GA z77-d3h boot loop problem

Tom_Morgan · Nov 9, 2015

Hi, I recently changed from an hdd to ssd and when I tried to change SATA mode from IDE to AHCI I got stuck in a boot loop. More info below, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

My specs:
Gigabyte z77-d3h (F23b bios)
i5-3570k
2x4GB corsair vengeance RAM
GTX 970
EVGA 750W psu
Evo 850 250GB ssd
an old WD 250GB hdd
(Windows 10)

The issue:
Computer is stuck in a boot loop and does not get to bios. Normally nothing at all shows on the screen, though fans etc do spin up. Every 3rd or 4th boot it very briefly shows the bios screen (press del to access bios etc) before immediately going to a dark blue screen with the header “UEFI dualbios” and then restarting. As a note, the bios screen is the original bios screen (i.e., not the f23b screen) so it looks like some resetting of the bios has occurred though presumably not entirely successfully.

What I did to cause this:
I installed the ssd, cloned across from the hdd and then formatted the hdd. Everything was working fine, though the ssd was running in IDE mode so I thought I would switch to AHCI. Turns out changing mode after installing windows is a bit difficult, however, I found this guide here: http://www.tenforums.com/performance-maintenance/15006-attn-ssd-owners-enabling-ahci-mode-after-windows-10-installation.html
However, after typing “bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal” in cmd and rebooting the boot loop began. Turns out in the comments to that article I’m not alone in getting this result.

Things I have tried:
It sounds like this is a pretty common issue with my motherboard, so I have found and tried the following solutions (none of them have worked for me):
- hold on button whilst restarting 3 times with the psu switch (worked here: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1736983/gigabyte-z77x-ud3h-boot-loop.html)
- taking out one of the memory sticks
- taking out graphics card
- touching the cmos pins to reset bios
- taking out the cmos battery for a few minutes

cin19 · Nov 9, 2015

1) If you can boot into the safe mode, then try the method from the link http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/22631-ahci-enable-windows-8-windows-10-after-installation.html
2) Or back the old HDD to boot the pc, recloning the win10 to SSD, and try the method in my linker after you enable the storage mode in AHCI.
3) If you can't boot the pc at all, then you have to reinstall the win10.

Tom_Morgan · Nov 9, 2015

Thanks cin19. Sorry, I should have been clearer: I can't get to bios or to windows, so suggestion 1 won't work. Sadly suggestion2 won't work either as I've already formatted the old hdd.

I'll try your 3rd option tonight - put the windows 10 installer on usb and boot from that.

Thanks again

Tom_Morgan · Nov 9, 2015

Hi, I tried reinstalling from usb just now and it does not work - it is no different from before (i.e. same old boot looping). It never boots for more than about 10s before restarting so I'm guessing the problem is with the motherboard as opposed to the ssd/hdd. Are there any other ways to reset bios that I am missing? Or will I have to replace the motherboard?

cin19 · Nov 10, 2015

Try clear the CMOS by the jumper, usually you can boot into the BIOS, and change the boot order or storage mode, etc, then follow the link for how to clean install the win10. http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-windows-10-clean-install.html

Tom_Morgan · Nov 10, 2015

Still no luck. That the bios splash screen has gone back to the old version suggests that the board has attempted to reset bios, but I guess the boot loop implies it hasn't worked.

cin19 · Nov 10, 2015

Yes, there is something wrong with the BIOS. May try go back the F22 from the beta BIOS. Check the link for how to ( Just like they said it may or may not work, but just try) http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/how-to-downgrade-uefi-to-previous-hybrid-bios-gigabyte.168667/

Tom_Morgan · Nov 10, 2015

Going back would be great, however the method in the link you posted won't work for me as I can't get in to windows. Because I can't get into windows or bios I guess flashing is not possible, so my only hope is to reset the bios, but I can't get this to work well enough get me in to either bios or windows.

cin19 · Nov 10, 2015

And how about the BIOS Synchronisation from gigabyte, because the MB has dual bios, hope one of them is fine. http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,10304.0.html

Tom_Morgan · Nov 10, 2015

Thanks again for the suggestion, but still no luck. My computer seems totally insensitive to the keyboard and I couldn't get it to do anything different. I tried with a wired keyboard to see if that would help, but it didn't.

Edit: this was with the keyboard connected to a usb 2.0 socket on the back panel

cin19 · Nov 11, 2015

May try call or e-mail gigabyte to see you can use the warranty or not. Sorry I run out of ideas.

Tom_Morgan · Nov 11, 2015

No worries, thanks for your help anyway. The board is out of warranty, so I've ordered a replacement (ASRock z75 pro3) which hopefully will fix things.

Tom_Morgan · Nov 13, 2015

Quick update: motherboard replaced and machine sprang back to life. Guess the solution was to replace it.

PeterPetersen · Jan 13, 2016

Tom_Morgan :

I´ve just created an account to help out.

I´ve got the exact same problem. Same motherboard.
This helped me:

"1. Shut off the power supply using the switch on the back of the PSU, wait 10-15 seconds.

2. Press and hold the case Power On swtich, then while still holding turn on the power supply from the switch on the rear.

3. Still holding the case power on switch, the board will start, once it does release the case power on switch and shut off the power supply via the switch on the read of the unit. (Do the latter two parts as quickly as you can once the board starts)

4. The board will shut down.

5. Turn the power supply back on using the switch on the rear of the unit.

6. Turn on the motherboard by pressing the case power on button.

Once the board starts this time you should see the Gigabyte splash screen, or POST page, then the Auto-Recovery from Dual BIOS will kick in. You will see a checksum error, and then recovery from BACKUP BIOS will begin."

Ater that i installed the second latest bios. Now everything runs fine!

xiconhoco · Apr 6, 2016

PeterPetersen :

Hi PeterPetersen,

I will follow your steps and see if it works for me. I have the exact same Gigabyte MotherBoard Z77-D3H (with BIOS F23b) and had the exact same problem, added an SSD and changed storage from IDE to AHCI. Now my machine just boots up until I see the UEFI Dual BIOS screen then all power goes OFF.

Tried to clear CMOS by removing the battery for a long time and now will try your method.

Thanks for sharing

EDIT: Tried it and BIOS was reset. My PC is now working fine. Was getting ready to send the MB to supplier to have it repaired or buy another 1155 socket MB (not easy nowadays)

Many thanks for the very helpful sugestion

Andreus · Jul 11, 2016

PeterPetersen :

Tom_Morgan :

I´ve just created an account to help out.

I´ve got the exact same problem. Same motherboard.
This helped me:

"1. Shut off the power supply using the switch on the back of the PSU, wait 10-15 seconds.

2. Press and hold the case Power On swtich, then while still holding turn on the power supply from the switch on the rear.

3. Still holding the case power on switch, the board will start, once it does release the case power on switch and shut off the power supply via the switch on the read of the unit. (Do the latter two parts as quickly as you can once the board starts)

4. The board will shut down.

5. Turn the power supply back on using the switch on the rear of the unit.

6. Turn on the motherboard by pressing the case power on button.

Once the board starts this time you should see the Gigabyte splash screen, or POST page, then the Auto-Recovery from Dual BIOS will kick in. You will see a checksum error, and then recovery from BACKUP BIOS will begin."

Ater that i installed the second latest bios. Now everything runs fine!

This worked made an account just to say thank you!!1!!111111!11!1!1!!!!

Swapper · Aug 9, 2016

Andreus :

PeterPetersen :

This worked made an account just to say thank you!!1!!111111!11!1!1!!!!

I had the same problem, thank you!

GA z77-d3h boot loop problem

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