Bios error - keyboard not recognized to boot

[Zerkin]

I have a bit of an issue that I'm not sure how to solve. I really need my computer working before work tomorrow so super appreciative of any help.

I got a BIOS update notification from Asus EZ update yesterday, I clicked update, and it got stuck. I waited a few hours and it never moved so I cancelled the update and quit the installer. Later my computer restarted for a different update and...now it won't boot.

I used my USB bios backup and it starts to boot but I'm stuck on the "press f2 or DEL to start" screen because my keyboard presses aren't registered. My keyboard is lit up and getting power, but I can't enter the BIOS. I've tried many different USB ports on my computer.

I've read some things about taking out the MB battery but I'm not sure what that's all about. Any help is so so appreciated.

 

[CountMike]

By taking out the MB battery means resetting CMOS/BIOS to factory defaults. That may help.

 

[Zerkin]

By taking out the MB battery means resetting CMOS/BIOS to factory defaults. That may help.

Does this just involve popping the battery out and back in while the MB is off? are there any other steps or considerations or is it as simple as it sounds?

UPDATE: Tried using the CMOS jumper to reset it and it still took me to the same screen and my keyboard still wouldn't work. I'm thinking maybe its because my keyboard requires USB 3.0 and I should use a USB 2.0 keyboard for this step. I still haven't tried the battery method, but from what I read, the jumper does the same thing (I think?). I also noted that if I don't have my BIOS recovery key in, then nothing boots period. Not sure if that's supposed to be the case or not.

 

[CountMike]

Yes, jumper should do same thing and in either case make sure MB is not getting any power. Don't know if that KB requires USB3.

 

[Zerkin]

Yes, jumper should do same thing and in either case make sure MB is not getting any power. Don't know if that KB requires USB3.

When you say any power, does that mean taking the battery out too? And when I switch the jumper pins, do I switch them back BEFORE powering on the computer?

Update: Tried all of the above...still can't get past "Press Del of F2" screen. I'm going to try to borrow a more basic keyboard from someone and just see if my motherboard happens to recognize that.

(And my mb doesn't have an PS/2 port unfortunately)

Update #2: Just called ASUS and they said the only other thing they can think of is to either try another keyboard (one without any corresponding software) or just RMA it

 

[CountMike]

Ways to reset CMOS/BIOS:
In every case, turn off power at the back of PSU or disconnect main feed. Push start button for few seconds to drain any power left in capacitors.
Take CMOS battery out for few minutes and replace after.
or
Connect the two pins for Clr_Cmos if only two or move connector to other two pins if there are 3. Take off connector or put back on original two pins in case of 3 pin arrangement.
In some cases, doing both, removing battery and shorting pins is required.
You may have to adjust date and time in most cases after CMOS clearing.
Once again, no power should be allowed to reach the MB or clearing CMOS will not work.

 

[Zerkin]

Ways to reset CMOS/BIOS:
In every case, turn off power at the back of PSU or disconnect main feed. Push start button for few seconds to drain any power left in capacitors.
Take CMOS battery out for few minutes and replace after.
or
Connect the two pins for Clr_Cmos if only two or move connector to other two pins if there are 3. Take off connector or put back on original two pins in case of 3 pin arrangement.
In some cases, doing both, removing battery and shorting pins is required.
You may have to adjust date and time in most cases after CMOS clearing.
Once again, no power should be allowed to reach the MB or clearing CMOS will not work.

Appreciate all the help you've given me! I tried this and left the battery out of the MB for a good few minutes, and did everything to make sure NO power was reaching it. Now when I turn it on, I can't even boot to my usb recovery BIOS - I just get blacknes and Q-Code b2.

I also tried just getting a basic USB keyboard and no luck there either....

 

[CountMike]

Can't you get into BIOS ?

 

[Zerkin]

Can't you get into BIOS ?

Not at all. Before resetting the battery I could use my USB bios recovery to get to the "Press Del or F2 to enter BIOS" but my computer wouldn't recognize any key presses on my keyboard.

Now I can't even get that to boot.

 

[Zerkin]

UPDATE: Called Asus a few times today. Each representative gave me wildly different advice and steps to try. All of them ended with "okay well just RMA your motherboard".

One asked me to take apart and rebuild my computer (which was an ordeal and even resulted in a few bent CPU pins but I fixed them as best I could...), and run a bench test by just having CPU/GPU and 1 stick of RAM in. This actually did something and caused the computer to boot into BIOS recovery however it would still encounter an error when trying to complete the steps in that process.

Finally the last guy I talked to had me start up BIOS recovery again and then do a BIOS flashback and viola, it worked! Computer back to normal and no RMA necessary. This is the biggest relief ever.

Thank you CountMike for all your help!