BIOS stuck in QCode 'A2'

**apocalypzez** · 07-23-2019 02:13 AM

I have a Maximus IX Apex that will not boot anymore. I dismantled my system to change my SSD & HDD, & also to clean the dust out of my system. and now after putting back everything, the motherboard gets stuck at A2 Q_Code, which means IDE Detect. So my first thought was to disconnect my hard disk and SSD, which I did and still wouldn't boot. I did a CLRCMOS as well after removing all the storage devices but error still popped up. I then disconnected everything and left it at the bare minimun, i.e., MOBO, CPU & RAM. This also failed and error code again appeared and stays there as long as i leave the system on.

There is not much on the internet on how to fix this issue. Many say it's storage related but I don't have any storage device connected, unless my motherboard is a dud

!!!!

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!!

**MeanMachine** · 07-23-2019 05:45 AM

HI apocalypzez

POST cycle will not continue until the error with your HDD or SSD is fixed and you will continue to get QCODE A2. You will receive an A2 error if you do not have any drive connected.
If you can, test the drives in another system and check all cabling and SATA connections are correct and functional.
Test first the drive containing your OS and leave the other drives out of the loop for now.
Ensure your Bios is up to date and use your rear IO panel and a USB for the flashback.

**apocalypzez** · 07-23-2019 05:53 AM

Thanks for the reply. I tried removing one part at a time. At one stage I had no HDD but my SSDs were still in the DIMM slot (as per the Apex board layout).

**MeanMachine** · 07-23-2019 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by apocalypzez

Thanks for the reply. I tried removing one part at a time. At one stage I had no HDD but my SSDs were still in the DIMM slot (as per the Apex board layout).

DIMM slots are for RAM modules, review your MB Layout again as they have nothing to do with your storage drives.
Check your SATA connections for the correct connections (page 1-23 in your MB manual)
Check your QLEDs (page 1-14 in your MB manual) Do any light up, BOOT_LED lit green indicates a fault with your Boot drive.

BTW: Your HDD and SSD are storage devices.

**Arne Saknussemm** · 07-23-2019 09:24 AM

Check the boot order in BIOS....if you have "windows boot manager" somewhere set that as first priority

If you installed windows with another drive connected it is possible that the boot sector is on another disk other than the target OS drive...windows annoyingly does that sometimes...

**apocalypzez** · 07-23-2019 10:54 PM

It's a Maximus IX Apex, and the SSD goes in an adapter which then in turn goes in to the DIMM Slot, i think its called DIMM.2 slot. My SSDs are like brand new with nothing in there. My HDDs were recently removed from the NAS box and i though of recycling it in to my PC as they were 3TB each. However, I haven't check the QLEDs yet, i will give that a go tonight.
thanks for all the help. much appreciated.

**apocalypzez** · 07-29-2019 03:34 AM

After dismantling all components except for the board and the PSU cables, I tried with just the Motherboard, CPU & RAM. And the result was still the same QCODE A2 error. And the Boot led stays green. I have attached an image of my error code and boot led light.

Click image for larger version.

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**MeanMachine** · 07-29-2019 04:38 AM

From your photo, I can see your Boot_led is lit and this is because you have either no Storage device installed or something is wrong with it, either improper connections or the unit or adapter is faulty.
You will continue to get a QCode A2 error until the issue is rectified.
Try using an SSD with standard SATA config instead of the dimm slot adapter to test.
This could also be a Bios config problem as ARNE has said however that proposes a problem since you can't get into Bios.

**apocalypzez** · 08-12-2019 05:29 AM

So I finally removed all components from the case, cleaned everything and re-assembled it from scratch and after that it started to work just fine. took me 2 weekends to complete this process....age is catching up, i guess!!

to be honest I don't know what fixed this issue - but thanks for the help guys!!!

**Arne Saknussemm** · 08-12-2019 09:41 AM

OK...cool....maybe a dodgy SATA connection?....who knows...it works is all that matters!

apocalypzez PC Specs
Laptop (Model)	I would like to get a sexy 'LAP'top...;p
Motherboard	Maximus IX APEX
Processor	Core i7 7700K
Memory (part number)	G.Skill Trident Z RGB F4-3000C15D-16GTZR 2x8GB kits
Graphics Card #1	EVGA RTX 2080 Ti Black Edition
Graphics Card #2	Can't afford it
Graphics Card #3	!!!!
Graphics Card #4	!!!!!!!
Sound Card	Motherboard Built-in
Monitor	Dell U3011
Storage #1	ADATA SX8200 Pro 1TB x 2 in RAID0 (trying to)
Storage #2	WD RED 3TB x 2
CPU Cooler	Corsair H150i Pro 360mm AIO
Case	NZXT H700i
Power Supply	Corsair AX1200i Platinum
Keyboard	Logitech G512 Carbon RGB Mech Keyboard
Mouse	Logitech G502 Hero Gaming Mouse (Wired)
Headset	Corsair Vengenace Pro 2000
Mouse Pad	Razer Vespula (2011 model)
Headset/Speakers	Logitech Z2300 (the king of all 2.1 PC Speakers)
OS	Windows 10 Pro x64
Network Router	TP-Link C3150 AC Router

