MSI Z77A GD65 A2 Hang?

[Sheza]

Hi,

Over the past few weeks I'd occasionally been getting stuck at POST with the error code 'A2' in the bottom right of the screen as well as on the mobo LED. Sometimes the error code was glitched and I couldn't make out what it was, but never thought to check the LED. A reboot fixed it.

Then yesterday it decided to die on me, no amount of reboots fixed it.

A google search reveals this code is to do with IDE Detect which includes SATA devices, apparently. If hanging on A2 you can't enter the BIOS.

So I tried all sorts of troubleshooting steps and so far have been unable to pinpoint the problem. Here's the cycle:

• Disconnected HDD. SATA Devices Connected: SSD, DVD Drive. No Hang
• Plugged HDD back in. SDC: HDD, SSD, DVD Drive. A2 Hang
• Cycled SATA ports (SSD to Port 2, HDD to port 4). SDC: HDD, SSD, DVD Drive. A2 Hang.
• Disconnected HDD again. SDC: SSD, DVD Drive. No Hang
• Used a different SATA cable on HDD that I borrowed from the DVD Drive. SDC: HDD, SSD. A2 Hang.
• Convinced it was the HDD (oldest component I have anyway) unplugged it, SDC: SSD, DVD Drive. A2 Hang
• So now with HDD removed it doesn't work. Removed DVD Drive, too. SDC: SSD. A2 Hang.
• Disconnected ALL SATA devices. A2 Hang
• Reset the CMOS (It had definitely reset). SDC: None. No Hang
• Re-connected SSD. A2 Hang
• Reset CMOS. Plugged SSD in before booting. No Hang. SSD detected in BIOS. After checking BIOS settings, accidentally click 'boot override' which launches the SSD and Windows Startup Repair. It's useless anyway.
• Reboot. SDC: SSD. A2 Hang
• Wiggled SATA cables. Literally, just wiggled them. SDC: SSD. No Hang
• This morning, boot. SDC: SSD. A2 Hang.
• Another wiggle or something. SDC: SSD, possibly DVD Drive. No Hang

And that's where I'm up to. Completely intermittent. I have ordered a HDD enclosure to see if the HDD really is dead or use it for recovery purposes in the likely event that I'll purchase a new HDD just because.

At first I thought this stupid error was due to the HDD. But then it started happening with the SSD. And then with NO devices connected. I'm typing this on the PC, on one of the random occasions that it wants to boot.

Can anyone help me out? Much appreciated!

My Specs:
MSI Z77-A GD 65
Intel i7 3770K (Was OC Genie'd to 4Ghz, now at stock)
8GB Corsair Vengeance LP RAM
MSI GTX 560Ti HAWK
1.5TB Samsung HDD
120GB Samsung 840 Evo SSD

Oh, right, they're in my signature

 

[barnsley]

What USB devices do you have plugged in and what recent changes have you made to your rig?

 

[Sheza]

Hi,

USB devices plugged in would be my Webcam, Keyboard and Mouse. A few other cables but they weren't connected to anything at the other end.
I've had all of those USB devices for at least a year with no problems.

In terms of rig changes, the latest change would probably be a new TV as a secondary display, plugged in to my graphics card HDMI exactly like the old TV was. That's still like a 2+ month ago change. Next latest change after that would be the SSD, which seems to work fine as I'm on it right now and Samsung Magician isn't throwing up any problems.

Thanks for the response.