Odd behavior in my BIOSTAR BIOS

[RayRainer]

Hello: I wanted to first say that there are no more BIOSTAR updates for the TZ77XE3 version 5.0 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 Intel Motherboard. Z77AF823.BST was the last one posted. I also removed all non essential hardware not needed. I also tried different keyboards. I also tried different memory. I have 2 different sets to use from either G Skill or Corsair of 1600Mhzl

My problem started with me being unable to boot in Windows 7 pro out of the blue. I am able to boot to the BIOS but I unable to access sub categories. for example, I can move left to right, main, advanced, chipset,..... but once I go into, Advanced, for example, I can only access the first sub category "PCI subsystem setting but I cannot access "sata configurations" or any other for that matter in in any category. I initially thought something was wrong with my SSD drive but I have another SSD drive which I successfully installed Windows 7 again but then after rebooting the computer, it wouldn't boot back to windows 7 which was my initial problem.

So I can only conclude, I am having a motherboard problems. I am at my wits end with this computer. I did post to tech support and see what happens but wondered if anyone has had similar problems. This was my first BIOSTAR motherboard and have had it since 8/13 but purchased it from someone who had it for a year. It has been working fine since.

Any insight is appreciated.

 

[P4spooky]

Have you tried to reflash your bios? Perhaps a bios corruption issue that most likey will be resolved with a reflash.

 

[RayRainer]

No. I never tried that. How do you reflash this BIOS? What are the steps? I was going to wait for tech support to see what they recommend but it sounds like a good idea.

 

[Ketchup]

Two ideas:

1. Reset your bios with the CMOS reset jumper.
2. Reflash your BIOS, as mentioned. It is actually the same process as a regular flash, you are just "updating" it to current, again.

 

[RayRainer]

I haven't reflashed the BIOS yet but I did reset the CMOS. I now get a reading on boot that I didn't get before my problems which tells various info like cpu, date, what sata drives are present, etc but at the bottom it says "CMOS fail". I did it again according to the manual. But it just has that "CMOS" fail at the bottom. Any idea on what that could mean? I tried to make some changes in the BIOS but I just am not able to make any changes of any kind.

I waiting for another tech support email to suggest the BIOS reflash. I told him I removed everything but he still asks me if I removed the graphic card and wonders if the CPU pins got bent but I have been using it for 2 years and don't see how that would happen. Although, I did fail to mention how long I have been using that motherboard before this problems.

 

[P4spooky]

Copy the BST file to a FAT32 formatted usb key. Insert into one of the open USB ports on the back of your board. Restart and hit F12 key (multiple times as the board boots). You will see the flash utility pop up. Browse to the flash file on the usb key and confirm.

Reboot after flash competes and report back.

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

I haven't reflashed the BIOS yet but I did reset the CMOS. I now get a reading on boot that I didn't get before my problems which tells various info like cpu, date, what sata drives are present, etc but at the bottom it says "CMOS fail". I did it again according to the manual. But it just has that "CMOS" fail at the bottom. Any idea on what that could mean? I tried to make some changes in the BIOS but I just am not able to make any changes of any kind.

I waiting for another tech support email to suggest the BIOS reflash. I told him I removed everything but he still asks me if I removed the graphic card and wonders if the CPU pins got bent but I have been using it for 2 years and don't see how that would happen. Although, I did fail to mention how long I have been using that motherboard before this problems.

Cmos fail, do you have another mother board battery handy? OR Radio shake? Try an 24 hour Cmos clear, remove the battery and do the jumper.
See if anything changes...........

 

[Ketchup]

I haven't reflashed the BIOS yet but I did reset the CMOS. I now get a reading on boot that I didn't get before my problems which tells various info like cpu, date, what sata drives are present, etc but at the bottom it says "CMOS fail". I did it again according to the manual. But it just has that "CMOS" fail at the bottom. Any idea on what that could mean? I tried to make some changes in the BIOS but I just am not able to make any changes of any kind.

Select "load optimized defaults", set current date and time, save changes, and restart. Does it let you do that?

 

[RayRainer]

Cmos fail, do you have another mother board battery handy? OR Radio shake? Try an 24 hour Cmos clear, remove the battery and do the jumper.
See if anything changes...........

I did a reflash of the BIOS to no avail. I still have the same problem after a successful reflash. I took the battery out. You mean wait 24 hours before I put the battery back and then do a CMOS clear before I put the battery in or after in 24 hours . Do you also mean put a new battery in? I do have one handy.

 

[Ketchup]

Try a new battery, but that would be about the last thing I could think of to be causing such issues, short of the board just going south.

 

[vailr]

Try a new battery

:thumbsup:

 

[RayRainer]

Try a new battery, but that would be about the last thing I could think of to be causing such issues, short of the board just going south.

I tried everything suggested so far. I don't think I am going to buy another BIOSTAR motherboard because of the poor tech support from this issue and past issues. I have 2 Biostar motherboards one I bought new. I don't know if there is any warranty on this one. I bought it used 2 years ago.

I recently got a Gigabyte motherboard and they seemed to have better support if you try hard enough. Although, I had an issue with the lack of compatibility with the Haswell processor and the GIGABYTE GA-Z87-D3HP. The board wouldn't boot because it required a BIOS update which presents a dilemma, so I had to send it to them to update the BIOS.

I purchased it from someone off of Craigslist for $50 who bought the board and the Haswell process from TigerDirect but he didn't want to deal with it, so he bought another board and everything worked for him. So I thought, in the end, I could still RMA on it on a brand new board. I had hoped my Haswell would work but it didn't. Someone finally recognized my problem.

Putting together your own computer is not for the faint of heart though it is rewarding in the end. I am not a real tech person but I try and hope for the best.

 

[Ketchup]

I recently got a Gigabyte motherboard and they seemed to have better support if you try hard enough. Although, I had an issue with the lack of compatibility with the Haswell processor and the GIGABYTE GA-Z87-D3HP. The board wouldn't boot because it required a BIOS update which presents a dilemma, so I had to send it to them to update the BIOS.

A lot of folks have reported that the Haswell refresh chips will work with the Z87, without needing the BIOS update, just to get them running.

But, you can't blame Gigabyte if you didn't get the chipset the was released for your chip. That statement wasn't meant to be mean, it's just how it is.

I have never been disappointed with a Gigabyte board. I have an Asus now, and I like it, but have heard from dozens of people that their support is horrible. This is the first Asus board I have owned that actually came with plenty of BIOS options and more than the most basic software.

 

[RayRainer]

The person bought the Haswell and the Gigabyte board together as part of a package at tiger. I suppose that would be frustrating. But Haswells, and that specific Haswell model, according to their website, were supposed to work with that board. So it is hard to say that you can't blame them when they post wrong information and then your purchase a processor based on that information. I heard that they now have boards where you can update the BIOS without the processor, according to Tech support.

 

[RayRainer]

I finally got a new board from BIOSTAR. It took long enough. They never said what was wrong with the board. I was curious what happen to the BIOS but no one seemed to know. So all is well so far with this new board.

After using the Corsair 200R case with my gigabyte board, I decided to get rid of this Antec three hundred case. What a mess to work with after using the Corsair case. A reviewer said it was a joy to work with the Corsair case. I agree, if cost is a factor. They made it wider, rather than taller giving it more room which makes it easy to hide your cables. Nice how they designed the HD bays.

Thanks for the replies.