PC won't boot past BIOS Splash screen or enter settings

orstoner

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Aug 13, 2013
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Hi,

I have failed to solve this problem over the last three days and don't see myself fixing it any time soon without help.

I just got this PC from a member of the family, and it had a better processor and hard drive than my last PC so I switched to it. I also put my 560ti inside it, as well as my 700W PSU.

So it worked great for the first day, and the next day I reset the BIOS without realizing. My hard drive is meant to be set to AHCI, but the default is IDE. I didn't know this, so I tried booting normally and got a BSOD. I didn't know why so I let startup repair have a go, annd it failed to do anything.

Well I say it failed to do anything, it actually seems to have caused this problem.

If I turn it on, I see the BIOS splash screen, and that is it.
If I try to enter settings, I see the POST screen, and that is it.

If I reset the CMOS / remove the battery, it will allow me to configure the bios settings or boot with default values. Booting doesn't work, as it needs to be set to AHCI, and if I adjust the settings, and save and reset, it just sticks on the splash screen again.

What I have already tried:

- Putting in new RAM
- Disconnecting HDD
- Disconnecting DVD Drive
- Disconnecting pretty much everything
- New CMOS battery
- Tested HDD in another computer

The really weird thing is, for some reason yesterday, it randomly worked for one boot, but as soon as I restarted, the same problem occurred.

I have tried updating the bios, as mine is quite an old version, through a usb drive, but this failed as apparently the one I downloaded wasn't compatible. My motherboard is a P7H55-M Si and the one I downloaded from ASUS was just a P7H55-M.

PLEASE HELP! Any advice is appreciated. I really don't know what to do!

Thanks
 
Solution
If you don't want to download an installer disk image, I would make a system repair disk -- just go into the start button program search box and type "system repair disc" and follow the wizard using 1 CD (not DVD). That can help get into Windows when things go wrong.

I would take a look in the Device Manager and see if all the components show up without exclamations (indicating a problem).

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
I would try clearing the CMOS again (make sure to unplug the computer) and then see if you can update the bios to 1102 (the last build) from HERE.

Will your computer boot into Windows from the install DVD? You may need to disconnect the HDD if you cannot change the boot order to do that.
 

orstoner

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Aug 13, 2013
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I don't have the install DVD unfortunately, which is why I want to preserve it as best I can. I can change boot order by resetting CMOs as it allows me to access the settings once. I will try and update the bios, thanks for finding that for me.
 

orstoner

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Aug 13, 2013
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That didn't work unfortunately. The bios is up to date now but there is still the same problem.

This is a picture I took earlier of where it ends up, it is still the same except the BIOS Revision is now 1102.

7lec.jpg
 

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
If you are running Windows 7, just go to DIGITAL RIVER and download an authorized iso image of the same version (including 32 or 64 bit) that you have now and burn it to a DVD. Your activation key will work if needed at some future point, but for now you just need to find out if you can boot from the disk.

I noticed the TPM device error. In the bios is the TPM Configuration enabled (look in the advanced tab)? It shouldn't be but there seem to be bugs that give that message even though you don't have a TPM device, which must be present to change the settings. Don't know what to tell you on that issue.
 

orstoner

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I couldn't find it in the Advanced tab. It is working again now but I've no idea why or for how long. Anything diagnostic I should do while I'm still booted?
 

RealBeast

Titan
Moderator
If you don't want to download an installer disk image, I would make a system repair disk -- just go into the start button program search box and type "system repair disc" and follow the wizard using 1 CD (not DVD). That can help get into Windows when things go wrong.

I would take a look in the Device Manager and see if all the components show up without exclamations (indicating a problem).
 
Solution

orstoner

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Aug 13, 2013
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I will make a disc if I can get hold of some blank discs. Unfortunately I have restarted and it doesn't work again, though it is nolonger saying the TPM warning.
 

orstoner

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Aug 13, 2013
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Okay so it would appear that if I leave it stuck on the BIOS splashscreen for 20 minutes or so it eventually boots to windows. I exactly confirm this because it has happened every time I've left it and come back again. I am certain the problem isn't the windows installation itself, or the Hard Drive, because even with that disconnected, the problem is still present. I feel like there must be an easy solution to this, I am going to try my other power supply but my knowledge is very limited...
 

orstoner

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Aug 13, 2013
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Okay I have started a download for an install disc but it might take a while. I tried another PSU, and it didn't work. But since I did that, the situation has changed. Now it seems, it is never stuck forever on the splash screen. Sometimes, it starts instantly like it should. Sometimes, it take just over a minute or so. Other times it takes more than 15 minutes. All without changing any bios settings or physical configurations. It is so random!
 

orstoner

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Aug 13, 2013
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I can't boot from the Install DVD without resetting the CMOS again to change the order. I can do it if you think it might solve the problem, but I don't think it will as the bios splash screen gets frozen even with no disc drive or hard drive connected.
 

orstoner

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Does that mean the motherboard is going to have to be replaced or is there something that can be done?
 

orstoner

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You're not going to believe this... I installed ASUS PC Probe II and a big alarm sounded saying something about a serious problem with the chassis fan. I shut down and removed it. Now, I think it is fine again! Do you mind if I send you a PM if it turns out it was just a brief moment of good luck?