P8Z77-V Pro BIOS 1908 Screwed Me!

[IXFINGERZXI]

Well I got the chip in; everything went smoothly. Changed my bios settings back to the way i like, left the gpu setting on auto, rebooted and failed to post with the mobo VGA_led lit up. Went back into bios and now the igpu is active. So I guess it's time to try another vidcard? How do I know if the vidcard has uefi? According to AIDA64 my vidcard bios version is 80.04.31.00.70. Everything else seems to be working fine. Actually do you know why my network is now "local area connection 2" after swapping chips?

 

[bankster55]

Yeah, I was afraid of that.
At least we now know for sure its not the bios. (One down)

Local connection 2 means the bios from ASUS does not have the original Intel GBe MAC address already loaded in Win 7, it uses a generic 88-88-88-88-87-88. So Win 7 creates another connection. You can redo it with FTK. The original mobo MAC is on side of 24 pin ATX

You may be looking at a bad mobo slot/bad card, or 1908 bios cant run a Kepler chip vidcard.
(Might also mention at super high res you need dual link DVI cables and top DVI output is DVI-D and bottom is DVI-I)
And there is a new BETA 320 driver as of 2 days ago (you should be now running 314.22)
http://www.evga.com/support/download/default.aspx
>You might also click on the one star reviews on Newegg for your card..

Install GPU-Z, then set vidcard slots to PCIe 2.0 in bios and turn off fast boot.
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/
Then check in GPU-Z to verify and see what happens, then try card in all three long PCIe slots. If that does nothing you will have to try a low performance vidcard like a 4000 5000 6000 series AMD.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Computers-T...8/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=ati+radeon+video+card
If the cheapo vidcard runs well then we know its a GTX670/bios/biossetting issue
(I do assume you have both vidcard 6 pin power installed)
If the low end vidcard doesnt go well its a mobo issue
I am now willing to bet the low end card will work fine.

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

Sorry it took so long to reply. The site didn't wanna let me see page 2 of the post for some reason. lol

You may be looking at a bad mobo slot/bad card, or 1908 bios cant run a Kepler chip vidcard.
(Might also mention at super high res you need dual link DVI cables and top DVI output is DVI-D and bottom is DVI-I)
And there is a new BETA 320 driver as of 2 days ago (you should be now running 314.22)
http://www.evga.com/support/download/default.aspx
>You might also click on the one star reviews on Newegg for your card..

Well I only game with one display which is a 42" hdtv @1920x1080 and connected via vga from the top output on vidcard. My secondary monitor is @1024x768 connected via dvi to bottom output.

I'm using the 314.22 drivers now. Didn't see a need to update to beta. Checked some of those one star reviews but didn't see much of anything that was directly related.

Install GPU-Z, then set vidcard slots to PCIe 2.0 in bios and turn off fast boot.
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/
Then check in GPU-Z to verify and see what happens, then try card in all three long PCIe slots. If that does nothing you will have to try a low performance vidcard like a 4000 5000 6000 series AMD.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Computers-Ta...eon+video+card
If the cheapo vidcard runs well then we know its a GTX670/bios/biossetting issue
(I do assume you have both vidcard 6 pin power installed)
If the low end vidcard doesnt go well its a mobo issue
I am now willing to bet the low end card will work fine.

So I ran gpuz and bus interface showed "PCI-E 1.1 x16 @ x16 1.1". Then did cmos reset to clear igpu active status, loaded my custom oc profile, changed primary display from auto to pcie, changed pcie slot from auto to Gen2, and disabled fast boot. Booted up windows with no problems. All settings were applied, igpu inactive, open gpuz, bus interface shows "PCI-E 2.0 x16 @ x16 2.0". Did several restarts and cold boots and igpu still inactive! :awe: I don't wanna get my hopes up but assuming it's fixed which setting do you think did it? Disable fast boot or pcie to gen2?

Local connection 2 means the bios from ASUS does not have the original Intel GBe MAC address already loaded in Win 7, it uses a generic 88-88-88-88-87-88. So Win 7 creates another connection. You can redo it with FTK. The original mobo MAC is on side of 24 pin ATX

I didn't want to screw it up so I found a guide here (steps 7, 8). I didn't have a bios backup from before so I used a fresh one from asus.com. Was looking for all the stickers on the mobo but couldn't find the DTS key sticker if it even has one. Apparently without that I can't get the system UUID either. Can I just leave these fields blank? (DTS key, System UUID, ASCII MAC magic byte).

