Upgrading BIOS with @BIOS failed - no more boot

[gabrielmdu]

First I want you to know my english isn't perfect and not my first language. Sorry about that, but please read and help if you can!

I buit this PC yesterday:

Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
Phenom II X6 1100T
Zogis GTX 560 Ti
2 x 4GB 1333 Kingston
XFX Core Edition Pro 650W
Seagate 2TB Barracuda Green

So everything was perfect and working well until I tried to upgrade the BIOS with @BIOS utility at Windows 7. I selected my mobo revision (3.1), then the software downloaded the BIOS and told me ro restart my PC. After I restarted my screen went black and the speaker beeped 1 long and 2 short beeps. In the mobo manual says this is a monitor or graphic card problem, but how can it be if everything was fine before the BIOS upgrading?

Now I can't enter BIOS setup, my screen is black, the power led is on, the AMD heatskink is spinning but I can't do nothing.

I tried to remove and change slots of RAM, but with no success. I also tried to reset the CMOS battery and nothing happened 

What can I do to reset the BIOS version if my PC does not boot? Help, please!

Thanks for reading!

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome.

Firstly we do not recommend using @BIOS for updates. It is far too risky, as you have found out. This is because it works from on top of another layer of software , the OS.

To try and recover your machine by flashing the Main BIOS with the contents of the Backup BIOS follow these steps. The timing is critical so it might take yopu a few tries before it works but persevere.

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.

[gabrielmdu]

Hey, Dark! Thanks for the reply!

Let me tell you the news:

I changed the VGA from the PCIEX16 slot to the PCIEX4 slot and it worked! Then after I booted (does this verb exists?) the PC a few times to make sure it was ok, and it was. So I tried to put the VGA back to the PCIEX16 slot and I had the same problem. What could have happened to that slot? I want my graphic card to stay in the fastest slot, not in the 4x. Maybe some BIOS setup (now I can enter it  )?

Please help? The issue is much smaller now.

Thank you very much!

[Dark Mantis]

Glad to hear that it worked and we are getting nearer now.

Go into the BIOS and see what setting you have  for the Primary Graphics Adapter and make sure it is set to PCIEx16_1.

Also make sure that you have all the power cables firmly connected to the card and the 8 pin to the motherboard near the CPU.

[gabrielmdu]

Can you tell me how can I get to this option? I will see this later, because now I'll go to sleep. Now is 5 am in Brazil and my eyes are so red you could tell I'm on drugs.

Thank you, Dark!

[Dark Mantis]

The entry you want to use is on the page no 44 of the manual here

http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-870a-ud3_v3.0_e.pdf

and reads:

Init Display First
Specifies the first initiation of the monitor display from the installed PCI graphics card or the PCI Express graphics card.
PCI Slot Sets the PCI graphics card as the first display. (Default)
PEG Sets the PCI Express graphics card on the PCIEX16 slot as the first display.
PEG1 Sets the PCI Express graphics card on the PCIEX4 slot as the first display.

[teknology9]

Hi gabrielmdu,

To update the BIOS successfully Qflash is recommended instead of @BIOS. When using Qflash uncheck the default settings...Keep DMI Data so that it is disabled.

Hope this helps,


teknology9

[Dark Mantis]

Actually it is normally better to disable the Keep DMI Data when using QFlash as it forces the system to scan everything again and make sure that all is up to date.

[gabrielmdu]

Ok, I think I'm going crazy here!

This is what I did:

I went to BIOS and the init display was set to "PCI Slot", then I've changed to "PEG", saved and exited. The PC booted and I forced it to shut down. I've changed the VGA from PCIEX4 to PCIEX16 and turned the PC on. It booted normally! Then I went to BIOS before Windows start and it was still on the "PEG" option. Ok! So I booted again and this time Windows started normally. After this I went to home/restart and waited for it to boot again, but then the same beeps sounded as before and the problem came back!

After this I've changed the PCIEX slots again (from 16x to 4x) and this time my PC booted normally. I went to BIOS to see if the "PEG" option was marked there, and it was! So I did the same with PEG1 all over again, and the same things happened! Saved BIOS with "PEG1" option/Changed PCIEX slot to 16x/Booted/Windows/Restart/Beeps/No more booting/"PEG1" was marked when I came back to BIOS with VGA in PCIEX4!

What am I doing wrong?

Thank you again for being so helpful, Dark!

[Dark Mantis]

I can only think that maybe the Backup BIOSD is reflashing the Main BIOS and so entering the wrong settings. TRy following these instructions and then make sure that you set it to PEG1 before saving.

If you have a PS2 keyboarrd connect that instead of the USB version as it is more reliable.

From a cold start with the power to the machine switched off press the power button and then enter the BIOS by pressing Del.
 Then when you get to the main screen press F9.
 
This will bring up an extra screen which will display more information about the two BIOS versions. Assuming they are different exit the BIOS and shutdown.

Again press the power button and this time press Alt + F12 where you would normally use the Del key to enter the BIOS. You will find that then your monitor will turn black and you will see:

Press [Enter] to start copying main BIOS to backup BIOS...

When you press Enter more text will appear saying:

Writing BIOS image.... xxxKb OK

Once completed more text will show:

BIOS successfully recovered! Power off or reset system!

Do as it says. Both Main and Backup BIOS chips now store the same BIOS version. You can now reboot as normal.

[gabrielmdu]

Dark, I followed the first steps and i could notice that the two BIOS versions are the same (FD).

I tried to initialize the process of the BIOS copy, but with no success. I pressed alt + F9 several times after booting a lot of times but it only enters the boot priority list (this happens when I press only F12).

Maybe I could update the BIOS with QFlash? Or if there is another way to reach this backup copy screen...

[gabrielmdu]

I tried now to enter QFlash, but the screen is black and there is a thin line (like an underscore) blinking on the upper left corner os the screen... OMG!

-------

EDITED:

Forget it! Now I could enter! I'll keep trying to enter the ALT+F12 option until someone can help me! Thanks!

[teknology9]

Hi,

Try to relax.....and take one step at a time. Now.....take a break and please read through the infomation in this link carefully.

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2441.0.html

Post back if you have any questions.

teknology9

[gabrielmdu]

teknology9, thank you! I read it and it is all so clear.

I'll try to update BIOS as my last try (I think!).

So, updating the news, I finally could enter the ALT+F12 option and made the BIOS copy. But I think that just didn't work, because I'm still with the same problem. But now I can't even do what I did in one of my earlier posts, that is changing to "PEG" or "PEG1" function and at least booting successfully my PC one time with the VGA in the PCIEX16 slot.

I think my last try now is to update BIOS. What do you think?

[teknology9]

Hi,

I think you should have a break and take your time.....then your mind will be fresh and you can think more clearly.

Then make sure you have your 2gb pendrive formatted to FAT 32 with the chosen BIOS file on. Put the pen drive into the rear USB headers at the back of the motherboard.

Note: Please read through the link I sent you if you still are not clear......but take your time.

Then begin the QFlash....but only when you feel ready because you may make a mistake.

I hope that helps......you can do it.


Teknology9