How I Turned My Gaming PC into a Non-Responsive Brick After Attempting to Enable Secure Boot
Upgrading or customizing your PC BIOS settings can sometimes lead to unexpected issues, especially when toggling features like Secure Boot. Recently, I experienced a frustrating scenario with my gaming rig after attempting to enable Secure Boot for a better gaming experience with Battlefield 6. Unfortunately, my efforts resulted in a completely unresponsive system. I’d like to share my experience, troubleshooting steps, and seek advice for recovery.
System Specifications
- Motherboard: EVGA Z370 Classified K
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K
- Graphics Card: GTX 1070 Ti
- Monitors: Three displays (initially all functioning perfectly)
What Led to the Issue
My goal was to enable Secure Boot in my BIOS settings to optimize system security for gaming. The steps I followed were:
- Enter BIOS setup.
- Changed the boot mode from Legacy to UEFI.
- Disabled Compatibility Support Module (CSM).
- Located the Secure Boot option, which prompted a message indicating “no valid keys.”
- Selected the Reset keys option, based on advice I found online.
- Saved the changes and rebooted.
Immediately afterward, my system failed to output video. All three monitors lost signal, and the system’s power cycle behavior changed significantly: it briefly powered on, then shut down, restarted, and shut off again during POST, finally displaying a D6 error code.
Symptoms Observed
- No display output from any port (GPU or motherboard integrated graphics).
- Multiple power cycles during POST.
- Persistent D6 error code on the motherboard.
- BIOS access was not possible.
- Monitors remained blank despite repeat attempts.
Troubleshooting Attempts
In my efforts to resolve the problem, I undertook the following steps:
- BIOS Reset: Removed and reinstalled the CMOS battery to attempt a complete BIOS reset.
- Monitor Tests: Connected each monitor individually and tested both GPU outputs and motherboard video outputs.
- Hardware Checks: Verified that the GTX 1070 Ti was properly seated in its PCIe slot.
- Peripheral Checks: Ensured no peripheral devices were causing conflicts or powering issues.
Despite these efforts, the system’s behavior remained unchanged: no display output, persistent D6 error, and inability to enter BIOS setup.
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