Damn you bios flash

Chillin · **Damn you bios flash -** 05-01-2012, 09:14 | posts: 5,884 | Location: Chilling

BIOS update failed.

I was having a problem where Windows suddenly stopped booting . I then attempted to enter the BIOS but the bios wouldn't load, all I got was a black screen after pressing delete or F2 . I then tried a bios reset but still nothing happened. I then attempted to use the F6 instant flash to reinstall the bios. However, the update froze after a few seconds and then went into a sudden restart.

Since then I have not been able to turn on the computer properly. When I click the power button the computer turns on for a few seconds, nothing appears on and then enters an endless series of restarts.

killer_939 · 05-01-2012, 09:30 | posts: 2,559 | Location: Australia

Something may be on its way out/dead in your pc making it highly unstable then a crash while bios flashing = bricked motherboard. I don't know if your motherboard can fix it's bios straight from USB if its corrupt but maybe google it. GL

Chillin · 05-02-2012, 16:22 | posts: 5,884 | Location: Chilling

Well Asrock's support has been less than useless. They basically told me to fck off and bother Newegg about my problem.

I think I just might junk this board and pick up an ASUS Z77, I know at least that their support is worth something.

TechFreaK · 05-02-2012, 16:30 | posts: 155 | Location: TechLand

Did you took out battery for few moments?

deltatux · 05-02-2012, 16:45 | posts: 18,773 | Location: Toronto, Canada

Try resetting the CMOS, if nothing, you might have bricked your board during a flash. Unfortunately, I don't believe ASRock has a BIOS recovery method.

deltatux

k1net1cs · 05-02-2012, 17:11 | posts: 3,323

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillin

Since then I have not been able to turn on the computer properly. When I click the power button the computer turns on for a few seconds, nothing appears on and then enters an endless series of restarts.

That's not necessarily the BIOS failing.
In my case, it's usually also a telltale sign of your PSU going south.
My HX520 also did that on its last breath.

The motherboard I had that problem with (before I realized it's my PSU) was an ASUS P5K.
When I got a new motherboard (a Gigabyte), it runs fine at first, but then it showed the same symptoms in less than a week.
After searching around in many forums, it turned out that the endless restarts can also be from a faulty PSU.

And so I bought a 500W SilverStone, the ASUS P5K build was back on its proper feet.
That was more than a year ago.
The board (ASUS P5K) is still running fine now, along with its 'antiquated' OC-ed E6550@3.0GHz, even after I paired it with a 450W Antec because I use the SilverStone for my i5-2500K build.
I gave the Gigabyte board away to a friend.

IcE · 05-02-2012, 19:07 | posts: 6,991 | Location: Toledo, Ohio

Well, at least you know now not to try flashing when the system isn't rock stable.

IPlayNaked · 05-02-2012, 19:40 | posts: 6,559

Unless a BIOS update is specifically for a problem you're having...you should never try flashing a new one as a troubleshooting step. You probably realize this now, but I'm posting it for others.. It's a bad idea, and more often than not, it ends with a paperweight.

harkinsteven · *Last edited by harkinsteven; 05-02-2012 at 19:54.*

Depending on the bios creator i.e AMI bios etc. You are able to copy the bios to a usb pen and switch on the computer and it should flash itself. The file needs to be a named a specific way to work. Its a failsafe. I did it with an asus board i received DOA. I'm sure other companies have the same failsafe.

Code:

This feature allows the user to recover a BIOS image using a USB device without

additional utilities used. A user can download the BIOS image into a USB ﬂash
device, and name the ﬁle "SUPER.ROM" for the recovery process to load the ﬁle.

A USB ﬂash device such as a USB Flash Drive, a USB CD-ROM or a USB CD-RW

device can be used for this purpose.

1. Insert the USB device that contains the new BIOS image (the ROM ﬁles)

saved in a root directory into your USB drive.

2. While turning the power on, press and hold <Ctrl> and <Home> simultane-

ously until the USB LED Indicator comes on. This might take a few seconds.

3. Once the USB drive LED is on, release the <Ctrl> and <Home> keys. The
AMI BIOS will issue beep codes to indicate that the BIOS ROM ﬁle is being

updated. When BIOS ﬂashing is completed, the computer will reboot.

killer_939 · 05-02-2012, 22:54 | posts: 2,559 | Location: Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillin

I think I just might junk this board and pick up an ASUS Z77, I know at least that their support is worth something.

I wouldn't pick asus for a support quality upgrade, their hardware might be solid but they are known to have some of the worst support.

---TK--- · 05-02-2012, 23:10 | posts: 14,712 | Location: New Jersey, USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by killer_939

I wouldn't pick asus for a support quality upgrade, their hardware might be solid but they are known to have some of the worst support.

+1 asus support is as bad as asrock if not worse

crushilista · 05-03-2012, 00:35 | posts: 3,482 | Location: USA

ASUS support is cancerous. Great products, but my god...

