B550 Tomahawk BIOS flash w/USB issue

Souter7 · 11 Nov 2020 at 23:41

B550 Tomahawk
Ryzen 5600x
New build.

Building my friends PC at the moment, trying to update the BIOS with a USB stick and the latest version however its just flashing and not turning solid red.

I've done this on my own PC a couple of days ago and it worked after around 5 minutes. I have three USB sticks here and tried them all, 2/3 keep flashing, the third flashes 10 times and stops.

The file is definitely named (MSI.ROM) correctly with no file extensions on the end. I've tried with components installed and then only the relevant power cables installed. USB's formatted correctly, cables definitely connected and so on, ive made sure everything is as it should be. The USB sticks are 8GB or less and are older. Reset CMOS etc.

Any ideas?

Souter7 · 12 Nov 2020 at 00:33

Just went and got the same USB stick that flashed my BIOS, FAT32 and file at root, it's just infinitely flashing also. Does this mean the board won't take a flash?

Rab · 12 Nov 2020 at 11:33

Have read on these forums with same problem. What seemed to fix it was using different usb card. Under 4gb. Some guy on here tryed 4 different sticks before it worked. Worth a shot. One that worked was under 4gb. G/l

mickyflinn · 12 Nov 2020 at 11:37

Have you got the cpu in the socket ?

if yes take it out and then flash.

amd7674 · 12 Nov 2020 at 14:09

I've had issues with flashing my two x570 (while waiting for 5900x Cpus to arrive - ONE DAY). To fix it I did clear CMOS / reset BIOS by shortening JBAT1 pins on the mobo (refer to your b550 manual).
After I used old USB2.0 16gb stick to flush it. I don't know if you have to clear CMOS, but most defiantly you have to use old USB 2.0 Stick... I've tried two different USB3.0 sticks without luck.

Souter7 · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:02

mickyflinn said:
Have you got the cpu in the socket ?

if yes take it out and then flash.

No it's out, everything is out the motherboard and I have 4 USB sticks, all formatted to FAT32 with the correct BIOS version. Just going through them again now, however it seems like its doing the infinite light flashing again on the first stick. 2 others it flashes around 12 times and then the light instantly goes off

amd7674 · 12 Nov 2020 at 20:19

Souter7 said:
No it's out, everything is out the motherboard and I have 4 USB sticks, all formatted to FAT32 with the correct BIOS version. Just going through them again now, however it seems like its doing the infinite light flashing again on the first stick. 2 others it flashes around 12 times and then the light instantly goes off

did you try to clear CMOS prior to the flashing? I don't think any USB 3.x will work. Do you have an old USB 2.0 stick?

Souter7 · 12 Nov 2020 at 21:32

amd7674 said:
did you try to clear CMOS prior to the flashing? I don't think any USB 3.x will work. Do you have an old USB 2.0 stick?

Tried clearing CMOS and using a few USB 2.0 sticks. I've plugged it into a different power supply and the fans are on and the mobo has lights, however its now just continually flashing red but quickly as if its installing the BIOS, however it doesn't seem to stop

Souter7 · 13 Nov 2020 at 12:58

I've plugged in an old Ryzen 2600, and the power buttons boot up the machine, however the red LED at the top left of the motherboard is on constantly and the EZ Debug CPU led is on also