The new setup fails to start following the BIOS upgrade.
The new setup fails to start following the BIOS upgrade.
Hello everyone, I've begun assembling a Christmas gift for my kids. Everything seemed to function properly at first. After stress testing and playing a bit, I checked the BIOS and saw it hadn't been updated since 2018. I downloaded the latest version from MSI's site and followed their instructions. After rebooting with the update, the system wouldn't start. The EZ Debug LED suggested a CPU problem. I attempted a CMOS/bios reset and removed the CMOS battery overnight, but it didn't help. I swapped out the RAM, verified all connections, and reinserted the CPU, yet the issue persisted. I'm really stressed and don’t have the budget for another motherboard right now. Most of this build uses components from my existing rig that I upgraded last month. MSI B360M Bazooka I5 9400F 1660 super 16GB T-Force Nighthawk 3000MHz DDR4 1TB Kingston m.2 2TB Micron SSD.
Yes, please confirm the BIOS version before proceeding with the update.
Occasionally the MSI BIOS updates can be unstable, making it hard to install the latest version.
Top choice? Recent bios updates preserve compatibility with older chips
Did you review the different bios versions between your current setup and the latest? Ensure you didn’t skip any previous updates before proceeding. Sometimes these changes should be applied step by step. You must install the correct bios for the right revision—sometimes the same board has several versions requiring distinct updates. If you’re using an older board, installing a newer revision might bypass necessary safeguards, risking installation failure. A failed update during an outage or manual restart could damage the motherboard, leaving it unusable. You’d then need to replace it.
I chose the newest image shown, though it seems unusual since Windows 11 wasn’t available until the 2022 release.
I bought used items, so I'm grateful for your assistance. Thank you!
I understand your point because most of what you mentioned is accurate. However, I’m focusing on the update issue since it’s what happened after the change was applied. It’s important to note that not all BIOS updates are compatible with every chip on a specific board design or socket. This is why I even thought about it. Some AM4 boards have dropped support for certain older chips in newer models, especially with updated BIOS versions. This isn’t an issue with AMD but rather a decision made by the board manufacturers themselves. It’s well known that Socket 775 boards can have BIOS updates that remove support for older chips to accommodate newer ones. I’ve experienced this firsthand with a DFI Infinity Dark, where I had to switch between two BIOS chips depending on which 775 model was used. The challenge was the limited size of BIOS chips, forcing them to phase out older ones. Considering all these factors, I’m trying to address every possible reason for the problem based on what happened with you. Since this has occurred before, it’s likely to recur, and I hope you can get it working again without too much hassle. At most, the risk is that if you try it now, it might fail.
I possess multiple MSI Intel boards and consistently maintain my BIOS updates. Based on my observations with a few models where support is removed for certain CPU lines during an update, the process is usually clear. It tends to affect lower-end chips. For instance, I recently encountered a board that the update claimed would stop supporting all Celeron chips. If an older version is required, it generally involves a two-step procedure, which is mentioned. The instructions suggest updating to version X.X first, then to this version. I actually downloaded every available BIOS for the board in question and didn’t notice any reference to this being a problem here. Have you attempted contacting MSI? It might be worth reaching out to their technical support. A while back, I had a board that became incompatible with a mechanical keyboard (only during BIOS setup, otherwise fine). This became apparent when a BIOS update failed. While speaking with MSI, the technician advised disconnecting it and even suggested sending it back for a reflash. Eventually, I managed to re-flash it successfully, though they seemed open to assistance. It could be worthwhile to try contacting them again.