Hello gentleman,gentlegirls,
To start of:
Now... I hope SO MUCH you guys can help me.
I can't call MSI today, I can't call Microsoft and I can't call no-one since it Saturday. But then again - would they really know the answer? I think not.
I would much prefer calling a all known expert on the telephone, but since something like that doesn't exist, here's me typing my life's story of today....
I'll try to be as clear as I can, so we can find solutions/workarounds as quickly as possible.
I'm just going to tell the WHOLE story, so this is going to be a long post...
I'm just doing this so I know I haven't missed telling anything.
I want to thank you all in advance for reading this!
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
PRE-PROBLEM
To start of, this PC is brand new.
It has been running since last Sunday, with around 24 hours running time.
I've already had a lot of problems the past week, but nothing I coulnd't solve (in the end...)
Amongst a few these were things like: Windows 7 installer not finding USB keyboard and mouse for setup, Windows 7 installer not finding hard disks to install on, bad rufus install setups, USB 3.0 ports not working, computer in boot crash surge because of a DisplayPort 1.1 gen cable, etc. etc.. etc...
In the end however, the computer has been running!
It has already run 6 hours of GTA5, 3 hours of Men of War, 2 hours of Wargame, chrome, all microsoft Office programs, afterburner, G15 keyboard, G700 mouse - you name it.
Everything worked.
Then, 2 days ago, I bought a new monitor.
The Samsung SD27D590C.
My GTX 970 is connected to my TV via HDMI and has been ever since the computer was born.
Before the new monitor came in, I was running the old one over DVI-D and everything worked fine.
Then, with the arrival of the new monitor, a DisplayPort cable was needed.
Why? Because the monitor only had HDMI and DVI ports and the GTX970 already had its HDMI port operated by the TV.
So, I bought a DisplayPort to Displayport 1.1 cable.
WRONG
The first time I booted the computer with the new monitor attached, the cable started surging the computer at start-up. I don't know if surging is the correct word usage, but I can describe: all the lights in the PC (LED strip, Power light, etc) started blinking and the computer didn't give any screen.
But the computer still worked!
When? Well, if I rebooted it without the cable, it worked.
If the computer was already on with the DP cable in it and thus serging, it would also work as soon as I plugged out the cable from the videocard.
It even worked if I would start up without the cable, then plug it in when the PC was running!!!
So, I did that... I wanted to use my new monitor after all.
Then, the day after...
When I played GTA 2 days ago, just when I started using my new monitor, my xbox controller started to freak out.
It would power off, then instantly power on again upon pressing certain buttons (e.g. D-pad down) with the familiair Windows plug-in hardware sounds *Tu-dum.., tu-DUN!* accompanying it.
This is when the problems started.
After closing GTA, I tried moving my controller to another USB slot. Only then I started noticing none of the Z170a gaming pro 3.1 gen.2 USB slots were working, though I did have the newest drivers installed from the MSI support site.
Luckily by now, my NEW DP cable arrived!
A 1.2 €25,- cable instead of the €5,- 1.1 DP cable.
The starting-up-with-the-DP-cable-plugged-in-lead-to-flickering-start-up-surge was gone and the monitor was running smoothly.
When I started switching out USB cables, more and more hardware started losing their functionalities.
First my siberia gaming headset, which would just blink in LEDs and have a soft *dp. dp. dp.* sound coming from its speakers, showing the same on-off behaviour as my controller earlier.
Only upon connecting the headset to the same USB slot, it would work. Weird.
But then my mouse, the G700 wireless gaming mouse, had to be charged. So, I connected the charge cable to another USB slot for the first time - an USB slot I hadn't used. You guessed it: the mouse was showing the instant on-off behavior. Not that you could see it with a light because it has none on it, but the mous curser on the screen would move, then stand still, then move, then stand still and only click in the fraction of the second the mouse was on.
So, I switched my keyboard out to another.
Nope, same behaviour.
I started troubleshooting (see checklist) with things like - checking if all USB ports power save options were unchecked under Device manger > properties of a USB controller and reinstalling USB controller drives for the MoBo.
I noticed there in the Device manger, it was showing a whole f*ing list of multiple "HID (elementary)" hardware elements spasm-ming out...
='(
I thought, sh*t here we go, another problem.
Then I thought - well, nothing much is installed yet anyway... Why not a simple Windows 10 reset/reinstall?
So I went to the Windows 10 new "Settings menu" (please why Microsoft, control panel was enough) and clicked there on Update & Security > Recovery > reset PC > get started.
I selected a complete clean install, formatting all harddrives and removing all drivers and files. It started alright, but then it said after being stuck on 10% it said "Reset is not possible/failed" or something, with the only option being "Close".
The PC restarted...
Well, the OS drive was still there and most programs too.
Only my D drive samsung 850 evo had been formatted it seemed.
The USB surging instant on/off problem? Still there...
So I went to Settings again > Update & Security > Recovery > and selected "Advanced start-up".
The computer started into the Windows 10 start-menu-looking advanced start-up.
Here I tried the same thing - reset PC.
Same settings, format everything.
It worked this time up to 40%!
Then... Failed again.
