Symptom:

While installing the x360Recover software (to build an appliance or vault),  the hardware enters a reboot loop cycle with the following error: 

mei: Init hw failure or mei: initialization failed

This condition may also occur on initial reboot but not cause reboot loop cycle.  The error is the same.

Resolution:

The MEI needs to be deactivated to prevent the driver from loading. 

Log in to the appliance or vault and use VIM to edit the file blacklist.conf. The command to get into VIM is below: 

vim /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

1. Press 'i'
2. Press 'Page Down' three times
3. Press 'end'
4. Press 'enter' twice
5. Type: "# Disabling mei"
6. Press 'enter'
7. Type: "blacklist mei"
8. Press 'esc' twice
9. Type: ":wq"
10. Press 'enter'
11. Type: "reboot" to reboot the server

The MEI driver has now been deactivated and the machine should reboot properly.

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