 

[bankster55]

The 12 digit MAC number has to be on a sticker on OUTER side of 24pin ATX connector molex, all on one line no spaces. You can then use gberefl with FTK with a fresh new renamed 1908 bios.bin. (It really doesnt matter unless you use a router, the PC will disappear from the network, wrong MAC)

You only need the old MAC entered for that command using editor, and save to new bios.bin. All the ID's are on dif mobo stickers. You could use your reinserted old chip after Win 7 startup as basis for FD44 editor info. The backup.bin file created on a previous full flash also has all the info, but you have no backup.bin for the new chip.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Clearly, your CPU and vidcard can not run PCIe 3.0 as configured. You are being kicked down to PCIe 1.1 - basic, and eventually to IGPU. Your card is difficult to troubleshoot since it has so many trick features - like the auto overclock that happens when temps are low (GPU Boost), which may be in conflict with your overclock.
(Might also look very carefully at LGA pins, and your PSU might have slow risetime for +5VSB from idle to full - fastboot fail)

If you wish, since I would like to know myself, you can after undoing your overclock try:
>putting PCIe back to auto in bios
see what happens
>PCIe back to 2.0 and turn fastboot back on
see what happens
>On bottom of GPU Z there are a bunch of options disabled (checked), you could try unchecking them all.
see what happens
>Call up EVGA support and ask them if your card has a hybrid bios - legacy/UEFI.

FWIW you lose little or nothing running PCIe 2.0

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

So about the mac address thing. I'm a bit confused. Whats the easiest way to change back to the old MAC? I can't find a DTS sticker and I have the old MAC address, mobo s/n but I can't hit "save to bios image file"(button is greyed out) without a system UUID. I no longer have the old backup.bin and the old chip was killed in action. XD


As for the vidcard, I didn't try Gen3 which I assume is pcie 3.0 . Also I'd rather not check the LGA pins if I dont need to. I'm out of thermal paste and attaching the heatsink was a pain. Should I undo the overclocks on the cpu and vidcard both?

 

[bankster55]

yeah both. your voltage may be too low on CPU overclock for boot with that card, or go manual and raise it to 1.280

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

Reset all clocks back to factory defaults.
pcie to auto
=no problems
pcie to gen3
=failed post just as before- had to clear cmos
pcie to gen2 fast boot ON
=no problems
Uncheck gpu-z options
=cant uncheck

I'm happy just running @2.0 but I'm curious why 3.0 wont work.

 

[bankster55]

Did you try a reset CPU voltage in bios to manual mode and 1.280?
Even 1.300?
Digi + LLC set to high?
With no vidcard overclock and auto what mode is card showing in GPU-Z?

As far as cant save FD 44:
Open the 1908 as cap not renamed in FD 44 in admin mode
The app leaves the black cursor in wrong place for entering info
The three fields must be typed in manually from BEGINNING of space and have correct spacing between (see my pic above)
After all three are in correctly, the save tab will light up

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

Did you try a reset CPU voltage in bios to manual mode and 1.280?
Even 1.300?
Digi + LLC to high?

you mean with pcie on gen3?

As far as cant save FD 44:
Open the 1908 as cap not renamed in FD 44 and admin mode
The app leaves the black cursor in wrong place for entering info
The three fields must be typed in manually from BEGINNING of space and have correct spacing between (see my pic above)
After all three are in correctly, the save tab will light up

the problem is that i dont have the system UUID and i dont know how to get it. That tutorial that i linked said i could find the UUID with the DTS key but i cant find that either. No sticker on board. No backup from old chip either.

 

[bankster55]

There is no PCIe 3 in bios only auto/gen1/gen 2
Are you setting Gen 3 in GPU-Z?

Put in anything for UUID - dont mean squat, here:
20 BB 4A 49 DA D7 DD 22 AA 83

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

There's definitely auto, gen1, gen2, gen3. Looks pretty much the same as this. Except I believe mine shows x16 above the buttons.

 

[bankster55]

O.K. Later bios are dif from whats shown in manual - didnt want to shut off machine to look, so, O.K. try the higher CPU voltage (1.300) with Gen 3 setting, card first in top slot, then second slot (white)
I am really curious about this.

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

Well I tried manual 1.3v with LLC High and PCIe Gen3 slot 1. Failed to post(VGA_lead). Cant try slot 2 with slot 1 empty. Cleared cmos to get it booted back to bios and guess what. Now igpu stuck on active again. Tried to clear cmos again(which worked before) and still active.

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

Ok so I managed to get the igpu inactive again after load optimized default settings, saving, then clear cmos. Got all my oc's back and everything is g2g. I feel like I might be pushin' my luck here. Starting to think maybe I should just quit while i'm ahead... ya know?

