Gigabyte Z68MA-D2H-B3 endless reboot

[Slasken]

Hi,
I have been running my system for two months without any problems. Today when starting the computer it would no boot. The system just keep rebooting.

When I power on, the fans starts spinning for a few seconds, then stops. After a few seconds the fans start spinning again for a couple of seconds and I can see the boot logo before the system restarts. I can't get into BIOS or Q-Flash.

I have tried different memory sticks. Changed the PSU, ranging from 500-700W. I have removed everything but the keyboard and still I can't access the BIOS. I have tried resetting the BIOS, tried removing the battery during the night as stated in other threads but without success. Is there something else left to try?

My system is:
Z68MA-D2H-B3 with F8 BIOS
Intel i5 2500k (using internal graphics card)
4GB Corsair Vengeance
Logitech Illuminated keyboard
OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W

Best regards
Gustav, Sweden

[TigetLi]

Hello Slasken,

Use a plain PS2 keyboard and only one RAM stick and then try booting to BIOS...

Do you have another video card you can try? If so try that to..

In relation to the start of your endless boots... When did you last flash and or modify the settings in your BIOS? Were there any special event(s) at or near your home such as power failures or surges? Was your computer on 24/7 ? What is the temp range of the room where this computer is kept? Is it kept in a non-ventilated enclosure at night? Have you replace or added components to your computer ?

If your motherboard has these options: Are you getting any beeps and/or failure Q-code from your motherboard? if so, what are they? Can you analyse the motherboard LED display?

If the PS2 keyboard, single RAM stick and new video card don"t get you a boot to BIOS; take your motherboard out of the case and set it up with only the basic components on an insulated surface such as the cardboard box it came in. Try booting to BIOS from there.

Good luck...

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome.

I know that you have attempted to do this already but maybe not in quite the same way.

The first thing to try is to clear the CMOS.

Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors.

Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least one hour before replacing it.
 
Next plug back into the mains supply and boot.
 
You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Optimised BIOS Defaults.

Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self like disabling the floppy drive, disabling the full screen logo and making the HDD the primary boot device and then press F10 to save and exit.

[Slasken]

Thanks for your response!

Unfortuneatly I don't have access to a PS2 keyboard.
I'm currently using one RAM stick and have tried to use other sticks.
I have tried with a ATI 5970 but with the same result, now using only the integrated graphics card.
The BIOS upgrade was made a month ago and no new hardware has been added. This problem came right out of the blue. The day before everything worked fine, the next it would not boot.
I don't have a speaker and no LED to read.
I'm running the system outside the case for easy access in normal room temperature, approx 22 degrees Celcius.

Hello Slasken,

Use a plain PS2 keyboard and only one RAM stick and then try booting to BIOS...

Do you have another video card you can try? If so try that to..

In relation to the start of your endless boots... When did you last flash and or modify the settings in your BIOS? Were there any special event(s) at or near your home such as power failures or surges? Was your computer on 24/7 ? What is the temp range of the room where this computer is kept? Is it kept in a non-ventilated enclosure at night? Have you replace or added components to your computer ?

If your motherboard has these options: Are you getting any beeps and/or failure Q-code from your motherboard? if so, what are they? Can you analyse the motherboard LED display?

If the PS2 keyboard, single RAM stick and new video card don"t get you a boot to BIOS; take your motherboard out of the case and set it up with only the basic components on an insulated surface such as the cardboard box it came in. Try booting to BIOS from there.

Good luck...

[Slasken]

Thanks,

I have tried this procedure following your detailed instructions several times this morning without success. I simply can't access the BIOS and even if I could I can't see how that would resolve the issus. Maybe if I could upadte the BIOS to the new beta version but I can't access either the BIOS nor the QFLASH.

Regards
Gustav
 

Hi and welcome.

I know that you have attempted to do this already but maybe not in quite the same way.

The first thing to try is to clear the CMOS.

Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors.

Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least one hour before replacing it.
 
Next plug back into the mains supply and boot.
 
You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Optimised BIOS Defaults.

Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self like disabling the floppy drive, disabling the full screen logo and making the HDD the primary boot device and then press F10 to save and exit.

[Dark Mantis]

In that case there is only one course of action and that is to reflash the Main BIOS with the contents of the Backup BIOS. Follow these steps. You might have to try several times before getting it right.

You can kick in the backup BIOS by shutting down the PSU from the wall, then hold down your case power button in and then turn on the power supply button, a few seconds later the board will start, shut off the power supply then.   Then you can turn on the power supply again and power up the board normally and DualBIOS will kick in.

[Slasken]

Hi,

I have tried this ten times now but the problem persist

Regards
Gustav

In that case there is only one course of action and that is ton reflash the Main BIOS with the contents of the Backup BIOS. Follow these steps. You might have to try several times before getting it right.

You can kick in the backup BIOS by shutting down the PSU from the wall, then hold down your case power button in and then turn on the power supply button, a few seconds later the board will start, shut off the power supply then.   Then you can turn on the power supply again and power up the board normally and DualBIOS will kick in.

[Dark Mantis]

You say that you have tried it ten times but don't say if the flashover took.

Is the problem that it is not booting at all or that it is but you can't see the screen ?

[belier]

Have you tried booting outside the case, removing the mobo from it?

[Slasken]

After the "dual bios" kick in, everything is the same. I see the boot screen but can't reach the BIOS or QFLASH before the computer reboots. I get no message telling me that the "dual bios" thingy worked..

You say that you have tried it ten times but don't say if the flashover took.

Is the problem that it is not booting at all or that it is but you can't see the screen ?

[Slasken]

Yes, I'm currently running outside the case and today I tried a PS/2 keyboard with no improvment.

Have you tried booting outside the case, removing the mobo from it?

[Dark Mantis]

I am afraid it seems like time to get it RMAd. Contact your retailer about getting it arranged.

[TigetLi]

Skasken,

As DM says, it looks very much like RMA time. There is maybe one low probability trial that you could attempt since you are going to try to RMA the motherboard anyway. After all the steps you have taken the defaults BIOS should have loaded and now be your current BIOS. Suggest you try this would your box setup, the PS2 Keyboard and only one RAM stick installed. Lets try to flash current BIOS to Default BIOS and see what happens on reboot. (you must use the PS2 keyboard to do this)

1- Shut down your PC and let it sit for 2-3 minutes.
2- Re-start PC and immediately press and hold the "ALT + F12" keys

See if this break the reboot cycle you are stuck with now.

My fingers are crossed...

[Slasken]

Hi,

I have tried your tip but it didn't work. However I solved the problem by buying an Asus Maxiumus Gene-Z. I couldn't be without my computer for the time of a RMA so I decided to buy a new mother board and now everything is working great!

I'm still considering to RMA the board but I will have to pay pakage and postal to the retailer so I'm not sure to bother. Unfortunately I strongly believe that this was my last computer build using Gigabyte 

Regards
Gustav

Skasken,

As DM says, it looks very much like RMA time. There is maybe one low probability trial that you could attempt since you are going to try to RMA the motherboard anyway. After all the steps you have taken the defaults BIOS should have loaded and now be your current BIOS. Suggest you try this would your box setup, the PS2 Keyboard and only one RAM stick installed. Lets try to flash current BIOS to Default BIOS and see what happens on reboot. (you must use the PS2 keyboard to do this)

1- Shut down your PC and let it sit for 2-3 minutes.
2- Re-start PC and immediately press and hold the "ALT + F12" keys

See if this break the reboot cycle you are stuck with now.

My fingers are crossed...

[TigetLi]

Hello Slasken,

Glad to see that you finally have your system working with your new higher grade ASUS motherboard.Hopefully your new system will provide you with many enjoyable hours of troublefree computing.

Best regards,