Z690 Maximus Extreme Glacial bricked after bios update ?

[huyt]

Hello,

I have some issues with my Z690 Maximus Extreme Glacial, after doing a bios update today. After updating my bios from version 2204 to 2604 (or 2602, I cant remember) my computer is stuck in a boot loop, and cannot even post...

The thing is that, the second bios of the motherboard, which contains the bios version 2305, is behaving the same way...

Things I have tried :

  - clearing the cmos

  - unplugging every usb devices

  - usb flashback (possible only between 2305, 2403 and 2604, due to ME firmware updates). The flashback seems to work (led flashes for 3-4min, then stop). But same behavior afterwards.

  - starting in "safe mode", by clicking the "safe_mode" button on the bottom of the mobo.

  - starting in "Slow mode".

  - removing one stick of RAM.

  - removing the GPU.

  - found an "unlocked" 2305 bios, that would allow to step down to 2301 : didn't work.

Frankly, besides removing the cmos battery, I'm out of ideas (still didn't do it, because the loop is a bit complicated to work with :))

Full specs : 12900k, 3080, 64GB DDR5

Does anyone have idea what's happening here ? Please

[JohnAb]

Have you tried turning off the power at the PSU for a few mins? I don't understand why neither BIOS would work. Did you update MEI drivers and ME firmware before the BIOS?

[huyt]

Many thanks for your answer.

I already tried to cut off the power for 30min, without any changes, sadly.

Regarding the bios :

Well, the first Bios was on version 2305, and already "bricked" before this whole operation. I was using the second bios on version 2204 for some months now, waiting for an updated bios to upgrade the first one to, and hopefully resolving the issue.

The thing is, I forgot to switch to the first bios before updating, so I updated the second one instead of the first one, hence why none of them works.

Well, that's not really an explanation tbh, since an update shouldn't brick a motherboard like that.

Regarding the Intel ME Firmware, it was updated before updating the first bios to 2305, but I didn't update it while updating the second one to 2604 (since it was mentioned in the changelogs that it would be updated automatically during the bios update).

[JohnAb]

Your support pages says this:

Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool from ASUS support site, and update ME firmware to Version 16.1.27.2176 to ensure optimized system settings.

Now, I don't know if not doing the ME firmware update would have caused the issue, but maybe. I was going to suggest updating the ME Firmware from a WIN PE bootable USB, but it doesn't sound like you can get past POST, so that's not going to work. Worth removing the battery though. Hope that works on one of the BIOSs.  I know you've tried already, but maybe worth flashing the older BIOS again?

[huyt]

Responded to you in the wrong place, my bad 😕 I'm having trouble with the mobile version of this site 🙂

[huyt]

Thanks for the help, again.

Well, my bad then about the ME firmware, but could it really cause something like that ?

I already tried flashing the older bios 10 times, on both of them, sadly...

PSU is a Corsair HX 1200 watts

I'll try to flash the bios again tomorow, after the system has rested for the night.

I'll keep you updated, thanksbagain

[kraven72]

Can you describe the 'boot loop' in more detail or post a video on youtube ?

Does the motherboard boot for something like half a second and then power off (or going into a loop of power on, power off, power on, power off) ? Do you have 'automatic power on' or 'last power on' set in the bios ? 

Also, what PSU do you have ?

[huyt]

Full boot cycle.

So, Dram training, into cpu check, which goes to q-code 69.

Then that goes into the VGA, q-code 99, then q-code, into q-code 00, and the loop goes again.

I'll post a video after the night (1am here in Europe)

[huyt]

I don't know how to edit the last message and I'm tired. So here is the edit.

As I was saying 🙂 : the VGA q_code are 99, followed by 84, into 00.

[huyt]

Seems I cannot upload the video here.

So here is a link to it https://streamable.com/qlsd0k