Hey!
From one day to another my Z490 Dark KP motherboard wouldn't POST. It has happened before, so I thought clearing CMOS or using FLASHBACK will resolve the issue -- but it didn't. But there are some
"strange factors" that I didn't fully understand:
First of all,
Memory DIMM 1 Status and
Memory DIMM 2 Status: They are
red,
which normally indicates that the DIMM/Memory POST failed - BUT! -- instead of being really
red [pic1], the light is dimmer. This has also happened before and IIRC clearing the CMOS fixed the issue (and the LED itself is not faulty as really lights up red when using FLASHBACK (as in the picture - from the forum))
Second, and most strangely, there was no
POST code: The motherboard powers on, the two LEDs light up as described above, and it's stuck there. It's also important to note that all the usual "white LEDs" (indicating power and connectivity) light up, but they don't go away --> Pressing the power button powers on the motheboard as usual, the mentioned LEDs light up and it's stuck there -- while no POST code! is shown on the POST indicator. Also important: The
CATERR LED doesn't light up in any form!
Here are what I've tried to do so far:
1. Using only 1 DIMM: this did not fix the issue (both of my DIMMs has been tested in another PC - they are fine + I tried also a different DIMM)
2. FLASHBACK: I flashed various BIOS versions, hoping for it will fix the issue - but it didn't. -- I got an error code on the first try -indicating that the POST indicator is working. Since my POST indicator is not functioning as it should [pic2] I thought I got a "
C1/C3" - which totally made no sense (=OEM BDS initialization codes). After I removed the CPU from the socket and got the same error code, I knew it wasn't right. After a few guesses, I realized that it was actually "
E1" (=the USB stick isn't being read properly). After fixing this issue, it flashed fine -- but the board was still stuck as described above.
3. Removing the battery for 1h+: it did nothing
4. Trying to clear the CMOS and use the SAFEBOOT function -- none of them worked: the board doesn't "react" to pressing the buttons
5. Removed it from the case --> to make sure that nothing short-circuits it
The strange thing about the whole thing is that there was no sign of the error, one day it was still working, the next morning I couldn't turn it on anymore. I just don't know what could have happened.
Anyone have any ideas? - I would really appreciate it!
*pictures are not my own, they're from the forum
Kind regards, Abel
post edited by Abeeel - 2023/06/26 07:44:06