Reverting a Bios update

[ItsReallyMe]

I updated the bios on my new motherboard (ASRock b450 itx) a few weeks ago in order that it would work with Ryzen 5 3600 and it all seemed to go more or less fine apart from the rather long boot times (around 25 -30 seconds) but it now seems to be persistently losing the Uefi settings every couple of days and is often quite difficult to get Uefi to load at all. I thought maybe this was something to do with the motherboard not working well with 3rd gen Ryzen so decided to take a look at the website again to see if there any more updates but then I noticed under the older updates it says "if bios version is older than 1.70, please update to 1.70", which I'm pretty sure I didn't but it doesn't actually say that 1.70 is required for the most recent update, though I presume it is, since it says to "please also read the description in previous BIOS version."
https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITXac/index.us.asp#BIOS
So I'm thinking of trying to revert the bios to version 1.70, since it doesn't actually say on the most recent update that it can't be reverted, unlike the older updates. So would this be a good idea or would I be better trying something else?
Any help is appreciated.

 

[UsandThem]

I don't think your PC would post at all with a BIOS version older than 3.30 (since that is the first version that states it supports next Ryzen 2 CPUs).

Are you on BIOS version 3.50 now? If not, what version are you on?

 

[ItsReallyMe]

Yes its on 3.50 at the moment. But I have a 1600x processor, which I used to update the board the first time, so I suppose I could use that again to revert. So would it be a good idea to try the reversion or could I do more damage than good do you think?

 

[UsandThem]

I don't think you will be able to, as the BIOS versions 3.10 onward state that you will not be able to flash previous BIOS after upgrading. There might be a way to roll back to an older versions using other programs, but it's not as easy as simply flashing your BIOS. I know you don't have a Gigabyte motherboard, but here is an older thread on how Gigabyte users were going back to older versions (just to give you an idea, you''ll have to see if there is way to do it with Asrock motherboards): https://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=17957.0

Have you gone into the BIOS and loaded the optimized settings after you upgraded to your current BIOS version?

 

[EXCellR8]

Yes its on 3.50 at the moment. But I have a 1600x processor, which I used to update the board the first time, so I suppose I could use that again to revert. So would it be a good idea to try the reversion or could I do more damage than good do you think?

ASRock suggests that the newest BIOS recommended for the new Matisse CPU's (Ryzen 3000) not be used with older Ryzen chips--meaning it's tough to say what would happen if you throw in the 1600X at this point. You could try it but I personally would not.

My ASRock X370 board has a very similar warning about using new Matisse BIOS with older Ryzen chips but I'd suggest leaving the 3000 series in and clearing CMOS. Detach all USB devices besides the kb/mouse and see if that allows you to get into BIOS more easily.

 

[ItsReallyMe]

I don't think you will be able to, as the BIOS versions 3.10 onward state that you will not be able to flash previous BIOS after upgrading. There might be a way to roll back to an older versions using other programs, but it's not as easy as simply flashing your BIOS. I know you don't have a Gigabyte motherboard, but here is an older thread on how Gigabyte users were going back to older versions (just to give you an idea, you''ll have to see if there is way to do it with Asrock motherboards): https://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=17957.0

Have you gone into the BIOS and loaded the optimized settings after you upgraded to your current BIOS version?

Yes you were right, it doesn't let me downgrade to 1.70. The bios settings are mostly on "auto", there doesn't seem to be any "optimized settings". The only thing I've changed is the fan profiles and overclocked the ram a bit.
I was looking into that link you posted and came across these programs called BIOS flashers that can override the block on downgrading the bios. So I was considering giving that a go, though again I don't know how safe it would be. https://www.wimsbios.com/biosutil.jsp They do back up your old bios, so in theory it should be be safe enough to try shouldn't it?

ASRock suggests that the newest BIOS recommended for the new Matisse CPU's (Ryzen 3000) not be used with older Ryzen chips--meaning it's tough to say what would happen if you throw in the 1600X at this point. You could try it but I personally would not.

My ASRock X370 board has a very similar warning about using new Matisse BIOS with older Ryzen chips but I'd suggest leaving the 3000 series in and clearing CMOS. Detach all USB devices besides the kb/mouse and see if that allows you to get into BIOS more easily.

Yeah I tried to downgrade the bios by leaving the 3600 in but it didn't let me anyway. I wouldn't say getting into bios is such a big issue most of the time, the only time it won't load at all is when I try to turn on fast boot and then I have to clear CMOS to get back into it.

 

[UsandThem]

Yes you were right, it doesn't let me downgrade to 1.70. The bios settings are mostly on "auto", there doesn't seem to be any "optimized settings". The only thing I've changed is the fan profiles and overclocked the ram a bit.
I was looking into that link you posted and came across these programs called BIOS flashers that can override the block on downgrading the bios. So I was considering giving that a go, though again I don't know how safe it would be. https://www.wimsbios.com/biosutil.jsp They do back up your old bios, so in theory it should be be safe enough to try shouldn't it?

There's always a small risk when using programs like that. You can read through some Asrock threads where other users have done it, and see if it's something you're comfortable doing.

