Cant load into windows after bios update

[Sir Joystone]

Recently updated the bios on an MSI X570-A Pro from its origional bios in 2019 to the latest in 2023 to gain access to Smart Acces Memory for my RX 5700xt.
After the bios update I can enter the bios but not windows. One of three things happens. It either hangs on the logo with the spinning dots,gives a plan blue screen or a blue screen with an error message say it is attempting to read on write only memory.
I have ruled out the CPU,GPU & NVME as the issue.
I got one boot into windows when I used an older bios and one stick of RAM but after reboot it started displaying one of the three possible options again of the blue screens or hanging.
I thought it may have been the ram so tested each RAM stick separately in each slot with the same issue persisting.
Can anyone provide input to solving this issue?

 

[vinodh]

Have you tried booting from a Linux live USB? If it works, then it can more or less rule out your hardware as the problem.

 

[Sir Joystone]

I have a hiveOS drive.Will that work?

 

[Ageless_ZA]

Check your boot mode in BIOS, might be set to legacy/UEFI. Change it to the opposite of what it is now and press F10 to save and restart


When you do a BIOS update it resets all settings to default. Check all your boot settings in BIOS if that doesn't work.

 

[Oops!!!]

you didnt say if you have tried safe mode?

 

[Sir Joystone]

Have you tried booting from a Linux live USB? If it works, then it can more or less rule out your hardware as the problem.

Can confirm it gets stuck loading into a Linux system(HiveOS)

 

[Sir Joystone]

Check your boot mode in BIOS, might be set to legacy/UEFI. Change it to the opposite of what it is now and press F10 to save and restart


When you do a BIOS update it resets all settings to default. Check all your boot settings in BIOS if that doesn't work.

Both CSM and UEFI yield the same results but I did notice with UEFI that secure boot was off.Would this make a difference if it was on?

 

[Sir Joystone]

you didnt say if you have tried safe mode?

I've heard of safe mode but never used it.How do I access it?

 

[Ageless_ZA]

Both CSM and UEFI yield the same results but I did notice with UEFI that secure boot was off. Would this make a difference if it was on?

Depends on how your initial install was setup, but yes try toggle secure boot on.

Newer hardware is very finicky when it comes to security. (This is why you should clear your secure keys etc when reinstalling an OS)

 

[Sir Joystone]

Depends on how your initial install was setup, but yes try toggle secure boot on.

Newer hardware is very finicky when it comes to security. (This is why you should clear your secure keys etc when reinstalling an OS)

Toggling it had no effect.
Is there any chance the bios chip is bricked?I did manage to fully load into windows once though

 

[Ageless_ZA]

Can confirm it gets stuck loading into a Linux system(HiveOS)

This points to a hardware issue though.

 

[Ageless_ZA]

Toggling it had no effect.
Is there any chance the bios chip is bricked?I did manage to fully load into windows once though

Very much doubtful.

You could try reflash the latest bios and then setup BIOS options before booting into windows.

 

[Sir Joystone]

This points to a hardware issue though.

Mmm will go to a friend and swap parts put separately into their system to find out which it could be.
I was having issues with the RAM light staying on but I have a spare kit some where so will give that a shot.
Is there any chance a bios update could damage a cpu?

 

[Sir Joystone]

Very much doubtful.

You could try reflash the latest bios and then setup BIOS options before booting into windows.

Flashed a couple of times now to various versions.Going to try going back to the 2019 one now.
If it does actually turn out to be bricked it's not the biggest lose as I do have a reprogrammer for bios chips

 

[Sir Joystone]

Switched out to a single stick of DDR4 8gb furry ram which I know works 100% and the ram led dbug light now stays on

 

[bythecantloads]

Did you do incremental BIOS updates or just the newest one?

I vaguely remember reading that Gigabyte had issues with jumping from one bios to a newer one without the in between ones... Not sure if MSI has the same issues.

 

[Sir Joystone]

Did you do incremental BIOS updates or just the newest one?

I vaguely remember reading that Gigabyte had issues with jumping from one bios to a newer one without the in between ones... Not sure if ASUS has the same issues.

I just went to the newest.Might explain why I was able to load into windows once that was half way between the newest and oldest.Do u think doing them from oldest to newest one by one will work?

 

[bythecantloads]

I just went to the newest.Might explain why I was able to load into windows once that was half way between the newest and oldest.Do u think doing them from oldest to newest one by one will work?

Might be, of you revert to the one that worked, make sure it then still works and go forward from there.

 

[Sir Joystone]

Will do and report back with findings

 

[vinodh]

Mmm will go to a friend and swap parts put separately into their system to find out which it could be.
I was having issues with the RAM light staying on but I have a spare kit some where so will give that a shot.
Is there any chance a bios update could damage a cpu?

If you’re stuck and need to swap parts and your friend isn’t available, you’re welcome to come visit me. Im in Centurion and I have a PC or three that we can use to test.

 

[Sir Joystone]

If you’re stuck and need to swap parts and your friend isn’t available, you’re welcome to come visit me. Im in Centurion and I have a PC or three that we can use to test.

Will definitely let u know and greatly appreciate the offer

 

[Heisenbear]

Have you tried reinstalling the motherboard battery?

 

[Serenath]

Not sure if this will help but worth a shot.

Had a similar issue with the Ram lights staying on, turns outs i had something plugged into the BIOS Flash or something USB Port at the back, after i unplugged that it POSTED fine.

 

[Sir Joystone]

Might be, of you revert to the one that worked, make sure it then still works and go forward from there.

Origional bios has same issue.Have a feeling it's hard ware related so will test all of those.I did notice there was a very small amount of cou paste in the cpu socket holes but didn't think much of it as it was so little.Maybe repeating the cpu with the paste in the holes did something

 

[Sir Joystone]

Have you tried reinstalling the motherboard battery?

Nothing sadly

 

[Sir Joystone]

Not sure if this will help but worth a shot.

Had a similar issue with the Ram lights staying on, turns outs i had something plugged into the BIOS Flash or something USB Port at the back, after i unplugged that it POSTED fine.

Remembered not all ram works with amd as the old sticks actually work over the furry.Paid a little extra for ryzen optimized ram so think thats why it didn't work

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

8gb furry ram

There's your issue.

Edit: also try loading into a loader like ventoy maybe?

 

[solz]

The one settings that most bios updates change is also the raid or ahci.
Depending what one you had, you might have to chnage that also.

 

[Sir Joystone]

Will try that too.
I took up vinodh offer to see if a hardware part is faulty

 

[johnny_h]

Also check your drive mode in the bios, ahci vs raid, if there's that option

Similar to

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/nz50g6

If you install windows with it in one mode and then change it, windows won't boot.

I know you have an nvme but it still matters, despite saying sata operation