Z170X-UD5: BIOS update doesn't persist after reboot

[c0dist]

I'm currently using the F4 BIOS and am trying to upgrade to F5 (just released).  The Q-Flash utility reads the F5 BIOS file and goes through the installation fine.  At the end I get a prompt saying the BIOS was flashed and I need to either shut down or reboot.  Upon next startup, the BIOS is still the F4 version.

For some reason the new BIOS is not persisting.  I appreciate your advice.

[c0dist]

In case any Gigabyte personnel are reading:

It seems the F5 BIOS that was posted to the Z170X-UD5 download page (dated 2016/03/07) is broken or invalid!

I tried using the @BIOS utility to flash from Windows, but the utility was unable to find any F5 version on the update server.  I then tried pointing @BIOS to the binary that I downloaded from the site.  It started to flash but failed and gave a generic error.

Please check the BIOS page for this board.  There may have been an erroneous or invalid file linked (possibly for another board?) or the file itself is corrupt.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,
Have you tried downloading the file from another server? .... try Asia.  Not sure where you are located?

USB stick should be formatted FAT32.
Try formatting it again on another machine
Use Qflash <End> or F8 if in BIOS
Ensure SB switch is set to position 1 (right) Dual
Ensure load BIOS defaults, save and restart before flash
Use only the USB 2 ports near the PS2 connector for the flash drive

If you haven't tried all of the suggestions above, please do so first before opening a support ticket.

http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/support-downloads.aspx
 

[c0dist]

Hi shadowsports,

I've done all that you suggested, and I've also tried the using the F5 binary from this page (on another suggestion):
http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/28441-gigabyte-latest-beta-bios.html

I had the same results.  @BIOS starts to flash and fails half a minute later.  It doesn't matter whether I use USB or load the file directly from my primary disk.

At this point I'm pretty sure that either the binary is bad, or there's something wrong with my motherboard which I think is unlikely.

I wasn't able to submit a ticket because I can't log in after setting up a Gigabyte Passport account.  I got the confirmation in my e-mail, and I clicked the link to activate my account.  Everything seems fine until I try to log in.  It pops up a message simply saying "Login failed."

Nothing more I can do... I guess I'll wait this one out.

[ElectroStingz]

Hello,

Do you have this board? (GA-Z170X-UD5)
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5480#ov

Or the TH version? (GA-Z170X-UD5 TH)
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5479#ov

On the TH F5 is still BETA.

[shadowsports]

c0dist,
For clarification?

First post states flash completes

Last post states flash fails midway.

I assume you mean F5 from the UD5 page flashes, but shows F4 after restart, and the beta for the "Thunderbolt" never makes it off the ground?

I agree you don't really have anywhere to go from here without help from support if you've tried the above suggestions without luck.  I'd try to get a case open in the interim.     

[c0dist]

No, sorry for the confusion.

Attempt A:
F5 binary from Gigabyte main site;  Q-flash utility
Result: flash said "complete" but F4 still shows up after reboot

Attempt B:
F5 binary from Gigabyte main site; @BIOS utility from Windows
Result: flash starts but fails midway

Attempt C:
F5 binary from TweakTown forums; @BIOS utility from Windows
Result: flash starts but fails midway


Note: the F5 build from TweakTown is the same as the release build from Gigabyte's website and it's not a beta.  I'm not sure why you mentioned 'Thunderbolt' above.  I'm using the build for the "-UD5", not the "-UD5 TH."

It's curious that @BIOS doesn't know about the F5 release.  It doesn't matter which download server I point it to, it keeps saying that F4 is the latest.  It's like something went wrong with the release.

[c0dist]

Hello,

Do you have this board? (GA-Z170X-UD5)
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5480#ov

Or the TH version? (GA-Z170X-UD5 TH)
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5479#ov

On the TH F5 is still BETA.

Hello,

I have the first one (UD5).  NOT the TH.

[c0dist]

Furthermore, Gigabyte has pulled all of the F5-betas from the -UD5 BIOS page.  There were previously builds listed there with fixes for the Skylake Prime95 issue and for NVMe compatibility updates.  Any reference to those has been removed from the -UD5 page when the link to F5 was added.

I'm not sure what's going on.  It's rather chaotic.

Is there an F5 release, or no?

[shadowsports]

You need to contact support for a definitive answer.  Or do what is necessary to gain access to your support account.  Best recommendation I can make given your efforts.

[c0dist]

Understood.  Thank you, shadowsports.