MeanMachine PC Specs
Laptop (Model)	I enjoy my wife
Motherboard	CVI HERO + CVII Hero Wifi
Processor	Ryzen 7 1800X + 2700X
Memory (part number)	CMD16GX4M2B3000C15 + F4-3200C14D-16GTZR
Graphics Card #1	EVGA GTX980 SC for CVFZ
Graphics Card #2	EVGA GTX 1080 hybrid
Graphics Card #3	GTX 770 for phys x
Sound Card	MB
Monitor	HP w2408h
Storage #1	Samsung 970 EVO 500GB M.2
Storage #2	Samsung 840EVO 500GB and 960 M.2 pro
CPU Cooler	Corsair H105, H110 and H115i
Case	Corsair 750D and 780T
Power Supply	Corsair AX-1200i and Antec 850 pro platinum
Keyboard	Logitech K800
Mouse	Razer Mamba
Headset	Corsair Vengeance 2100
OS	W7 Ultimate 64bit and W10 pro 64bit
Network Router	Netcom Wireless NF18ACV

apocalypzez PC Specs
Laptop (Model)	I would like to get a sexy 'LAP'top...;p
Motherboard	Maximus IX APEX
Processor	Core i7 7700K
Memory (part number)	G.Skill Trident Z RGB F4-3000C15D-16GTZR 2x8GB kits
Graphics Card #1	EVGA RTX 2080 Ti Black Edition
Graphics Card #2	Can't afford it
Graphics Card #3	!!!!
Graphics Card #4	!!!!!!!
Sound Card	Motherboard Built-in
Monitor	Dell U3011
Storage #1	ADATA SX8200 Pro 1TB x 2 in RAID0 (trying to)
Storage #2	WD RED 3TB x 2
CPU Cooler	Corsair H150i Pro 360mm AIO
Case	NZXT H700i
Power Supply	Corsair AX1200i Platinum
Keyboard	Logitech G512 Carbon RGB Mech Keyboard
Mouse	Logitech G502 Hero Gaming Mouse (Wired)
Headset	Corsair Vengenace Pro 2000
Mouse Pad	Razer Vespula (2011 model)
Headset/Speakers	Logitech Z2300 (the king of all 2.1 PC Speakers)
OS	Windows 10 Pro x64
Network Router	TP-Link C3150 AC Router

MeanMachine PC Specs
Laptop (Model)	I enjoy my wife
Motherboard	CVI HERO + CVII Hero Wifi
Processor	Ryzen 7 1800X + 2700X
Memory (part number)	CMD16GX4M2B3000C15 + F4-3200C14D-16GTZR
Graphics Card #1	EVGA GTX980 SC for CVFZ
Graphics Card #2	EVGA GTX 1080 hybrid
Graphics Card #3	GTX 770 for phys x
Sound Card	MB
Monitor	HP w2408h
Storage #1	Samsung 970 EVO 500GB M.2
Storage #2	Samsung 840EVO 500GB and 960 M.2 pro
CPU Cooler	Corsair H105, H110 and H115i
Case	Corsair 750D and 780T
Power Supply	Corsair AX-1200i and Antec 850 pro platinum
Keyboard	Logitech K800
Mouse	Razer Mamba
Headset	Corsair Vengeance 2100
OS	W7 Ultimate 64bit and W10 pro 64bit
Network Router	Netcom Wireless NF18ACV

Arne Saknussemm PC Specs
Laptop (Model)	Laptop?...No way! (Model?...Jun Amaki...yes way!)
Motherboard	ROG ZENITH II EXTREME
Processor	THREADRIPPER 3960X
Memory (part number)	TXBD48G4000HC18FBK
Graphics Card #1	GTX Titan X
Graphics Card #2	SLI is dead to me
Graphics Card #3	Tri SLI is even dead to Nvidia
Graphics Card #4	Quad SLI is dead to everybody especially my credit card
Sound Card	Xonar Essence STX
Monitor	ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q
Storage #1	Samsung 970/960/950 PRO
Storage #2	2x OCZ VERTEX 3/2x WD Caviar Black 500GB / 2x WD RED 2TB/Samsung 1TBSSDs
CPU Cooler	Custom Loop: Dual D5s, Dual Alphacool Monsta 480s, XSPC Raystorm Neo TR4, EK TitanX WaterBlock
Case	Nope!...Dimastech Easy XL...let it all hang out man!
Power Supply	Seasonic 1000 Platinum
Keyboard	Corsair Strafe MK2 ROG Claymore... or Fender Rhodes Electric Piano (MKI 73)
Mouse	Corsair M65Pro or Speedy Gonzalez...not Mickey...don't do Disney!
Headset	...firmly on neck
Mouse Pad	Mouse don't got his own pad man...lives with me
Headset/Speakers	Edifier Spinnaker...or you mean the speakers in my head...man too many voices to name them all
OS	Win XP, 7, 8, 8.1 and Windows 10 Spyware Edition
Network Router	56k modem
Accessory #1	Umm...nice tie?
Accessory #2	Err...belt?
Accessory #3	3 accessories?! I'm not a girl!!

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