Z77 MPower with "A2" issue

Verponian · 19 Apr 2015 at 15:02

So a couple of nights ago, I was coming towards the end of the huge GTA V download when my PC suddenly restarted itself. It did it a few times in quick succession before settling but didn't get to the Mobo splash screen. Instead I have blackscreen with A2 in the corner and the same on the onboard debug display. Some googling says this means a SATA error and pointed to a possible dead OS drive or potentially a problem with onboard SATA ports.

I did wonder if it could be PSU related as during the following trouble shooting, whenever I've swapped any sata power connectors, it occasionally does the 2 or 3 quick successive power on and off cycles before settling however it looks to be unlikely after trying another psu.

So far I've tried the following:

1: Unplugged all other drives and cables leaving just the SSD with the OS on it.
Also tried with different cables and in different SATA ports both sata 3gb/s and 6gb/s ports: stuck on A2.

2: Unplugged all drives: sticks on A0 which means no drives apparently.

3: Tried swapping to different sata power cables: Still sticks on A2

4: CMOS reset: get a screen telling there have been changes and to press F1 or F2 etc but won't progress beyond that regardless of what is pressed, onboard display still sticks on A2

5: Flipped the BIOS switch on the mobo to try the second BIOS: stuck on A2.

6: Unplugged all drives and hooked up optical drive to try booting from OS CD: STUCK ON A2!.

7: Taken the OS ssd out and tried it in a caddy on another machine: other machine reads it and is able to access it.

8: Unplugged all graphics cards, using only onboard graphics: Sticks on A2 and neighbours hear much swearing.

9: Taken out all RAM bar 1 stick: ...A2. I go and have a drink.

10: Taken the PSU put of my Micro ATX build (cutting my hands to shreds in the process) and hooked that up instead to see if it's the PSU: still stuck on A2 and also bleeding.

Figure this last one rules out the PSU which annoys me as I've been looking for an excuse to get a new one.

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that it's all mobo related and somethings just blown. Any suggestions for what else I can try?

I have a spare blank HDD I could try and hook up as the primary drive though as I don't even get to the BIOS screen even with only an optical drive attached, I doubt it'll succeed. I could also try reseating the CPU though it has been in place without fault for 2 years now (though i have recently swapped the whole mobo into a new case though it's worked okay since the move).

Disco_P · 19 Apr 2015 at 18:15

I have a Z77 MPower and frequently got A2 boots where it would have to be hard reset though usually they went away.

All I can think of, other than what you have done, is to completely power cycle it. Reset the CMOS via the button on the back, then turn off the PSU and press the power button on the board to completely drain the power. Then uplug the battery for 10 minutes. I'd also uplug all drives.

Plug the battery back in, turn the psu on, clear CMOS again (just to be sure) then power on the board. Hopefully you should have access to the bios.

Are you the original board owner? The MPower has a 3 year warranty so you could try an RMA.

I RMA'd mine. It took a while but I got a working board back.

Verponian · 19 Apr 2015 at 18:27

I'll give that a try. Thinking back, I have vague recollections of weird boot issue before where it'd suddenly power down and restart without prompting. Like an idiot, I never pursued it because it seemed to be okay afterwards.

I am the original owner. I thought MSI only gave 2 year warranties on their motherboards? That's what's been annoying me the most as this thing is literally two weeks outside it. But if the mpower comes with 3 years, that's great.

Disco_P · 19 Apr 2015 at 18:41

Mine has an issue at the moment where it will freeze halfway through loading windows (though I am suspicious of the sata cables I am using at the moment)

When I inquired about getting mine RMA'd, Damo from OcUK CS was the person who I talked to through with most of it and gave me the 3 year figure. If you bought from OcUK then they will deal with it - elsewhere you might have to go to MSI directly.

Verponian · 19 Apr 2015 at 19:02

Well no luck with the power cycle. Get the screen prompting me hit F1 or F2 but neither works and the board still displays A2.

I'll look into the RMA thing though. Thanks for the tip.

Disco_P · 19 Apr 2015 at 22:06

Good Luck

Verponian · 22 Apr 2015 at 14:30

Well MSI have confirmed its still under warranty which is a relief after hearing it was out by overclockers. Not relishing sending it to the Netherlands though. Kinda put off MSI a bit. Going to stick with something with RMA centre in the uk next time.