!!! Warning: Z490 boards - problem with recent BIOS updates !!!

[citay]

You seem to have a different cause of the problem, only with a similar symptom. You have to check the EZ Debug LEDs. If the CPU LED is on directly after flashing, then chances are that you have the problem discussed in this thread. If no LED or the DRAM/VGA/BOOT LED is on, then you have a different problem and it just appears similar on the surface. For example, with your solutions of swapping GPUs/monitors, it's more likely you have a temporary problem related to this.

Don't get me wrong, i would be thrilled for all the people waiting for a fix if it would be that easy to get their boards working again. But not getting an image after updating the BIOS can have a bunch of different reasons that are not connected to the problem in this thread, even if having an MSI Z490 board might make you think it's this. At the very least, you have to pay attention to the EZ Debug LEDs, and if the CPU LED is not on, it simply can't be what we talk about here.

 

[Doc_Bucket]

I had the same issue a few weeks ago. First time I updated my Z490 motherboard to bios 7C80v1C so I could run my new 11th gen i9 11900k cpu. I followed the instructions to a T. It blacked screened so I swapped my old it i5 10900k cpu. Still the same issue. Because I wasn't sure if it had anything to do with the video card. I figured it was worth a shot to change video cards as a test. I run an RTX 3080 MSI card z490 mb and an Alienware Alienware 240hz 4k monitor. So I pulled out the video card and disconnected the monitor. I put in my old eVGA GTX 580 Classified card and my 10 year old 22inch HP monitor. Not sure if it was coincidence or not but it fired up. It was a little hangy until I did another restart. But as soon as everything seemed stable I put the 3080 back in and the Alienware monitor. Everything was working great. Well today I did a MSI center update under the advanced tab. Now I can't recall what it even was and now I'm back to a black screen. I'm going to give back through the same process of changing cards and monitor. I'll get back to share if it cures the problem again.

Okay update. Yes when I pull the MSI 3080 card out and put my old eVGA GTX 580 Classified card in and connect my old HP VGA monitor it works again. First boot says no GOP drivers are installed. Or something like that. Then I reboot again and it starts like normal. I can put my 3080 back in and everything will work properly. So what's going on? Is there a default vga driver for old version GPU's that is not default in the bios for new GPU's? Some one smarter than me needs to explain why this fixes the black screen issue twice weeks apart with two different updates.

The question is, whether the Debug led got stuck at CPU after updating to 7C80v1C. If not, it might have been a different problem. There was a user reporting that when he checked the relevant BIOS chip on the motherboard after a failed update, the reading was somehow empty. Although I cannot affirm whether his case was specific or if the chip is deleted as a general rule, the CPU led on is a common symptom. It is the case now as well?

 

[Doc_Bucket]

You seem to have a different cause of the problem, only with a similar symptom. You have to check the EZ Debug LEDs. If the CPU LED is on directly after flashing, then chances are that you have the problem discussed in this thread. If no LED or the DRAM/VGA/BOOT LED is on, then you have a different problem and it just appears similar on the surface. For example, with your solutions of swapping GPUs/monitors, it's more likely you have a temporary problem related to this.

Don't get me wrong, i would be thrilled for all the people waiting for a fix if it would be that easy to get their boards working again. But not getting an image after updating the BIOS can have a bunch of different reasons that are not connected to the problem in this thread, even if having an MSI Z490 board might make you think it's this. At the very least, you have to pay attention to the EZ Debug LEDs, and if the CPU LED is not on, it simply can't be what we talk about here.

Good Lord! Now it must look like I am your watered down shadow . You must have posted it seconds before me…

 

[s_coffma155b02d9]

You seem to have a different cause of the problem, only with a similar symptom. You have to check the EZ Debug LEDs. If the CPU LED is on directly after flashing, then chances are that you have the problem discussed in this thread. If no LED or the DRAM/VGA/BOOT LED is on, then you have a different problem and it just appears similar on the surface. For example, with your solutions of swapping GPUs/monitors, it's more likely you have a temporary problem related to this.

Don't get me wrong, i would be thrilled for all the people waiting for a fix if it would be that easy to get their boards working again. But not getting an image after updating the BIOS can have a bunch of different reasons that are not connected to the problem in this thread, even if having an MSI Z490 board might make you think it's this. At the very least, you have to pay attention to the EZ Debug LEDs, and if the CPU LED is not on, it simply can't be what we talk about here.

Nope it's exactly the same problem as you described. Same light same everything. Besides what's the chances that the two times it has accrued (black screen) after update and same light, but different problem?

 

[citay]

You must have posted it seconds before me…

It was probably just on the next page or something.

Nope it's exactly the same problem as you described. Same light same everything.

If you get the CPU LED, then the chances are higher that it was this problem indeed. Or rather, that's the minimum requirement for it to be able to be this problem. It's still no definitive proof, as the CPU LED can have a lot of causes, as it's simply the first point of the checks that can fail. But it became a lot more likely to be this problem, i'll give you that.

One thing; Out of well over 150 people just here on the forum that didn't have a Flash BIOS Button or an external programming device to save them, how many you think will have tried to get their system going again with different spare parts they had, including other graphics cards? After over 1 1/2 years of this problem, surely you can't be the first one?

Don't get me wrong, if this is a potential solution, that would be very nice indeed, but i doubt it. Anyway, i cannot try it myself, as i don't actually have a Z490 board or ever had one (went from Z390 to Z590), and i'm just trying to help people with this thread. But other people with affected boards are encouraged to try this and give some feedback.

 

[s_coffma155b02d9]

It was probably just on the next page or something.



If you get the CPU LED, then the chances are higher that it was this problem indeed. Or rather, that's the minimum requirement for it to be able to be this problem. It's still no definitive proof, as the CPU LED can have a lot of causes, as it's simply the first point of the checks that can fail. But it became a lot more likely to be this problem, i'll give you that.

One thing; Out of well over 150 people just here on the forum that didn't have a Flash BIOS Button or an external programming device to save them, how many you think will have tried to get their system going again with different spare parts they had, including other graphics cards? After over 1 1/2 years of this problem, surely you can't be the first one?

Don't get me wrong, if this is a potential solution, that would be very nice indeed, but i doubt it. Anyway, i cannot try it myself, as i don't actually have a Z490 board or ever had one (went from Z390 to Z590), and i'm just trying to help people with this thread. But other people with affected boards are encouraged to try this and give some feedback.

Surely I couldn't be the first one eh? Well what's the chances that it has happened to me twice on two different update in a span of a few weeks and that neither of them were related to this problem with the exact reported issues that happened to me? I don't know you tell me. It sounds more like you have a point to make that you don't like what MSI has done one their board. We can all agree with that. My post has nothing to do with what MSI has done right or wrong. I simply read this post and added a possible solution. It might not help anyone. But if it does help one person that does have the ability to try this solution what's the harm? It's worked for me why not for someone else?

 

[citay]

Did i say anything against that? I encouraged people to try this. I was just sceptical if this is suddenly the solution, and you have to forgive my scepticism after over 1 1/2 of neither us on the forum nor MSI getting on top of the problem. Also, you cleared up that you in fact did get the CPU LED, so i admitted it would be much more likely for it to be this problem, so...

 

[roger.piepenstoc15a502e6]

Hi,
I was blissfully unaware that there was this issue and tried to update the bios.
I will try the graphic card swap to see if this resolved the issue and give you an update

Date of failed flashing: Dec 30, 2022
Affected board model: MPG Z490 GAMING PLUS
CPU: Intel Core i5-10700K
Flashing method used: USB
Attempted update to BIOS version: 7C75vAC
Result: Stuck at EZ Debug LED "CPU" after update.

 

[s_coffma155b02d9]

Hi,
I was blissfully unaware that there was this issue and tried to update the bios.
I will try the graphic card swap to see if this resolved the issue and give you an update

Date of failed flashing: Dec 30, 2022
Affected board model: MPG Z490 GAMING PLUS
CPU: Intel Core i5-10700K
Flashing method used: USB
Attempted update to BIOS version: 7C75vAC
Result: Stuck at EZ Debug LED "CPU" after update.

The old card and monitor I used to get it working was DVI card and monitor. The card and monitor that wouldn't work was DisplayPort I'm not sure if that had any anything to do with it.

 

[Doc_Bucket]

Hi,
I was blissfully unaware that there was this issue and tried to update the bios.
I will try the graphic card swap to see if this resolved the issue and give you an update

Date of failed flashing: Dec 30, 2022
Affected board model: MPG Z490 GAMING PLUS
CPU: Intel Core i5-10700K
Flashing method used: USB
Attempted update to BIOS version: 7C75vAC
Result: Stuck at EZ Debug LED "CPU" after update.

One user also succeeded with some wild RAM swapping, if you are interested:

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/warning-z490-boards-problem-with-recent-bios-updates.367575/post-2146076

However, it looks like the CH341A programmer way is the most successful.

 

[pjmb]

Hi,
I was blissfully unaware that there was this issue and tried to update the bios.
I will try the graphic card swap to see if this resolved the issue and give you an update

Date of failed flashing: Dec 30, 2022
Affected board model: MPG Z490 GAMING PLUS
CPU: Intel Core i5-10700K
Flashing method used: USB
Attempted update to BIOS version: 7C75vAC
Result: Stuck at EZ Debug LED "CPU" after update.

Hey, any updates on your situation, recover method used or still broken?
Really confused on the method to try, AFUWIN in OS or SVET UEFI.
Im currently on the 1rst release 7C75vA0 2020-03-25, the motherboard its not broken...but surely would like to update it...

EDIT: Prepared myself for the worst, CLRcmos, AFU/FPT backups and succeed using SVET v19 EFI, his ME FW update didnt update it, so later performed manual FWupdt 14.1.67.2046
So now on latest bios 7C75vAC 2022-06-15 and no issue to report.

 

[lava.em15b502e4]

hallo sir, i have problem with my Z490 gaming carbon wifi, yesterday i was update my bios to latest version 7C73v1C with m-flash menu, im sure it was successful 100%, but now my PC cannot display anything, i try everything like someone in this thread to put just 1 RAM, pull out cmos battery, pull out GPU card, now i cant go to bios menu for flashback

after read some page in this thread, im assuming the problem latest version just supports intel 11th gen, it is right ? i dont know its led bug or not, but may it can help explaining my PC, sory if its large image

Spoiler: LED Debug maybe ?

and if i just upgrade my 10th gen to 11th gen it will fix ? ot just replaced my Motherboard ?

My pc spec :
i7-10700K
MPG Z490 Gaming carbon wifi
Trident Z 16x2gb

 

[Doc_Bucket]

hallo sir, i have problem with my Z490 gaming carbon wifi, yesterday i was update my bios to latest version 7C73v1C with m-flash menu, im sure it was successful 100%, but now my PC cannot display anything, i try everything like someone in this thread to put just 1 RAM, pull out cmos battery, pull out GPU card, now i cant go to bios menu for flashback

If you cannot get into BIOS at all, then I would suggest using CH341A programmer to flash the new version, or any version, for that matter, because there's most likely no working version in the motherboard at the moment. A few pages back there is a post with instructions, or there's a nice video by Adamant IT on Youtube how to flash a new BIOS using the programmer.

10th or 11th gen CPU should not make any difference in terms od resolving the problem. The latest BIOS must work with both generations. In any case, the programmer is by far much cheaper than a new CPU.

 

[lava.em15b502e4]

If you cannot get into BIOS at all, then I would suggest using CH341A programmer to flash the new version, or any version, for that matter, because there's most likely no working version in the motherboard at the moment. A few pages back there is a post with instructions, or there's a nice video by Adamant IT on Youtube how to flash a new BIOS using the programmer.

10th or 11th gen CPU should not make any difference in terms od resolving the problem. The latest BIOS must work with both generations. In any case, the programmer is by far much cheaper than a new CPU.

wow sir, i think i cant do that, beside i dont have the stuf and tool like that, i also dont have experienced on that thing, just want to know if i upgrade my intel 10 gen to 11 gen will work again or not, and if it work maybe thats worth for additional feature like upgrade PCIe gen 3 to 4, but the problem not all computer shop in my city have 11gen unit for the test

If uprage to 11 gen will work i will buy that, but if doesn't work, i will replace my motherboard

or maybe another people can give me alternative way to make PC work again, even i must replace some unit its oke for cheaper way

im little stressed now just because update the bios, how can latest version will broke everything

 

[Doc_Bucket]

wow sir, i think i cant do that, beside i dont have the stuf and tool like that, i also dont have experienced on that thing, just want to know if i upgrade my intel 10 gen to 11 gen will work again or not, and if it work maybe thats worth for additional feature like upgrade PCIe gen 3 to 4, but the problem not all computer shop in my city have 11gen unit for the test

If uprage to 11 gen will work i will buy that, but if doesn't work, i will replace my motherboard

or maybe another people can give me alternative way to make PC work again, even i must replace some unit its oke for cheaper way

im little stressed now just because update the bios, how can latest version will broke everything

If the problem was caused by a failed BIOS update, then my best guess is the board is bricked now and will not work with any CPU until you flash a new BIOS file into it.

It is a bit of a hassle, I know, but that's how things work.

 

[citay]

Sadly, your board is temporarily unusable with any CPU, doesn't matter if 10th or 11th gen, because it suffers from the problem i described in the first post. Meaning, a rare condition that can happen on MSI Z490 boards where your BIOS becomes corrupted during the flashing, and all you get is the CPU LED afterwards. Now the BIOS has to be repaired. The Z490 GAMING CARBON WIFI has no Flash BIOS Button, so the best option is to use an external flash programming device. These things are pretty cheap, but you have to do some research how to do it. You have to use that device to clamp onto the BIOS chip and flash the latest BIOS from here, using this kind of method.

"MXIC 25L25673G", this chip with 256 in the name is the BIOS chip, 256 Mbit (= 32 MB) flash size, the usual BIOS size nowadays:



You can clamp on there with the flash programmer and flash it externally that way. Or take it to a PC store in your area and ask if they can flash the chip for a small fee.
Or as a last resort, sell the board as "corrupt BIOS, otherwise ok", so people who fixed a BIOS chip before can fix it up for themselves, and you upgrade to something newer.

 

[lava.em15b502e4]

If the problem was caused by a failed BIOS update, then my best guess is the board is bricked now and will not work with any CPU until you flash a new BIOS file into it.

It is a bit of a hassle, I know, but that's how things work.

Nah, im sure 100% when i flash bios is successful and after that my PC auto restart, then that happen, is that possible bios failed update after that notification successful ?

Sadly, your board is temporarily unusable with any CPU, doesn't matter if 10th or 11th gen, because it suffers from the problem i described in the first post. Meaning, a rare condition that can happen on MSI Z490 boards where your BIOS becomes corrupted during the flashing, and all you get is the CPU LED afterwards. Now the BIOS has to be repaired. The Z490 GAMING CARBON WIFI has no Flash BIOS Button, so the best option is to use an external flash programming device. These things are pretty cheap, but you have to do some research how to do it. You have to use that device to clamp onto the BIOS chip and flash the latest BIOS from here, using this kind of method.

"MXIC 25L25673G", this chip with 256 in the name is the BIOS chip, 256 Mbit (= 32 MB) flash size, the usual BIOS size nowadays:

View attachment 169090

You can clamp on there with the flash programmer and flash it externally that way. Or take it to a PC store in your area and ask if they can flash the chip for a small fee.
Or as a last resort, sell the board as "corrupt BIOS, otherwise ok", so people who fixed a BIOS chip before can fix it up for themselves, and you upgrade to something newer.

if i sell the motherboard with failed bios how much price i must offer for that ? because i dont have experience and time for doing flash bios from external program i decided better to sell this

 

[citay]

if i sell the motherboard with failed bios how much price i must offer for that ? because i dont have experience and time for doing flash bios from external program i decided better to sell this

It's difficult to say what would be a good price. But first i would ask in PC shops around your area if they can flash a BIOS chip. Also, in some cities there are things like a "repair café" or "makerspace" or "hackerspace" or places like that, where people help repair electronic devices. They might be able to help with this as well. Usually they just want a small donation for helping you.

 

[lava.em15b502e4]

It's difficult to say what would be a good price. But first i would ask in PC shops around your area if they can flash a BIOS chip. Also, in some cities there are things like a "repair café" or "makerspace" or "hackerspace" or places like that, where people help repair electronic devices. They might be able to help with this as well. Usually they just want a small donation for helping you.

ok sir, thanks for your help, maybe better for buy new MB because i need my PC back asap for work.
after that i try to find out the place can repair my z490 for minimum disadvantage

 

[citay]

That sounds like a plan. By the way, when you get a new board, i would suggest a Z590 this time (from MSI, anything above a PRO model is good). It works with 10th gen CPUs too. And then you can update the BIOS to the newest version right away, before booting Windows. Why? On Z590 there is no need to worry. First, the corrupt BIOS only happens on Z490 sometimes. Second, those boards have a Flash BIOS Button, so you could recover from a bad flash. So you can have the newest BIOS which is prepared for Win11 and has all the bugfixes, without much risk.