Post stuck on FD

[mikeford]

Win7 pro Phenom II in a MSI 880GM P51 motherboard, failed to boot after attempting to install a SSD and 9600GT video car (forgot to plug in PCIe power if that matters). I put in a diagnostic card and it sticks on F0 initially, clear CMOS, then sticks on FD, which for AMI bios means looking for boot, and attempting to write CMOS.

I have no idea how long it might take to write CMOS, but left it running 10 min or so, no change. Reset CMOS and repeated same same. Nothing plugged in still but the CPU and maybe a couple cables to the USB. Tried a new PS, no change.

Motherboard is toast?
Or maybe I need to connect a keyboard and monitor to tell it to restore CMOS to defaults?

 

[deustroop]

Does the bios recognize the ssd ? If so , install windows.

 

[mikeford]

Post hangs at F0 or FD, which is way short of booting any OS.

 

[Furious_Styles]

Bios probably got corrupted, needs a replacement.

 

[mikeford]

So is the motherboard for all practical purposes dead, or is there some last ditch thing to try. Unsoldering and replacing a bios chip isn't a handy option, but I have seem some people suggest shorting a couple pins on the chip.