Flashed BIOS, now I get a black screen and can't revert back to the old one (error code Ad)

[badinfos]

Hello,

I built my PC 4 months ago. All went great, absolutely no problems from day 1. Today I visited Gigabyte's website and saw that my current BIOS version is old and decided to flash it. I downloaded the newest one (F7a), placed it on a flash drive, entered the BIOS setup. Saved my previous BIOS, clicked on update, it took about 3 minutes and the PC restarted, as soon as it did it showed me the POST screen and I entered BIOS again. Checked the BIOS version and saw that I was still using the old one, so I repeated the process again (thinking that I missed something), after the restart however I am getting NO POST screen, no motherboard logo, the screen just stays black, all fans are spinning, the MOBO has no RGB lights on. I get an error code Ad (Issue Ready To Boot event for OS Boot) on the MOBO itself.

Here is everything I tried to fix it:

• removing battery > holding power button > pressing the CMOS button > waiting 15 minutes > placing battery back

• removing battery > holding power button > pressing the CMOS button > pressing the BIOS switch (it changes to a previous BIOS setup) > waiting 15 minutes > placing battery back

• Removing the RAM (gives error code 4b which is nowhere to be seen in the manual)

• Moving the RAM from slots DDR4_1 and DDR4_2 to DDR4_3 and DDR4_4

• Removing the GPU (obviously the screen is black, but the error code is the same- Ad)

• Moving the GPU from the 1st (16x) slot to the second (8x) one

• Removing all SATA connectors from the MOBO

Specs:

MOBO: GIGABYTE AX370-GAMING K7

AMD RYZEN 7 1800X 8-Core 3.6 GHz

CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X52

GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1080 GAMING X+ 8G GDDR5X

RAM: HyperX FURY 2x8 GB DDR4 2666 MHz

HDD: Toshiba 1 TB and WD Black 6 TB

SSD: Samsung Pro 512GB

PSU: Corsair RM650x 650W

monitor connects via DisplayPort

None of my components are overclocked if that matters.

I am at a loss. I use it to work and I currently cannot do my job. Please tel me how much I screwed up and if I can fix it somehow

I will update this post as I try more things.

Language edited.
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Modrerator
Lutfij

 

[Lutfij]

Breadboard your system and place single stick of ram in slot DDR4_1, with only your boot drive on the first M.2/SATA port and see if you can make any progress.

Section 1-7, your board has Dual BIOS, you may want to see if you can get back to the other, non corrupt BIOS. You also mentioned something in bullet point # 2 about the BIOS changing to previous setup...?

 

[badinfos]

I did as instructed, I breadboarded the system with 1 stick of RAM in place. No such luck, I get the same error code. My board does not support Qflash+
What I meant in #2 is that I have a manual switch on the board which is there for changing to my second BIOS, however flicking it does nothing and I get the same error.
Also I get no beeps from the speaker.

 

[rocktalkrock]

I don't know if this will help you but since you have a Gigabyte board with dual-bios, at least it's something you can try.


How to fix "dead" dual BIOS motherboard if flashing failed

It is possible to make the BIOS Auto-Recovery kick in (Dual BIOS) and re-flash the MAIN BIOS with the contents of the BACKUP BIOS.

This is a simple and easy method for anyone to try before having to resort to other more difficult methods, or a RMA.

1. Shut off the power supply using the switch on the back of the PSU, wait 10-15 seconds.
2. Press and hold the case Power On switich, then while still holding turn on the power supply from the switch on the rear.
3. Still holding the case power on switch, the board will start, once it does release the case power on switch and shut off the power supply via the switch on the read of the unit. (Do the latter two parts as quickly as you can once the board starts)
4. The board will shut down.
5. Turn the power supply back on using the switch on the rear of the unit.
6. Turn on the motherboard by pressing the case power on button.

Once the board starts this time you should see the Gigabyte splash screen, or POST page, then the Auto-Recovery from Dual BIOS will kick in. You will see a checksum error, and then recovery from BACKUP BIOS will begin. Once it is done reboot your machine and enter the BIOS and load optimized defaults then save/apply/reboot back to BIOS.

Now you are done, and will be using whatever BIOS was in your BACKUP BIOS, From there you can attempt whatever you were previously trying, or update your BIOS to the latest version.

https://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/33904-fix-dead-dual-bios-motherboard-flashing-failed-4.html

 

[badinfos]

That was one of the topics I came across first when I was searching for solutions to my problem a couple days ago. I tried it out 5-6 times and it did not work. I tried it again just now twice and no, still the same. I ordered a new board a couple hours ago and will RMA this one once I get the new one. Thanks for your help anyway