I think what I was missing in the document http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/6series_update_flowchart10.pdf is:
"With current generation
processor installed,
update the board to the 3rd
Gen-Ready BIOS version
or later, using Recovery
Update method "
I have not been using the recover method - just standard thumb drive upgrade. I will check my ME level in the BIOS and go from there.
Assuming I am at ME7 and need to do the recovery BIOS upgrade, what revision of the BIOS should I use? I am presently at 39.
Also, I have noted one post that said putting the BIOS into default settings before upgrading is important. I do not see this statement anywhere in Intel's instructions. Is this correct? My setting are not far from default, but I have not been defaulting them during upgrades.