B75M-GL R2.0 not posting, A2 error

Hello!

Edited by Rev_Night - 21 Sep 2016 at 1:26am

Rev_Night wrote: Hello! My normally rock solid gaming PC isn't even posting, and I'm not sure why. First, my specs: CPU: I5-3550P, stock HSF, stock 3.1ghz Mobo: B75M-GL R2.0, stock bios 1.5 (Legacy, non-UEFI) GPU: AMD Radeon 280X RAM: 2x4GB Corsair HDD: 60GB Kingston SSD SATA PSU: Thermaltake 600 watt Windows 10 Pro My PC was just fine at the time, and I was trying go to my bios, but the screen was disappearing so quickly I couldnt get to it. I think this is a windows 10 thing, which is a recent upgrade. With Windows 7, which Ive had for years, I was able to go into bios just fine. As noted above, this was a legacy Non-UEFI bios, so I couldn't boot right into it from Windows advanced settings. So I start to think, well, if I'm not quick enough, maybe I can force bios to come up. I remove my hdd, so windows can't boot, hoping the pc will have no choice but to go to Bios. I get an A2 error instead, which Dr.Debug says is a problem with the SATA device... What can fix this A2 error? Below are all my steps so far. Troubleshooting #1: Ok fine, I plug the hdd back into the same SATA1 plug, and I still get that A2 error.  #2: I place a Windows 10 install disc into the cdrom, remove the hdd, and want the pc to boot off the disc. Nope, still A2.  #3: I place the hdd in a different SATA plug, still A2. #4: I completely dissemble the pc including taking the cpu off the board. I let it rest overnight. I put all the parts back together. A2 #5: At this point I start to think that maybe CMOS could be the problem. I ask google, 'Asrock clear CMOS'. Top result is actually this forum (http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=630&title=how-to-clear-cmos-via-battery-removal), where Xaltar explains the process. So I perform those steps. Still A2 #6: Remove all components from case, if maybe that is causing a short or problem. My 'pc' is currently on a blanket with hdmi and power cables attached. I did forget to attach a kb and mouse, and I get a D7 error code which is about no kb/mouse. So at least the A2 isnt automatic. Plugging in the kb/mouse remove D7 and gave me A2. #7 Email asrock support with basically this info. Await their response #8: Create this thread.

First of all, your board does not have legacy BIOS firmware. It never had a true BIOS firmware version. That is, if you have a B75M-GL R2.0 board.

From the B75M-GL R2.0 Specifications:

64Mb AMI UEFI Legal BIOS with GUI support

Only UEFI firmware supports the GUI type interface. Using the term "BIOS" is unfortunate, but we are virtually stuck with it, since it has been used for so long. Fortunately we no longer suffer with the limitations of BIOS firmware, although the UEFI firmware is normally run is "BIOS emulated" mode (CSM Enabled), which retains most of the BIOS firmware limitations.

If you check the Overview page for this board, you can read about the "Graphical UEFI", almost at the bottom of the page:

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/B75M-GL%20R2.0/

There is only one standard reason you would not be able to get into the UEFI/BIOS UI, even with Windows 10 (or 8.1, or 8). That is if you had the Fast Boot option set to Ultra Fast in the UEFI/BIOS. Your board's manual does not show that option anywhere, so this does not apply.

I see in the Windows 8 64bit download section, the ASRock utility, Restart to UEFI ver:1.0.5. This program allows you to restart the PC directly into the UEFI UI, when using Win 8, 8.1, or 10. I've used it for years, so simple and works fine every time.

I'm surprised to see no Windows 10 download section for your board. Not sure what that is all about.

The Windows 10 (and 8 and 8.1) fast startup feature does not prevent us from starting the UEFI UI by pressing the Del or F2 keys. Also, the Windows fast startup feature only works from a cold boot/shutdown situation. If you selected a Restart from Windows, you would have more time to press the Del or F2 keys to enter the UEFI UI.

There is no reason, besides a problem, that would prevent you to restart into the UEFI with the Windows 10 Advanced settings, since your board uses UEFI firmware. You select Restart from within Windows, and immediately begin pressing the Del key. Don't stop until you are in the UEFI UI. If that does not work, there is a problem, possibly with the keyboard.

But then you mention the Dr Debug A2 code. The B75M-GL R2.0 board does not have a Dr Debug display. Or is the A2 simply shown on your monitor?

Your CPU must be an i5-3350P, since an i5-3550P processor does not exist. Your CPU does not have integrated graphics, correct?

My questions for you are, what keyboard and mouse are you using? How are they connected to  the PC?

How did you change to Windows 10? An upgrade installation? Or a new, fresh Windows 10 installation?

If your keyboard uses a driver, is that still installed under Windows 10? If it is, is the driver version compatible with Windows 10?

Hopefully something did not break when you removed the SSD.