Reset is not possible/failed" or something, with the only option being "Close".
Now, the real problem started...
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
The PC restarted in a loop.
From the Bootscreen it goes to a black screen.
Then the PC restarts and goes to the Bootscreen to the black screen.
I tried opening the BIOS with the Delete key, but it wouldn't let me.
The problem?
My keyboard was showing the instant-off-on problem now too!
I tried plugging it in on every USB port on the MoBo...
But it does it on all the ports.
All my motherboards own USB slots are causing the instant off-on-off-on surging now on my keyboard, mouse, you name it.
Luckily, the front USB port doesn't have this issue. This is the only reason I can currently control the bios.
The only two things I can now access are the BIOS and via the BIOS the "Built-in EFI shell" command-prompt like command window.
The sad thing is that when I try to put in an USB bootable device, the BIOS doesn't recognize it anymore now, because of these USB slots not working...
So yeah, I've got 2 problems really.
Now, for the things I tried...
TRIED CHECKLIST
SUGGESTIONS TO SOLUTIONS
Well gentlemen/gentlegirls, that's it really.
My story and my problem...
PLEASE please help me if you can.
I just want Windows back, I don't even care by this point if I can only use half my USB slots... Now none of them is working.
PS: I am ready to COMPLETELY reset EVERYTHING if that's needed... The HDD's are now formatted/corrupted anyway so I just want to go back to how I got the computer when I build it brand new...
I just don't know if this is possible from the BIOS or how to do this...
Thank you all again!
- Scott
To start of:
I'm Scott
I'm new here, just made an account so I could post this.
I'm very grumpy right know because of this problem
I've been troubleshooting the problem ever sins 10 a.m. today, which is 8 hours straight for me without a solution
Now... I hope SO MUCH you guys can help me.
I can't call MSI today, I can't call Microsoft and I can't call no-one since it Saturday. But then again - would they really know the answer? I think not.
I would much prefer calling a all known expert on the telephone, but since something like that doesn't exist, here's me typing my life's story of today....
I'll try to be as clear as I can, so we can find solutions/workarounds as quickly as possible.
I'm just going to tell the WHOLE story, so this is going to be a long post...
I'm just doing this so I know I haven't missed telling anything.
I want to thank you all in advance for reading this!
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
■CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 1151socket Skylake
■MoBo: MSI Z170A Gaming Pro
■GPU: MSI GTX970 4GB VRAM
■RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x 2*8GB modules @3200Mhz
■Powersupp.: Cooler MAster V550 (so that's 550W)
■OS-drive: Samsung SM951 NVMe M.2 SSD
■Supplemental drive: Samsung 850 EVO SSD
PRE-PROBLEM
To start of, this PC is brand new.
It has been running since last Sunday, with around 24 hours running time.
I've already had a lot of problems the past week, but nothing I coulnd't solve (in the end...)
Amongst a few these were things like: Windows 7 installer not finding USB keyboard and mouse for setup, Windows 7 installer not finding hard disks to install on, bad rufus install setups, USB 3.0 ports not working, computer in boot crash surge because of a DisplayPort 1.1 gen cable, etc. etc.. etc...
In the end however, the computer has been running!
It has already run 6 hours of GTA5, 3 hours of Men of War, 2 hours of Wargame, chrome, all microsoft Office programs, afterburner, G15 keyboard, G700 mouse - you name it.
Everything worked.
Then, 2 days ago, I bought a new monitor.
The Samsung SD27D590C.
My GTX 970 is connected to my TV via HDMI and has been ever since the computer was born.
Before the new monitor came in, I was running the old one over DVI-D and everything worked fine.
Then, with the arrival of the new monitor, a DisplayPort cable was needed.
Why? Because the monitor only had HDMI and DVI ports and the GTX970 already had its HDMI port operated by the TV.
So, I bought a DisplayPort to Displayport 1.1 cable.
WRONG
The first time I booted the computer with the new monitor attached, the cable started surging the computer at start-up. I don't know if surging is the correct word usage, but I can describe: all the lights in the PC (LED strip, Power light, etc) started blinking and the computer didn't give any screen.
But the computer still worked!
When? Well, if I rebooted it without the cable, it worked.
If the computer was already on with the DP cable in it and thus serging, it would also work as soon as I plugged out the cable from the videocard.
It even worked if I would start up without the cable, then plug it in when the PC was running!!!
So, I did that... I wanted to use my new monitor after all.
Then, the day after...
When I played GTA 2 days ago, just when I started using my new monitor, my xbox controller started to freak out.
It would power off, then instantly power on again upon pressing certain buttons (e.g. D-pad down) with the familiair Windows plug-in hardware sounds *Tu-dum.., tu-DUN!* accompanying it.
This is when the problems started.
After closing GTA, I tried moving my controller to another USB slot. Only then I started noticing none of the Z170a gaming pro 3.1 gen.2 USB slots were working, though I did have the newest drivers installed from the MSI support site.
Luckily by now, my NEW DP cable arrived!
A 1.2 €25,- cable instead of the €5,- 1.1 DP cable.