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

About the MAC address. I opened a fresh 1908 .cap bios with FD44 editor; filled in MAC address, UUID, s/n and saved it. Then I renamed it to bios.bin, tossed it on the FTK stick, booted from it and used the gberefl command. It did its thing and completed successfully but when I get into windows it still shows the generic 88:88 blah blah address. Any idea why it didn't work? Should I rename it to prepared.bin and use flashprp?

 

[bankster55]

I would have thought that with 8 months passing Nvidia would have fixed the registry thingy. Maybe not.
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=1607292&mpage=3

The fact that doing a reset with cmos clear brings your stuff back implies that the IGPU is in play here. Have you EVER used IGPU graphics with or without Intel drivers? The hardware device can stick around in the background depending on what bios settings are used. When deleted it may pop back in later under dif conditions.
There are 4 config options:
IGPU primary/no vidcard cable/MS 2006 VGA drivers
IGPU primary/Intel drivers only showing
PCIe primary/ vidcard cable only/vidcard drivers only showing
Auto, both hooked up, primary monitor set in Win 7/both drivers dev man showing
http://imgur.com/a/82snB

One time, even after repeatedly deleting IGPU controller in dev man and rebooting in safe mode then normal, I just gave up and reinstalled Win 7 in PCIe primary mode. Possibly due to the IGU being never off electrically - its on the CPU die, and Windows hates to let go of drivers of anything that is still functioninal.

But hey, if you are happy, then so am I

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

Surprising that Nvidia didn't fix such a simple issue.

Yes I have used igpu with and without hd 4000 drivers. When I had nvidia/intel drivers both installed I got black screen instead of desktop. Had to remove vidcard, boot up, uninstall intel drivers, reinsert vidcard to get it working again. It's strange because at one point I had VirtuMVP up and running but got rid of it because it didn't work for crap with latest drivers. But I believe that was on a previous windows 7 installation with my old gtx 260.

Any thoughts on my MAC address issue? I would really like to get back the old address. i've tried gberefl a few times but it's not working.

 

[bankster55]

I think the new locks in 1908 may be the issue. CodeRush, the guy who created FD44 Editor has said in that link that you posted (towards end) that you may have to reflash back to 1805 using ASUS flashback module, to break the new protections first. I have not fooled around with 1908 because I know it will be hours and hours of hassle. 1908 is a two step flash, first the bios then the ME. I was tempted to deliberately stop the flash prematurely for experimenting, but then my sanity returned.

You picked a very bad time to have a bios issue - with 1908, and no backup made, and now a dead first chip. Since 1805 had so many issues for certain setups, it would seem best to run an FTK flash of some sort - redo of 1805/1708 to get a backup made BEFORE going to 1908 and SAVE it somewhere. Otherwise you have very few options, unless you can find a PC fixit shop that has an offline programmer, to erase and reprogram 1805. Some may even do it for free.

Ask CodeRush on HF - he monitors that thread and will be able to tell you step by step exactly what to do.
http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1039794535&postcount=131

As far as dual usage of both mobo HD400 and vidcard, you have to co-ordinate bios graphics settings with primary monitor AND doable monitor resolution in WINDOWS!
Might add that late Intel (full) graphics drivers pak come with a control panel with many options. And for HD4000 you will need Sep 2012 or later vers.
http://i.imgur.com/YotyJTh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/N0Ka44j.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tLcHdO7.jpg

Edit:
Just for giggles I put my vidcard in blue/white/black slots and used it for booting. Now i dont have a $410 Nvidia card like yours - my internet PC has a 7770 card (AMD) and its PCIe 2.0, and I set blue and white slots to both PCIe 3 and 2.0 in bios, and it booted fine at all times. But I do have same IB CPU as you.So I cant help but still think you have some mobo issue:
VGA red mobo LED lighting
No boot white slot
Defaulting to IGPU
IGPU going black under certain situations

Of course you have to run that little render test in GPU Z to see what PCIe mode is running - under stress

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

Well THANK YOU for all your help. I really do appreciate your time and effort. Good man. XD I'll definitely be returning to this forum in the future.

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

You picked a very bad time to have a bios issue - with 1908, and no backup made, and now a dead first chip. Since 1805 had so many issues for certain setups, it would seem best to run an FTK flash of some sort - redo of 1805/1708 to get a backup made BEFORE going to 1908 and SAVE it somewhere. Otherwise you have very few options, unless you can find a PC fixit shop that has an offline programmer, to erase and reprogram 1805. Some may even do it for free.

