Then we get to deal with all kinds of issues caused by the Broadwell-E/EP UEFI versions being applied to boards without the necessary IME software.
If you have not installed that version of the IME software on all your OS installations, you must do so. If you have an still have all the issues with the various UEFI versions, please let us know. I cannot guarantee the IME software will fix all your issues, but it is a good start.
Regarding the Instant Flash files on an SD card, formatted FAT16 on a Mac PC. If you click the "How to Update" link on the Instant Flash entry for each UEFI version, you'll find this:
Save the BIOS files on a device such as USB disk (FAT32 format), hard disk (FAT32 format) and floppy drive.
Using an SD card, formatted FAT16 on a Mac PC instead, is IMO scary. As you discovered, that media simply will not work, and was never suggested for use.
If you mean after a UEFI flash, which is also a UEFI clear, the board will POST and then shutoff and restart, or just restart, that happens on my ASRock X99 Extreme6/3.1 board with a Broadwell-E processor too. In general unusual behavior, but now normal for X99 system, as far as I know.
NVMe support is provided starting with UEFI version 1.70, and modified in 2.10. If you've never installed an OS on an NVMe SSD, you must configure the CSM option to allow that to work. The CoProcessor question I don't have an answer for.
Normally, once you apply the UEFI update for a new processor generation, which updates the CPU microcode, among other things, you cannot go back to earlier UEFI versions, since the CPU microcode is not updated in every UEFI update. So once you installed 3.10, you are stuck with its CPU microcode. BUT, your board has the Dual UEFI capability, with which you should be able to over write the entire UEFI image in the main UEFI chip. I suggest you read the manual about using the backup UEFI procedure, and perform it carefully. Don't forget to switch back to the Main UEFI chip.