Asus Z390-E Bootup Failure

[Jornak]

https://vimeo.com/user102094987/review/355370120/6da5494db3

After turning power on and pressing power button. the first boot attempt fails immediately and the pc shuts itself down, only to boot up after a second - everything works fine afterwards.

Tried unplugging several devices (all USB, SSD, HDD, Front Panel connector etc) and of course I have checked if any cable is loosely connected, but they are plugged in correctly.
I've had this problem when my current System was in a MSI Case, but in that "case" it was due to the frontpanel connector being slightly loose, not properly plugged in.

It started when I've installed my new Evo 970 Plus SSD and after I've performed a clean Windows Install.
I removed the SSD ( as I said) and it still happened.
I've also updated BIOS a few weeks ago.

Specs:
GTX 1070
I7 8700k
Seasonic Focus 650 platinum
Z390-E Asus ROG Strix

btw: A testing device for sockets shows that everything is ok (shows as "Grounded").
It doesn't sit well with me when this happens and the alarming RED LED is not really something I want to see, but if you tell me it is harmless I might be able to live with it

Edit: Also hearing some interference when moving my smartphone (connected via mainboard USB) over headphones.
The I/O shield came pre installed but something seems to be wrong there?

 

[UsandThem]

https://vimeo.com/user102094987/review/355370120/6da5494db3
After turning power on and pressing power button. the first boot attempt fails immediately and the pc shuts itself down, only to boot up after a second - everything works fine afterwards.

You have so many recent threads (some talking about changing settings in your BIOS, causing memory drops, higher CPU usage, etc) outlining so many various issues, so it's hard to say what is going on with your PC. My guess is you've changed something in your BIOS that when you try to boot, it fails, forcing the PC to restart to apply different a different setting in the BIOS.

https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...changing-uefi-settings.2568820/#post-39901314
https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/corsair-16gb-2666mhz-fps-drops.2568594/#post-39895565
https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/asus-rog-strix-z390-e-keyboard-led-tv-screen-blinking.2569044/
https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/i7-8700k-bus-and-mhz-dropping.2568702/#post-39898509

It could be memory, overclocking, voltage. Go into your BIOS, load the optimized defaults, save, and reboot your PC. Only change settings if you are sure of what they do.

 

[Jornak]

That is actually what I did...I always looked up what is safe to change and what not - and the recommended settings etc.

I know how that must seem from your perspective, but believe me, I've tried to aproach this pc-build-subject with utmost care (even using ESD wrists xD), but those problems still happened.

I even double checked what changes I made to the settings when leaving UEFI and writing them up (you can even look them up in UEFI).

I also did load "optimized defaults" it is basically a factory reset.

EDIT: I'm sorry, I didn't load the defaults AFTER clean install, but before for another reason (performance drop), I'll try that now.
Edit²: and it should be obvious that I'm now not changing any further settings xD CPU is on normal turbo boost etc.
Lesson learned.

Edit somehow, even after formatting all partitions, not only Windows (only the HDD I left untouched and unplugged, it resulted in a faulty installation, showing me this "pc is broken, needs to be repaired" bluescreen (BIOS RVY somehow is a partition of the HDD - what is that? failsafe for UEFI?).

Plugged it back in and somehow I now have 2 Windows volumes (volume 4 and 7) - so I performed another clean install, also deleting those smaller partitions for recovery etc and still have those two options where one is broken and the other is working, I think that is causing bootup failure somehow

 

[Jornak]

So I did reset UEFI and now something else is off....when I remove front panel usb sticks or usb mouse etc the pc will just reboot right away, or rather it is crashing, instant blackscreen followed by reboot - UEFI is factory reset.
Why all of a sudden?

Edit: only happens on one front usb port, so I guess it is broken.

Edit²: and still having bootup failures with 100% factory optimized settings
Searching help for an eternity now, did so freaking much troubleshooting for all those problems which probably all share the same origin.

So even if you Guys can't help solve this (maybe I change back to my old case and see if this works) BUT you could tell me, if it is DANGEROUS or HARMFUL to use my pc as it is?
Aside from fps drops (yep, they're still there) the system seems to work fine.