Chillin · 05-04-2012, 16:44 | posts: 5,884 | Location: Chilling

Anyways, I just ordered an Asrock Z77 Pro 4.

It was $120 mistake but at least it wasn't like I overvolted and fried the CPU (a $225 mistake) and my computer should be back up and running when the mobo gets to me next week.

anticupidon · 05-05-2012, 22:07 | posts: 1,667 | Location: far,far from home

well,since you've got yourself a new motherboard,could you try to revive the ''paperweight'' with a BIOS flash programmer ?
i revived many boards,and usually with the cost of a few beers.
maybe i am old fashioned tech guy,but i like to revive motherboards with a simple FWH, LPC and SPI flashrom programmer.

sykozis · 05-06-2012, 01:31 | posts: 13,493 | Location: US East Coast

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillin

Well Asrock's support has been less than useless. They basically told me to fck off and bother Newegg about my problem.

I think I just might junk this board and pick up an ASUS Z77, I know at least that their support is worth something.

How is it that I can e-mail ASRock tech support over literally anything stupid and get a proper response.....yet, so many on this forum have negative responses?

k1net1cs · 05-06-2012, 04:08 | posts: 3,323

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykozis

How is it that I can e-mail ASRock tech support over literally anything stupid and get a proper response.....yet, so many on this forum have negative responses?

Probably luck of the draw, just like how my problems with activating the DLCs in DAO Ultimate and ME activation limit with EA got sorted quickly while most people seem to have problems with their support.

Chillin · 05-06-2012, 17:14 | posts: 5,884 | Location: Chilling

Quote:

Originally Posted by anticupidon

well,since you've got yourself a new motherboard,could you try to revive the ''paperweight'' with a BIOS flash programmer ?
i revived many boards,and usually with the cost of a few beers.
maybe i am old fashioned tech guy,but i like to revive motherboards with a simple FWH, LPC and SPI flashrom programmer.

Well since I needed my PC up and running ASAP for work I didn't have time to jerk around with fixing it.

Now that it will be up and running I can spend some free time trying to fix it. If I get it working again I'll either sell it, which by me would pay for both motherboards thanks to the crazy prices here, or make a backup PC with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykozis

How is it that I can e-mail ASRock tech support over literally anything stupid and get a proper response.....yet, so many on this forum have negative responses?

Luck of the draw.

My emails with ASUS for example have been most helpful.

anticupidon · 05-06-2012, 18:06 | posts: 1,667 | Location: far,far from home

buy yourself a Nano BIOS programmer.
fix your motherboard,sell it or kep it
with a programmer you could fix somebody's faulty motherboard...in the case of a bad bios flash.

alanm · 05-06-2012, 18:22 | posts: 4,965

Another reason I like Gigabyte boards, dual bios.

Chillin · 05-06-2012, 20:23 | posts: 5,884 | Location: Chilling

Quote:

Originally Posted by anticupidon

buy yourself a Nano BIOS programmer.
fix your motherboard,sell it or kep it
with a programmer you could fix somebody's faulty motherboard...in the case of a bad bios flash.

I would really like to continue this line of thought with you next week.

anticupidon · 05-06-2012, 21:23 | posts: 1,667 | Location: far,far from home

Ask and i will try to answer...
However,this thread just made me think to make a small tutorial ,showing how to revive a "dead"motherboard.

Chillin · *Last edited by Chillin; 05-14-2012 at 02:07.*

Sweet.

I was just fooling around with the O/C settings on the Asrock Z77 Pro4 and I just realized that I've been sitting on a golden CPU all along but my previous motherboard (Asrock Z68 Pro3) held me back.

On the previous motherboard the best I could get with stock voltage stable (~1.27v) was 4GHz. On this new motherboard I can get 4.5Ghz stable in Prime95 and Intel Burn-In test. I chose to go with 4.4Ghz and a -20mv offset that's still fully stable, along with a -100mv on the internal graphics (that's being used as well). I'm going to experiment even further tomorrow.

I was also able to take my RAM which I overpaid for (it was the best at the time, RipjawsX blue CL8) to 8-8-8-21 1t timings @ 1.4v. I could probably drop the volts even further but I'm happy for now.

Old settings:
4GHz stock voltage
IGP @ Stock
8-8-8-24 1t @ DDR3-1600 1.45v

New settings:
4.4GHz @ -20mv offset
IGP @ -100mv offset
8-8-8-21 @ DDR3-1600 1.4v

Man I'm happy at the power savings, especially since electricity rates went up between 30%-40% in the last year alone by me!

Chillin · 05-29-2012, 15:52 | posts: 5,884 | Location: Chilling

By the way, I'm thinking of ordering this and seeing if this fixes my old board:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BIOS-CHIP-AS...ht_1084wt_1256

Has anyone used BiosDepot in the past?