When I use XTU Watchdog is disabled how do i enable it (Core Ultra 265K)

[WWIA7062]

In device manager it says it's installed but in XTU it says it's not. what should/can I do?

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hello WWIA7062,

Thank you for your patience. After carefully reviewing the situation, I have a few recommendations to ensure your system is properly configured. First, please verify that you have the latest chipset and Intel Management Engine drivers installed. These drivers can be found on your motherboard manufacturer's website, so make sure they are up to date, as outdated drivers can affect the functionality of XTU and the watchdog.

Additionally, please check if the Watchdog Timer (WDT) is enabled in your BIOS. To verify this, kindly follow the steps below: 

1. Restart the system and enter the BIOS setup (usually by pressing DEL or F2 during boot).
2. Look for settings under Advanced or CPU Configuration.
3. Check if there's a setting related to the Watchdog Timer or Intel Watchdog.
4. If you find it, make sure it’s set to Enabled.

You've mentioned that the WDT driver appears in Device Manager, yet XTU indicates that "Watchdog Present" is set to False. This discrepancy is crucial, as it suggests the driver is installed but not functioning as expected. Please revisit Device Manager and check for any yellow warning icons on the drivers listed below, as these may indicate issues.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand the System Devices section.
3. Look for any entry related to Intel Watchdog Timer or Intel Management Engine Interface.
4. If you find an issue with the driver (yellow exclamation mark), try to update the driver or uninstall and reinstall the Intel Management Engine (IME) driver from the ASRock support page.

After doing this do let inform me about the outcome.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[WWIA7062]

I can’t find a watchdog section in my huge bios it’s the Z890 Pro-A

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hello WWIA7062,

I understand. You may want to contact ASRock Support for assistance in locating the Watchdog Timer or Intel Watchdog in the BIOS, which will help you find it more easily. Additionally, have you tried the second part of my recommendation involving the Device Manager? If yes can you tell me the outcome?

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hello WWIA7062,

I'm following up to see if you've checked the BIOS and Device Manager for the Watchdog Timer. Please let me know at your earliest convenience if the issue persists.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[WWIA7062]

I asked ASRock they said i dont need a bios setting to save profiles but they didn't tell me how to enable the Watchdog timer, i never found the option in the BIOS

it's for the Z890 Pro-A WiFi

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hello WWIA7062,

I understand, but I wanted to ask if you've had a chance to review the second part of my recommendation regarding checking the Device Manager and following the outlined steps. If you have, please let me know so I can further investigate the issue.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[WWIA7062]

There was no yellow !

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hello WWIA7062,

Thank you for confirming this information. I will conduct further investigation and provide you with an update as soon as possible.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[DhannielM_Intel]

Hello WWIA7062,

Thank you for your patience. I have further investigated the situation, and based on the logs you provided, it appears that XTU is attempting to connect with the WDT driver, but the Watchdog Present status remains FALSE. This is likely due to the current BIOS settings of your motherboard. Typically, the WDT setting in the BIOS would be found under Overclocking Settings. However, after reviewing your BIOS manual and considering your feedback that you couldn't locate it, it seems the motherboard manufacturer may have disabled it by default or not provided a configurable BIOS setting for it.

I strongly recommend contacting ASRock again to address this issue with them, as it pertains to their BIOS configuration. Although the WDT driver is present on your system, it shows as FALSE in XTU. Given that this is related to your motherboard's BIOS, I will proceed to close this inquiry. If you require further assistance, please feel free to submit a new question, as this thread will no longer be monitored.

Best regards,

Dhanniel M.

Intel Customer Support Technician