 

[UsandThem]

So I did reset UEFI and now something else is off....when I remove front panel usb sticks or usb mouse etc the pc will just reboot right away, or rather it is crashing, instant blackscreen followed by reboot - UEFI is factory reset.
Why all of a sudden?

Edit: only happens on one front usb port, so I guess it is broken.

Edit²: and still having bootup failures with 100% factory optimized settings
Searching help for an eternity now, did so freaking much troubleshooting for all those problems which probably all share the same origin.

So even if you Guys can't help solve this (maybe I change back to my old case and see if this works) BUT you could tell me, if it is DANGEROUS or HARMFUL to use my pc as it is?
Aside from fps drops (yep, they're still there) the system seems to work fine.

I would pull your parts out of the case, and "bread box" it to eliminate any chances that it isn't grounded properly. Put it all on a piece of wood, and see if it will work properly. If it doesn't, I suggest you take it to a local PC repair place and let them see if they can figure out what the issue is.

It's tough to say what is going on with your build. From your corrosion pictures from when you first joined, to the drops, and then finally to the PC rebooting after inserting a USB drive.

 

[Jornak]

Hey UsandThem, thanks for the reply.
Well yeah, I tried communicating with experts on the net, but I think everything that can be done over the distance has been done (as far as troubleshooting goes), so I'll consider taking my pc to a local hardware store (as you suggested) and let them have a look at it.

I would like to try this "open air" configuration first, though.
That is actually something dear DrMrLordX suggested, too.

At least I'm now able to explain the corrosion where you put in the screwdriver (inside the .. I think it's called cross recess in english?), as my magnetic screwdriver actually had rust on it's tip (didn't notice it at first) and it seems to have "jumped" over to the screw...rust consists of metal eating bacteria after all, right? - Not really sure, though, because what I can't explain is the rust on the very tip of the first rusted screw (that was the first time I've noticed any corrosion at all).

TL;DR : How do I power up the board/system when it's outside of the case?
Do I have to leave the power connectors plugged in to the board?

Edit: For some reason, now after another windows install (this time I even deleted recovery/BIOS-partition stuff as I suspect this to be from MSI (One of my SSDs is from a complete pc from MSI so it could be) the IGPU is activated, BUT multi-monitor is disabled in BIOS/UEFI?
Couldn't find an option to deactivate it, as it was the Multi Monitor Support what activated iGPU on my old System.

 

[UsandThem]

Yes, you will connect your power supply to the board, and you will use a small piece of metal to short your power pins (in your manual). That will act like a power switch being pushed.

As far as the multi-monitor support, that is taken care of from inside Windows in the control panel. The BIOS usually just has setting to set the primary graphics default (IGP or PCIe GPU).

 

[Jornak]

Thanks for the explanation
Okay, will try that after reading the manual etc.

I noticed something not so good when I looked for grounding issues...
A few weeks ago I did a mistake and pulled out and plugged in the PSU power cord while the other end was still plugged in to the surge protector-multi-socket...
It made buzzing/cracking noise - now I've checked those 3 contacts, on the cord itself and where the cord goes into the psu and both have a kind of "burnt/molten" line on the side of the middle pole.

Middle Pole = Grounding?
My testing-device shows grounding on all sockets(when I plug it in the opposite direction/turning it around it shows "HOT/NEU Rev" instead, though)

Could I use ESD Wrists to ground the motherboard?

As for the PSU: Do I need to RMA it?

Edit:
I'd go with a new PSU because I can't wait so long and I don't believe that my idiocy is covered by Seasonic's 10 year warranty
Edit²: still going to try to power on the MB on a piece of wood or cardboard

Edit³: sorry for these giant text lol but I wanted to say that those front connectors (especially the one with "HD audio") aren't plugged in all the way and pushing it in doesn't help, but will bent the MB and I'd like to avoid that lol
it seems those Pin indicators (or whatever) rise above and drop down when I push or pull their cables? thei don't allign, one is always a bit beneath the others beside it (those things below the "triangle/positive symbol"
I've already tried without front panel connectors, but maybe I need to change something in UEFI (like enable/disable HD Audio)?

And I can't find any connector for this case-cable: