Solved Updated BIOS. Boot loop freezing.

GetTheClicker · Mar 20, 2026

I started having random freezes while idling but never while gaming or watching media.
I thought it'd be a good idea to update my BIOS on the Aorus X570S master. I went from F5 to the latest F8.
The update went as it should UNTIL.... It rebooted and then went into a bootloop. It would eventually go into preparing automatic repair where it would freeze. The loading icon froze. Hard rebooting and sometimes it wouldn't freeze but instead I would get error codes such as WatchDog or fatal hardware error.

I thought it might be ram so I took out 3 of the 4 sticks and tried one at a time. It seems more stable when all 4 are in.
I removed all drives except for the main OS NvMe.
I have tried getting into the recovery environment, no dice. I think it's not enabled or just isn't there.
I tried a bootable media device. I could see the 2D windows icon and then it would freeze.
I tried attempting a clean installation of windows but I can't get past the Aorus splash screen.
Dr Debug doesn't list anything other than 9E.
I reverted back to BIOS version F5.
Still stuck.
5950x
64gigs GSkill Trident Z
LianLi 1000watt PSU

Now I can't even get into the BIOS with DR Debug 4F whatever that means.

glasskuter · Mar 20, 2026

I certainly didn't know the answer so I asked co-pilot. Here's the answer I got.

The IMC (memory controller) is struggling and the BIOS is misconfigured or corrupted.

The Fix: Step‑by‑Step Recovery
These steps are safe and don’t require booting into BIOS.

Full CMOS Reset (not just the button)
Gigabyte boards sometimes require a deep reset after a failed firmware flash.
Do this:

Power off
Switch PSU off
Hold power button 10 seconds (discharge)
Remove CMOS battery
Short the CLR_CMOS pins for 10 seconds
Leave battery out for 15 minutes
Reassemble and power on

This forces the board to rebuild NVRAM and memory training data.

Boot With Minimal RAM

Gigabyte boards are picky about slot population after a failed flash.

Try this order:

One stick in A2
If no POST → one stick in B2
If no POST → try a different stick in A2
If it POSTS → enter BIOS immediately and load “Optimized Defaults”

If you get into BIOS even once, you’ve won.

Disable XMP/EXPO Immediately

If you reach BIOS:

Load Optimized Defaults
Do NOT enable XMP
Set DRAM Voltage manually to the kit’s rated value
Save and reboot
Then shut down and add the remaining sticks

Reflash BIOS Using Q‑Flash Plus (no CPU/RAM needed)
If you still cannot enter BIOS:

Your board supports Q‑Flash Plus, which can reflash the BIOS even when the system won’t POST.
You need:

FAT32 USB stick
Correct BIOS file renamed to GIGABYTE.BIN
Plug into the white USB port
Press Q‑Flash Plus button

This bypasses the corrupted firmware and memory training entirely.

If 4F Persists After Q‑Flash

Then the possibilities narrow to:
✔ Corrupted firmware region (NVRAM or ME/SOC block)
Q‑Flash usually fixes this.

✔ IMC degradation (rare but possible on 5950X)

Usually shows up as sudden inability to train RAM at any speed.

✔ PSU instability during training

Your Lian Li 1000W is plenty, but if it’s aging, cold‑boot instability can appear.

What I’d Do Next (Most Effective Order)

Deep CMOS reset
One‑stick boot attempts
Q‑Flash Plus reflash to F5 or F8c
If still dead → test with a different RAM kit (even cheap 8GB stick)
If that fails → the board’s memory training circuitry is likely damaged

zbook · Mar 20, 2026

Please indicate whether the computer is or is not posting and is or is not producing beep codes:

What Is POST?

What POST means in computing, including its role in verifying hardware functionality during the boot process and its significance in online messaging contexts.

www.computerhope.com

Computer POST and Beep Codes

Computer beep codes and POST issues, covering AMI, Award, Dell, IBM, and Phoenix BIOS. Learn to troubleshoot beep codes and identify hardware problems.

www.computerhope.com

POST Troubleshooting Steps

Essential troubleshooting steps if your computer fails to pass the POST (Power-On Self-Test) process during boot, ensuring all hardware functions correctly.

www.computerhope.com

GetTheClicker · Mar 20, 2026

I can get to the BIOS again but still can't get into recovery mode nor anywhere with bootable media USB. Still says preparing setup and freezes there.
I suspect a bad CPU so I've ordered one. God I hope it's not the gpu.

I'm not getting any beeps, no speaker installed. The only codes I see are 4F at times, 9E, and sometimes 01

zbook · Mar 20, 2026

Try glascutters suggestion to reset CMOS > report findings

Take pictures > post images or share links

This link may be useful:

Boot to Advanced Startup (WinRE) in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to boot to the advanced startup (WinRE) in Windows 11. The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a companion operating system installed alongside Windows 11, typically in a separate partition, that can help with troubleshooting, recovery, or booting from...

www.elevenforum.com

Run the Sea Tools bootable Short and Long generic tests > post images or share links

SeaTools | Seagate US

SeaTools - Quick diagnostic tool that checks the health of your drive.

www.seagate.com

GetTheClicker · Mar 20, 2026

I managed to dig a very old GPU out of the bin in the garage. Don't know how it still even works. I am still crashing/freezing and boot looping a the motherboard splash screen so I'm relieved to say I think the 7900xtx is fine.
This is where I get stuck.
Pic 1 no USB. Pic 2 with bootable USB partition 1. Pic 3 bootable USB partition 2. Selecting general USB device shows a message I'm trying to boot with legacy drivers or something and I need to use rufus to change gpt to mbr.

