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Intermittent POST debugging codes on cold boot

Tags:
  • debugging codes
  • POST
  • Boot
  • ASrock
  • Extreme9
Last response: in Motherboards
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September 21, 2014 10:20:46 AM

Hi people,

This is an issue that's been going on for quite some months now and I can't seem to narrow the issue down. Everytime I think I've found it, the issue re-appears. I actually posted this issue on here awhile back and no-one gave me any advice, but I thought I'd give it another shot, especially considering I've tried a lot more since then.

My Specs:
PSU: Cooler Master V850
Mobo ASRock 990FX Extreme9
CPU: AMD FX-8320
RAM: 2x4GB AMD Radeon R9 Gamer Series (2400MHz)
GPU: MSI GTX 770 Lightning Edition
Storage: Kingston HyperX 120GB SSD + 32GB Sandisk SSD + WD Blue 1TB HDD + 320GB 2.5inch Hitachi HDD
OS: Windows 7 64-bit

The Issue:
Intermittently during a cold boot my mobo has a fit and throws different POST debug codes. Each time I boot it hangs on a particular error code and will not budge until I turn it off and on again. It’s a case of keep trying to cold boot it until it eventually boots up fine. I once made a note of the POST error codes each time and I got: D7, 62, 0D, 00, 0D, D7 in that order WITHOUT making any changes to the PC each time. On ASRock’s website, here is what they correspond to on this board: http://www.asrock.co...treme9/?cat=FAQ

I would also like to note when it does decide to boot, I get into the UEFI and sometimes it will hang and just freeze on the same screen. The time also stops counting too. The only way out of it is to turn it off and back on again. I've also had it where no debug code shows, but upon attempting to boot into Windows I get “bootmgr image is corrupt. The system cannot boot” screen.

But again, this is an intermittent issue. Sometimes it will actually boot fine and go straight into Windows with no hassle, usually when turning off and on multiple times it gives up and lets me in. There isn't a pattern to this by the way, it doesn't happen after a certain amount of attempts. Sometimes it will actually just boot up first time, straight into Windows. Once it's in Windows it performs fine and I can browse and play games perfectly fine. No shut downs, no nothing. The issue only occurs when booting.

Diagnostics performed:
¬ Cleared the CMOS several times (Tried both CLR CMOS button and jumper)
¬ Ran Memtest86 for 9 hours and no errors
¬ Purchased new RAM (Was using Avexir Core Series before)
¬ Updated the UEFI to the latest version
¬ Reseated the RAM, GPU and CPU
¬ Tried booting with 1 stick of RAM
¬ Swap tested RAM slots (reseating from DDR3_A1 and DDR3_B1 slots to DDR3_A2 and DDR3_B2 slots) as instructed in the manual
¬ Completely stripped the PC, took the mobo out and rebuilt again (not including the OS)
¬ Attempting to boot with only the OS drive (Kingston SSD) present
¬ Used different wall socket outlets including a Belkin Surge protector
¬ I've even had my motherboard swapped out under warranty
¬ Tried different PSU cables thinking it was a faulty cable (some spares were in the original box unused)
¬ Changed the mobo standoffs thinking mobo wasn't being grounded correctly
¬ Tried using a known working Sempron proccessor
¬ Purchased a cheap working graphics card (one that doesn't need dedicated PSU connections)
¬ Used a different PSU (a Corsair 600watt builder series unit)

Results after diags:
As this is an intermittent issue, it's hard to figure out the cause. For example, I swapped the RAM and my PC would boot first time, everytime, for about 4 days until it decided it wasn't going to do that anymore. No change to my configuration at all, I left everything stock. It also did the same when I tried using a different wall socket outlet. I tried booting about 10 times and it just wouldn't boot, then when I take out the plug and shove it into a different wall socket it boots first time! But that doesn't always fix the issue and I've had it where it will hang on a debugging code the next time I try and boot from that same wall outlet.

I would also like to add, after all the diags, I do notice some of the debugging codes don't appear anymore. They still alternate, but only between 5d, 0d and numbers between 61-91 which on the ASRock Website states it's either memory or a chipset issue. This is on a brand new mobo too. At this point I don't think the issue is component related, but power related. I think there's a short somewhere causing the issue but I can't figure out where it is or how to fix it.

Any ideas people?

Many thanks for the people who do read through this massive wall of text and reply to this thread, your help is greatly appreciated. I'm pulling my hair out at this problem!

More about : intermittent post debugging codes cold boot

September 25, 2014 5:03:46 AM

Bump.. Anyone know?
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September 25, 2014 5:28:35 AM

Ah...The finer things in life.
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September 25, 2014 5:52:41 AM

Vitric9 said:
Ah...The finer things in life.


I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something, but I don't get what you mean by that in relation to my query.
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September 25, 2014 1:37:24 PM

Ro-Tang Clan said:
Vitric9 said:
Ah...The finer things in life.


I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something, but I don't get what you mean by that in relation to my query.


Oh. I meant I too understand this tackling of technical issues with hardware and More so with Software, Drivers and yes our beloved Microsoft Windows. for 2 months after using the 8.1 update(free for Win 8) Been at at with System , OS mostly, only to find out that is on a faulty Boot drive(KHX3k) I know.... I am replacing it asap or as soon as it gets here.
This can cause a number of issues but dealing with the same ones for hours on end is a pain i know as well.
In short my comment earlier was my feeble attempt at being philosophical, in a way. I will follow your post and though i have not used many AMD Chipsets myself. 785G Chipset was the last one i used. And the only one I had myself.
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September 30, 2014 5:07:01 AM

Vitric9 said:
Ro-Tang Clan said:
Vitric9 said:
Ah...The finer things in life.


I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something, but I don't get what you mean by that in relation to my query.


Oh. I meant I too understand this tackling of technical issues with hardware and More so with Software, Drivers and yes our beloved Microsoft Windows. for 2 months after using the 8.1 update(free for Win 8) Been at at with System , OS mostly, only to find out that is on a faulty Boot drive(KHX3k) I know.... I am replacing it asap or as soon as it gets here.
This can cause a number of issues but dealing with the same ones for hours on end is a pain i know as well.
In short my comment earlier was my feeble attempt at being philosophical, in a way. I will follow your post and though i have not used many AMD Chipsets myself. 785G Chipset was the last one i used. And the only one I had myself.


I THINK I may well have fixed the issue hooray :D  Last week I was using a Sempron processor which booted fine first time everytime, no issues at all. Over the weekend I inspected the FX 8 core processor and noticed there was the tiniest slither of fluff between the golden fingers. I then removed this with a needle, inserted the CPU and since saturday to today I've not had a single issue. I can only conclude it would be the fluff making contact with multiple fingers whilst inside the socket causing a power short. That's why I would be getting chipset initialisation and memory errors as POST debugging codes.

Having not built my PC in a dust free environment (bedroom build) I should of really taken more precaution to these things. Hopefully I have not spoke to soon and the issue is actually fix and won't come back to bite me.
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