P67 Pro3 b3 Ram+Boot failure after 3.30 bios upgrade.

[barnej]

Hello!

After updating the bios of my P67 Pro3 b3 to 3.30 (i think from 1.90, cant remember) from official site Ive encountered some serious problems. After restart the windows wouldnt start properly - first time i got BSOD then after restart it started to repair itself. I thought it was the sata/ide problem since the defaults were loaded, i changed it to ahci but the problem presisted - need to add it was at ssd 840 evo by samsung connected to sata3_0. After reinstalling windows on new hdd drive i bought, formatted with gpt, the first selft boot aftet install was ok - but then the problem occured once again. After trying to boot from windows install dvd, it tried to repair, without success. After reinstalling, first boot was Ok, but the second was the same. I tried EVVERY configuration of sata/ide/ahci, boot order, even the plugs on motherboard. I tried loading uefi defaults, even 3 different windows versions.. Also - the RAM which is at 1600 - appears to be 1333 in the uefi. Sometimes It just boot to yellowish screen, sometimes to selfrepair. Ill reseted cmos couple of times, tried different hdds/ssds/windows version. I have no idea what can I do.
Thanks in advance!

My configuration:

MB: Asrock p67 pro 3 b3 3.30
CPU: Intel i7 2600k
GPU: Gainward GTX 570 Phanton
RAM: 2x Corsair XMS3 2x4GB 1600
HDD: WD Red 3TB/Samsung SSD Evo 840
PS: Corsair TX650

[parsec]

Re: P67 Pro3 b3 Ram+Boot failure after 3.30 bios upgrade.

What happened is, you flashed to the Ivy Bridge processor compatible BIOS, while still using a Sandy Bridge CPU. That's fine to do, but there is more to it than just flashing the BIOS. BIOS version 3.10 is the version that does the change, and you may not get everything that is done with BIOS version 3.30.

See this thread for more information: http://forums.tweaktown.com/asrock/5...er-boards.html

Part of the BIOS update for Ivy Bridge processors is an update to the Intel IME firmware, that is part of the BIOS file. You also must update the Intel IME software, as stated in the BIOS 3.10 update instructions.

I see ASRock only provides the Windows BIOS update method for your board, which is not the best update method.

So did you run the new Intel IME software installer? Try that first.

If that does not work, all you can do is try to run the 3.10 BIOS installation program (run as Administrator as said in the instructions, which you must read carefully) or get a new BIOS chip from ASRock and do the 3.10 update. Or stay at an earlier BIOS version with the new BIOS chip.

[barnej]

Re: P67 Pro3 b3 Ram+Boot failure after 3.30 bios upgrade.

Thanks for the reply!

I did install Intel ME on a fresh Windows Install - after restart BSOD once again and then failed repair.
After that I did format the HDD, reinstalled windows once again and installed Intel ME AND Flashed BIOS 3.10. Problem presisted... - the reboot after Windows Install fail to finish. Since ASRock Official Support is on holiday till 9th and im in a big hurry I will probably just buy new mobo..

I can get pretty cheap ASRock Z77 Extreme4 - are there similar problems with updating bios? I like my gear to be as up-to-date as possible (apparently that not the best practice :P ) I will be running the 2600k around 4.3-4.4 Ghz.

Theres one more thing - in other topic i found a reply of a guy with similiar RAM problems - he got a new BIOS file from ASRock - since the Support told him that there is a compatibility problem with Sandy Bridge CPUs and the new 3.30 BIOS - maybe any of you have this file? As i can't reach him.

Cheers

PS. I am wondering... Since the Intel ME drivers are the software - could it possibly stop Windows from loading even before loading drivers? It looked like the Windows boot file were corrupted. As im not a specialist a never had to go so deeply in the matter these are just my thoughts..

[parsec]

Re: P67 Pro3 b3 Ram+Boot failure after 3.30 bios upgrade.

Thanks for the reply!

I did install Intel ME on a fresh Windows Install - after restart BSOD once again and then failed repair.
After that I did format the HDD, reinstalled windows once again and installed Intel ME AND Flashed BIOS 3.10. Problem presisted... - the reboot after Windows Install fail to finish. Since ASRock Official Support is on holiday till 9th and im in a big hurry I will probably just buy new mobo..

I can get pretty cheap ASRock Z77 Extreme4 - are there similar problems with updating bios? I like my gear to be as up-to-date as possible (apparently that not the best practice :P ) I will be running the 2600k around 4.3-4.4 Ghz.

Theres one more thing - in other topic i found a reply of a guy with similiar RAM problems - he got a new BIOS file from ASRock - since the Support told him that there is a compatibility problem with Sandy Bridge CPUs and the new 3.30 BIOS - maybe any of you have this file? As i can't reach him.

Cheers

PS. I am wondering... Since the Intel ME drivers are the software - could it possibly stop Windows from loading even before loading drivers? It looked like the Windows boot file were corrupted. As im not a specialist a never had to go so deeply in the matter these are just my thoughts..

I'm not sure that you are getting the point in your case about that BIOS update.

It's not the usual "add support for CPU XYZ, it's a more significant change to allow an Ivy Bridge CPU to work on a mother board that was designed for Sandy Bridge CPUs and has a Sandy Bridge 6 series chipset, like the P67. If this BIOS update is not done correctly, you get the problems you now have.

You won't have any issues like this with any Z77 board when used with a Sandy Bridge CPU, the BIOS and IME firmware is fine from the start. My i7-2600K worked perfectly from day one in my Z77 Extreme 4 board, and still does about two years later, and over a dozen BIOS updates.

I'm not aware of the problem with memory and the 3.30 BIOS, or have any idea who got a special BIOS from ASRock.

Are you using the Intel Management Engine driver ver:8.0.3.1427?

What I don't get is most if not all of the other 6 series chipset boards that have a similar BIOS update for Ivy Bridge compatibility use the Instant Flash BIOS update method. But your board only has the Windows update method. If you click on the link for the correct BIOS to use with the IME software version I listed above, you get this message:



That message of course contradicts the usage of the Windows BIOS update method, so frankly I have no idea what is correct.

[barnej]

Re: P67 Pro3 b3 Ram+Boot failure after 3.30 bios upgrade.

What am I not gettingi s how the Intel ME software which is not part of BIOS but a driver can (or the lack of it.) corrupt system in such way and prevent fresh windows install from booting. My question was a general question about other ASRock boards and bios updates since alot of people.had problems with 3.30 on p67 and sandy bridge but some didnt. I did recive.en email from official support - they did send me the instant flash version of BIOS - wich I tried and it didint work. After some research i found out that the windows bios update overwrites only a part of bios, which.is different in instant flash maybe that was the problem. The ASRock.support told me that the windows bios update probably went wrong - and after flashing the instant flash version everything should be fine.

About.installing Intel ME drivers - as I said, getting access to windows only once after fresh installation, I did install the one you mentioned + re flashed the 3.30 ver. After that, when it didint work, I reinstalled windows and repeat the process with 3.10 bios and then with the 3.30 instant flash version from Asus. Nothing worked.