I recently updated my ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero from BIOS version 1801 to 2107, and now my Intel i9-14900KS system won't boot. It worked perfectly before the update, but now I get stuck in an endless loop of blue screens of death (BSOD) with five different error codes after trying to start Windows 11. I even tried booting from a fresh Windows USB installer, and that crashed too, indicating the issue isn't just a corrupted install on my SSD. I noticed that the firmware was upgraded to a newer Intel ME version that can't be downgraded, and I'm wondering if it could be related to the problems I'm facing. Has anyone experienced similar issues, and do you think it's a BIOS bug or a hardware failure?
3 Answers
Sounds like the Intel ME update might be the culprit! Since you can't downgrade it, try stabilizing your RAM by lowering the speed or slightly increasing the DRAM voltage in BIOS. It might help you push past that boot screen. Also, keep an eye out for a new BIOS from ASUS; they might fix these memory issues in a future release.
Before diving into BIOS changes, it’s vital to collect dump files from the BSOD crashes for a thorough analysis. If you can access Safe Mode or Windows, check for any dump files in the C:WindowsMinidump directory. If you find them, zip them up and share them for a better understanding of what’s going wrong.
I feel your pain! You mentioned having tried with XMP settings, but you might want to experiment with manual settings for RAM speed and voltage. Even if the Windows installer isn't touching your SSD, aggressive memory timings from the ME firmware could still mess things up. Try going for DDR5-5200 with 1.25V and see how it performs.
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