The starting-up-with-the-DP-cable-plugged-in-lead-to-flickering-start-up-surge was gone and the monitor was running smoothly.
When I started switching out USB cables, more and more hardware started losing their functionalities.
First my siberia gaming headset, which would just blink in LEDs and have a soft *dp. dp. dp.* sound coming from its speakers, showing the same on-off behaviour as my controller earlier.
Only upon connecting the headset to the same USB slot, it would work. Weird.
But then my mouse, the G700 wireless gaming mouse, had to be charged. So, I connected the charge cable to another USB slot for the first time - an USB slot I hadn't used. You guessed it: the mouse was showing the instant on-off behavior. Not that you could see it with a light because it has none on it, but the mous curser on the screen would move, then stand still, then move, then stand still and only click in the fraction of the second the mouse was on.
So, I switched my keyboard out to another.
Nope, same behaviour.
I started troubleshooting (see checklist) with things like - checking if all USB ports power save options were unchecked under Device manger > properties of a USB controller and reinstalling USB controller drives for the MoBo.
I noticed there in the Device manger, it was showing a whole f*ing list of multiple "HID (elementary)" hardware elements spasm-ming out...
='(
I thought, sh*t here we go, another problem.
Then I thought - well, nothing much is installed yet anyway... Why not a simple Windows 10 reset/reinstall?
So I went to the Windows 10 new "Settings menu" (please why Microsoft, control panel was enough) and clicked there on Update & Security > Recovery > reset PC > get started.
I selected a complete clean install, formatting all harddrives and removing all drivers and files. It started alright, but then it said after being stuck on 10% it said "Reset is not possible/failed" or something, with the only option being "Close".
The PC restarted...
Well, the OS drive was still there and most programs too.
Only my D drive samsung 850 evo had been formatted it seemed.
The USB surging instant on/off problem? Still there...
So I went to Settings again > Update & Security > Recovery > and selected "Advanced start-up".
The computer started into the Windows 10 start-menu-looking advanced start-up.
Here I tried the same thing - reset PC.
Same settings, format everything.
It worked this time up to 40%!
Then... Failed again.
Reset is not possible/failed" or something, with the only option being "Close".
Now, the real problem started...
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
The PC restarted in a loop.
From the Bootscreen it goes to a black screen.
Then the PC restarts and goes to the Bootscreen to the black screen.
I tried opening the BIOS with the Delete key, but it wouldn't let me.
The problem?
My keyboard was showing the instant-off-on problem now too!
I tried plugging it in on every USB port on the MoBo...
But it does it on all the ports.
All my motherboards own USB slots are causing the instant off-on-off-on surging now on my keyboard, mouse, you name it.
Luckily, the front USB port doesn't have this issue. This is the only reason I can currently control the bios.
The only two things I can now access are the BIOS and via the BIOS the "Built-in EFI shell" command-prompt like command window.
The sad thing is that when I try to put in an USB bootable device, the BIOS doesn't recognize it anymore now, because of these USB slots not working...
So yeah, I've got 2 problems really.
■Without doing anything the PC is stuck in a Bootscreen-to-black-to-bootscreen loop.
■I can't reinstall windows from a bootable USB because all other USB ports are giving this on/off/on/off surge thingemagig aside from the one my keyboard is plugged in to.
Now, for the things I tried...
TRIED CHECKLIST
■Making a bootable SD card. The SD card doesn't work because its connections goes via the front port-usb-to-motherboard cable. Because the keyboard is also plugged in here, it loses its functionality for some reason. Also, the BIOS UEFI doesn't start anymore when the SD-card is plugged in, it just glitches out with a couple of graphical glitched colours at the top of the monitor.
■Using PloP I don't really know how this works, but appearently PloP bootable device makes the USB/SD-card not only bootable, it also runs a mini-bios with it. Not working however, or I don't know how to use it.
■Changing USB settings in BIOS I have tried the USB controller Enabled/disabled, I have tried the XHCI Hand-off Enabled/disabled, I have tried Legacy USB support enabled/disabled and all in combination of one another. The USB problem still existst...
■Windows OS config in BIOS Going to Bios and changing "Windows 7 Installation" to enabled/disabled doesn't work, neither does putting the "Windows 8.1/10 WHQL support" on or off. Fast boot and MSI fast boot are both disabled btw.
■Changing load order Tried moving around all movable load-order elements - doesn't change anything. Although I do not know what they all are, I've tried most combinations surely.. I mean, I have been troubleshooting for 8 hours now =p
SUGGESTIONS TO SOLUTIONS
■Could it be that the Power Supply of 500W is not enough Watts for all USB ports to operate?
■Could it be the DisplayPort 1.1 cable overload at startup problem broke the USB slots?
Well gentlemen/gentlegirls, that's it really.
My story and my problem...
PLEASE please help me if you can.
I just want Windows back, I don't even care by this point if I can only use half my USB slots... Now none of them is working.
PS: I am ready to COMPLETELY reset EVERYTHING if that's needed... The HDD's are now formatted/corrupted anyway so I just want to go back to how I got the computer when I build it brand new...
I just don't know if this is possible from the BIOS or how to do this...
Thank you all again!
- Scott
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