When I removed the old chip I used a screwdriver to pop it out and bent the pins pretty badly. I managed to straighten them, they're a bit scratched up but straight. This goes without saying, but I don't want this to happen to the new one. Any removal tips aside from BUYING a proper tool?

Exactly what steps would I take to restore mobo info now that I have the old chip?

 

[bankster55]

I use a pair of needle nosed pliers with the last 1/8" hammered in slightly in vise so it only touches towards the end, and gently rock it. Chip pullers are O.K. but only if you have a mobo chip location that allows you to get fully around the chip.
And they are kinda flimsy, unless you pay a lot.The important thing is when pulling or inserting is that you only grab on the body of the chip, not the chip socket and always do the work with the case on its right side.

If you do have the old chip, all you have to do is use FD 44 in Win 7, and use the backup.bin for flash. The chip doesnt even have to be bootable . You could boot with new chip, and when in Win 7, pull it and insert old one, use FD44 Editor. Once you get a backup.bin you are set.

And as I said, you could try old chip with mobo flashback module with 1616 or something renamed as Z77V.CAP in flashback specific mobo USB slot with USB 2 legacy enabled in bios and hit the button. This depends on whether flashback FROM 1908 to 1616 will be allowed. If it goes you are home free, as this will break the protections.

Other than that all I can say is ask CodeRush on that thread on HF, like I said.

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

I've read your post several times but I'm not following. This is how I see it.

1. Boot into windows with new 1908 chip.
2. Remove new chip and insert the old chip.
3. Using FTK(Win x64) run "backup.bat" to create "backup.bin". (see a below)
4. Re-insert new chip and shutdown pc.
5. Flash 1616 bios to new chip. (see b below)
6. Use FTK(DOS) to run "gberefl". (see c below)
7. Flash again with a fresh 1908 bios from asus.

a. I don't see how you are getting a "backup.bin" from FD44.
b. Can I use EZ Flash from within bios instead of USB Flashback Port?
c. Will that restore MAC, DTS, UUID, and S/N?

 

[bankster55]

O.K. repeating:
I had a dozen ways to tackle this - in the past, pre 1908.
The prob is bios 1908 - a whole new nightmare.
Normally I would play with it to see what makes it tick.
ASUS has now turned bios flashing into rocket science.

However Haswell is out in one month - so I just dont care
Fwiw any use of FTK with old chip should create the backup with old chip info. Its automatic. But you have all info saved by FD44 now and renamed as bios.bin after importing some earlier (1616) bios, right? So if the old chip wont boot, hotflash old chip in Win 7 with FTK Win X64 with FD44 edited bios after booting with new chip and replacing with old.

Or you could order another chip from ASUS specifying 1616 bios, then using FTK DOS to update to edited FD44/1908, using flashprp cmd (flash prepared by you):
http://i.imgur.com/68tshql.jpg
Simple.

But why are you so obsessed with 4 mobo ID's?
What dif does it make?
ASUS has sent out tens of thousands of chips to customers with no mobo ID's or specific mobo southbridge Intel GBe MAC. So it must not matter even for warranty.

Why do you repeatedly ignore my advice to ask CodeRush - he knows more about bios stuff than anyone I know. According to him you have to use flashback first to an earlier bios to break 1908 protection and then use FTK.

So anyway, does the old bios chip still boot to Win 7?
Or is it dead? I have lost track here.
If you put 1616 on a USB 2.0 stick FAT32 (legacy USB 2 enabled/legacy USB 3 disabled in bios) and rename it to Z77VPRO.CAP and use ASUS flashback in flashback mobo port, with old bios chip inserted and hit the button, what happens? Does ME vers change to previous on bios Main page?

Also, AMI AFUWIN guys just came out with a new vers flasher about a month ago.
May work doing a hotflash (boot to Win 7 pull new chip reinstall old chip). Will prob error out, but it has the program all blocks option so its not an erase all and program, should keep mobo info from old chip.
http://www.ami.com/Support/amibiossupport/
scroll down to afuwin v4.xxx and download

http://i.imgur.com/2lpd60X.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/vmUMZjQ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/BaRF8eY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Df6dyh0.jpg

 

[IXFINGERZXI]

Well I got it fixed. Thanks for stickin around to help. You're right, I was making a big deal out of nothin. All I had to do was USB flashback to 1616, use FTK flashprp with modified 1908. I had hoped with all this I would get my local area connection 1 back. I did not. I only cared because a buddy of mine had performed some tweaks to that connection and I wanted to get them back. But I will survive without.

 

[bankster55]

Great!
Finally - heh