zbook · Mar 20, 2026

If needed these are links for CMOS:

How to Clear Your Computers CMOS to Reset BIOS Settings:

How to Clear Your Computer's CMOS to Reset BIOS Settings

If something has gone wrong, your computer won't POST, and you're at wits end --- don't worry. You can always reset everything back to factory defaults.

www.howtogeek.com

3 Ways to Reset Your BIOS - wikiHow:

How to Reset the BIOS on a Windows PC: 3 Easy Methods

Learn to reset your BIOS from within Windows or by accessing the motherboardIf you want to switch back to your original BIOS version after a bad update, it's easy to reset your PC's BIOS. This procedure can also be helpful if you need to...

www.wikihow.com

3 Easy Ways to Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)

3 Easy Ways to Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)

Here are three ways to clear the CMOS memory on your motherboard. Clearing CMOS will reset the BIOS settings to their factory default levels.

www.lifewire.com

GetTheClicker · Mar 20, 2026

Clearing the CMOS does nothing. I tried everything on that end. Unplugged the psu, removed battery for 15 mins, held the reset CMOS button, and jumped the pins.
I did see the notification about the BIOS being reset so I know that part went as planned yet I'm still stuck. The ram seems good, the GPU is good, the drives are good, I checked those with the BIOS as there was an option for self test for those. The only thing I can't swap out yet is the CPU and motherboard.
I feel like at this point it's the CPU or motherboard. Seeing how a BIOS update caused this it has to be either or.

Ran into another error while not crashing as Automatic decided to load, or attempt to anywho. Dr debug Code was 01

zbook · Mar 20, 2026

See if it is possible to boot to

a) Sea Tool bootable

b) Memtest86+

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

www.memtest.org

Code:

Bug Check 0x1D5: DRIVER_PNP_WATCHDOG

GetTheClicker · Mar 20, 2026

I will try more tomorrow night. I have been tinkering with this thing for the last 14 hours straight. It means more to me than my children, don't tell them I said that.

Is there any way to boot into safe mode from a USB drive? Just to get into the OS assuming this isn't a software issue.

zbook · Mar 20, 2026

If not already done:

disconnect all peripherals

Boot to the BIOS > change RAID to ACHI to IDE and vice versa

Report what happens again with booting to advanced startup (see earlier post thread).

GetTheClicker · Mar 21, 2026

Did that. It never once enabled RAID mode. It always stayed in AHCI.

GetTheClicker · Mar 21, 2026

More things I have tried would be changing the bootable windows installation from GPT to MBR. It looked like it was going to work. I got past the splash screen and onto the windows logo in a single boot up. Aaaand then it rebooted and tried to automatically repair itself where it rebooted again and eventually froze during the boot loop.

Next I tried moving the GPU down a slot for kicks and giggles. Nothing.

I removed the CPU to reseat it and I think I might have found the problem. The paste was dry. It never overheated. I mean it ran at 95c while gaming and 62c while idling. I might have damaged the CPU neglecting the maintenance and gaming on it for long hours. But I can still navigate the BIOS as long as I want? Can you do that with a bad CPU?

GetTheClicker · Mar 22, 2026

I tried to use TAILS USB portable OS and that didn't work. It looked like it was about to but as it was loading it crashed. It seems like putting any load beyond the BIOS causes system failure.

It took all day on a dinky laptop but I got Windows To Go on a USB drive and it's doing something new. It got through the setup process and device set up just fine. Didn't crash once. It just rebooted so we'll see what happens. To me this is progress!

Well that didn't work. Now it gets hung up on F3 and AE on Dr debug without showing the Mobo splash screen. Guess I'll have to reset CMOS to get that back.

GetTheClicker · Mar 22, 2026

Found a spare PSU lying around and decided to try that before I go to bed. No dice. Same exact symptoms. So I have definitely narrowed it down to either CPU or motherboard. I ordered both a couple days ago so I'll be back when I've had a chance to diagnose with those.

zbook · Mar 23, 2026

GetTheClicker said:
I got Windows To Go on a USB drive

Was that from years ago or is there a current source?

When available update the progress with post #9.

zbook · Mar 23, 2026

GetTheClicker said:
Is there any way to boot into safe mode from a USB drive?

Yes by command.

However it will fail when there is an overriding hardware problem.

Option Three in this thread:

Boot to Safe Mode in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to boot Windows 11 into normal mode, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Safe mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers. If a problem doesn't happen in safe mode, this means that default...

www.elevenforum.com

GetTheClicker · Mar 25, 2026

It was in fact the CPU. Replaced it and I'm back in business

Solved Updated BIOS. Boot loop freezing.

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Boot With Minimal RAM​

Disable XMP/EXPO Immediately​

If 4F Persists After Q‑Flash​

✔ IMC degradation (rare but possible on 5950X)​

✔ PSU instability during training​

What I’d Do Next (Most Effective Order)​

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Similar threads

Boot With Minimal RAM

Disable XMP/EXPO Immediately

If 4F Persists After Q‑Flash

✔ IMC degradation (rare but possible on 5950X)

✔ PSU instability during training

What I’d Do Next (Most Effective Order)