Asrock B450M Steel Legend Unable to Start Up
[SOLVED]
Problem description:
Fail to boot PC, stuck at Asrock loading screen. However, once successfully login to windows, everything functions perfectly. Once restart/shutdown, very difficult to start up. Problem first started after windows update on 1st May (with old CPU), but worsened after installing P10.60 BIOS before changing CPU. Occasionally managed to login to PC (random, pure luck and patience), but now couldn't manage to get pass the Asrock loading screen. And after downgrading to P4.60, kept encountering black screen.
Troubleshooting performed:
Memtest86: Passed
OCCT: 0 error for CPU, GPU, RAM
CrystalDiskInfo: SSD good condition
Pass mark score: 6783 (61st percentile)
sfc /scannow: 100% verified (no error)
DISM restore health: 0x800f0915 error
Windows 11 25H2 ISO installation: Stuck after 100% progress, with a message notifying PC will be restarted soon (no changes/restart after overnight wait).
Auto scan disk & recovery: Stuck after 100% progress, no changes after several hours.
PC hardware setup:
CPU: Ryzen 7 5800X3D (upgraded from Ryzen 5 3600)
GPU: Zotac RTX 3070ti trinity OC
RAM: Corsair 16GB x2 (3600MHz)
PSU: Cooler master XG 850
SSD: Corsair MP600 M.2
MoBo: Asrock B450M steel legend (AM4, micro ATX)
Firmware:
BIOS: P4.2 (when using Ryzen 5 3600) => P10.60 (before changing to Ryzen 7 5800X3D => P4.60 (during troubleshooting on startup failure)
OS: Windows 11 25H2
Current BIOS settings:
UEFI default
PCIe x16 Gen3
XMP off
CSM enabled
fTPM disabled
Secure boot: Enabled
Note: Attempted other settings as recommended by Chatgpt, but didn't fix the issue.
Root cause: Faulty HDD with 2005 reallocated sector count. After unplugging, PC functions perfectly.