Asus Crosshair V formula Z BSOD and shut down

[mxquattro]

Hi everyone. I have been using my system for about a year now with no problems. I went all high end on everything.
Hitachi SSD
750W PSU
32GB DRAM

I started getting BSOD then intermittent shut downs. I thought maybe it was my SSD, since this has happened before and replacing it worked.
I got annoyed with SSDs at this point and went to a WD black. As Im installing windows Im getting the same thing, BSOD or shut down.

If I boot off the win 7 DVD, I can have it sit there on the intro screen seemingly forever. As soon as it starts doing something it freezes or bsod or shut down

What I did:

New hard drive
Removed 3 of the 4 RAM sticks - same thing
Replaced the remaing 1 with brand new - same thing
Unplugged every device (USB/SATA etc) except keyboard and mouse
Reset BIOS back to factory defaults.

Thermal camera shows nothing too warm at all. Besides, its cold up here in Alaska! Im kind of at a loss what to do next. Maybe replacing CPU but that isnt a cheap thing to replace just as a test.

Any tips would be HUGELY appreciated as this is my baby!

[mxquattro]

Thank you Dr Z. Trying it now. It seems I keep getting "Image integrity check failed" using EZ Flash 2 utility.

Im using it on USB, FAT formatted, one partition, just like the docs say. Ill try different versions and different USB and see if that works.

[mxquattro]

As a side note, I was in BIOS utility for an hour with no issues. Using the keyboard, mouse etc and it was fine. The second I booted to win 7 DVD it shut down or BSOD within 30 seconds.

Im wondering if my CPU is the culprit here? A new CPU is only $150 or so, might be worth a try?

[Dr__Zchivago]

mxquattro wrote:
As a side note, I was in BIOS utility for an hour with no issues. Using the keyboard, mouse etc and it was fine. The second I booted to win 7 DVD it shut down or BSOD within 30 seconds.

Im wondering if my CPU is the culprit here? A new CPU is only $150 or so, might be worth a try?

If you can do so, please try this:

Download "Hiren's Boot CD" Here's the link, and burn it to a DVD or CD (or, better yet, a USB flash disk). Try booting to that.
Let it sit in HB CD main window for a while to see if it BSODs. If you're good there, run Memtest86 for at least three full tests (will take about 4 or 5 hours).
If you don't crash during that, then I'd say your CPU and RAM is fine. Next, run the hardware test utility (I don't remember the names - check disk, etc.) on the HB CD.
Report back here.

Z

[MeanMachine]

Hi mxquattro 😉 There's a few things still that could be the culprit. an FX8350 worth fighting for.

You may have a corrupt Bios as Dr. Zchivago says.
You have attempted to flash your bios and it failed using EZ Flash 2 utility within Bios.
As it failed, Please use the flashback port on the IO panel. worth a try.

Get the Bios file from support and use the conversion utility tool to get the correct .cap file.
On your empty fat32 formatted USB stick, run the conversion utility and check it has done its job. C5FZ.CAP
Power down your system, so that there is only power to the MB.
Insert USB with C5FZ.CAP into correct flashback port then press the ROG connect button for 3 secs.
Flashing indicates it is updating and when it stops it has done its job.
Remove the USB, restart back into Bios. Remember your starting from scratch so check time stamp, Drives, CPU, DIMMs etc.
Not all default values after flashback are necessarily as they were prior to Bios Update.
This is the best and safest method to flash your Bios, which is rev: 2201.

I hope this works for you.

[Dr__Zchivago]

MeanMachine wrote:
Hi mxquattro 😉 There's a few things still that could be the culprit. an FX8350 worth fighting for.

Yes! Yes! To Obi-wa... MeanMachine, you listen!

[mxquattro]

I think we are getting closer! Thank you both!! I downloaded the boot CD and ran the mem test. Ran the first one and it says it will continue to run until X is pressed.
Ran it for a good while, but the second I pressed X it shut down hard and rebooted. Maybe its supposed to? Ran the x86 memory test and all was good.

Also got the latest BIOS, put it on a USB stick as well as the rename utility, and it renamed it correctly. Put it in the white USB port and pushed the button.
When I push the button, not a damn thing happens. At all. In fact the power on my motherboard shows the red outline and the ROG button is lit green. When I push the button everything
goes off and goes dark until I let go again. But nothing blinks. I assume you mean the ROG button blinks to let me know its updating? (not the USB). Either way, nothing blinks,
it just all goes off. I held it down for 3 seconds, and even longer a couple of times. It just doesnt want me to update!

[Dr__Zchivago]

mxquattro wrote:
second I pressed X it shut down hard and rebooted. Maybe its supposed to?

That is supposed to happen - it's all good.

mxquattro wrote:
Also got the latest BIOS, put it on a USB stick as well as the rename utility, and it renamed it correctly. Put it in the white USB port and pushed the button.
When I push the button, not a damn thing happens.

I pulled this from ASUS' RoG Flashback page:

"If the light flashes for five seconds and turns stable, USB BIOS Flashback is not operating properly. This may be caused by improper installation of the portable storage device, an error in the file name, or incompatibility in file formats. If this is the case, restart the system until the light clears, and check the file name and format."

I have watched a dozen different videos of people using Flashback, at least - every one of the videos I've seen shows the same thing you are describing, and then cuts to a point where it works.

I'm going to try this myself to update my BIOS, and I'll let you know what I see.

Z

[Dr__Zchivago]

I have never used the FlashBack port for anything other than RoG Connect, so MM's gonna have to lead you through that one.

Z

[MeanMachine]

Hi guys
With power to the MB, and with the USB inserted (in the lower port as per page 2-12 of your user manual). the ROG connect button when pressed, should begin to blink, and continue to blink until update is complete.
Also on the same page is a recap of your instructions for flashback.

It should happen or something is seriously wrong.

[mxquattro]

MeanMachine, its funny you mention that. My manual says nothing about flashback. And on top of it when I watch this youtube video on how to do it, I get the same results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVvHwq3syqI Notice when he pushes the button everything goes black (his motherboard) and no blinking happens