 

[ItsReallyMe]

There's always a small risk when using programs like that. You can read through some Asrock threads where other users have done it, and see if it's something you're comfortable doing.

Ok will do and thanks for your help.

 

[Iron Woode]

I have that board and the 1.70 BIOS thing refers to when it first came out. The board I bought had a BIOS older than 1.70, I think it was 1.30.

My board needed to be updated to 1.70 before I could update to 3.20. The newest BIOS is for the 3000 series only. I am still on the 3.20 because I am using an R3 2200G.

If your board is having issues I would contact Asrock about it.

 

[ItsReallyMe]

I have that board and the 1.70 BIOS thing refers to when it first came out. The board I bought had a BIOS older than 1.70, I think it was 1.30.

My board needed to be updated to 1.70 before I could update to 3.20. The newest BIOS is for the 3000 series only. I am still on the 3.20 because I am using an R3 2200G.

If your board is having issues I would contact Asrock about it.

Hi, I'm not sure what you mean "1.70 BIOS thing refers to when it first came out".

So you think the problems my board's having are nothing to do with not updating to 1.70 first? I started thinking this myself and didn't go ahead with attempting to downgrade after I read that each BIOS version is self-contained, so it makes no sense that I would even need to upgrade to 1.70 first. By any chance do you know why ASRock recommends doing this?

 

[Iron Woode]

Hi, I'm not sure what you mean "1.70 BIOS thing refers to when it first came out".

So you think the problems my board's having are nothing to do with not updating to 1.70 first? I started thinking this myself and didn't go ahead with attempting to downgrade after I read that each BIOS version is self-contained, so it makes no sense that I would even need to upgrade to 1.70 first. By any chance do you know why ASRock recommends doing this?

No, the 1.70 thing is for BIOS's older than 1.70. 1.70 allows an updated agesa to better support zen+ cpu's like mine. If your board came with 3.10 or higher then it doesn't apply to you. You didn't state what BIOS your board arrived with.

I stopped at 3.20 because I will not change the cpu on it.

PS: I love this board.

 

[ItsReallyMe]

No, the 1.70 thing is for BIOS's older than 1.70. 1.70 allows an updated agesa to better support zen+ cpu's like mine. If your board came with 3.10 or higher then it doesn't apply to you. You didn't state what BIOS your board arrived with.

I stopped at 3.20 because I will not change the cpu on it.

PS: I love this board.

Oh, ok. My BIOS was 1.30 as well and I updated straight to 3.50, that's why I thought my board was acting up.

 

[Iron Woode]

Oh, ok. My BIOS was 1.30 as well and I updated straight to 3.50, that's why I thought my board was acting up.

it could be. I suggest talking with Asrock about it since there is not much more we can do here about it.

It even says in the BIOS description:

**** If the current BIOS version is older than P1.70, please update BIOS to P1.70(PinnaclePI-AM4_1.0.0.6) before updating this version.

 

[ItsReallyMe]

it could be. I suggest talking with Asrock about it since there is not much more we can do here about it.

It even says in the BIOS description:

**** If the current BIOS version is older than P1.70, please update BIOS to P1.70(PinnaclePI-AM4_1.0.0.6) before updating this version.

I was kind of already aware of this.

 

[Iron Woode]

I was kind of already aware of this.

I know but I thought it might be pertinent.

This may sound wacky but is the cmos battery still good? Did you load defaults? Perhaps some settings in the BIOS need tweaking? Could something else be going wrong?

 

[ItsReallyMe]

I know but I thought it might be pertinent.

This may sound wacky but is the cmos battery still good? Did you load defaults? Perhaps some settings in the BIOS need tweaking? Could something else be going wrong?

nah, I've had quite a few other boot problems and most of the time the BIOS is losing the settings after waking from sleep, so I think it must be the missed update that's the problem. Looking at Gigabyte's B450 BIOS update page they have a similar update requirement but say "If you are using Q-Flash Utility to update BIOS, make sure you have updated BIOS to F32..." So I think the requirement is probably to do with using the onboard flash utility for ASRock too.

Anyway, I've contacted ASRock support to see if they'll be any use, though I'm not too hopeful to be honest.
I may have to just go ahead and try the BIOS flasher.

 

[Iron Woode]

nah, I've had quite a few other boot problems and most of the time the BIOS is losing the settings after waking from sleep, so I think it must be the missed update that's the problem. Looking at Gigabyte's B450 BIOS update page they have a similar update requirement but say "If you are using Q-Flash Utility to update BIOS, make sure you have updated BIOS to F32..." So I think the requirement is probably to do with using the onboard flash utility for ASRock too.

Anyway, I've contacted ASRock support to see if they'll be any use, though I'm not too hopeful to be honest.
I may have to just go ahead and try the BIOS flasher.

You may need to RMA the board if all else fails.

 

[Kenmitch]

Anyway, I've contacted ASRock support to see if they'll be any use, though I'm not too hopeful to be honest.
I may have to just go ahead and try the BIOS flasher.

If your daring it does look like it's possible to downgrade the bios.

http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11230&PID=61896&title=b450-fatality-itx-bios-310-broken