BIOS drama with modern motherboard

So I have this Asrock FM2A75 Pro4 board. I got a few weeks ago, a motherboard, CPU and RAM bundle for just 60 aussie dollars. How can you resist? It will make an awesome Windows XP retro gaming machine. Maybe even with the onboard graphics, we will see.

Great board, has power on button, reset button, a clear CMOS switch at the back, SATA, eSATA, USB 2, USB 3, DVI, HDMI, VGA, everything you need! 

As always, I HAVE TO flash the latest BIOS. It's in my DNA. Everything went fine, it told me to reboot. And it failed :( The machine was stuck during POST, the LED POST analyser just looping. Bugger.

Noticed the BIOS is socketed! YES. My Genius G540 flasher to the rescue I thought. However after flashing the machine wouldn't do anything :( Just fans spinning, no POST beeps, no LEDs flashing...

I gave up and ordered a replacement BIOS chip on eBay, but I also asked on Overclockers Australia for help.

Someone reached out to me and told me to HEX edit the BIOS file and delete the first 4 KB. And guess what? That worked!

I flashed 1.9 version of the BIOS, the machine POSTed, so then I tried flashing 2.4 again and this time it worked :D

Life is good.

​Phil