PC fails to start without resetting the CMOS, and entering ASRock BIOS isn't possible.
PC fails to start without resetting the CMOS, and entering ASRock BIOS isn't possible.
Hey everyone, I've been struggling with my new PC for a while now. With the 30-day return period ending soon, I'm reaching out for advice. My build isn't launching into Windows as expected. When I press power and see the video card output directly, I get an ASRock logo followed by BIOS instructions in the lower right corner. After a moment, those instructions disappear, but the system keeps showing the ASRock logo. The motherboard's diagnostic lights indicate both VGA and BOOT errors. If I try to access the BIOS or setup, the screen briefly shows an underscore, then goes black and stays that way—no entry into BIOS.
What's odd is that clearing CMOS reveals the UEFI is back to defaults. Pressing F1 to continue brings up the ASRock logo again, and it boots into Windows normally. All memory appears intact, CPU functions correctly, and the graphics card works perfectly. However, when I attempt to boot from setup, the screen turns black without changing.
I found a discussion on ASRock forums where someone reported the same problem on the same board, but no solution was offered. Another user claimed they fixed it by swapping the processor, which doesn't make sense given my ability to boot into Windows with a clean CMOS.
Here are my attempts so far:
- Using a known-good GPU
- Booting without any graphics card
- Removing one NVMe SSD
- Installing either RAM stick in either slot
- Trying to repair via RMA
- Rebuilding on a test bench, bypassing the PCIe 4.0 riser
- Using Windows 11 troubleshooting steps
- Testing with different keyboards
It seems like this might be more than just a dead battery issue. Let me know if you've encountered similar problems!
You haven't updated the latest BIOS. Z690 cards can only run 13th gen CPUs with a new compatible BIOS.
I managed to re-flash the BIOS using the instant flash tool by pressing F6 at startup, just in case the initial BIOS flash failed. It seems I’m still achieving consistent outcomes.
I returned the motherboard to Newegg for a fresh unit—same problems appeared, suggesting the issue might be triggered during the negotiation process itself. A replacement board was provided, but it also showed identical faults. I contacted ASRock support, who haven’t responded yet. I didn’t re-seat the CPU on the new board, though I did on the original and saw no improvement. It boots after a CMOS reset and runs smoothly in Windows 11, but only after clearing the CMOS.
Honestly I'm starting to think that something else in your build is defective then Like CPU or RAM maybe, since 2 different motherboards display this issue... You also said someone else resolved it with a processor swap, that kinda points me towards the CPU even more. Have you tried flashing the previous bios on it to see what happends? 12.04 and 13.03?
I haven't attempted to flash an older BIOS yet; I'll try it and let you know the outcome. Initially, I considered another possibility might be faulty, but the ability to boot fully with normal performance and proper CMOS clearing suggests a motherboard issue. Both the CPU and RAM successfully passed the motherboard's tests during startup, though the VGA and BOOT lights showed issues under regular power. I'm unable to access the BIOS to check what is being detected.
GPU and booting issues... Consider forcing the PCI-e slot to operate in PCI-e Gen.4 directly rather than using the auto setting (auto was the default on my B450 Steel Legend). You could also try setting it to PCI-e Gen.3, as it doesn't really matter with a 4070 Ti.