How to fix "ASF2 force off" on Dell E7440

Model

Dell E7440 laptop.

Symptom

1. Automatically reboot when opening the lid in sleep (S3) mode.
2. "ASF2 force off" in the BIOS system log.
3. Display "Sending Inter(R) Management Engine FW Update" and stop while re-flashing the BIOS.
   (Unplug and remove the batteries will turn off the laptop. It should be fine to boot again.)

Cause

There may be a corruption setting in the Intel management Engine (ME) region, a essential but transparent for consumer and its data and settings different from the the typical BIOS settings.

Solution

• Read this thread below first.
  http://www.win-raid.com/t596f39-Intel-Management-Engine-Drivers-Firmware-amp-System-Tools.html
• Run MEInfo and MEManuf to check if anything wrong. Remember to copy the UUID for the next step.
  X:\>MEInfoWin64
  X:\>MEManufWin64 -TEST -NONFC
• Run FWUpdate to reflash the image again.
  X:\>FWUpdLcl64 -SAVE test.img
  X:\>FWUpdLcl64 -F test.img -OEMID (UUID) -ALLOWSV
• Reboot and run Flash Programming Tool to reset the settings in ME region.
  X:\>fptw64 -GRESET
• Load default settings and re-flash the latest the official BIOS.
• It should be OK and display no errors while writing the firmware.
  X:\>E7440A18
• Done.