Issues with PC after hardware modifications?
Issues with PC after hardware modifications?
Enter BIOS and check the BIOS version you currently have.
Your motherboard might be quite old, possibly running an outdated BIOS. At the very least, your BIOS should be F11 or updated, while the latest is F13a.
Link: https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z39...10/support
Scroll down and check the "BIOS (+10)" section.
You might also find useful guidance in the PCs' official manual, specifically pages 91, 92, and 93, to understand the proper BIOS update process. I recommend using the Q-Flash method inside the BIOS rather than the standard BIOS Utility approach within the operating system.
Please note: if power is lost during the BIOS update, your motherboard could become unusable. However, you have a backup option since most boards support dual-BIOS; you can restore a previous version to get the system back up.
Although, most boards only offer a single BIOS (such as my AsRock X870E Nova Wifi), updating it can be stressful because a backup is essential to avoid bricking.
If your RAM functions correctly and you’re able to run two DIMMs without problems, you can leave both installed. From the image I shared, you’ll notice there were also two DIMMs present.
This guide is intended for anyone reading this who might encounter POST issues without an image. Using only one DIMM is recommended to simplify the process and confirm the minimum requirements.
If you keep your motherboard inside the PC case, it’s no longer about breadboarding, is it?
Removing the motherboard from the case removes the risk of physical interference between the board and the case (for example, a screw caught between them). Removing it also makes component removal more difficult, especially when the case blocks access from many sides.
Here’s a picture showing my installation process for M.2 drives while working on a breadboard;
Spoiler: This image helps illustrate the situation.
Clearly, performing the work on a breadboard is much simpler than inside the case. Even though I used a full-tower ATX case with plenty of space, installing M.2 drives was still straightforward during breadboarding.
Once I updated the BIOS and installed Windows, everything functioned properly. The only remaining steps were assembling the case and adding secondary (data) drives.
By the way, this is the Aurora build. Detailed specifications and additional photos are available in my profile.
Gigabyte provides certain improvements compared to Asus. At first look; distinct designs, Wi-Fi capabilities, an additional M.2 port, and two USB Type-C connections. If the buyer required any of those extra features, switching to MoBos would be a clear justification.
I'll tackle it this weekend. The CPU, cooler, RAM, and SSD are all installed outside the case. I didn't update the BIOS because I wasn't sure it was needed. Next time I'll perform a clean install. Can I save data on the OS drive and restore it later? I play Anno 1800 frequently, and my save files are stored on the C drive.
I was eager for the weekend. Reviewed some videos about enabling secure boot repeatedly, and it finally worked. I went into BIOS, turned on secure boot, changed its mode to standard, saved and re-entered it to confirm everything was intact. Exited, and now the system reports secure boot is active. Didn't need to adjust BitLocker, but I'm confident now.
Alternative 1: Save your files to the second (data) drive temporarily. Disconnect the drive from the system during OS installation and then reinsert the saves once the operating system is active again.
Alternative 2: Create an empty drive for the OS installation, after which you can copy your data there.
This approach was used with our two previous builds when upgrading from Skylake/Haswell to AM5. We purchased new Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB drives for both builds as the operating system drives. After installing the OS, verified it was running, and then transferred our old OS drives (containing Windows 10) to the system as data drives. Currently, these old drives remain as data drives while we copy our personal files over.
I haven’t yet cleaned or formatted the old OS drives, but the plan is to format them once we have everything ready. We can use Samsung Magician to clone our current OSes onto the drives as exact copies for booting, keeping the cloned drives as backup in case of issues with the primary drive or installation.
No BIOS update is required for this process.
Check Settings, type “Bitlocker” in the search bar, and select “Manage Bitlocker.” A new window will appear showing whether it’s enabled or disabled.