Freezes keep coming up again and again...
Freezes keep coming up again and again...
I've experienced no issues with my PC until visiting my dad's place. All components remained stable at home. Recently, after moving my gear to his house, everything started acting up. I played some games for a few days, then faced persistent DCP watchdog errors. After running an SFC scan, the problems worsened. Now I consistently freeze on the BIOS splash screen. If I manage to boot into Windows, it freezes after about a minute. Safe mode might help, but even then it stalls. Recovery tools aren't working. I'm considering a fresh Windows install on a new SSD, but it still freezes during setup. I'm running out of options and can't test anything further since it's freezing.
Does it freeze while in the Bios? If it doesn't, there's no risk in updating.
Did you ensure the GPU and cooler were removed or protected during shipping? Your dad could have some electrical issues at his place causing these problems. A basic low-power GPU might reveal the cause. Look through local used listings to grab one quickly.
If it doesn't freeze while you're in the Bios, then there's no risk in flashing it. You're using one of the worst AGESA released by AMD (1203b) known for issues. I am not telling the Bios update will solve your issues, but it is a good starting point.
I returned with fresh details. I left the PC on BIOS overnight just to observe the outcome. When I opened up, the monitor was off and the debug LED showed A6. The SSD seems to be failing or dead—this is the first time it has shut down in BIOS. If I update the BIOS, should I follow the procedure (p.4.40, p.4:60, etc.) or jump straight into L5.01 that was released this year? EDIT: Is that a capital 'B' or lowercase 'b'? A6 relates to the drive, while AB relates to BIOS... it's odd you asked me to update the BIOS—it’s starting to make more sense.
Many BIOS updates aim to resolve compatibility and stability concerns. A common guideline is to avoid updating your BIOS unless you encounter issues—otherwise, it’s better to stay as is. Unless you’re shutting down or interacting with the system during the update, the risk of permanent damage is minimal.