POST but no BOOT

[AYODER56]

System Config:

Maximus VIII Impact, BIOS rev 1504
i6700k
Corsair Dominator Platinum 3200 2x8G
Nepton 1200XL Cooler
No graphics card until I get the basic system functioning
Windows 10 64 bit

Symptoms:

The system was working great. I upgraded the bios using USB, loaded windows 10, ran all available updates, updated all of the system drivers available on the ASUS site. XMP enabled, and memory was rock solid. Other BIOS setting largely unchanged. The system was stable - no issues whatsoever. I was able to restart, shutdown, reset - basically every test I could think of was working fine. I was in love, and patting myself on the back for a flawless build.....

Then trouble started.

I loaded AI Suite, and ran the fan optimization. No problem. I then ran the auto optimizer, which indicated I could get a 10% improvement, so I clicked "OK." Nothing has worked since.

I reloaded the BIOS (from USB), have pushed the Clear CMOS, powered down - everything I can think of. At this point, the POST sequence completes, but does not go on to load windows. Worse, I cannot access the BIOS. I get a screen that indicates that the BIOS recognizeds the CPU and the memory, but then tells me to press F1 for setup. Doesn't work. I cannot get past this screen. Pushing delete/F2 during the POST sequence does not help - I end up at the same screen, and no input from the keyboard (a usb device) is recognized. The other thing I have noticed is that the Boot_Dev LED on the motherboard stays lit (red) when the screen appears.

It seems to me that the BIOS has not properly cleared. However, that is simply a guess based on the symptoms.

Any ideas? Is there a way to "force" the bios to reset and clear the cmos setting more effectively than pushing the clear_cmos button? Is there a process/sequence that I've missed? Am I just an idiot?

Any help appreciated. Let me know if additional details are needed.

Thanks in advance.

[rickytuk]

You need to clear the Cmos properly and the only way I know of doing that is moving the Cmos jumper. You'll need to check the manual to find it but there will be 3 pins on the motherboard with a plastic cap covering 2 of them. With the PC turned off and completely discharged you need to move the jumper cap from pins 1&2 to pins 2&3. Wait around 10 seconds and then move the cap back to pins 1&2. Power back on and you'll be good to go. in the unlikely event that doesn't fix it your motherboard needs replacing.

[Chino]

A lot of legacy peripherals cause problems on the Z170 platform. 🙂