"Overclocking failed!" Message at computer startup

[Jemjem787]

So yesterday i moved my computer to a different location in my house, and when i first turn it on i get this error message.

http://i.gyazo.com/e436357f8688de370d6c4d95cabbd7d0.png
(For those who don't want to see the pic)
Overclocking failed! Please enter Setup to re-configure your system. Press F1 to run setup

What was also weird, is that when i turned it on, everything started up for like 3 seconds, (Could tell by the noise of the fans) it stopped, it started up again, then stopped, and then after 4 or 5 times it finally booted up to this screen.

What i did was just enter setup and manually boot from my SSD, and it booted up fine normally. Would someone mind telling me what is wrong and how do i fix it?

 

[Layback Bear]

It could be a host of things.
I would make sure nothing has been jarred loose and then set the bios back to default and run it a couple of days. If no problems arise put you known good over clock back.

P/S
Make sure your main power cord from the wall to power supply (surge protector) is seated correctly.

 

[Boozad]

If memory serves me correctly this is exclusive to ASUS boards, I had it years ago on my M2A-VM, and it's actually nothing to do with overclocking (or may not be to do with overclocking). Let me rack my brain and see if I can remember what it was all about. Firstly I'd open your PC up and check all of the connections in there are seated, considering you've moved it something could have shaken loose.

I'm pretty sure this has something to do with the POST not completing, and I think that because of that the motherboard sees it as an overclock being too unstable hence the message and returning you to the BIOS to change your settings.
Finding out what is causing the interruption to the POST is key. Like I say, check all of your connections, RAM and cards are seated properly first and foremost.

 

[Mellon Head]

I've had the same experience with ASUS boards. They do it from time to time, and I think Boozad is right, it's just the post not finishing for some reason, and a misread by the BIOS. In my case, there has never been anything wrong physically, and I'm not sure why it does it, but it hasn't been anything to worry about.

If you were overclocking, then something is wrong with your overclock. If you weren't, check everything out as Boozad said, but chances are, it's just your motherboard being weird.

 

[Jemjem787]

I forgot to note that i have NOT overclocked my PC.

I will open it up later, make sure everything is connected, and respond back. Thanks for the quick help guys!

 

[TVeblen]

That could also be because your hardware has changed or your BIOS.

Now that sounds strange, I know, but that is a generic message you will get if the BIOS hardware check fails for any reason, including hardware changes, BIOS changes, and overclocking.

Since you have not done any of these things (we think), and you only shut down and moved the PC that means that:

• Your 3v motherboard battery is dying, and the Real Time Clock reset itself when the power was disconnected.
• One or more of your parts are loose from the move (as others have suggested).
• A combination of both

Try this:

• Re-seat all parts, check all connections, then
• Go into the BIOS settings (Pres F1) and check the date and time > then go to the Exit Tab and Restore Defaults > Exit and restart
• If the problem persists, perform a Clear CMOS (CLRTC) procedure.

If you were trying to overclock and got that message you would do the Clear CMOS to recover anyway.

 

[carwiz]

Replace the motherboard battery. The CMOS probably reset or choked.

 

[Boozad]

One fix could be to go into BIOS, change a couple of random settings then change them back to what they were, save and exit.

 

[Mellon Head]

One fix could be to go into BIOS, change a couple of random settings then change them back to what they were, save and exit.

With my mobo, all I have to do is go into BIOS and hit F10 to save it (if using default settings, because BIOS seems to reset, IIRC), exit and reboot. Voila! It works again.

 

[Boozad]

One fix could be to go into BIOS, change a couple of random settings then change them back to what they were, save and exit.

With my mobo, all I have to do is go into BIOS and hit F10 to save it (if using default settings, because BIOS seems to reset, IIRC), exit and reboot. Voila! It works again.

Easier and quicker.

 

[essenbe]

Mine will do that almost any time I unplug it. I have no idea why. I just go to BIOS, change nothing, save an exit and it boots right up.

 

[Layback Bear]

Steve of course you have checked the volts of the Cmos battery.
Steve does this happen on a particular computer with a particular power supply?

I turn off all power to my computers and anything that is plugged into them every time I'm not using the computers and I not have a bios problem of any kind. The Bios stay as set.

Knock on wood, plastic and pet my cat hope nothing goes wrong now I have spoken.

 

[Mellon Head]

It's a pretty common occurrence with ASUS boards, Jack. Every ASUS board I've had has done it at least one point in time. The ones at work do it, too. I don't know why it happens, but it isn't a big deal. Like Steve said, you just go into BIOS and save, and you're good.

 

[Boozad]

My two ASUS boards in my specs haven't done it so it's pretty random it seems. Like you say though, no big deal.

 

[SaNdMaN82]

If for some reason power fails when my Asus m5a87 at startup, there's a solid chance that message appears on the following power up...
It's my experience that if computer power on and off properly, no message will appear...
But I've faced that message a few times in the past...

 

[Layback Bear]

The good news is it only happens to some and it's very easy to fix.
The bad news is we don't know why it happens and probable never will.

 

[TVeblen]

I've got lots of Asus boards.
That has never happened to me, unless I am playing with the BIOS settings and deserve it.
Just lucky I guess.

 

[Boozad]

I never messed with the BIOS on the board I had it happen on and have messed with BIOS on the two boards it hasn't happened on. Complete randomness.

 

[TVeblen]

Does it happen if you Restore Optimal Defaults and then don't change any settings (except perhaps AHCI)?

There was a guy a while back that had the problem when he set the memory controller to XMP mode to get full speed on his RAM. I suspect there was a problem with one or more of the sticks.

 

[Mellon Head]

In my limited experience overclocking one of the boards, it happens when there is a problem at post, whether it be memory, or CPU related. It will bark at you that "OCing has failed, press F1" and the BIOS will set itself to safe values for the CPU and/or RAM.

That's if you're overclocking.

Under normal use, with my other boards, the message has been totally random, and very rarely, it will reset my RAM to 1333 MHz if it was set higher. The rest of the BIOS settings it won't touch. But it does happen under normal defaults with only ACHI set. That's how my machine at work is set (ASUS M4A79XTD EVO), and I have it happen at least twice a year.