POST black screen, error B2

hirobo2

Member
I accidentally pulled out a USB HDD during POST. Now, my computer won't boot up past POST. It displays a black screen with an error message "B2" at the bottom right. I can't access the BIOS by press [Del] either. I'm guessing my pulling out the USB HDD must have short-circuited the BIOS during the POST sequence.

What can I do short of replacing the mobo? (It's an MSI B75A-G43 with on-board graphics only). Will I need thermal paste if I'm to replace the mobo?
 
Reset CMOS by pulling out the CMOS battery on the motherboard. Leave it out for 5 minutes or so then reinsert and try to reboot.
 
^ Tried that. It didn't work. Was I supposed to disconnect the power too? (All I did was turn off the switch at back of PSU).

Anyways, will I need thermal paste when I transfer the CPU to a new mobo?
 
Yes, turn off the PSU in the back. Now press and hold the power button for the computer, then pull the CMOS battery. Should be a good five to ten minutes. I have heard of CMOS chips being replaced as well. I have no idea if your board can do this and how to get BIOS in the chip if the BIOS isn't in the chip. Does your board not have dual BIOS? If it does flip the switch on the motherboard to BIOS 2 or what ever it's called. Could say CMOS 2.

Anyways, will I need thermal paste when I transfer the CPU to a new mobo?

Yes. And you don't need Arctic Silver or any of that fancy stuff either. The Temp difference between that and generic is like 2-3 degrees.

If you transfer the CPU, make damn sure the MOBO and the BIOS can support it prior to replacing. If the MOBO BIOS doesn't support that CPU, it would be wise to flash to the latest BIOS prior to CPU replacement. My Bro made that mistake. LOL And I freaking told him too!
 
Last edited:
Well, need to know exact processor as some motherboards only support certain processors. Is it installed in a system that is currently working or no? If not, then you could give us the numbers that are listed on the processor to verify which one you have.
 
I don't have a working system to look up its ID. Bought it when Ivy Bridges were just coming out and 3D 22nm was the hot new thing. Most mobos should support these CPU's, right?
 
As I said, would need to know exact one. Some motherboard only support certain processors. Just post the numbers are on top of the processor so we can look.
 
I would need to reopen the case, but wouldn't the heat sink block the numbers?

Anyways, from the MSI website, it's got to be one of these Core I5 Ivy Bridges:

i5-3550
i5-3570T
i5-3450S
i5-3550S
i5-3450
i5-3570K
i5-3475S
i5-3470T
i5-3330
i5-3330S
i5-3570
i5-3470
i5-3570S
i5-3470S
i5-3350P
i5-3340S
i5-3340

But, I couldn't find any specific CPU numbers on the ASUS website:

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P8H77M/specifications/

The thing that worries me is they each use different chipsets, or is this a non-issue?
 
Originally you said full atx, now you are saying a midtower. Which is it? Midtower's will accept a micro atx board.
 
Don't really see a USB hard drive being unplugged booting or in windows really hurting the board. If it was accessing the drive I could see it getting Data corruption. Seems like something else going on.
 
^ I once killed a laptop by furiously typing the keyboard at the POST screen right after a BIOS update. I'm guessing the BIOS is the most vulnerable during the POST sequence...
 
Unplug it. Push the power button a few times. Reset the bios by the jumper or take the battery out. With it out or the jumper set, press the power button a few more times. But the jumper back or the battery. Plug it back up and see if you can boot or at least get into the bios.
 
Back
Top