I updated an older PC's ASUS TUF Gaming B450M-PRO II motherboard BIOS from version 3802 to 3810 or newer using EZ Flash. The BIOS file was stored on a FAT32 partition, and the update completed normally. After the first restart, the system froze during POST and never reached the expected "Press F1 to run setup" prompt. The Num Lock key also stopped responding, suggesting the system was completely locked up rather than simply taking a long time. The BIOS had been reset to its defaults before updating. I was able to restore version 3802 using BIOS FlashBack, and the computer worked again. What could cause the newer BIOS versions to hang during POST?
1 Answer
It sounds like the system is freezing before POST finishes, not merely pausing before the F1 prompt. Since Num Lock is unresponsive, the firmware is likely hanging during hardware initialization. A newer BIOS can expose compatibility problems with the installed CPU, memory settings, or another device even when the update itself completes successfully. Clearing CMOS fully after the update, then booting with default settings and only one RAM stick installed, would be a good troubleshooting step. If version 3802 works reliably and the newer release is not required for your hardware, staying on 3802 may be the safest option.
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