MSI Z170A M7 won't load windows since bios update

Colonel_Klinck · 28 Feb 2021 at 12:09

So I bought this motherboard with a 6700k off ebay. Worked and I installed windows 10. I'm going to use it as a mining rig so I checked the bios version and its the original bios from 2015. Updated to the latest version, all appeared to go fine. I could get back into bios but when it tries to load windows it freezes with the spinning dots. Does exactly the same with windows install on USB stick. I jumped back to the bios version before the latest and does exactly the same. Tried just 1 stick of ram, nothing plugged into the motherboard but keyboard, mouse and SSD, makes no difference. Never come across this issue before. Any ideas? I guess I could go back to the original bios but I could really do with a more recent version for features the original doesn't have.

edit gone back to original bios 1.4 and back in Windows. No option for 4G encoding in this version though.

EsxPaul · 28 Feb 2021 at 17:47

Are you using an iso that isn't very recent? My memory isn't great on this but there was a thread posted here a month or two back where the user had the same issue (freezing on the spinning dots). Once he switched to the latest iso the problem was fixed.

Could be worth a try.

Colonel_Klinck · 28 Feb 2021 at 20:45

EsxPaul said:
Are you using an iso that isn't very recent? My memory isn't great on this but there was a thread posted here a month or two back where the user had the same issue (freezing on the spinning dots). Once he switched to the latest iso the problem was fixed.

Could be worth a try.

Yeah I made the drive about a year ago. I'll make a new one and see if that helps. Thanks.

Edit: I haven't entered the product key yet so I'm guessing the copy of Windows hasn't updated itself either other than security updates.

clone · 3 Mar 2021 at 21:45

You tryed taking out the cmos battery for about 30 min then put it back in.

Colonel_Klinck · 3 Mar 2021 at 22:39

Its working fine with 2 graphics cards on PCI risers. As I add more cards if I run in to trouble I'll look at updating the bios to a version that supports 4G encoding.

Colonel_Klinck · 5 Mar 2021 at 19:45

Ok so I've now got 4 cards and have indeed run into the roadblock. System won't boot with 4 cards plugged in. I get an initialization error after BIOS splash screen.
So an update to info. Windows is latest 20H2. I've tried the latest BIOS latest version 7976v1K. The version before that 7976v1K and the first one to add 4G Encoding H.1 all have the same problem of Windows locking up with the spinning dots as it loads, all Windows drivers are up to date. The USB stick Windows install is latest version as well and has the same problem. I just don't get what is wrong. I've checked though the BIOS and can't see any setting that would stop Windows loading. I've tried the battery out but that is just resetting the CMOS and makes no difference.